Membership NewsEdition 17 - September 2014

One of the many benefits of CLIA UK & Ireland membership is the great opportunities that are on offer for our members to meet and network, make new contacts and renew old ones. And certainly this has been much in evidence recently.

We were delighted to see so many people at our informal Summer Cocktails event generously hosted by Mail Newspapers earlier this month – what a lovely evening, and thank you to everyone who took time to join us. There was networking on a different level at the first CLIA Ports and Destination Summit in Barcelona proving that CLIA can be both innovative and responsive to members needs.

And there are plenty of opportunities up-coming too, including our November Reg & Tech update and our December Annual Dinner – and we will start releasing details of our 2015 events in the coming weeks.

We continue to be grateful to our Cruise Line and Executive Partner members who come together at CLIA events – we are delighted that you too #lovecruise

Have a great month!Andy Harmer

CLIA Cruise Week

Saturday 27 September – Sunday 5 October

Cruise Industry Continues Global Growth

In the last decade, demand for cruising across the globe has increased 77 percent, from 12 million to 21.3 million passengers.

New data released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) show that worldwide, cruise industry expenditures generated $117 billion in total economic contributions, supporting the employment of 891,009 full-time equivalent employees with total wages of $38.47 billion.

“The cruise industry is truly global, bringing together a diverse mix of international passengers and crew to experience exciting itineraries, multiple destinations, and exceptional holiday vacation value on every continent,” said Christine Duffy, CLIA President and CEO. “With so many fun options and a high return on vacation experience, it’s not surprising that the popularity of cruise holidays continues to grow. This study shows that the cruise industry’s growth is also generating increased jobs, income, and revenue in all regions of the world.”

“The figures published today show that nearly 45 percent of the industry’s 2013 global output was generated in Europe,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Chairman of CLIA Europe and Executive

Chairman of MSC Cruises. “Unquestionably, the cruise industry today is a key contributor to Europe’s economic recovery, creating real jobs and growth at a time when both are hard to come by. With more Europeans choosing to cruise, more tourists cruising in European waters and more cruise ships being built in European ship yards, the weight of our industry in Europe can only continue to increase in years to come.”

The independent report is the first to assess the worldwide economic impact of the cruise industry. Commissioned by CLIA from Business Research and Economic Advisers (BREA), The Global Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism 2013 found that:

• 21.31 million cruise passengers embarked from ports around the world• 55% of global passengers are sourced from North America (11.82 million), including 10.92 million that reside in the U.S. • 30% of passengers reside in Europe (6.4 million), including 1.73 million from the UK and Ireland, and 1.69 million from Germany• Also enjoying cruise vacations are travelers from Australia (833,000 passengers), Brazil (732,000), and China (727,000) • The average length of a cruise is 7 days, with 3-4 port calls• The cruise industry generated nearly 115 million passenger and crew visit days at ports around the globe; cruise ship passengers and crew spent an average of $126.93 each port day

Holland America Line Names 2016 Pinnacle Class Ship ms Koningsdam

Holland America Line has revealed the name of its new 99,500-ton cruise ship slated for delivery in February 2016 will be ms Koningsdam. While the name pays homage to the company’s rich heritage and deep roots in the Netherlands, it also reflects a new era with a bold name that is an original in Holland America Line’s 141-year history. The 2,650-passenger ship is an evolution in design for the line — a new Pinnacle Class — and is being built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.

Since 1883 every Holland America passenger vessel has borne the “dam” suffix, and ms Koningsdam carries on that tradition. The word koning means “king” in Dutch, and the name celebrates the majestic new ship. The name also pays honor to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands in over a century.

Holland America Line has a long, proud history with the Netherlands. All 15 premium cruise ships fly the Dutch flag as they sail throughout the world, to more than 400 ports of call. The historic greatness of the line’s Dutch heritage is shared with nearly one million guests each year. And the line has many Dutch employees, including most of the fleet’s captains and officers.Many of Holland America Line’s ships have been christened by members of the Dutch Royal Family over the past 75 years. Most recently, ms Nieuw Amsterdam was christened by Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima in 2010. And in 2008 ms Eurodam was christened by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

“In choosing the name Koningsdam, we are honoring our rich Dutch heritage while reflecting that we’re entering a new era as a company,” said Stein Kruse, chief executive officer of the Holland America Group. “This new Pinnacle Class ship will be our largest, most contemporary vessel, and it was only fitting to give it a name that embodies great achievement for the future, while embracing timeless tradition.”

Holland America Line was founded in the Netherlands in 1873 as the Netherlands-American Steamship Company headquartered in Rotterdam. The original headquarters building still stands today as the Hotel New York on the Wilhelmina Pier, with the company’s European headquarters located nearby.

New design for a new class of shipWhen it debuts in February 2016, ms Koningsdam will be a new type of ship for Holland America Line. At 99,500 gross tons and carrying 2,650 guests and 1,025 crew members, the vessel is the largest ever built for the company. The increased size provides more opportunities to add new public spaces and venues, and several innovative features will debut on ms Koningsdam. Familiar spaces and amenities currently featured across the Holland America Line fleet will also be found on the new ship.

To bring a fresh vision to ms Koningsdam, Holland America Line tapped Adam D. Tihany, one of the world’s pre-eminent hospitality designers. Tihany joins distinguished maritime designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten who worked with Holland America Line on ms Nieuw Amsterdam and ms Eurodam. The two firms will create a modern and contemporary ambiance while incorporating Holland America Line’s classic hallmarks.

For more information or to book, contact Holland America Line on www.hollandamerica.co.uk or call 0843 374 2300

Princess Cruises unveils Sky Lounge aboard Regal Princess

A new nighttime experience will debut on Regal Princess in November, enabling guests to enjoy a contemporary outdoor nightclub under the stars. The Night Sky Lounge will debut in November when the ship begins her inaugural Caribbean season.

The top-deck Retreat Pool will transform into the new Night Sky Lounge one night during each cruise, inviting guests to enjoy an open-air nightclub, including atmospheric pool and lighting, glowing drinks and a DJ on a state-of-the-art audio system. Guests can sip cocktails in the Jacuzzis, enjoy a flair bartending demonstration, and can even reserve a cabana with hosted bottle service.

“The Retreat Pool has already proved popular during the day with our guests and now they can experience it at night,” said Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises’ managing director UK and Europe. “Cruising is all about guests making their own choices on how to spend their time on board, and ashore. What could be better than partying under the balmy Caribbean sky with spectacular views of the ocean?”

Guests will pay a nominal charge to enter the Night Sky Lounge.

Regal Princess begins her Caribbean cruise season on November 6 with a short preview sailing, followed by a schedule of seven-day cruises to ports in the Eastern Caribbean including St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess Cays in the Bahamas.

For more information or to book visit www.princess.com/holiday, contact your local travel agent or call 0843 374 2402.

Britain’s biggest cruise ship heralds new luxury spa firsts P&O Cruises will unveil the most opulent wellness facilities in its fleet as well as the largest gym and most extensive selection of classes and additional spa treatments when Britannia launches in March next year.

The Oasis Spa will boast two new features designed to appeal to couples or groups, with a private villa in the spa area and a fun new blowout menu, for a fabulous blow dry, style and make-up in the hair salon.

The addition of the Oasis Villa marks a first for the P&O Cruises fleet, offering an exclusive area where pampering fans can unwind in sumptuous surroundings that include a private whirlpool and personal spa therapist for a treatment of their choice. They can even complete the hedonistic treat by ordering a glass of champagne.

Also making its debut is the blowout menu which is trending across UK hair salons. Perfect for black tie evenings on board, passengers can pop along to have their hair expertly styled by head honchos of the hair dryer and masters of the make-up brush. Options include deep conditioning hair treatments to full blown bombshell makeovers with hair up and make-up.

As with the rest of the P&O Cruises fleet, Britannia’s Oasis Spa will feature Elemis products and the list of treatments has been expanded to include seven new advanced facials. The line’s first Spa Shop will also open its doors, featuring skin and haircare products by Elemis, La Therapie, Phyto, Bliss and Sebastian.

Like its sister ships, Ventura and Azura, Britannia will have a VIP open-air deck area, The Retreat, where stewards serve cold flannels, chilled drinks and snacks, and alfresco spa treatments are offered in the privacy of shaded cabanas.

The Hydrotherapy suite provides a suitably impressive roll-call of sybaritic temptations, from heated loungers, waterbeds and a salt cave to a hydrotherapy pool with reflexology, massaging jets and air recliners.

*A seven-night cruise on Britannia starts from £699 per person sailing to France, Spain & Guernsey. Departing September 5, 2015, the Select Price includes an inside cabin, full board meals, round the clock kids’ clubs and entertainment on board. To book, visit www.pocruises.com, call 0843 374 0111 or visit your local travel agent.

TO FEATURE In this NewsletterWe ask that you select the one piece of news from the month you would like to be featured in this publication.

Please email your one news item with the following:Send to: uknews@cruising.orgSubject Line: “For CLIA UK & Ireland Monthly Newsletter”Dates to send each month: Between 1st – 10th of the month (even if this means you need to resend your press release to us between these dates)

Word Limit: Approx 200 wordsAlso Include: Logo and Photo always good to includeWe cannot include: Fare related articles, offers or lengthy itineraries

CMV make changes to the ASTOR 2015 programme

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has announced changes this week to their premium cruise ship ASTOR 2015 programme.

For operational reasons the original 46 night Northbound voyage 16th March from Freemantle to London Tilbury has been amended to 38 nights. As a direct result of the change CMV have added an 8 night British Isles Discovery Cruise on the vessel departing from London Tilbury 23 April. The revised 38 night Northbound itinerary still includes calls to Durban and Cape Town with St. Helena and Cape Verde added. CMV is re-routing due to the recent Ebola outbreak and associated health risks in the West African region. The ship is due to arrive in London – Tilbury 23 April. Prices start from £3019pp for the first passenger with the second passenger travelling at HALF PRICE at £1509pp in addition there is an air travel credit of £250pp. Air travel credits increase upwards depending on the cabin grade booked. The new ASTOR 8 night British Isles cruise departs from London – Tilbury 23 April in the late afternoon and visits Invergordon, the Hebrides, Tobermory, Dublin, Isles of Scilly and Honfleur (France). Prices start from £639pp. It will be the first time the ship has started a traditional cruise, in addition to the Australia & South Africa voyages, from the UK.

MSC Cruises begins roll-out of new trade booking platform, MSC Book Developed and built in-house over the last 18 months, the new system is being soft launched over the coming month. Five cruise specialist retailers – Barrhead Travel, Cruise.co.uk, Cruise 1st, Iglu and Cruise Nation – will be the first to gain access, with more agencies going live each week during September. The new system has been designed to make it easier for agents to book MSC Cruises’ itineraries and associated products – and is another example of the company’s drive to work more closely with its agent partners, following the launch of its ‘Serving You’ initiative in July. A cleaner graphics-led interface leads users through a simpler booking path, allowing them to book flights, choose cabin type, onboard Experience level (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea and MSC Yacht Club) and dining options, as well as secure extras such as excursions and spa treatments. MSC Book additionally acts as a complete resource centre for the trade, containing comprehensive information about MSC Cruises’ ships, itineraries, ports of call, excursions and latest promotions. Agents can compare potential cruise options for customers and use it to email quotes and booking confirmations. The system also allows users to view potential commission earned on each package. MSC Cruises Executive Director UK and Ireland Giles Hawke, said: “We promised the new booking system when we launched our ‘Serving You’ programme and we have delivered it as planned.“Agents very often say that booking cruises is a time-consuming and complicated process, so we have invested in making it as easy as possible. MSC Book should be a real boon to agents familiar to MSC Cruises as well as a great tool for attracting new retailers.” Versions of MSC Book will be introduced simultaneously in France, Italy and Germany and will eventually replace MSC Cruises’ existing trade booking portal MSC Online, which will be switched off in the UK in November.

European Waterways has declared the 2015 cruise season “the year of the family”European Waterways has declared the 2015 cruise season “the year of the family,” offering up to 10% off the price of whole boat charters on ten of its most popular hotel barges in the fleet.

Since the vessels hold from just 8 to 12 passengers, chartering a hotel barge guarantees a personal, private holiday, with the option to modify family-friendly itineraries to meet the unique needs of the group.

Two of the ten barges with French itineraries ideal for a family-friendly holiday in 2015, include the 8-passenger Anjodi on the Canal du Midi and the 8-passenger L’Art de Vivre in Burgundy.

For more information see: www.gobarging.com

Gary Oliver Becomes Trimline ChairmanGary Oliver, Managing Director of Trimline Ltd, is to become Trimline’s Chairman. The Southampton-based marine interiors specialist has recently undergone significant expansion including the appointment of Andrew Richards as CEO.

Oliver has begun his new role within the company and, using his experience within the industry, he will spend more time meeting with key partners and stakeholders to ensure that Trimline’s key offer is meeting with expectation and demand.

Andrew Richards, CEO at Trimline, said: “The appointment of Gary to this role is a much-needed step for the company. Gary has over 30 years of invaluable experience within the marine interior industry and to ensure that we continue to meet our stakeholders’ needs, he will be perfectly placed to maintain and build strong relationships.”

Gary Oliver, Chairman at Trimline, said: “I am delighted to have taken on this role. The transformation that has happened at Trimline over the last two years is essential for the company to grow and it is only fitting that my role within the company should also grow. I am very much looking forward to spending more time speaking with our stakeholders on a personal basis and ensuring that our commitment to them continues to strengthen.”

Oliver is currently in Hamburg where he will be meeting key stakeholders during the SMM exhibition from the 9-12 September.

MTN Grows European Customer Base and Expands Southampton Office MTN Communications (MTN) announces it has expanded its communications and content business through maritime operators in Europe. As a result, the company has increased its Southampton, UK office staff and space. The MTN Southampton office is one of seven around the world and houses sales, project management, technical and logistics professionals.

MTN attributes growth in Europe to its ongoing transformation of communications on the world’s waterways to make it more akin to a land-like experience. Recent contract wins include the following brands that look to MTN for these innovative services for passengers, offshore employees and crew:

• Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines – an extension of a four-year relationship with this U.K.-based operator including enhanced onboard crew voice and connectivity options, as well as MTN Worldwide TV (MTN TV). • P&O Ferries – Europe’s leading and largest ferry company has selected MTN as its provider for onboard communications for its fleet. This new partnership will serve 11 vessels transporting approximately eight million passengers annually. • Silversea Cruises – a substantial increase in broadband connectivity for this Italian-owned cruise operator includes satellite and Wi-Fi infrastructure upgrades, and broader entertainment, data and voice services.• Technip – an expansion of communications services to vessels in its fleet globally, this leader in project management, engineering and construction for the energy industry is doubling its number of MTN-serviced vessels.• TUI Cruises – an extension to MTN’s existing relationship with this German-based joint venture with Royal Caribbean and TUI AG to provide communications and content onboard its two new builds.

MTN brings a history of pioneering several industry firsts, including an inaugural live video broadcast at sea for the U.S. Government, the first Internet café on a cruise ship and an unmatched live, worldwide maritime television service. In addition, MTN launched the industry’s first hybrid satellite and terrestrial maritime broadband communications network as part of an ecosystem of advanced computing and caching solutions.

“MTN brings extensive maritime communications experience to Europe, along with a tenured staff and partner base in the region,” said Chris Leber, executive vice president, commercial business development, MTN. “We are known for innovating new solutions that exceed the requirements of passengers and crew today. Our focus includes addressing the needs of the exploding Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) passenger and crew community. We are very excited to welcome new MTN employees and customers in the region.”

Celebrity Cruises sweeps Wine Spectator Restaurant Wine List Awards

Celebrity Cruises’ extensive wine programme has been recognised, once again, in the Wine Spectator 2014 Restaurant Wine List Awards. Ten of 12 prestigious honours in the cruise category were awarded to Celebrity Cruises for its impressive wine lists that are featured onboard each of its 11 ships.

The publication’s “Award of Excellence,” is given for wine lists that offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. This is the second year that cruise lines have been included in the awards, which have honoured the world’s best wine lists since 1981.

“To be chosen by Wine Spectator for ten of the highest honours in the cruise category for the second consecutive year is exciting and reconfirms our commitment to developing a wine

programme that represents quality, innovation and an unmatched variety in the cruise industry,” said Chanelle Duarte, Beverage Consultant, Celebrity Cruises. “It’s an honour to receive these prestigious awards and to be recognised for having a serious wine programme.”

On average, Celebrity Cruises’ main restaurants have over 400 wines available, featuring an extensive global collection of fine wines carefully selected to match both the blend of classic and contemporary cuisine available onboard and the diverse destinations visited across the world. Each of Celebrity Cruises’ onboard speciality restaurants also have their own unique wine lists, created with the style of the dining menu in mind.

Designed to please the wide range of Celebrity Cruises’ guests, from the novice wine drinker to the most ardent enthusiast, the wine lists are presented with the wines grouped by flavour profiles. In building the list, each wine was carefully reviewed by the cruise line’s team of wine professionals and rated based on its characteristics.

Celebrity Cruises also offers a variety of onboard activities and experiences that immerse guests in wine education and enjoyment. These include Riedel comparative wine glass workshops, wine and food pairing events, wine tastings and more. In addition, Celebrity Cruises’ guests have access to 22 highly trained sommeliers, as well as a Cellar Master onboard each ship. Celebrity Cruises’ team of expertly trained sommeliers prides itself on enhancing guests’ wine experience. Each sommelier goes through extensive training on wine fundamentals, including viticulture, wine making and food and wine pairing; regional knowledge; tasting skills; storytelling, which helps sommeliers bring wines to life by painting a picture of its producer, grape varietal, region or even the origin of its label; and future trends.

For more information or to book, call 0845 456 0523, visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk or speak to your travel agent.

Celebrity Cruises to Sell Celebrity Century to CtripRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell the Celebrity Cruises’ ship Celebrity Century to Exquisite Marine Ltd., a holding company led by Ctrip.com International Ltd. (NASDAQ: CTRP). The sale will result in a non-cash loss of approximately $20 million dollars. This loss will be excluded from the adjusted net income in the third quarter results. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will continue to operate Celebrity Century until April 2015.

“Since its inaugural sailing, Celebrity Century has created many wonderful memories for hundreds of thousands of guests, and we expect this successful history to continue as she transitions to the Chinese cruise market,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “The vessel’s sale is an excellent business opportunity for both Royal Caribbean and Ctrip, and will generate strong value for both companies’ shareholders.”

Celebrity Century will complete its scheduled sailings throughout the 22 March 2015 itinerary. The 15-night, Dubai to Rome sailing on 5 April 2015 is being redeployed to a 14-night sailing from Dubai to Singapore. Guests with affected individual bookings and named group bookings on Celebrity Century’s 5 April 2015 sailing from Dubai to Rome have the option to either cancel their booking and receive a full refund or move to an alternative sailing and receive a re-accommodation onboard credit as well as compensation to cover air change fees. Guests with reservations affected by the transition will be proactively contacted by Celebrity Cruises. Guests and Travel Agents with specific questions are welcome to call 01932 835945

Celebrity Century joined the Celebrity Cruises fleet in December 1995, and was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. The 71,545-ton ship carries 1,814 guests (double occupancy) and 860 crew.

Three of a Kind: Ovation of the Seas to Join Quantum Class as Third Smartship

On the cusp of delivering the first in a new generation of technologically advanced cruise ships Royal Caribbean International marked an important milestone today as the first piece of steel was cut marking the official construction start on the third Quantum class ship.

The steel cutting for Ovation of the Seas, scheduled to be delivered in the autumn of 2016, took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and now Ovation of the Seas are being built.

The groundbreaking Quantum class ships will debut new unprecedented features, such as dancing Roboscreens in the unique Two70 entertainment venue; robotic bartenders in Bionic Bar; RipCord by iFLY, the first skydiving experience at sea; the North Star, an engineering marvel that transports guests more than 300 feet above the ocean; transformative venues, such as Sea-Plex, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, roller skating and more; and the cruise line’s largest and most advanced staterooms ever, including the industry’s first-ever Virtual Balcony staterooms, which offer expansive, real-time views of the ocean and exciting destinations for interior staterooms.

The Quantum class will debut in autumn 2014 with Quantum of the Seas sailing from New York followed by her sister-ship Anthem of the Seas in spring 2015 sailing from Southampton in the UK. Quantum ships span 16 decks, encompass 167,800 gross registered tonnes, carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy and feature 2,090 staterooms.

More information on the Quantum class ships is available at http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/QuantumoftheSeas.

Stockholm Hosts Cruise Baltic Steering Group Meeting August has seen new Director of Cruise Baltic, Claus Bødker and his newly-formed marketing team co-ordinate and hold their FIRST Steering Group Meeting for partners in Stockholm, hosted by the Scandic Grand Central Hotel. Introducing the 2-day Agenda and welcoming an audience of 30 plus delegates - representing 22 Baltic destinations - Claus Bødker spoke of his first three months in his new role. His main objective was to focus on meeting as many Cruise Baltic partners as possible in order to hear their views on cruise industry factors and the current issues facing the Baltic Sea region. Claus Bødker commented: “It has been very rewarding for me to hear of the partners’ considerable enthusiasm, passion and knowledge. With the considerable industry challenges facing us, in particular the introduction of ECA, with effect from 1 January, 2015, we need to ensure that as a region we need to make it even more financially attractive for the cruise lines to visit the Baltic Sea. “Our most important priority as a network is to work closely together, identifying industry issues which face us and at all times communicate consistently with both cruise lines and travel agents, together with keeping the travel and shipping trade media informed.” Joining the meeting delegates were prestigious guest speakers, who spoke on various industry topics. These were: * Bob McGowan, Head of Customer Services, Cruise & Maritime Voyages; An introduction to the fleet and “Exceptional Value Destination Cruising”* Tine Oelmann, Director Port Operations, Shore Excursions and Groundhandling, TUI Cruises – “Shore Excursions in the Baltic Sea”* Esteban Biondi, Associate Principal, Applied Technology and Management, Inc. – “Cruise Destination Sustainability:* Bo Madsen, Regional Manager, Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services- “The Future of Shorex” * and Irek Stankiewicz, Baltic Gateway, who joined the Speaker Discussion PanelAn important part of Claus Bødker’s presentation included an informative “Industry View” providing statistical updates, revealing that 1 in 5 global ocean cruise passengers choose to sail in the Baltic - and featuring: Cruise Ship Capacity Deployment Trends 2008 – 2014; the Cruise Ship Order Book 2015-2017; and Top 10 Cruise Source Markets. The varied programme over two days featured breakout sessions when delegates attended Destination and Port Workshops and the opportunity to meet individually with the cruise line guests. All joined an educational evening tour to Stockholm Frihamnen Port Terminal; and boat trip over to the ABBA Museum and the Vasa Museum. In this its 10th Anniversary year, Cruise Baltic will be sharing a stand with Cruise Norway at Seatrade Med next month from 14 -16 September in Barcelona.

Left to right: Tine Oelmann, Director Port Operations, Shore Excursions and Groundhandling, TUI Cruises; Bob McGowan, Head of Customer Services, Cruise & Maritime Voyages; and Claus Bødker, Director, Cruise Baltic

Expedition ship HANSEATIC sets new record for passenger ships The expedition ship HANSEATIC of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has set a new record for passenger ships in the Northeast Passage. Yesterday afternoon (August 26, 2014), the 122.8-metre-long ship reached the northernmost point at 85°, 40.7’ north and 135°, 39.6’ east. At this latitude, the HANSEATIC was just 480 kilometres from the North Pole.

Captain Thilo Natke comments: “Unusual ice conditions made this record possible. North of the New Siberian Islands in the Russian Arctic, there was a large ice-free zone stretching north through the Arctic Ocean, which we used for this spontaneous detour.” In temperatures of around zero degrees and a brisk north-easterly wind, the passengers took a Zodiac ride along the edge of the pack ice. This event was then celebrated in style with a party on deck. The expedition through the Northeast Passage set off from Nome/Alaska on 12 August 2014 and will continue on to Severnaya Zemlya in the next few days. It will feature expeditionary landings followed by cruises through the Kara Sea, Novaya Zemlya, the Barents Sea, Murmansk (end of the Northeast Passage), Hammerfest/Norway and Bodö/Norway, where the expedition will come to an end on 10 September 2014. The expedition ship HANSEATICThe 5-star* HANSEATIC was built to provide intensive exploration in the most elegant surroundings for a maximum of 175 guests. The design of the ship – including the highest ice class for passenger ships (E4) – allows HANSEATIC to travel to destinations previously inaccessible to a cruise ship. Guests explore the world’s best-kept secrets in zodiacs (small motorized boats) with only 10-12 guests. On-board experts include a team of experienced scientists, expedition leaders and specialists who guide landings and offer guests the rare opportunity to observe plant and animal life up close. However, what makes these expedition adventures standout for guests is the security of knowing that highly experienced captains are guiding the vessels and have together already travelled to the Arctic and Antarctica more than 200 times. * According to the Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2014

Reservations: Please call +49 40 3001-4580 (English-speaking hotline), send an e-mail to salesteam@hlkf.de or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local agents.

AmaWaterways appoints Paul Sharp as business development managerAward-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways has announced the appointment of Paul Sharp as business development manager, working alongside the existing UK team of Fay McCormack (General Manager, AmaWaterways UK), Natalie O’Mahoney (UK Sales Manager) and Hannah Logan (Sales Support Executive).

Paul has an impressive track record in the cruise business, having worked on board P&O Cruises as shore excursions manager for five years before returning to dry land to work for TUI and Carnival UK in sales. His most recent appointment was as head of sales for The River Cruise Line, a position that has given him an in-depth perspective on river cruising and allowed him to build excellent relationships with the travel trade. Paul says: “I am delighted to be joining AmaWaterways at a very exciting point in time. With three new ships joining the fleet in 2015, heightened awareness of the fact that river cruising is the fastest growing sector of the UK cruise market and more and more travel agents recognising the superb support and fantastic product that AmaWaterways offers, I am sure that the brand will go from strength to strength in the very near future and am thrilled to be a part of this.”

For more information about AmaWaterways’ luxury river cruises contact AmaWaterways on freephone 0808 256 8422,www.amawaterways.co.uk

Silversea Completes Inaugural Expedition Through The Famed Northwest Passage

Luxury expedition cruise specialist Silversea’s 132-guest Silver Explorer has successfully completed the company’s first-ever journey through the legendary Northwest Passage.

The 23-day voyage commenced in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on the 9th August and concluded in Nome, Alaska on the 1st September. It covered a distance of nearly 3,500 nautical miles, following a route through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago similar to Roald Amundsen’s momentous east-to-west expedition of 1903 to 1906, the first successful navigation by boat through the passage.“Sailing the Northwest Passage is an experience reserved for true adventurers and dedicated explorers,” said Conrad Combrink, Silversea’s Director of Expedition Planning and Strategic Development. “We are honoured to know that what was once an unfulfilled dream for such renowned explorers as Captain James Cook, Henry Hudson, and many others, is now a successful chapter in the history of Silversea Expeditions.”

The Northwest Passage is famous for its shallow channels and floating ice. Although summer ice conditions have permitted a number of successful transits since Amundsen’s expedition, the passage can still present challenges. The small-sized Silver Explorer, with her shallow draft, ice-strengthened hull, 1A ice class certification, and Captain Alexander Golubev at the helm, is well suited to take on such missions.

“It’s a special privilege to sail through the world’s most elusive and historic waterways. Such a journey requires careful and meticulous planning at every stage,” said Golubev, who has led over 50 voyages to the Arctic, Antarctic and Greenland. In an abundance of caution, Captain Golubev enlisted the services of an icebreaker to escort Silver Explorer through a critical portion of the route. “I’m pleased that all our strategising and preparations resulted in success for Silversea’s first-ever Northwest Passage expedition, and I’m very grateful to be among a small group of mariners who have experienced such an extraordinary opportunity during their careers.” Silversea is a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), dedicated to managing respectable, environmentally friendly and safe expedition cruising in the Arctic.

(Pictured left to right, Hannah Logan, Paul Sharp and Natalie O’Mahoney)

COMPAGNIE DU PONANT is changing its name to become PONANT thus reaffirming the strong link between the brand and its iconic three-mast, first vessel of the fleet, which is a the core of the brand identity.The name PONANT is shorter, easier to remember and has a stronger visual impact. The allegory of the ‘three sails’ of the logo has been retained with firmer lines to convey a new energy. With its new name, the only French cruise line is reiterating its commitment to grow business internationally while remaining loyal to its origin as well as the core values behind its success – to discover the treasures of the World by sea, on board luxury small capacity ships flying the French flag.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is named one of the Top 3 cruise lines in the UK and a ‘Recommended Provider’ in first-ever Which? cruise survey Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has been named one of the Top 3 cruise lines in the UK and awarded Which? Travel’s prestigious ‘Recommended Provider’ accolade, in its first-ever dedicated cruise survey. The influential independent consumer body conducted an online poll of 1,327 Which? members in April 2014, and Fred. Olsen was voted joint second out of the 14 cruise companies rated, receiving a customer satisfaction score of 85% out of 100%.

The cruise lines – which also included Hurtigruten, Saga Cruises, Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, Riviera Travel, P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Thomson, Viking River Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Cruise & Maritime – were each allocated a star rating, based on cabin quality, food, size of cruise ship, onboard facilities, shore excursions, ‘description matching reality’ and value for money, with Fred. Olsen scoring 25 stars out of a possible 35.

One Which? member interviewed in the cruise survey commented: “We’ve cruised with Fred. Olsen nine times and have always been comfortable, been served excellent food and visited interesting ports.”

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:“We are very proud to be recognised as one of only three cruise lines recommended by Which? as offering exceptional customer service, an excellent holiday experience and great value for money.

“In my opinion, the Which? survey is a genuine and independent indicator of quality and service. Which? is the largest consumer body in the UK, with over 600,000 members, and their views are trusted by UK buyers. Therefore, ‘Recommended Provider’ status is a mark of trust for Fred. Olsen. I believe that these independent surveys, based on customer scores, are a more valuable guide to consumers than simply awards given by votes, where the biggest brands will always have the advantage.

“The results of the survey show that UK cruise guests are looking for a more intimate, smaller ship experience, from ‘right on their doorstep’, and Fred. Olsen offers more ex-UK departures than any other cruise line. We know that this is a key factor in our customers returning to us time and time again.“Fred. Olsen may be smaller than other brands in the survey, but we are big on quality, service and value for money.”

Fred. Olsen operates a fleet of four, smaller-sized ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – and is renowned for ‘Bringing the world closer to you’, offering an extensive range of worldwide cruise destinations from 10 convenient, regional UK departure ports – Southampton, Dover, Harwich, Tilbury, Avonmouth (Bristol), Liverpool, Newcastle, Greenock (Glasgow), Rosyth (Edinburgh), and Belfast.

Fred. Olsen has been named ‘Best Affordable Cruise Line’ in the ‘Cruise International Awards’ for two years’ running, voted for entirely by the magazine’s readers, and was awarded last year’s runner-up ‘Best Cruise Line’. Leading cruise consumer website Cruise Critic has also voted Fred. Olsen ‘Best Value for Money’ in its ‘Editors’ Picks UK Awards’ for two consecutive years.

Fred. Olsen is proud to be the only UK travel company to receive a coveted ‘Gold Award’ from leading consumer review website Feefo, having achieved a 95% service rating of ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ in over 8,000 genuine, independent guest reviews in 2013.

CLIA successfully gathers world’s cruise lines, ports and destinations community in BarcelonaCLIA, the association representing the global cruise industry, has successfully demonstrated its commitment to actively engage with the port and destination community by creating an inclusive industry platform to exchange ideas on opportunities and find solutions to challenges lying ahead.

CLIA’s European Port & Destination Summit 2014 has taken place today at Barcelona’s Hilton Hotel just one day before the city hosts the Seatrade Med Cruise Convention. With a fresh, new format, today’s Summit was fully subscribed and included a number of roundtable discussions, presentations, and concurrent sessions. It brought together 170 delegates from 30 countries, primarily representatives from port authorities, destinations, shore excursion operators, and port agents; as well as 30 senior cruise line executives.

Participants had unique opportunities to interact and network with cruise lines executives at the highest levels.Participants were welcomed in the morning with keynote speeches by Christine Duffy, CLIA’s President and CEO, and Howard Frank, CLIA’s Global Chairman, focusing on the need for cruise lines, ports and destinations who face common challenges to continue working and growing together.

Christine Duffy, CLIA’s President and CEO, said:“With the global cruise industry achieving strong year-on-year growth, CLIA’s member cruise lines are continuously launching new and exciting itineraries around the world. The need to engage with the ports and destinations our ships visit is of crucial importance to us. Today’s Summit serves the industry well as a platform to foster high-level discussions on common opportunities and challenges while enhancing relationships between cruise lines, ports, destinations and service providers.”

Bo Larsen, CLIA’s Global Director of Port Engagement and Business Development, said:“The list of key topics discussed during the day included port infrastructure, destination development, and itinerary planning. We have systematically collected the feedback received during today’s sessions and in the coming months, CLIA’s Global and European Port & Destination committees will use this valuable input to focus our work in the areas most relevant for ongoing engagement with our partners and stakeholders.“We will certainly repeat today’s Port & Destination Summit with a new edition next year and look to expand this program in other regions around the world.”

Winter 2014/15 shore excursions from Thomson Cruises on sale

Thomson Cruises’ exciting new winter 2014/15 Shore Excursion programme is now on sale. Customers can browse and book excursions online before travelling, with advance bookings offering great savings on the on-board price.

Sailing from Montego Bay in Jamaica, the brand new home port for Thomson Dream, means that customers can experience some exciting new tropical destinations, with no other UK or US cruise line offering as many Havana visits and no UK cruise line with as many Mexican ports of call.

With new ports of call added, Thomson Cruises customers can now experience the beautiful country of Belize. Excursions added to the new port of call mean that guests can go on a historic airboat adventure tour at the Almond Hill Lagoon for a chance to take in the scenery and exotic wildlife, choose to see the Lamanai Temples or even try some cave tubing. With Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe added as a new port, guests can take a panoramic tour of the Butterfly Island or a tour of the uninhabited Caret Islet to explore, swim, sunbathe and enjoy Caribbean music and cocktails.

Puerto Limon is also new for winter, so guests can have a nose around Costa Rica’s sloth sanctuary which is also home to a range of other interesting animals, or enjoy a trip through the rainforest via aerial tram.

Another must see for this winter is the Panama Canal. Guests can choose to ride alongside the canal via the famous Panama Canal Railway and touch two oceans in a day. Or, take a boat ride through a section of this famous waterway. Other amazing sights and adventures available include the ever popular Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica and a trip to the amazing Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins from Cozumel in Mexico, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.”

Along with the traditional favourites, Thomson Cruises aims to offer something a little bit different, from a sightseeing tour with an open bar and traditional Afro-Colombian music on a decorated open-top Chiva bus in Columbia to an adventure treasure hunt-style race in St Maarten.

Helen Caron, Managing Director of Thomson Cruises said, “As with all of our excursions, we’ve hand-picked some great new additions to the winter 2014/15 programme, which we’re confident our customers will enjoy. We’re very excited for the Thomson Dream to move to its new home and begin the Jamaica programme meaning that our customers can visit the likes of Cuba, Costa Rica and Panama to experience some amazing excursions such as the Panama Canal tour and Sloth sanctuary rainforest tour in Costa Rica. Our excursions are very popular and often sell out, so allowing customers extra time to plan ahead and book their excursions before they’ve even left home ensures they get to experience everything on their ‘must-see’ list for their cruise.”

Please visit http://cruiseexcursions.thomson.co.uk, your local Thomson travel shop, or call 0871 687 0377 to book.

Sit back and relax on the new Emerald City Trolley service to Woodinville

Visitors can now connect to both the Warehouse and Hollywood Winery Districts with the Woodinville Wine Shuttle.

Just 30 minutes northeast of Seattle, Woodinville Wine Country is home to over 100 wineries and tasting rooms representing every appellation in WashingtonOperating the first and third Saturday in August, September and October 2014 from 12:00pm-5:00pm.More information on http://www.emeraldcitytrolley.com/woodinville-winery.aspx

Princess Cruises Wins Top Industry Award

Princess Cruises has been named ‘Best Cruise Line’ at the UK Cruise Awards 2014.

The award was voted for by readers of Cruise International Magazine and is the one of the most prestigious UK industry honours. Princess Cruises was additionally highly commended in the ‘Best Cruise Ship’ (for Regal Princess), ‘Best for Food’ and ‘Best for Enrichment’ categories.

The award caps a memorable 12 months for Princess Cruises, which has seen the line feature in a four-part ITV television series, launch the 3,560-guest Regal Princess and announce the construction of its 19th ship.

Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises’ Managing Director UK and Europe, said: “This award is testament to the hard work of all staff, both ship and shore alike, who have ensured we are industry pioneers while always giving guests the best possible on board service. It is a great tribute to be named the best of the best.”

The awards were hosted by actress and presenter, Julie Peasgood.

CruiseForth set sail to Barcelona to promote East of Scotland destinationsAn innovative project which is creating opportunities for the visitor business market with cruise ships arriving in the River Forth, will be extending its engagement to Europe later this month. Cruise Forth, which was established in Rosyth in 2012, and has delivered over 3000 passengers to Dunfermline in the last three cruise seasons, will be attending the European Seatrade Exhibition in Barcelona (16/18 September).

CruiseForth’s attendance at Seatrade comes on the back of another successful year for the cruise market on the Firth of Forth, operated by Forth Ports, who welcome over 80 ships a year at Rosyth, South Queensferry, Leith and a new anchorage in Newhaven, bringing a welcome boost to Scotland’s tourist market. The cruise market is an important and growing contributor to the local economy. The industry generated around £50 million for the Scottish economy in 2013, a rise of 5% on 2012, and east central Scotland now sees over 80,000 passengers arriving into the east coast destinations each year.

CruiseForth, having grown into a permanent presence at the Rosyth cruise terminal through its team of Welcome Volunteers, expanded to South Queensferry in 2013, where ships carrying up to 3000 passengers disembark at Hawes Pier, and to the Leith Cruise Terminal in 2014 where it works with Leith Chamber of Commerce members, and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Project Manager Peter Wilson, explained, “CruiseForth was conceived by members of the local tourism association in Dunfermline and West Fife who could see the cruise ship traffic at Rosyth, but had no engagement with it, and port operator Forth Ports, in 2011. Three years on significant advances have been made for local taxi and tour operators, and a wide variety of attractions, who now have opportunities to promote their offer to cruise ship operators and their passengers through partnership working with inbound destination excursion companies.

“We now have a dedicated welcome service provided by volunteers from the Forth Bridges Tourist Group. This has been in operation at Rosyth since 2012 and North Queensferry since 2013 and we have extended the service to Leith this year. We have had great feedback and the success of the volunteers has been recognised with a nomination for a Scottish Thistle Award (Scotland’s tourism industry ‘Oscars’) in the Warmest Welcome category.

“We have also made improvements to the facilities for passengers at Rosyth and funded a courtesy bus service to Dunfermline, funded by Fife Council. At Queensferry the welcome volunteers hand out local maps of the town, explain travel options and are trialling a courtesy bus to Hopetoun House. In Leith, a number of local businesses have seen an increase in trade through information provided in the terminal or on-board. We have also invested in promotion, including a dedicated website www.cruiseforth.com, cruise magazine and targeted advertising.”

Alistair Bruce, General Manager of the Best Western Plus Keavil House Hotel, and Chair of the local tourist association which created the project said “The CruiseForth initiative has identified a gap in the tourism market, and established an excellent promotional and information sharing business. The benefits to Dunfermline and West Fife with the huge uplift in day visitors speaks for itself, but the future potential to involve the local hotel sector in ‘stay and cruise’ opportunities is just one example of the way in which this idea may grow further.”

Ron Kitchin, Managing Director of The Kitchin Restaurant, and Chair of Leith Chamber of Commerce welcomed the development of the project into Leith this year. “What an entrepreneurial and proactive initiative this is, and what a success it is becoming with winners all round from the Cruise liner companies, guests/passengers from all over the world, local and national business, Scotland, and indeed all the volunteers who so clearly love welcoming and assisting all the passengers, helping to improve their cruising experience whilst showcasing all we have to offer.”

Diane Brown, manager of Queensferry Ambtion, the local BID company in South Queensferry said “For many years there has been concern that local businesses don’t benefit from the arrival of so many cruise passengers at the Hawes Pier. Through CruiseForth, businesses get advance information on which ship is arriving, where what language passengers speak, and the programme of excursions planned, - all of which help to improve the engagement on arrival. The development of the courtesy bus to Hopetoun House has meant that an increasing number of passengers are now seeing more of our historic town and what we have to offer.”

Nik Scott- Gray, Business Development Manager at Forth Ports Ltd said “The emergence of CruiseForth complements our strategy of promoting the east coast destinations to the international cruise market. The interface which the CruiseForth project provides between the passengers and the visitor business community has made a positive difference to the way in which shipping companies and the excursion companies view the arrival of their ships and their passengers at their destination. A warm friendly welcome goes a long way and we hope this will see an increase in demand from operators.”

Portsmouth International Port gets social to #lovecruise

The wide range of cruise destinations available from Portsmouth International Port will be highlighted this month, as the travel industry celebrates Cruise Week.

Organised by CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), the seven days from 27th September will see a huge amount of online activity promoting the British cruise industry. Sharing pictures and information using the #lovecruise hashtag; specialist agents, operators and ports will show potential passengers the exciting destinations available.

Portsmouth International Port has a long established presence on Facebook and Twitter, and has recently adopted Instagram as another social media channel. It will use all three to share images and details of cruises from Portsmouth, also contributing to an enticing gallery of pictures being built on the CLIA Facebook page.

CLIA Europe is promoting cruising on and from the continent during the same week. Portsmouth is growing in popularity as a destination in its own right, and there has been an increase in cruise lines from Europe calling at the waterfront city, with German tourists particularly keen to visit the world class

The 3rd Seatrade Winter Cruising Forum is heading for Cartagena, Spain, 21-22 January 2015 and will look at the ever-increasing popularity of winter cruising

Since the inaugural Seatrade Winter Cruising Forum in Malta in 2008, increasing cruise passengers numbers have continued to demonstrate that the concept of winter cruising to warmer climes continues to grow from strength to strength, with a growing number of cruise lines adding these itineraries to their programmes.

As well as the promise of more moderate temperatures, the other key appeal for travellers is the reduced number of tourists at key visitor attractions in the Mediterranean region.

Seasonal cruising is a worldwide trend, with the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asia all year-round destinations. Winter cruising in Norway and Christmas markets in Northern Europe is attracting growing numbers of new to cruise and seasoned travellers alike, whilst the Middle East is a firmly established winter cruising arena. However, the concept is not without challenges; comprehensive itinerary planning and in some regions, weatherproof shorex options are essential, but as more ports and destinations expand their winter product offering and more ships are deployed year-round regionally, there is scope for further growth.

The 2015 Seatrade Winter Cruising Forum in Cartagena will bring together ports, tourism authorities and other cruise industry stakeholders for an informative conference to discuss strategies for additional deployment of cruise vessels to the region. There will be a strong focus on the entire Mediterranean and its adjoining seas, as well as presenting to the cruise operators an overall view of the facilities and attractions Cartagena and the Region of Murcia offer to the cruise passengers as an all-the-year-round destination. In addition, there will be discussions on the development of winter cruise itineraries for destinations further afield and lessons learnt so far.

The forum will also feature a dedicated workshop on the Mediterranean, focusing on both the success stories and the issues confronting the region as it continues to lead the way as an year-round cruise arena. Following tailored conference sessions, the workshop will give regional destinations an opportunity to present their product and services to the cruise lines in one-on-one pre-scheduled meetings.

Upon announcement of the Seatrade Winter Cruising Forum coming to Cartagena, Antonio Sevilla, president of the Port Authority of Cartagena, expressed his delight: “One of the Port of Cartagena’s main goals is to consolidate its business. During the last few years, we are witnessing an increase in cruising in the Mediterranean region. The Port of Cartagena is also increasing its cruise business, with more and more calls, attracting 115 ships and more than 134,000 passengers last year. Our next challenge is to expand the seasonality of cruise ship visits in Cartagena and to attract vessels also in winter season, in order to generate more benefits from this tourist activity.”

tourist attractions on offer. Staff in the Port’s communications team will be posting pictures of the fabulous landmarks and historical sights that can be found right on the doorstep of Portsmouth International Port.

Passengers too can take part in this week long cruise extravaganza. Staff at Portsmouth International Port are always keen to see pictures from holidays that start at the Port. Anyone wishing to share their great cruise experience from Portsmouth can tag their photos with #lovecruise hashtag @portsmouthport on Twitter, portsmouthinternationalport on the Facebook timeline and portsmouthintport on Instagram.

In the UK passengers will see tempting reports and special offers in The Mail on Sunday, Daily Mirror, Evening Standard, The Spectator, Family Traveller, and Telegraph – which has a regular Cruise Style supplement with Cruise Week information.- See more at: http://www.portsmouth-port.co.uk/news/2374/Portsmouth%20International%20Port%20gets%20social%20to#lovecruise

P&O Cruises UK - Britain’s Biggest Cruise Ship Revs Up Her Engines

There was great excitement at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste in Italy today as the engines of Britain’s biggest cruise ship, Britannia, were started up for the first time by Formula One racing presenter Suzi Perry. Also on hand were Captain of the Britannia, Paul Brown and chief engineer, Sinclair Ross.

When working to full capacity, Britannia’s four engines will generate 62.4 Megawatts or 84,000 horsepower which is equivalent to the power generated by 168 supercars, allowing the 141,000 ton ship to cruise at a speed of 22 knots.

When the biggest ship built for the British cruise market sets sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton to the Mediterranean on March 14, 2015 it will mark a change in holidays at sea.

CMV add rivers to their new brochure Cruise Operator, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has issued a new brochure for 2015. It is the 2nd edition of CMV’s 2015 programme and now includes the details of 18 river cruises. A number of incentives are available for booking early - before 31 October 2014, including reductions up to 30% plus ‘Buy on get one half price’ deals. Flagship Marco Polo will celebrate 50 years of success in 2015 highlighted with a 50th Golden Anniversary sailing to Canada and Greenland. CMV has already added the 550 passenger Azores to their fleet for 2015 along side Marco Polo and Astor. Azores will operate year round sailings with the first departure from Bristol - Avonmouth on 26th January 2015 with a 30 night CMV Maiden Voyage to the West Indies. The ship will also be sailing from Hull and London Tilbury. Astor offers voyages to and from Australia plus a selection of cruises starting in Australia. CMV includes ocean cruise departures from London – Tilbury, Bristol – Avonmouth, Edinburgh – Leith, Rosyth, Hull and Newcastle. The CMV ‘Cruise Collection 2015’ includes more than 50 ocean sailings from December 2014 through until October 2015. Prices start from £159pp for a two night Amsterdam cruise. Details of the 2015 river cruise programme are included for the first time. Following last year’s successful introductory river programme of 7 cruises there are 18 choices featuring Bellejour, Belvedere and Bellefleur – the vessels of sister company TransOcean Kreuzfahrten. The river boats carry between 150 – 180 passengers. Next year the company includes more alternative riverboat itineraries from 6 to 14 night durations taking in the Rhine, Moselle, Rhone, Danube and Saone. Chris Coates, Commercial Director of CMV commented, “We continue to receive high praise for our cruises which is confirmed by the fact we are almost sold out for 2014. From more than 20,000 customer questionnaires 95% endorse they were satisfied and enjoyed their cruising experience with CMV. There is no doubt in our minds that a traditional British style cruise experience with good service, good food and good entertainment on a smaller country house style of ship, remains a popular choice for many.”

Check online for all details of all CMV cruises Watch more information about these and other departures at www.cruiseandmaritime.tv

Copyright James Morgan

Hebridean Island Cruises wins best ‘Adventure Cruise Line’ at the 2014 Food and Travel Reader Awards At the 2014 Food and Travel Reader Awards, during a glitzy ceremony held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park last week (1 September), small luxury cruise line Hebridean Island Cruises was delighted to win best ‘Adventure Cruise Line of the year’.

Jonathan Moffatt, sales manager for Hebridean, says: “We are very proud to have received this award from Food & Travel which every year honour the best of the best in the worlds of food, drink and travel. The award recognises the dedication of all crew and staff afloat and ashore, as well as the loyalty of our guests. Our thanks go to each and every one of them, as well as to the readers of Food & Travel Magazine.”

Hebridean Princess is the smallest luxury cruise ship afloat and with its 30 cabins (max. capacity 50 pax), offers its passengers bespoke services as well as incredible itineraries off the rugged coast of Scotland. The food served on board is locally sourced and carefully prepared by the chef who only uses the freshest products every day.For further information, visit www.hebridean.co.uk or call (01756) 704 700

Seadream Yacht Club Highlights ‘Crew-Led Shoreside Casuals for the 2014/2015 Caribbean Season SeaDream Yacht Club announces ‘crew-led’ excursions for the Autumn and Winter 2014/2015 season in the Caribbean’s most beautiful islands. Known as “shore-side casuals” among past guests, the veteran crew onboard the 112-guest twin mega-yachts lead complimentary shore tours to their favourite spots on the islands, accessible by SeaDream I and SeaDream II, where larger ships, with their more formal tours, can seldom venture. “The intimate size and casually elegant service onboard SeaDream gives guests a true yachting experience in the Caribbean,” shares Andy Magowan, SeaDream’s Vice President, UK & Western Europe: “That experience is delivered equally well ashore, as our crew share their favourite leisure activities on the islands through one-of-a-kind shore excursions.” SeaDream Yacht Club offers a myriad of ‘crew-led’, complimentary shore excursions in numerous destinations giving guests many opportunities to explore their surroundings. A walk through Old San Juan to the El Morro Fortress offers guests the chance to explore the region’s rich history, while a circumnavigation bike ride on the tiny island paradise of Nevis is one of many ways for guests to enjoy the unspoiled serenity of natural Caribbean settings. With 10 mountain bikes onboard each mega-yacht, guests can bike to the secluded beaches including Flamenco Beach in Culebra, the intimate coves in Esperanza and Shoal Bay in Anguilla. Nature preserves like the Turtle Sanctuary in Bequia and watching the dolphins at Soper’s Hole are led by crew. For the most ambitious, a tour circumnavigating the island of Nevis or mountain biking to the bottom of Saba are popular ways to work off a delicious lunch. Guests on SeaDream this season can enjoy crew-led hikes on many of the smaller islands in the Caribbean. One of the many highlights of shore side casuals includes an incredible hike on the tiny island of Culebrita. Part of a wildlife refuge and located approximately one mile east of the island of Culebra, this tiny island is a nature lover’s paradise. Led by a knowledgeable crewmember, guests will hike to the only remaining Spanish-era structure in the Culebra archipelago, which is also the only permanent structure on the island. After taking in the views, guests will head to Playa Tortuga (Turtle Beach), which is named for the many sea turtles that use the beach for breeding grounds and surrounding waters for grazing. Fully-inclusive yachting fares lead in at £1,844pp, based on double occupancy, for a 6-night voyage aboard SeaDream II, departing on 30 November, 2014, sailing from San Juan to St Thomas. Alternatively for a 7-night voyage aboard SeaDream I, departing 6 December, 2014, sailing round-trip from St Thomas, fares lead in at £1,995pp, based on double occupancy.

Introducing Hurtigruten’s Northern Lights promise …. If the lights are not visible from your ship, we will arrange another voyage for free!

Seeing the Northern Lights regularly tops the polls of Brits Bucket list travel experiences. However, it can be hard to know how to maximise your chances of seeing the lights. Well, Hurtigruten are so confident that a voyage on one of their ships gives you the best opportunity to see them, that they have become the first operator to introduce a Northern lights promise, and if the lights are not visible from your ship, they will give you a second voyage – for free!

So, how does it work? Well, all you need to do is book an 11 night Classic Round Voyage before 30 November 2014, for departure between 1 October 2014 and 31 March 2015. Our crews will be scouring the night skies for an appearance of the dancing light show. If they do appear, an announcement will be made to everyone on-board, and will be verified by the Captain (or nominated officer).If the lights do not make an appearance, we will give you a choice of a 7 day Classic Voyage North, or 6 day Classic Voyage South in an inside twin cabin (full board basis), departing between 1 October 2015 and 31 March 2016. Flights are not included.

Philip Price, Hurtigruten commented “It has been a truly spectacular couple of years for sightings of the Northern Lights in Northern Norway. If you take a Classic Round Voyage with us, you will spend 7 days out of the 12 under the key “aurora oval” area. We cannot of course guarantee that you will see the lights during their voyage (only Mother Nature can do that), but we can do the next best thing which is to promise that if the lights

prove elusive, we will give you another opportunity to see them next year”.

The 12 day Classic Round Voyage hugs the Norwegian coastline from Bergen up to Kirkenes, where it turns around and starts its journey south. Travelling on a Hurtigruten ship along the coast of Norway really does offer one of the best ways to experience this magical phenomenon. As well as passing directly beneath the auroral zone, the ships sail away from the light pollution on land – another way of enhancing the likelihood of an occurrence of the magical light show.

Dr John Mason MBE, renowned astronomer, aurora-hunter and Principal Lecturer at the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester, commented: “For the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights, you need to stay in the auroral zone or be near to it. This is a narrow ring, roughly around the Arctic Circle, that passes right over northern Norway. Hurtigruten’s voyages spend seven days within or close to the auroral zone - no one else offers that. I have been incredibly fortunate that even when the weather forecast has been rather poor, I have never failed to experience the magical Northern Lights on a Hurtigruten voyage.”

Prices for the Classic Round Voyage starts from £999 per person in an inside cabin on full board basis (based on two sharing), departing on a wide choice of dates in November and December 2014. Flight and transfer packages start from £330 per person.

For more information call Hurtigruten on tel: 020 3582 6642 or visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk.

And now for our next trick…MSC Cruises begins €200 million four-ship refurbishment programme, by cutting first vessel in twoMSC Cruises has taken a major step in the €50 million upgrade of its smallest ship, MSC Armonia – by cutting it in two!

Work to insert a new pre-built section into the 60,000gt vessel has now begun at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Sicily. When completed, the cruise ship will be 24 metres longer than before and boast an additional 193 cabins.

The incredible engineering feat marks the start of the cruise line’s €200 million ‘Renaissance’ project, which is transforming all four of MSC Cruises’ similarly-sized Lirica-class ships (MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica). Each ship will take approximately nine weeks to lengthen and refit, with the new-look MSC Armonia sailing out of the shipyard on November 17. After a repositioning cruise from Genoa to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria it will begin a winter season of week-long Canary Island sailings.

Sister ship MSC Sinfonia goes in for the same treatment in on January 12 2015, with work starting on MSC Opera and MSC Lirica in May 2015 and August 2015 respectively. The whole ‘Renaissance’ programme should be completed by November 2015.The lengthening work involves each ship being cut in two just in front of the funnel (slightly behind the mid-way point) and then separated so the new section can be inserted. The hull is then resealed.

MSC Armonia is currently 251 metres long, carries a maximum of 2,199 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 60,000gt. Once the new section is inserted it will be 275 metres long, have a gross tonnage of 65,000gt and be able to cater for 2,679 guests.In addition to the new cabins for passengers and crew, each ship will undergo a host of on-board and technological improvements. These include the addition of a spray water park for children, extended designer shopping outlets, refitted restaurants and public areas and new storage areas. MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia will also benefit from improved bow thruster technology.

Which? ‘Recommended Provider’ Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils its ‘Worldwide Cruises 2015/16’ brochure to 243 destinations in 80 countries

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – named one of Which?’s Top 3 cruise lines in the UK and a ‘Recommended Provider’ in its 2014 cruise survey – has launched its new ‘Worldwide Cruises 2015/16’ brochure, featuring its most ambitious and unique cruise programme ever. In 2015/16, Fred. Olsen is offering guests the chance to visit a total of 243 destinations in 80 countries around the globe.

In keeping with Fred. Olsen’s aim of ‘Bringing the world closer to you’, taking guests right to the heart of the destination, the front cover of the new-look ‘Worldwide Cruises 2015/16’ brochure showcases a variety of the exciting and exotic destinations that the cruise line visits, such as Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Venice (Italy), in a colourful, eye-catching ’mosaic’ design.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:“The very special ‘Fred. Olsen difference’ is brought to life in our new ‘Worldwide Cruises 2015/16’ brochure, with an array of outstanding and innovative cruise experiences and destinations. With Fred. Olsen, every itinerary is distinct and, in an increasingly cluttered market, where the consumer finds it difficult to distinguish between one brand and another, we are very proud of all the factors that make us unique.”

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com Agents can book online at the Travel Agent Centre or via AmadeusCruise. Alternatively, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm; Saturday, 9am – 5pm; Sunday, 10am – 4pm).

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ staff celebrate the launch of the new ‘Worldwide Cruises 2015/16’ brochure, featuring voyages to 243 destinations in 80 countries, at the company’s Head Office, Fred. Olsen House, in Ipswich, Suffolk

Pictured, left to right: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Nathan Philpot – Sales and Marketing Director, Mike Rodwell – Managing Director, and Lol Nichols – General Sales Manager, celebrate the launch of the new ‘Worldwide Cruises 2015/16’ brochure

Norwegian Cruise Line Introduces All-Inclusive Packages On 2015 CruisesNorwegian Cruise Line UK is launching a new “Norwegians Get It All and a Whole Lot More” promotion, an All-Inclusive Package for guests sailing in 2015 and booking between 17 September and 30 October 2014. Including speciality drinks, speciality dining, service charges, internet, treats and more, this new package will offer guests an even more enhanced level of Freestyle Cruising® than ever before, adding a value of more than $2000 per stateroom on a 7-night cruise. Additionally, guests booking a cruise in conjunction with the All-Inclusive Package will benefit from 5% saving on their cruise fare^.

Travel agents will also benefit from the offer with the chance to earn extra commission by booking both the cruise and All-Inclusive elements of the package, both of which attract a commission rate of 10%.

The package will be available on cruises of three to 14 nights* taking guests to exciting destinations including the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada & New England, the Panama Canal and South America between 4 January and 27 December 2015. The package is also bookable with Norwegian’s award-winning European programme which includes Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Baltic and Northern Europe and Canary Island itineraries.

Ranging from £215 per person for a three-night cruise up to £735 per person for a 14-night cruise, Norwegian’s All-Inclusive package takes All-Inclusive cruising to the next level and includes:• 5% OFF the cruise fare^• Ultimate Beverage Package – a wide choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at bars and restaurants all over the ship• Ultimate Dining Package – in addition to the great choice of main dining rooms and lavish buffets which come as part of the normal cruise price, guests can experience complimentary authentic global cuisine in Norwegian’s speciality restaurants every night of the cruise• Welcome on board bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries• 12 bottles of water for 9- to 14-night cruises and 6 bottles of water for 3- to 8-night cruises• 250-minute internet package• 20 photos of any size taken by Norwegian’s on-board photographers • Three games of bingo• Service charges and gratuities associated with the package.

Sailings are available on 13 of Norwegian’s modern fleet including the recently launched Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, as well as Norwegian Escape which is set to launch in October 2015.

Guests can also cruise on board Norwegian’s popular ship, Norwegian Epic, when she arrives in Europe for her year-round deployment in April 2015. The seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise and All-Inclusive package is priced from

just £898 per person and £1248 per person including flights - based on two adults sharing an Inside Stateroom, departing on 22 November 2015 and includes an All-Inclusive add-on package of £420 per person. With 24 dining options and 20 bars and lounges to enjoy, the package will allow guests a taste of the highlights of the Western Mediterranean as Norwegian Epic travels: Fly UK / Barcelona (Spain) – Naples (Pompeii, Italy) – Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy) – Livorno (Florence/Pisa, Italy) – Cannes (France) – Palma (Majorca, Spain) – Barcelona (Spain) / Fly UK.

Francis Riley, Vice President and General Manager International, Norwegian Cruise Line, said: “We are extremely excited to have launched this incredible All-Inclusive package for our guests sailing with us throughout 2015. Our package really does put the ‘All’ in ‘all-inclusive’, allowing our guests to benefit from the value for money that it provides. With a huge array of sailings and ships available, our guests can leave their wallet at home and take their Freestyle Cruising experience to the maximum.”

“We’re also delighted to be able to offer our loyal travel partners the chance to increase their earnings with the additional commission earning opportunity that comes with the campaign.”

For more information about the All-Inclusive Package and how to book please visit www.agents-uk.ncl.eu or call 0845 201 8900.

^5% discount applies to the cruise fare portion of the package only, full Government Taxes, Port Expenses & Fees must be paid. *Pride of America is not included in the promotion. Full terms and conditions apply.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is voted ‘Best for Enrichment’ for the third time in the ‘Cruise International Awards’

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was delighted to be voted ‘Best for Enrichment’, at the 2014 ‘Cruise International Awards’, held at Kensington Roof Gardens, London on 9th September 2014, having won this category previously in 2012 and 2011. The ‘Cruise International Awards’ are the only cruise industry accolades voted for by genuine cruisers, and this year attracted some 25,000 votes from readers of Cruise International magazine and keen cruise customers, across 19 categories. Liz Jarvis, Editor of Cruise International magazine, said:“Fred. Olsen offer an extensive range of on board lectures and guest speakers through their enrichment programme and they’re the very well-deserved winners of this award.”

In its 2014/15 season, Fred. Olsen guests have been able to enjoy a wide range of themes and experiences, including a very special World War II cruise to Normandy, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and visits to the ‘Northern Lights’ in Norway - one of Nature’s most spectacular phenomena. Guests have described seeing the awe-inspiring ‘Aurora Borealis’ with Fred. Olsen as ‘completely magical’. Fred. Olsen at the Pyramids of Guimar in Tenerife*.

AmaWaterways to launch two new luxury vessels in 2015

AmaSerena and AmaVista feature advanced design and the line’s first ever connecting staterooms.

AmaWaterways (www.AmaWaterways.co.uk) has announced the addition of two new ships, AmaSerena and AmaVista, featuring the line’s first ever connecting staterooms, underscoring its commitment to advanced, innovative design. The vessels will join their sister ships – AmaReina, AmaPrima, AmaCerto and the new AmaSonata, which was Christened just last month – for Danube, Main and Rhine sailings beginning spring 2015.

“We are delighted to welcome AmaSerena and AmaVista to our European fleet, and to be responsive to the rising demand for new ship design and offerings in this particular region,” said Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways’ Executive Vice President and Co-Owner. “With a distinctive approach to offering unparalleled service and comfort, these two beauties are best-in-class. They will undoubtedly further our mission of bringing unforgettable river cruising experiences to AmaWaterways travellers.”

The 164-passenger AmaSerena and AmaVista (pictured left) feature spacious, luxurious accommodation, with most staterooms boasting AmaWaterways’ unique twin balconies. A new feature is the line’s connecting cabins with both vessels featuring a number of joint staterooms, offering added convenience for families and groups travelling together. Staterooms are also equipped with state of the art entertainment which provides guests with complimentary access to the internet, the latest Hollywood movies, a music library and more.

In addition, guests onboard AmaSerena and AmaVista will have access to massage services, fitness rooms, sun decks and heated swimming pools with swim-up bars. Complimentary unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner and complimentary bottled water is provided daily in all staterooms.

The ships’ 2015 itineraries include:

The Enchanting Rhine – This 7-night journey begins in the legendary city of Amsterdam, with stops at the majestic Gothic cathedral in Cologne, the German university town of Heidelberg and medieval Strasbourg. The scenic tour concludes in the cosmopolitan city of Basel, Switzerland.

The Enchanting Rhine cruise aboard AmaSerena will also feature two of AmaWaterways’ special themed itineraries:

o Wine Cruise – Ideal for wine lovers, this itinerary spotlights Europe’s famous wine regions and features onboard lectures and tastings hosted by wine expert Christopher Silva of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards.

• Jewish Heritage Cruise – Guests have the opportunity to visit synagogues, museums, and other significant sights in Jewish history and culture with excursions to the Nuremberg Palace of Justice, Vienna’s Jewish Museum and more.

For more information about AmaWaterways’ luxury river cruises contact AmaWaterways on freephone 0808 256 8422, www.amawaterways.com

David Dingle appointed chairman of Carnival UK - David Noyes promoted to chief executive officer

Carnival Corporation & plc today announced that David Dingle has been appointed chairman of Carnival UK and David Noyes, currently executive vice president operations, has been promoted to the CEO role, with operating responsibility for the UK-based brands P&O Cruises and Cunard Line. Dingle and Noyes will take up their new roles on October 1, and will both report to Carnival Corporation & plc president and CEO Arnold Donald. “This moves allows us to strengthen further our overall leadership in the critically important UK marketplace, while also promoting from within to leverage the skills, experience and capabilities of our executive team,” said Donald.

Dingle, who became CEO in 2007, joined P&O Cruises in London in 1978 where, after holding a series of commercial positions, he became managing director in 2000. At the time of the merger of P&O Princess Cruises plc and the Carnival Corporation in April 2003, he became managing director of Carnival UK.

Noyes joined Carnival UK in 2011, in his current position. Prior to joining Carnival, he worked in the UK travel industry for 25 years, mainly with British Airways, where he was responsible for BA’s worldwide customer services operation, and latterly with Gray Dawes Travel as CEO.

Elaine Holt will join Carnival UK on October 1 as David Noyes’ replacement as executive vice president operations following a highly successful career in the rail, road and airline industries. She has led a series of transformational programmes as executive chairman of East Coast Mainline and before that as managing director of First Capital Connect. Most recently she has acted as a non executive director of the Highways Agency.

Commenting on the appointments, David Dingle said: “David Noyes is exceptionally placed to lead P&O Cruises and Cunard into the future and grow the business for the next generation. Elaine brings with her a strong blend of operational and customer services skills and will be a very valuable addition to our executive team.”

Dingle is a former President of The UK Chamber of Shipping and the European Cruise Council (now CLIA Europe) and continues to serve on the boards of both groups. In 2009, he joined the board of the European Community Shipowners Association. He has previously served as a director of the Association of British Travel Agents and The UK Passenger Shipping Association.

David Noyes David Dingle

Andy Harmer Director, CLIA UK & Ireland and Robert Ashdown Secretary General, CLIA Europe

Have Pleasure In Inviting You To Attend

THE CLIA UK & IRELAND

Regulatory & Technical Update & Networking LunchWednesday 5 November 2014 | London, Venue TBC

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE & RSVP AT YOUR EARLIEST PLEASE TO:Augustus Lonsdale alonsdale@cruising.org

CLIA UK & Ireland, First Floor, 41/42 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DUTel: 020 7436 2449 | Email: ukinfo@cruising.org

CLIA Europe ready to enhance cooperation with ports associationsCLIA Europe, the association representing Europe’s multibillion euro cruise industry, has once again reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to work with ports and port associations to ensure consistent representation of the cruise sector’s interests before public authorities and the media.

Speaking in Barcelona at the opening session of Seatrade Med – the major biennial cruise event focused on the Mediterranean market, taking place this week – Pierfrancesco Vago, CLIA Europe’s Chairman, said:“Cooperation with port associations is key for the entire sector. We appeal to our friends in the port communities to join us in this endeavour. A relationship built on common interests and mutual respect will make our long-term success more likely.“As an industry, we are committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to create operating environments that keep our business on the up-and-up, broaden cruising’s appeal to even more passengers, and develop itineraries that open up even more destinations.”

During his keynote speech, Pierfrancesco Vago highlighted some key areas where cruise lines and the ports and destinations must work together. Speaking about criticism over cruise ship visits to delicate environments, he said:“We need to address the question of cruise ships calling at historical sites, Venice being the obvious example. We fully support the need to protect destinations, and want to put cruising at the forefront of sustainable tourism. As an industry we must engage with local authorities and stakeholders, with support from ports and port associations, to find viable, sustainable solutions to the problems that may arise in these environments.”

Regarding infrastructure and port facilities in the Med, the CLIA Europe Chairman said:“Some Mediterranean port facilities are not keeping up with our industry’s growth, and urgent upgrades are needed. Again, the solution lies in working more closely with the ports and destinations. CLIA Europe is committed to engaging with different stakeholders to guarantee that ports, destinations and the cruise industry maximise growth opportunities together.”

Special Daily Mail feature to kick off Cruise Week!

On Saturday 27th September, the Daily Mail will be publishing a special editorial feature on Cruising holidays.

This will promote the fantastic appeal of a cruise holiday to our 5.1 million readers. And with 1 in 3 cruises being taken by a Mail reader there’s no better audience to be in front of at this key time!

There are opportunities to advertise your company and your special Cruise Week promotions alongside this editorial, so if you haven’t booked your space yet please get in touch to check availability. Please contact Alison Coulsey on 020 3615 0415 or email alison.coulsey@mailnewspapers.co.uk - but please hurry as space is limited!

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland, Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity Cruises & Andrew Say, Mail Newspapers

Iain Burns, Bell Pottinger, Gerard Tempest, Carnival UK,

& Rob Giles, Destination South West

Vanessa Sherry & Rupert Taylor, Portsmouth International Port

Ginger Taggart, Disney Cruise Line, Nicole Cook, APT

& Melissa Hackney, APT

Robin Colbeck, Amadeus Marketing (UK) Ltd,

Charlie Hampton, Bell Pottinger &

Rosemarie Fernandez, Amadeus Marketing (UK) Ltd

Ben Greenwood & Barbara Buczek, Dover Cruise Port, James Stangroom & Andrew Ord, The Bristol Port Company

Sarah Weetman, All Leisure Holidays, Maxine Dunsdon, Hurtigruten & Kate O’Hara, London City Cruise Port

Lucy Huxley, Stuart Parish & Hollie-Rae Merrick, Travel Weekly

Adele Fitzpatrick-Foster, CLIA UK& Ireland &

Chris Coates, Cruise & Maritime Voyages

Iain Baillie, Carnival Cruise Lines & Simone Clark, Iglu

Karen Taylor, The Travel Visa Company Ltd,

Diane Bouzebiba, Amadeus Marketing (UK) Ltd,

& Erica Briguglio, Travelbag

Keith Cartwright & Sarah Chappell, Accord

Summer Cocktails

Oceania Cruises to offer complimentary internet access

Oceania Cruises will provide complimentary Internet access to guests booked in either a suite or Concierge Level stateroom on any of its five award-winning mid-size ships. This is the first time the upper-premium cruise line has offered a free Internet programme, with the new benefit commencing during the 2015 winter season.

Guests booked in Owner’s, Vista and Oceania suites will receive unlimited complimentary Internet access to enjoy throughout their voyage. Guests booked in Penthouse suites or Concierge Level staterooms will receive blocks of complimentary Internet time based on cruise length, starting with 200 minutes for a seven-night cruise and extending to 500 minutes for voyages over 16 nights. (Pictured, the Owners Suite on board Riviera)

Being an upper-premium brand, Oceania Cruises ships feature a larger number of Concierge Level and above accommodations, which means this free Internet programme will cover more than 55 percent of all guests sailing on Marina and Riviera, and nearly half of all guests sailing on Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. Guests will be able to take advantage of the free Internet either through the ship’s Wi-Fi system or at the Oceania@Sea Internet café. Oceania Cruises recently upgraded the Wi-Fi system across the fleet to increase bandwidth and provide connectivity throughout the entire ship, including all public spaces, outdoor decks and all suites and staterooms.

“Oceania Cruises is committed to providing our guests with an extraordinary cruise vacation for an incomparable value, so we’re excited to add free Internet to an already long list of included amenities such as free roundtrip airfare and complimentary dining experiences at our exquisite speciality restaurants,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Oceania Cruises. “We know our guests want to stay connected with friends and family while exploring the world with Oceania Cruises. Now, as guests are enjoying the Olife onboard, they will be able to freely share cherished vacation memories with loved ones back home from the comfort of the ship.”

The complimentary Internet rollout will be staggered across the fleet, tied to the official start of each ship’s winter schedule. The first sailings will be Nautica on October 25th 2015, followed by Marina on November 3rd, Regatta on November 4th, Riviera on December 2nd, and Insignia on January 4th 2016, when it begins its third 180-day Around the World voyage. Complete itinerary details for the winter schedule will be released and available to book at on September 17th 2014.

Oceania Cruises’ fares include an abundance of complimentary amenities such as unlimited soft drinks, speciality teas & coffees, juices and bottled water. Guests can savour the finest cuisine at sea at any of the ships’ speciality restaurants without any supplementary dining charges. Oceania Cruises also eliminates the hassle of searching for flights by including free roundtrip flights from London airports.

For more information on Oceania Cruises or to order a brochure, visit www.oceaniacruises.com or call on 0845 505 1920.

Come and see us at the Telegraph Cruise Show Liverpool, 11-12 October 2014 at the Echo ArenaWe’ll be running the CLIA 1-to-1 Advice Sessions and some of the talks on the Cruise Lines Theatre stage.Find out more about the show at www.telegraph.co.uk/cruiseliverpool

Over 35 exhibitors are already confirmed including P&O Cruises, Noble Caledonia, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cunard, Riviera Travel, Shearings, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Ponant, Scenic Tours, Crystal Cruises, American Queen Steamboat Company as well as destination tour operators All Iceland, Abu Dhabi Tourism, Mysteries of India, 5 Star China Travel/Yangtze River Cruise and many more.

As a CLIA member we would like to extend a ticket offer to you, £8* advance tickets instead of £13 on the door. Enter code CLIAUK when booking here http://cruiseshow.telegraph.co.uk/Liverpool_booktickets/

Besides the extensive exhibitor list, there are also cookery demonstrations by P&O Cruises’ celebrity chef Atul Kochhar, wine tasting sessions, a Q&A session with Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish, talks by Telegraph Travel journalists and cruise experts on the Destinations Theatre, sessions by cruise lines and their guest speakers at the Cruise Lines Theatre plus family activities including mini golf. There are also free coaches to the show provided by Eavesway Travel.

Find out more and book at www.telegraph.co.uk/cruiseliverpoolTo enquire about exhibiting please call Michelle on 020 7931 3979 or email michelle.daniels@telegraph.co.uk

*Applies to adult advance tickets only, booking fee applies.

To find out more, call Widgety on 023 8042 8000or email Damian (damian@widgety.co.uk) or Claire (claire@widgety.co.uk)

Adding your Cruise Week Promotions to the CLIA Website

Ensure our Travel Agent Members have direct access to your offers

Using Widgety, all Cruise Line and Executive Partner members of CLIA can upload their latest promotion so that they display on the CLIA Promotions page, free of charge and in minimal time.

We are promoting the page to our Travel Agent members over Cruise Week (27 September - 5 October), so to make it a success we would love for you and your company to be included and have your agent-focused Promotions listed here.

Step 1 - Sign up at widgety.co.uk“Sign up” at widgety.co.uk and click on the link to access your “Dashboard”

Step 2 - Create New PromotionIn the top left corner is a tab “Events” under which there is the option to add your “Promotion”.Select the Blue button “Create New Promotion”

Step 3 - Tag it #cliapromotionsAdd all the details of your Promotion. You have the opportunity to add in an image, and most importantly, don’t forget to tag the Promotion #cliapromotions and #[yourcruiseline]. Once you have tagged, Click “Create Promotion” and your Promotion will be displayed on cruiseexperts.org

AHOY CAPTAIN! CLIA REVEALS DESTINATIONS BEST SEEN BY SEA, ACCORDING TO CRUISE SHIP CAPTAINS THAT SAIL THE WORLD

From the Northern Lights reflected in the Norwegian Sea, to the breath-taking sight of the Opera House when entering Sydney Harbour, seeing a city or famous landmark from the water can be a magical experience, offering a completely different perspective on a destination.To identify some of the most impressive views from the ocean, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) has surveyed a selection of cruise line Captains to find out their favourite port approaches or cities best seen by sea:

Tromso, Norway Captain Arnfinn Kaasbøll, Hurtigruten“I never tire of sailing into the beautiful city of Tromso, with its wonderful blend of traditional wooden buildings and more modern structures such as the beautiful Arctic Cathedral, all surrounded by mountains to finish off the picturesque scene.

“However, when you approach ‘The Gateway to the Arctic’ with the Northern Lights twinkling overhead, it is truly spectacular. Tromso is directly beneath the Aurora Oval (the epicentre of Northern Lights activity) so we regularly have an opportunity to watch this fantastic show as it changes from light green to dark purple flickering across the sky above the city.”

New York, USA Captain Hakan Svedung, Norwegian Cruise Line“My favourite city to approach by water has to be New York. The Manhattan skyline is one of the best in the world. When approaching New York early in the morning the light casts a special glow over the city-scape and with the buildings still lit you can even see an almost perfect reflection in the Hudson River – it’s just stunning.”

Istanbul, Turkey Captain John Westgarth-Pratt, Thomson Cruises“My current favourite has to be a sunrise arrival in Istanbul, Turkey. As this huge city split between two continents awakes, the morning layers of mist lift from the surface of the Bosphorous. The sunrise over the Asiatic side also illuminates the minarets and grand domes of the Haghia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

“The ship’s course then alters slightly to place the towering Bosphorous suspension bridge straight ahead, leaving the Maiden’s Tower close to starboard – then the ship swings 180° to port through the strong strait currents and morning ferry traffic. A slow approach is then made to enter the Golden Horn estuary and berth starboard side alongside the Salipazari terminal in the very heart of the city. There really is no better way to enjoy and appreciate the dramatic skyline and architecture of Istanbul than arriving by sea at dawn.”

Skagway, Alaska Captain Daniel Green, Regent Seven Seas Cruises“What I really enjoy is nature and one time, so my favourite port has got to be Skagway, Alaska. The last time I visited, we were accompanied by some killer whales on the approach. I slowed the ship and we cruised alongside each other for a long time. The sight was breath-taking and forms some of my best memories at sea”.

Symi, Greece Captain Nikos Charlaris, Louis Cruises“As you glide into the long, natural harbour at Symi, you feel like you have slipped back in time. Perhaps the prettiest harbour in Greece, tiers of neo-classical mansions, owned by sponge fishing millionaire and shipping magnate are set in an amphitheatre bay overlooking crystal clear waters. The harbor has been a protected architectural site since the 1970s, which means it keeps its authentic and peaceful feel.”

Sydney, Australia Captain David Pembridge, P&O Cruises“The most spectacular sail in, in the world, must be Sydney. In the early morning, before dawn, the ship sails from the turbulent waters of the Tasman Sea through “the heads” into the calmer waters of Port Jackson. The unspoilt shores of the harbour are only faintly visible in the twilight as she turns to port to commence the passage through the navigation channels that will bring her into the heart of the city.

“Early morning ferries and adventurous yachtsmen crisscross ahead of her as she continues towards the outline of Bradley’s Head, sitting dark against the lightening sky. As dawn approaches, the turn to starboard around Bradley’s Head brings the moment for which all of the watching passengers and crew have been waiting; the fantastic city skyline, the iconic Opera House and the vast span of the harbour bridge come into breath-taking view and welcome all on board to another wonderful visit to this magnificent city.”

Miami, USA Captain Alessandro Galotto, Carnival Cruise Lines“Miami is one of my favourite homeports as it not only offers warm, sunny weather all year-round but also a breathtaking view on arrival and departure. The giant skyscrapers that line downtown Miami, the million dollar mansions along the coastline and the world-famous South Beach all come into view when sailing in and out of Miami.”

Cape Town, South Africa Captain Christopher M Turner, Holland America Line“The unique outline of Table Mountain with the ‘tablecloth’ laid and curling at the edges, as the view of Cape Town (Kaapstad) rises around Table Bay.”

Hong Kong Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen, Seabourn“One of my favourite city skylines is in Hong Kong. To see the colour and light reflections from the sea is truly a beautiful sight.”

Andy Harmer Director aharmer@cruising.orgPenny Guy PR Director pguy@cruising.orgAdele Fitzpatrick-Foster Events and Training Manager afoster@cruising.orgAlex Holubowicz Creative and Digital Executive aholubowicz@cruising.orgAugustus Lonsdale Membership Services Executive alonsdale@cruising.orgKathy Bortolin Office Manager & Support Executive kbortolin@cruising.org

Upsurge of Interest And Demand For 2016 World CruisesCunard and P&O Cruises report huge demand for their 2016 World Cruises with a 65% increase year-on-year in passenger numbers for Cunard and a 54% increase in passenger numbers for P&O Cruises since launch.

The upsurge of interest and increased demand for full World Cruises as well as for shorter, exotic World Cruise holidays is attributed to the inclusion of more overnight stays in key destinations, more close-cruising through particularly scenic regions, a new balance of big-hitting capitals, waterfront cities and culturally-important hideaways, and more maiden calls.

Chris Truscott, Sales and Distribution Support Director, says: “Our enticing World Cruise programmes are giving the trade an opportunity to sell the most iconic and desirable holidays at sea of them all. These are the ultimate in aspirational cruises and yet they offer incredible value for money, especially on the full circumnavigations - key selling points that agents appear to be really connecting with. In the few days since going on sale we have been working at full stretch to meet the strong demand and urge our travel partners to keep the momentum going and realise the increased earnings which are there for the taking”.

Cunard will operate world voyages on all three Queens. Queen Victoria offers a classic passage right around the world via the Panama Canal while flagship Queen Mary 2 will also perform a full circumnavigation, for the first time since 2009, via South America’s Cape Horn.

Queen Elizabeth will sail Down Under and back through the Suez Canal, allowing time to explore South Africa, Australia, Japan and the Far East in particular depth. All three ships will sail from their homeport of Southampton on Sunday 10 January 2016 and will return together to Southampton on Tuesday 10 May. Between them Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria will visit no fewer than 92 ports in 49 countries. And even after all these years, the three largest Cunard ships ever built will make 32 calls which will be brand new to them including 10 maiden calls where Cunard has never visited before:

P&O Cruises’ 2016 collection of World Journeys, which went on sale on 10 September, contains a trio of grand sailings, comprising a traditional world cruise on family-friendly ship Aurora; a South America and Japan sailing on adult-only ship Arcadia; and a Caribbean and American voyage on adult-only ship Oriana. On leaving Southampton in January 2016, the ships will collectively cover over 90,000 nautical miles, visiting 90 ports in 58 countries, contrasting the Latin spirit of South America with the mysticism of the Orient and the heritage of America’s Deep South. All three ships will stay overnight in key cities including New Orleans, San Francisco and Hong Kong, giving passengers two days to explore ashore, while evening port stays have also been built into itineraries to allow longer days for extra sightseeing.

Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific to Offer Travel Agent Training at Leading Annual Cruise Event

In an ongoing effort to impart the value and revenue potential of the global cruise market to the callow Asian travel agent community, Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific will once again host a comprehensive travel agent training program, presented by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Presented by cruise industry veteran Peter Kollar from CLIA Australasia, this comprehensive education program will help agents better understand the cruise industry’s value and revenue potential, and ensure the development of the retail cruise business moving forward in Asia.

CLIA’s renowned education program was designed to teach agents best sales practices, help them monitor emerging trends, and discover new destinations, essentially in an effort to help them increase their business. “Travel agents in the Asia-Pacific region will be elated with the amount of tangible and practical knowledge they will receive during these training sessions,” said Brett Jardine, General Manager of CLIA Australasia. “This is really a wonderful opportunity to help agents explore the benefits of selling cruises.”

Following is the current line-up of training sessions: November 20 Building Your Cruise BusinessThis 2-part session is a must for any small business owner or travel agent that wants to succeed in cruise retail. Whether an online retailer, store agency, or individual seller, you will learn the proven methods of small business success and apply it to the cruise market. By the end of the sessions you will be able to: • Increase your sales by recognizing the current trends and future direction of the cruise industry.• Grow your business by learning to statistically analyse cruise data to evaluate and plan your cruise business future.• Improve your marketing by working with the cruise lines and understanding the importance of developing a loyal cruise community through social media.

November 21 Selling Cruise DestinationsOne of the most underestimated tools used in selling cruise holidays is the ability to use the cruise itinerary and destination. This training session will excite you and engage you, delivered by one of the most well-travelled cruise experts in the industry. By the end of the session you will be able to: • Learn the main strategy for converting your customers to clients.• Understand that each cruise region around the world has a different appeal.• Learn how to change your selling dialogue for each situation and destination.

CLIA UK & IrelandFirst Floor, 41/42 Eastcastle Street,

London, W1W 8DUwww.cruiseexperts.org

ukinfo@cruising.org t: +44 (0)20 7436 2449

Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific will take place November 20-21, 2014 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. For information about exhibiting or attending Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific visit www.cruiseshippingasia.com.