If we read any more cruise news we might turn into a cruise ship. But a really pretty one with a spa and a contemporary colour scheme.

Cruising in perfect “Emerald” Harmony, Evergreen Cruises & Tours launched new ship on the Mekong

Evergreen Cruises & Tours is set to shake up the lucrative Asia river cruise market with the launch of its first Star-Ship on the Mekong river – the Emerald Harmony – backed by its winning exceptional value price promise: luxury river cruising at great value prices.

The new Star-Ship, with a beautiful contemporary design, will fuse cleverly with Asian-inspired luxury, to create an on-board perfect harmony. Features will include signature pool, an Asian-themed Horizon Bar & Lounge with luxurious soft furnishings plus, the Reflections Restaurant which will have a locally-inspired menu that showcases native cuisine from the region.

New and exclusive to Emerald Harmony is the beautiful Lotus Lounge, situated at the aft of the Star-Ship. This relaxing area will feature stylish, comfortable seating with low, small tables – the perfect place for guests to recount the day’s activities with new found friends. Boasting just 42 Staterooms and Suites, on board accommodation is similar to Evergreen’s European Star-Ships, with four lead-in Emerald Staterooms, 32 Emerald Panorama Balcony Suites, four Grand Balcony Suites and two Owner’s Suites, each boasting a wrap-around terrace featuring a hot tub.

Another innovative feature is the Star-Ship design itself. Unlike most similar sized Mekong river ships, the Emerald Harmony will be built to allow access to the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, meaning guests will not be required to be coached in from outside the city. Allowing for a unique experience that none of Evergreen’s competitors are currently able to offer.

Still time to get creative and enter and win a Viking cruise

Viking’s Winter Wanderlust trade incentive is ending in 10 days on Friday 3 August. The agency that submits the most creative ‘Winter Wanderlust’ marketing campaign will win a 15-day Southeast Asia & Hong Kong ocean cruise. Agents can choose the type of campaign, from digital to print to in-store marketing activity, and Viking can provide images and collateral to support their efforts.

Prize Details

• A Deluxe Veranda stateroom on Southeast Asia & Hong Kong (Bangkok to Hong Kong) itinerary departing 23 September 2018 on Viking Orion for two adults
• Includes all onboard meals in ten dining venues, wine and beer with onboard lunch and dinner, a free shore excursion in every port and unlimited Wi-Fi

Incentive Details

• The agency must complete an entry form providing examples of the campaign by Friday 3 August 2018
• The theme should be based on Viking’s current Winter Wanderlust campaign
• Examples include eDMs, social media posts, a website, print ads, direct mail, an info session, or a window display
• Agents are encouraged to think outside the box
• Open to Australia and New Zealand travel agents
• Judging of submissions will be done by Michelle Black – Managing Director, Jane Moggridge – GM Marketing, Liz Sawers – Director of Sales, Erin Kramer – Trade Marketing Manager
• The winner will be announced by Friday 10 August
• Viking can provide images, collateral etc. to support your marketing activity

Celebrity Cruises Cuts Steel on Second Edge Class Ship

Celebrity Cruises has cut the first piece of steel today on its newest ship, Celebrity Apex, at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard (formerly STX France) in Saint-Nazaire, France.

The second ship in Celebrity’s revolutionary Edge series, Celebrity Apex comes right in the wake of the industry’s most anticipated new ship, Celebrity Edge.

Celebrity Apex is expected to make her debut in Autumn 2020, with the third and fourth Edge series ships arriving in Spring 2021 and Spring 2022, respectively. For more information on Celebrity and the Edge series, visit www.celebritycruises.com.

SeaLink becomes official Shuttle Partner for 2018 OTR SuperSprint

SeaLink is pleased to announce their partnership with The Bend Motorsport Park as the official shuttle partner for the 2018 OTR SuperSprint. SeaLink will be operating shuttles each day during the OTR SuperSprint three-day event, from Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August.

Shuttles will depart from the Adelaide Central Bus Station, 85 Franklin Street in the city to The Bend Motorsport Park located at Tailem Bend. On route pick up points include Fullarton, Glen Osmond, Crafers, Hahndorf, Mount Barker and Murray Bridge.

Single day and three-day return passes are available. Single day return passes start at $39 from Murray Bridge and are $49 from all other locations.

The 2018 OTR SuperSprint will be The Bend Motorsport Park’s inaugural Supercars event. Located only one hour from Adelaide at Tailem Bend, The Bend is a state-of-the-art, world-class motorsport facility, that delivers an exhilarating experience for competitors, enthusiasts and spectators alike.

Majestic Princess celebrates 100th voyage milestone ahead of Sydney Season!

The Majestic Princess crew marked their 100th voyage milestone in spectacular fashion today aboard Princess Cruises’ flagship in Shanghai, China. Over 300 crew took to the top deck to celebrate ahead of the ship’s roundtrip voyage to Japan.

Today also marks only 52 days until Majestic Princess arrives in Australia to commence her inaugural Summer Cruise Season on September 15. At 330 metres long, she will be the largest Princess Cruises’ ship ever to visit local shores and will be home to the largest retail shopping space at sea, with more than 1000 square metres of luxury brands including Bvlgari, Burberry, Cartier, Fendi and many more.

During her inaugural Australian season, Majestic Princess will sail on 16 cruises to destinations including Fiji, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as two Asia voyages between Shanghai and Sydney, and Sydney and Hong Kong.

MSC Cruises expands award-winning family offering to include new creative workshops in content creation

MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe and South America, is introducing a brand new content master class across its fleet to teach families how to capture the best holiday snaps and videos with the help of vlogger Luciano Spinelli.

Posting on social media sites is fast becoming second nature to many holiday-goers as way to share experiences with friends and family back home, with MSC Cruises alone receiving over 4,000 tags a week on Instagram. In a series of fun and informative videos, Luciano will give hints and tips on creating polished Instagram photos, expertly scripted and filmed videos for YouTube, as well as introductions to the latest craze Musical.ly, to kids from MSC Cruises’ Young and Teen clubs and their families.

Participants will then embark on a fun and interactive team game to put their creativity to the test and produce their own award-worthy content for the chance to win exciting MSC Cruises prizes.

Last minute Cuba and Caribbean specials from Viking

Offer one: Save $1200 per couple and enjoy a complimentary two-night Miami extension: Eight-day Cultural Cuba departing 8 November 2018 from Miami to Miami on board Viking Star is now priced from $4,695 per person in a Deluxe Veranda stateroom, including a saving of $1,200 per couple.

On top of this saving, Viking is now offering a complimentary two-night Miami pre-cruise extension, worth $669 per person. Guests will cruise the Caribbean, then spend three days in the cultural centre of Cienfuegos, Cuba’s “Pearl of the South” and a UNESCO Site. They’ll discover historic Santiago de Cuba, learn the stories behind Cuba’s most influential figures and have the option to visit Trinidad

Offer two: Save $2500 per couple with an early bird discount and a further 10 per cent off: 15-day Around the Caribbean Sea departing 18 Oct 2018 from New York to Miami on board Viking Star is now priced from $5,845 per person in a Penthouse Veranda stateroom, including a saving of $2,500 per couple. This special includes an early bird discount and a further 10 per cent off.

Guests will discover Bermuda, Curaçao and Aruba. They’ll explore St. Kitts and Jamaica, journey into lush rainforests shaped by volcanoes on St. Lucia and delve into historic Grand Cayman.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. announces plans to build an additional polar expedition vessel

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., the global leader of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorised the building of a new polar expedition ship. This state-of-the-art vessel, which is anticipated to be delivered in 2021, will be the next phase of Lindblad’s fleet expansion following the launch of the National Geographic Quest in July 2017, the addition of the National Geographic Venture in December 2018 and the delivery of the National Geographic Endurance in the first quarter of 2020.

As demand for high quality and authentic expedition travel continues to accelerate, both through market expansion as well as from sustained investment in their marketing and sales infrastructure, Lindblad is committed to expanding capacity to provide a growing audience with the opportunity to explore the world’s most unique and remote locations.

This will be the fourth polar vessel in the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, joining the National Geographic Explorer and the National Geographic Orion, currently in operation, and the National Geographic Endurance, which is scheduled for delivery in early 2020. The new vessel will be designed as the ultimate expedition platform with a focus on immersing our guests in these amazing geographies.

European Waterways takes guests on a hunt for truffles

European Waterways’ guests have the chance to enjoy numerous experiential excursions such as a truffle hunting adventure deep in the heart of the French countryside, as well as a private lunch and tasting at the world renowned Bouchard Pére et Fils winery in the Burgundian wine capital of Beaune.

The eight-passenger hotel barge Finesse, herself a byword in luxury, is an excellent vessel from which to experience the wine harvest. Cruising Southern Burgundy, guests can enjoy a private wine tasting and gastronomic lunch in the elegant setting of the Puligny and Chassagne Montrachet vineyards, as well as a guided tour and subsequent tasting at the beautiful Château de Chamirey. Last-minute specials are still available on select September and October cruises that offer prices as low as €5,120 per person, based on double occupancy, when booked before August 8, 2018.

The eight-passenger Anjodi and the eight-passenger Enchanté are ideal for exploring the harvest season. European Waterways is offering 10 per cent off on select departures in September and October, with prices starting at €3,465 per person, based on double occupancy, when booked before August 8, 2018.

The harvest arrives later in September and early October in the Alsace & Lorraine region. Guests can revel in the festivities aboard the 12-passenger Panache, which explores the famed Route des Vins d’Alsace and features private wine tastings and hearty Alsatian cuisine. Panache guests can also enjoy a ride on the famed Arzviller boat elevator and admire the colorful autumnal surroundings as their boat is hoisted up the slope on this mechanical marvel. Some last-minute specials are still available on select cruises, with prices starting from €4,490 per person, based on double occupancy, when booked before August 8, 2018.