Do you feel out of touch on the latest news in the cruise sector? Never fear, Travel Weekly’s cruise wrap is here!

CLIA welcomes Eden expansion

CLIA has welcomed a $44 million investment in the Port of Eden on the NSW South Coast, which will help bring further growth in one of Australia’s most successful regional cruise destinations.

The extension of the port’s wharf in a partnership involving the NSW Government, the Australian Government and Bega Valley Shire Council, has been completed in time for the 2019-20 cruise season and will allow larger ships of up to 325m in length to visit Eden without having to bring passengers ashore by tender boats.

The first cruise ship to use the wharf will be P&O Australia’s Pacific Explorer which is scheduled to arrive on September 15 and will be followed by another 21 cruise ships during the upcoming season.

APT adds Andre Rieu to its ‘Magnificent Europe’ cruise

In 2020, the leaders in luxury travel, APT, are giving guests the opportunity to witness master musician André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra live in Cologne, Germany.

APT guests travelling on the 15 Day Magnificent Europe cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest departing 13 May 2020 will enjoy the unique opportunity of attending an André Rieu concert to see the master violinist perform live in Cologne at the Lanxess Arena. Rieu will be accompanied by the Johann Strauss Orchestra, choir and soloists.

This special cruise featuring the André Rieu concert is priced at $9,895 per person and includes APT’s Fly Free Superdeal when booked by 30 November 2019.

Silversea counts down to arrival of Silver Moon + unveils 10 per cent supplement on a selection of voyages 

Today marks one year until the launch of Silver Moon – a new addition to Silversea’s ultra-luxury fleet of ships. Embarking on her inaugural voyage on 6 August 2020, the 596-guest Silver Moon will echo the whispered elegance of the cruise line’s current flagship, Silver Muse, while bringing unprecedented enhancements and elements of innovation.

The line is also inviting solo travellers to take advantage of an exclusive 10 per cent single supplement on a select range of voyages in India, Asia and Central and South America in October and December 2019.

Scenic Eclipses releases 2020/21 and 22 season brochure

As Scenic Eclipse leaves Rotterdam on the final leg to Reykjavik for the inaugural voyage on 15 August, Scenic has released its new digital brochure for the 2020/21 and 22 seasons. Check it out here.

Rare Murray Princess Renmark cruise promises unforgettable New Year’s Eve

Celebrate the most incredible New Year’s Eve on a unique Murray Princess cruise that only departs once every two years and offers a rare and fascinating itinerary.

Departing Mannum on Friday 27 December 2019, the seven-night Renmark New Year’s Eve cruise follows in the footsteps of the great 19th Century pioneers and is filled with exciting new experiences.

Combining the Mannum to Renmark cruise with New Year’s Eve promises a fun-filled adventure. Not only will guests enjoy a spectacular New Year’s Eve a la carte dinner, festivities and dancing, but explore 420kms of the Murray River, her incredible terrain, towering limestone cliffs and discover destinations only visited every couple of years.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveils 146 new voyages for its 2021-2022 season

Starting today, luxury travellers will find their answer in Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 2021-2022 Voyage Collection Debut.

The cruise line unveiled 146 voyages embarking April 2021 through May 2022 featuring 27 new ports of call, first-time sailings for Seven Seas Splendor™ in Northern Europe and the Baltic and for Seven Seas Explorer in Alaska, immersive new land programs, remarkable new shore excursions and access to newly announced UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan, Portugal and Italy. Plus, a greater emphasis on Asia includes 10 voyages sailing the region with multiple in-port overnights.

Seabourn launches ‘Seabourn Private Air’

Seabourn announces the launch of an exciting new offering for guests headed for the most memorable journeys on the seas.

Introducing Seabourn Private Air, a new private chartered jet service available for exclusive transportation to-and-from ports of call, and for mid-voyage overland options for Seabourn cruises all over the world, with bookings opening August 15.

Chimu and PONANT launch Arctic 2021 cruises with exclusive €300 ($500AUD) per person onboard credit on all PONANT voyages, some discounted by up to 30 per cent

Latin America and Polar specialists, Chimu Adventures, are working with the highly luxurious cruise liner, PONANT, to offer clients an exclusive €300 per person onboard credit all PONANT cruises when booked between now and 31^st August 2019.

PONANT is also offering up to 30 per cent off specific voyages when confirmed by this date. The exclusive offer of €300 onboard credit per person has been agreed between Chimu and PONANT as part of Chimu’s 15^th birthday celebrations.

Europe by boat: UTracks opens bookings for 2020 most popular sailing trips

With boat-based itineraries consistently ranking among its most popular trips year after year – many departures, especially for the peak summer season, are fully booked months in advance – European active holiday specialist UTracks has already opened bookings for the 2020 season on more than 80 per cent of its bike and boat programme.

It is the first time that UTracks opens reservations a year in advance. The decision will give travellers more choice and flexibility and was taken following a phenomenal increase in interest for boat-based trips for summer 2019, which saw many departures, especially in popular Mediterranean countries such as Croatia and Greece, selling out well before the end of spring 2018.

Celebrity Cruises: Sounds like a summer deal

You can save up to $500 per stateroom when you discover New Zealand’s natural wonders on Solstice this summer.

DEAL 1
• 12-Night Scenic New Zealand
• Prices starting from $2,179 per person, twin share
• Departs from Auckland on 8 November 2019
• Ports of call include Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, then finishing off in Australia with Hobart and Sydney.
• Please see www.celebritycruises.com/au for more details. T&Cs apply.

DEAL 2
• 12-Night New Zealand Discovery
• Prices starting from $1,929 per person, twin share
• Departs from Sydney on 20 November 2019
• Ports of call include Sydney, Melbourne, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, Dunedin, Wellington, Picton, Tauranga, and finishing in Auckland.
• Please see www.celebritycruises.com/au for more details. T&Cs apply.

DEAL 3
• 12-Night Best of New Zealand
• Prices starting from $1,829 per person, twin share
• Departs from Auckland on 2 December 2019
• Ports of call include Auckland, Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Milford Sound.
• Please see www.celebritycruises.com/au for more details. T&Cs apply.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages treats travel agents with daily ‘Book to Win’ promotion

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) is offering a ‘prize-a-day’ competition over the next four weeks to its community of Australian consultants.

All agents need to do is book and register one of five selected CMV cruises and answer the question “Which of CMV’s 280 destinations is your favourite and why?”. The best answer each day will win a special weekday giveaway, with the best answer overall winning a free cruise on Vasco da Gama.

CMV will award prizes every workday until 9 September 2019, so agents will have many opportunities to secure themselves some exciting offerings.

Each booking made on the five selected cruises, and registered on CMV’s dedicated landing page, gives consultants the chance to win one of 20 x workday giveaways.

Daily Prizes include:

• Giniversity and Adelaide Gin
• Fringe Festival Vouchers
• T2 Prize Packs
• Greater Union Movie Tickets
• Coopers Prize Pack
• Jansz Sparkling Wine
• Wine Gift Packs
• Endota Spa Vouchers
• Cooking Classes from Sprout

For more information and supporting marketing materials, including editable flyers, social media tiles, maps, imagery and more, visit cmvaustralia.com/BookToWin

Viking’s 2021 River Cruises now open for sale 

Viking has announced its worldwide 2021 river itineraries are open for sale at 2020 prices, including the incredibly popular 15-day Grand European Tour, the 13-day Waterways of the Tsars voyage and the 10-day Portugal’s River of Gold itinerary.

Celebrate Christmas with rhinos, tigers, dolphins and elephants

Australians seeking a unique and memorable Christmas can save 25 per cent on a boutique river cruise along India’s sacred Brahmaputra River, passing ancient palaces, temples, tribal villages, tea plantations, jungles and the towering Himalayan mountains.

Departing December 22, 2019, the river cruise is offered by Adventure Resorts and Cruises (ARC) and as an added gesture of Christmas cheer, solo travellers will pay no single supplement on the Christmas sailing.

Guests will cruise onboard ARC’s boutique, 46-guest river ship, MV Mahabaahu, which boasts a swimming pool, spa, bars, lounge, restaurant and sun deck.

Available until sold out, the 25 per cent reduction means fares are available from US$1975 per person, twin-share, for the seven-night Brahmaputra River cruise, all shipboard main meals, transfers and daily shore excursions. Flights from Australia are extra. As a separate offer, the single supplement has been waived, making the cruise available from US$2633 for solo travellers.

Two Holland America Line Ships Explore the Pristine Beauty of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific during 2019-2020 Season

Cruisers looking to channel their inner explorer can chart a course to Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific with Holland America Line come spring. Noordam spends the spring through autumn showcasing multiple destinations in Australasia, while Maasdam charts a course on longer itineraries starting in August, including a bucket-list Australia circumnavigation.

SeaLink launch new Global Agent Portal

SeaLink Travel Group has launched a new agent portal for travel industry partners, providing a quick and efficient one stop shop for all SeaLink product information, https://agent.sealinktravelgroup.com.au/.

Providing instant access to information for agents, the portal contains contracts, rates, guest fact sheets, timetables, suggested itineraries, brochures, images, videos and the latest media releases for the entire SeaLink Travel Group.

Over the coming weeks information on SeaLink North Stradbroke Island, SeaLink Magnetic Island, SeaLink Northern Territory and SeaLink Bruny Island will be added to the portal.

All existing contracted agents have been provided with a log in to the new portal.

Uniworld offers 50 per cent off single supplement for solo travellers 

Uniworld has reduced select single supplements by 50 per cent on departures of some of their most popular 2020 itineraries throughout Central Europe, Italy and France.

Uniworld’s solo traveller savings are effective for bookings from 1 August through to 30 September 2019.