Cruise

Ambassador pulls remaining 2024 Amsterdam calls due to climate protests

An Ambassador spokesperson told TTG the cruise line will decide whether to return to Amsterdam in 2025 before the end of the year. Climate protestors in the city have repeatedly targeted cruise vessels in 2024 forcing a number of lines to remove Amsterdam from cruise itineraries at short notice

Uniworld bets on demand for unique long-haul river experiences

UK and Ireland managing director Chris Townson has told industry partners long-haul destinations such as India and Peru are already sold out for early 2025

Atlas Ocean Voyages to launch agent programme and trade portal before 2025

The new luxury expedition line believes now is the right time to put down roots in international markets, including in the UK and Ireland, after a period of building brand awareness among travel agents. Atlas recently fixed pricing in US dollars on its website to help international markets which Bernie Carter oversees

MSC Cruises confirms talks under way with shipyards over new ship class

The line will launch MSC World America in April 2025, with MSC World Asia to follow in 2026 and a fourth World-class vessel in 2027, but discussion has also already turned to what MSC’s next ship class will look like

Avalon Waterways to sell exclusively through agents in Ireland

Following a recent uptick in demand for river cruising in the country, the line has agreed a partnership with ASM Ireland to start selling its sailings via the Irish travel trade

Celestyal revamps fare structure in response to customer feedback

The Greek Islands specialist’s new Celestyal One fare includes the cruise fare, WiFi, coffee, tea, water and juice, soft drinks, port fees, taxes and gratuities. Plus, the line is also adding cabins to Celestyal Discovery in the coming months

AmaWaterways to consider Congo River sailings if safety challenges can be overcome

After the luxury river line recently referred to itself as a ’pioneer’, TTG asked which waterways around the world it could operate on in the future

Windstar hopes new website will help agents introduce the brand to clients

’This website is going to help more people in the UK get to know Windstar – now we have a place we can direct agents to,’ UK and Ireland head of sales Augustus Lonsdale told TTG

Crystal to launch new ship in 2032 after firming up option with Fincantieri

The order comes after the ultra-luxury line agreed a ‘two-unit’ deal with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in the summer

Ponant bolsters UK trade team with Celebrity BDM hire

Andrew Bolton moves from the premium cruise line – part of Royal Caribbean Group – where he spent more than 20 years in a range of roles including acting head of sales

'Liberty of the Seas can be another ex-UK success story', says Royal's EMEA chief

The 4,960-passenger ship will replace its sister Freedom-class vessel, Independence of the Seas, which can carry 4,375-passengers, in the UK in 2026

Celestyal vows not to discount 'core' products ahead of debut Arabian Gulf season

The Greek Islands specialist is expanding operations into the Arabian Gulf at the end of November 2024

Royal's Liberty of the Seas to sail ex-Southampton in 2026

Liberty’s summer 2026 programme will see it sail a range of two- to nine-night voyages from Southampton, including a solar eclipse sailing

Princess Cruises 'tailors' trade platform ahead of Star Princess launch

The line believes the upgrades will make the booking process even smoother for agents

'Knowledge gaps are preventing cruising from becoming the most accessible form of holiday'

When I ran my own agency, I had clients with a range of accessibility needs who loved the freedom a cruise holiday can offer – however, their trips all too often fell short of what they were looking for," writes Kate Holroyd for TTG

Discounting frustration, female leadership and famous explorers, plus four more cruise talking points

How did cruise lines react when agents expressed frustration over discounting in the market? What can agents do to up their expedition sales? And how cruise is becoming a more sustainable holiday choice? Everything we learned from Advantage’s biggest-ever cruise conference

Tauck to launch two new-build river ships in France in 2026

Two new ships will join the Tauck fleet in spring 2026 sailing the Rhone and the Seine

Ambassador chief says line's 'affordable quality' proposition 'attracting luxury cruisers'

Ambassador Cruise Line Chief executive Christian Verhounig told TTG how he had met long-term Cunard cruisers on Ambience who now fancied sailing with a premium brand

InteleTravel orders its agents 'not to book' P&O Cruises

The US homeworking giant told TTG the ’no book’ status would be lifted before Saturday (26 October) following discussions between the two travel companies

Cunard to roll out best Queen Anne features across the fleet

Queen Elizabeth will be the first Cunard ship in the fleet to be retrofitted with new features that debuted on Queen Anne in 2025

Tui River Cruises unveils 'quality' spaces onboard upcoming Nile ship

Tui Al Horeya, due to launch in November, will have 74 cabins to accommodate 145 passengers per sailing

G Adventures to bring new yacht fleet to Greece next summer

G Adventures will offer a fleet of five new yachts to clients on Greek sailing holidays next summer

Poll: Should suppliers stop handing out plastic freebies?

The money that would normally be spent on promotional items is being donated to Teenage Cancer Trust, the line confirmed

Crystal bolsters trade sales team with Danny Giles hire

The travel industry veteran has been tasked with building strong connections with the line’s travel partners new and old across the Scotland, north of England and Ireland