Cruise

Gus Antorcha named Princess Cruises president amid Carnival Corp shake-up

The leadership reshuffle sees Holland America Line president Gus Antorcha replace Princess Cruises boss John Padgett who will leave the cruising giant in February. While Beth Bodensteiner, senior vice-president and chief commercial officer at HAL, will become HAL’s president as well as have executive responsibility of Seabourn

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

Half the world's top travel firms making progress on sustainability, says WTTC

A new roadmap from the World Travel and Tourism Council says more than half the world’s top travel brands are taking sustainability initiatives

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

Bank holiday ATC meltdown cost consumers and industry 'up to' £165 million

An independent report into the 2023 August bank holiday air traffic control collapse says 700,000 passengers were affected, with total cost of the disruption being up to £165 million

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

Agents enjoy ‘best ever fam trip’ with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions

16 agents and operator staff won a fam trip to the Galapagos Islands with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions earlier this year. We hear from the lucky attendees, with one describing it as one of the best experiences of her life!

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

Accor's Orient Express brand to enter cruise market with two yachts

Accor is set to debut the first of two luxury yachts in 2026 under its resurrected Orient Express brand

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

Antara Cruises

Antara Cruises is the pioneer of Indian expedition cruising and the world’s longest river cruise

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Atlas Ocean Voyages is reaching new levels in the luxury, small-ship and expedition cruise sectors, offering yacht-style expedition experiences across three genres.

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

Low-cost travel era ‘evolving into era of value travel’

A panel of experts at WTM London said post-Covid prices were moderating, and that low-cost travel was not dead

Greece urges cruise lines to do more to tackle mass tourism

It comes as the country refocuses efforts to disperse tourists and encourage visitors to Greece throughout the year rather than in just the summer and the shoulder seasons

Tourism minister pledges to amplify outbound sector's voice at government level

Speaking to TTG at WTM London, tourism minister Sir Chris Bryant pledged to invite more outbound industry members onto a key government committee, saying he wants to listen

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

Ade Adepitan hails Spain's ‘game-changing’ accessibility report ‘a blueprint for progress’

TV presenter and basketball paralympian Ade Adepitan linked up with Spain to help the country launch its ‘transformative’ report into accessibility, which he hailed a ‘blueprint’ for progress

'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

Consumers' cost and climate worries to become barriers to travel spend – report

The latest WTM Global Travel Report highlights how cost will impact consumer decision making for travel spend and become a challenge to industry

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