Ocean cruise

Holland America Line launches biggest-ever UK ship visit programme

Visits will get under way in late-April and will run through to 3 August, with agents able to get onboard two of HAL’s Pinnacle class ships – Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam

How Celebrity Cruises plans to drive sustainability firsts with its Edge series

Just days after its latest ship, Celebrity Xcel, was floated out from the French shipyard where it is being built, Celebrity Cruises announced a new Edge-class ship will join the fleet in 2028. Sara Macefield reports from Saint Nazaire in France

Santorini residents evacuate despite earlier earthquake reassurances

Residents on the tremor-hit island of Santorini are fleeing despite earlier predictions seismic activity would diminish

New UK boss for A&K as operator looks to ‘strengthen position’

Fox takes up the new managing director for AKTG, UK and APAC role in April and will relocate here from Australia.

Previously based in Melbourne as managing director Australasia A&K & EVP APAC and trade sales for A&K & Crystal, Fox has been with the company just under two years.

AKTG said the move aligns with “ongoing global expansion and commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences in key markets”.

Ambassador Cruise Line unveils dedicated training events for homeworkers

Ambasasdor’s bottomless brunch training sessions will be aimed at homeworkers based around the country, which it will host on a trial basis this month

MSC Cruises confirms World Asia deployment and puts 2026 Med sailings on sale

Line’s third World Class ship is due to start operations late next year

MSC Cruises reveals biggest-ever fam programme amid 'changing' bookings patterns

Frontline agents can secure places via incentives running throughout the year, or through invitations sent out to key ’decision makers’ at agencies selling cruise, head of retail Alyshia Bartlett said

Virgin Voyages' SJ Walker promises agents: 'We'll fix the choppy pricing'

Virgin Voyages UK sales director SJ Walker tells cruise editor Harry Kemble how the line plans to offer a ‘strategic’ fam programme in 2025 and bed in a new pricing model

Clia plays down mayor of Nice's threat to ban large cruise ships from French Riviera port

The mayor of Nice says he plans to ban larger cruise ships from the city as they only bring ’low-cost’ tourists that do not benefit the local economy

Cruise 'performing well' during peaks, but not every agency chief agrees

While some said cruise sales were rolling in this year, one established agency boss flagged concerns around discounting and another said bookings had been slower than anticipated

Celebrity signs shipbuilding deal to expand Edge-series fleet

The Royal Caribbean Group brand has launched Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Edge so far and will unveil Celebrity Xcel later this year

Brands team up for £100,000 Race Across the World-inspired agent incentive

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Virgin Atlantic have joined forces to give agents the chance to win £100,000 in marketing and commercial support for their business, as well as a spot on a cruise

Ponant acquires majority stake in rival small-ship line

The French cruise operator said it was ’deeply impressed’ with Aqua Expeditions, while stressing the brand would continue to operate as a standalone business unit

Virgin Voyages to pay agents £8,200 commission on sales of new annual pass

After debuting its 2025 Annual Pass last year, the adults-only cruise line decided to unveil its expanded 2026 version early to meet customer demand

Cruise Club UK expecting 'a bit of jealousy' after hinting at second exclusive world cruise charter

Cruise Club UK can now exclusively sell a 371-day world voyage and its segments after being acquired by Australia’s Ignite Travel Group in October

Cruise line rips up rule book with 'new style' fam

The line will host agent groups on a destination-focused fam, as well as a learning academy at sea later this year, sales director Hayley Moore tells TTG

ROL Cruise contacted by ‘five or six’ agencies about new employee ownership model

The Colchester-based cruise specialist announced in November it had become employee-owned, with Rosie Cairns assuming the role of chief executive and Sarah Wikevand taking up the position of managing director

Ambassador merges with French cruise operator to create new group with larger fleet

The no-fly cruise company will launch its debut fly-cruise programme this winter with sailings from three Caribbean homeports – Barbados, Martinique and Curacao

The key ships launching in 2025 – and how agents can get on them

TTG approached travel’s ocean and river lines late last year to find out how agents could get onboard the new vessels launching in 2025. Here’s what they had to say

Lindblad Expeditions

Already know Lindblad Expeditions and how to sell it? You can find sales and marketing resources, plus contact details for the sales team, at the bottom of this page.

But first, take a peek at Lindblad Expeditions’ partnership with National Geographic...

NCLH creates new luxury role ahead of fleet expansion

The global cruise company has made the hire as part of a leadership restructuring

Ambassador ships to host 600 agents in 2025

The no-fly UK cruise line is hosting 12 ship visits at six regional ports across the UK in 2025, which trade partners can apply to join now

Tui pushes app sales as it goes up against Jet2 and easyJet with peaks offers

Tui has opened its peaks offers via its app – three days before putting them on sale through the trade – while Jet2holidays has also detailed its turn of year discounts

InteleTravel agent nets £100,000+ cruise booking from psychic group

Christine Etheridge’s mega booking with Royal Caribbean now stands at £103,598, but could yet rise further