On August 16, in the medieval town of Viviers, France, Anouchka Gerlach christened the Riverside Ravel during a festive ceremony ahead of Ravel’s inaugural sailing on the Rhône River.

This is the second ship to launch for Riverside Luxury Cruises, a Hamburg-based company founded by siblings Anouchka and Gregor Gerlach in late 2022. The Riverside Ravel will tour the Rhône River between Lyon and Arles and similar to Riverside Mozart, which is sailing the Danube this season, will continue to Read the rest of this entry »

AmaWaterways reservations are now open for 2025 river cruise itineraries. Travelers can now begin planning unforgettable 2025 journeys on rivers spanning across Europe, Africa, Egypt, Asia and Colombia, while enjoying savings.

For reservations on 2025 sailings booked by September 30, 2023, AmaWaterways is offering an Early Booking Reward with savings of up to 20 percent on cruise fares depending on the sailing dates and destinations. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s warmer than Europe and closer to home—and now only time will tell if cruisers will buy Natchez as a Christmas market destination.

American Queen Voyages is giving it a go, partnering with the city of Natchez, MS, to recreate a traditional Christmas market for cruisers on select itineraries during the 2023 and 2024 holiday seasons.

AQV president Cindy D’Aoust called Natchez “the quintessential Christmas town,” perfect for fusing “European yuletide nostalgia and authentic Southern charm.”

Stopping in Natchez will be:
• American Countess – Memphis to New Orleans, November 27 sailing
• American Queen – New Orleans to Memphis, December 3 sailing
• American Countess – New Orleans to Memphis, December 4 sailing
• American Queen – Memphis to New Orleans, December 10 sailing
• American Countess – Memphis to New Orleans, December 11 sailing
• American Queen – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 17 sailing
• American Countess – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 18 sailing
• American Queen – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 23 sailing
• American Countess – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 25 sailing

AQV also will offer special “Holidays on the River” experiences for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, all of which are now available for booking.

The cruise line in June announced that despite solid bookings, it was pulling out of the Great Lakes to focus on its river and Alaska itineraries.

Storms are getting bigger, airplane parts are hard to come by, and the aviation industry is understaffed. So what’s a travel advisor to do when air travel is one big snafu and less dependable than ever?

To a certain extent, it depends on where your customer base is. In New York, for example, Laurie and Paul Bahna, owners of a Dream Vacations franchise in Plainview, found an easy option for taking the flying out of the equation altogether: cruising out of your home port.

“Paul and I truly believe that people are really tired of the airline cancellations,” Laurie says. “So many customers are saying that airline prices are very high and the airlines are just not consistent Read the rest of this entry »

With over $1 million in sales, Anna Harrison already was busy, busy, busy when her baby boy was born in December. She took a short break—but soon she was back at the helm of her agency, sleep-deprived and distracted, juggling customers and infant care. She knew that not even her traditional route to salvation, hiring part-time assistants, was going to be enough. So she jumped in with both feet, took a course by her friend, travel advisor Mary Beth Lynn, on how to hire executive assistants, and ponied up $2,000 a month to give one a try. Read the rest of this entry »

AmaWaterways has announced a new limited-time offer for travelers seeking distinctive journeys through Europe and Asia. Now through September 30, 2023, travelers can save 20 percent on the total river cruise fare on new reservations for select Europe and Mekong sailings embarking in 2023 and 2024. As an alternative offer, solo travelers can take advantage of a reduced 20 percent single supplement on the same sailings in select stateroom categories. These limited-time offers* can be combined with AmaWaterways’  AirPlus promotion, creating exceptional savings opportunities for travelers. Read the rest of this entry »

When we think of river cruises, we often think of couples drinking wine and gazing off their balconies, wandering through the cobblestone streets of Europe, sitting in the lounge for performances and eating meals in a communal dining room. Those are the things that keep me river cruising, but sometimes I want a little bit more. That’s why I love Avalon’s Active & Discovery itineraries. Avalon incorporates everything people like about a traditional river cruise, but with a twist. And each of these sailings become a new favorite trip because they attract such an adventurous and enthusiastic crowd of people.

Celestyal Cruises has a long pedigree. Its parent company, Louis PLC, was the first travel agency in Cyprus in 1935. The vintage operator of Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean cruises is now embarked on a major relaunch of the brand and the product.

In March Celestyal introduced a new ship, the Journey, which represents the new course it is charting for its redefined future. In September the Journey will replace the Crystal, which will be retired.

Read the rest of this entry »

Would your customers consider swapping their vacation in Europe for a ride on Celebrity Beyond, with a stop in the new luxury section of CocoCay, in 2024?

Royal Caribbean is betting they will—and announced it is repositioning its sparkling new Edge-class ship to the Caribbean for five months, covering the spring, summer and fall of next year. And the new itineraries will feature Royal’s number-one destination, CocoCay, which is adding a new upscale area and amenities to welcome both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity guests.

All Beyond‘s summer European sailings out of Rome and its transatlantic voyages, scheduled for April 22-May 6 and November 1-15, have been canceled. Instead, the ship remains in Fort Lauderdale and offers Caribbean itineraries year-round.

Passengers who are booked on the trips can rebook on a different Celebrity sailing and receive a $100 onboard credit per stateroom ($200 for Retreat rooms), or take a 100% refund. Those booked on the transatlantic cruises can rebook on Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Equinox, or Ascent, which will debut in November. All rebookings must be completed by July 11.

All the new 2024 itineraries will include visits to CocoCay, where construction on the new adults-only Hideaway Beach promises an exclusive added-fee, half-day, all-inclusive experience.

On a recent call with investors, Royal Caribbean Group president Michael Bayley said Hideaway Beach will accommodate approximately 2,500 guests, and noted “the pricing premiums [on CocoCay] continue to be really robust, and the spend on the island continues to be really robust as well.”

Also on tap is an expansion of the Royal Beach Club, on Nassau’s Paradise Island, aimed specifically at the short-cruise market. “We continue to increase our short product and put really great ships into that market,” Bayley said. “So, the combination of Perfect Day on one day and the Beach Club on the second day really is a winning combination.”

“I am truly excited for our sister brand, Celebrity Cruises, to visit Perfect Day at Coco Cay,” Royal Caribbean International SVP of Sales and Trade Support Vicki Freed told TRO. “Many of their guests will experience this special island as a couple and want to return with their children (and perhaps grandchildren) for the ultimate family vacation. Some of the guests will return to Celebrity and many will want to take the family on Royal Caribbean. A ‘win-win’ all the way around—especially for our valued travel partners who will get repeat business.”

And indeed, Christy Scannell of Dream Vacations San Diego said she is “thrilled to see celebrity will have one of their stellar edge class ships in the Caribbean for clients looking to enjoy an upscale summer vacation period; that it will visit CocoCay with dedicated celebrity style beach space is a cherry on top.”

But the travel advisors who had clients booked for Europe are disappointed. Said Michelle Douglas of Douglas World Travel, “I’m very disappointed in this change. They will open the adult-only area and it will end up being packed with guests from both ships. I am disappointed they pulled this ship from Europe—as are the clients who had booked European sailings next year.”

For those looking to explore the waterways of Europe and beyond, CroisiEurope Cruises is an excellent choice. As Europe’s largest river cruise line, they pride themselves on welcoming over 220,000 passengers annually across its fleet of 51 ships, and more than 200 itineraries. With a range of unique destinations and ships, plus a commitment to reducing its environmental impact, CroisiEurope Cruises is a great option for travelers seeking a high-quality river cruise experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Riverside Luxury River Cruises has a new Summer Sale.  The offers are for bookings made by August 31.

• Receive a US$150 per person onboard credit
• No single supplement on Harmony & Melody Suites

Read the rest of this entry »

It takes a village to launch a new cruise ship. Last week, 1,000 travel advisors, reporters, financiers and cruise-industry executives were joined by Jay Leno, Emeril Lagassi and Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy to welcome the new Carnival Venezia to its homeport at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

It’s the last season for American Queen Voyages in the Great Lakes, the company announced on Tuesday. All published voyages through November 2023 will continue, but then the company plans to sell Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager and focus on its river cruises.

“Our customers consistently tell us our US river itineraries are exceptional and demonstrate this by returning again and again,” said AQV president Cindy D’Aoust. “All of our focus is being put into updating and enhancing our popular river product with strategic partnerships and an elevated culinary program, which we know have been very well received.”

Viking, meanwhile, which began sailing the Great Lakes in 2022, just launched its second expedition ship there.

AQV now will add new itineraries for several ships in 2024 and 2025, including:

• New three- and four-day Lower Mississippi cruises on the American Queen.
• A 16-day trip down the Mississippi from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, including intricate locks and dams and the birthplaces of jazz and country music.
• American Countess will sail a new bourbon-themed voyage featuring food and spirits experts such as Dickie Brennan, chef-owner of Bourbon House in New Orleans, and American Empress will sail new wine-themed cruises on the Snake and Columbia rivers.

Fans of Footloose be forewarned: Norwegian Cruise Lines will be canceling seven shows across nine ships, including your favorite, in a shakeup of its entertainment lineup.

The shows to be canceled are:

• Swing on Norwegian Gem, closing July 7, 2023
• World Beat on Norwegian Spirit, closing August 16, 2023, and on Norwegian Sun, closing October 11.
• Velvet on Norwegian Jewel, closing September 25.
• What the World Needs Now on Norwegian Star, closing October 11.
• Footloose, on Norwegian Jo, closing October 28.
• Showdown, on Norwegian Dawn, closing November 4.
• Six, on Norwegian Breakaway, closing January 26, 2024, and on Norwegian Bliss, closing February 24, 2024.

Still running are the popular Choir of Man, performed on Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Escape, and the new Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Norwegian Prima.

In an email sent to crew members and obtained by Cruise Industry News, the company said the goal is “elevating the offerings.”

“We understand that change can be difficult, but we are confident that these adjustments will allow us to create an even more memorable experience for our guests. This is a truly exciting time of growth and transformation for our company and industry, and we are honored to be at the forefront of this evolution,” the email said.

NCL did not respond to a request for an interview by TRO.

At the beginning of this month, I was a guest on board Avalon Waterways’ newest ship, Avalon View. I was invited by Avalon to experience one of their Active & Discovery itineraries on the Danube, but we will focus more on the itinerary in the upcoming weeks. Today, I want to talk about five ways that Avalon went above and beyond my expectations.

Are you ready for a Shark Tank-like opportunity to present your business plan to top financial experts, get free professional feedback, and potentially win thousands of dollars in prizes?

The cruise line’s eight-part Your Winning Plan program will bring in experts in small business and entrepreneurship from the Small Business Administration, CLIA and ASTA, plus Carnival’s own business development team, to help you build a winning business plan you can then enter into a nationwide competition. If you make it to the finals, Shark Tank’s own Daymond John may just present you with the grand prize.

The event will take place live in seven cities (San Jose on June 23, Detroit and Las Vegas on July 7, Nashville on July 14, Denver on July 19, and Richmond, VA, on July 28) as well as virtually on August 5. The grand finale event will be held in Houston on Sept. 27.

One semi-finalist will be chosen at each event and receive a $2,500 prize to use toward implementing the winning business plans, plus a trip to the final event in Houston. The grand prize winner there will receive $5,000.

Any travel advisor in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico can register, at GoCCL.com.

I’ve been there on a Norwegian cruise; I’ve been there on a Globus coach tour. But when Lindblad Expeditions invited me on their 40th Anniversary sailing to Alaska, I knew I was in for a different kind of experience.

We sailed into the sunset on the National Geographic Venture, Lindblad’s partner since 2004, with about 80 intrepid explorers, most of them enthusiastic return guests. One lady was on her 30th cruise (and only tight finances had prevented more, she said), but most had sailed with Lindblad six or eight times before, to far-flung destinations around the globe. They promised we would experience good service, make friends with the crew, and be educated by the National Geographic scientists who trade their knowledge for free passage to remote locations. It’s a cooperative venture that works for everyone.

Underscoring its reach into the US market, MSC Group this week offered up details about the naming ceremony of MSC Euribia in Copenhagen, as well as the Owners Suite on Explora I, the first ship in its new Explora Journeys luxury division.

Sporting “the most energy-efficient cruise ship design ever,” MSC Euribia, is powered by LNG and features state-of-the-art environmental technologies including advanced onboard wastewater treatment systems, waste management handling, energy efficiency measures, and innovative underwater radiated noise management systems to reduce the potential impact on the marine environment.

As always at MSC namings, Sophia Loren will serve as godmother. Euribia then will sail 7-night itineraries in Northern Europe, from Kiel, Germany, and Copenhagen, Denmark to the Norwegian Fjords.

New elements on the ship include the new Le Grill “French bistro meets steakhouse” restaurant; a reinvented Carousel Lounge designed to offer more panoramic ocean views; and a brand-new kids area and program of activities dedicated to educating children and teenagers on environmental subjects in the MSC Foundation Lab.

For guests looking for a more luxurious experience, MSC Group’s new Explora Journeys brand unveiled details of the 3,000-square-foot Owner’s Residence on its first ship, Explora I.

Guests there can lounge on a private outdoor terrace that extends over the full width of the ship, sip champagne in their own infinity whirlpool, or dine in private at a table for eight. They will also have unlimited priority reservations for all culinary venues and a complimentary treatment at Ocean Wellness – The Spa.

The suite includes private butler service, a Technogym Bench and Case Kit, a private bar replenished according to their preferences, unlimited priority reservations for all culinary venues, a double vanity bathroom made of Calacatta marble and other “incredible details that create an elegant, yet effortlessly relaxed European sense of luxury,” said Explora Journeys Head of Product Jason Gelineau.

The Residence is available for parties of three adults or two adults and one child under 18 years old.

My wife and I have been cruising to Australia for nearly 25 years. During that time, we have never paid gratuities on any ship we’ve sailed. Some have been luxury lines, such as Silversea, where gratuities are never charged; others have been mid-priced, such as Azamara and Celebrity, where tipping is customary despite the fact they are (or were) owned by the same corporate entity.

The reason is explained in an article by Sally Macmillan, Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash, which starts off: Read the rest of this entry »

Adventures by Disney is expanding its repertoire of destinations for 2024, for the first time adding Colombia, home of its hit movie Encanto, and Canada’s Atlantic Coast.

Bookings will open on May 12 for the two itineraries—an eight-day “Colombia: Bogota, the Coffee Region, Cocora Valley and Cartagena,” and an eight-day “Canada’s Maritimes of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island,” and for a third new tour, an enhanced 12-day New Zealand itinerary.

The Colombia tour will include guided tours in Bogota and Cartagena, a visit to a coffee farm, an arepa-making class, trekking in a dry forest, and snorkeling in the Rosario Islands. Guests traveling in 2024 will get a signed lithograph featuring art from the animated movie Encanto. Rates begin at $4,999 for children and $4,999 for adults.

The new Canada itinerary will include visits to the Sugan Moon maple syrup farm in Nova Scotia, the Wood Island Lighthouse and the Millbrook Cultural Heritage Centre to learn about the indigenous Mi’kmaq Peoples, plus horseback riding and kayaking at the Bay of Fundy. Rates start at $5,109 for children and $5,399 for adults.

Adults-only departures for both itineraries will be available on select dates.

After 15 years of cruising in Japan, MSC Cruises on May 1 opened sales for its first-ever winter season in the Land of the Rising Sun, beginning this year.

The new program will start in November 2023, sailing on MSC Bellissima, and include 6-, 9-, and 11-night sailings from Yokohama. Then from January to March 2024, MSC Bellissima will add 4- and 5- night itineraries within Japan and to Keelung, Taiwan (China), visiting Okinawa, Ishigaki, and Miyako island, sailing out of a homeport in Naha/Okinawa.

MSC Bellissima is the second ship in the MSC Meraviglia class and one of the largest in the MSC fleet, holding 4,500 guests. It features 12 dining venues and more than 20 bars and lounges, including a steak house, the French specialty restaurant L’Atelier Bistrot and Chocolate & Café, home of unique and elegant chocolate desserts.