Skip to site content
Group Travel Leader Group Travel Leader Group Travel Leader

July 6, 2016 Update – Group Cruise News

Welcome!  We trust that our readers all enjoyed an extended Independence Day weekend, and are looking forward to summer or fall vacations, hopefully including many fine seagoing or river cruises!

 

Avalon Waterways is promoting a “Fall 2016 Sales Event,” offering free flights and $3,000 off per couple on selected river cruises this fall, including the company’s 13-day “Blue Danube Discovery;” 10-day “Canals, Vineyards & Paris;” 11-day northbound “Burgundy & Provence;” eight-day “Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches;” 15-day eastbound “Magnificent Europe;” and 12-day westbound “Central European Experience.”  Conditions apply.  www.avalonwaterways.com/

Crystal Cruises has announced three new personnel moves.  John Polimenakos has been appointed Vice President, Information Technology, and will oversee the company-wide IT infrastructure supporting shoreside and onboard technological needs, based in the Miami branch office.  Polimenakos has more than 20 years of IT experience in the cruise and travel industries, most recently with Lufthansa.  Secondly, and also to be based in Miami, Angela Composto will be the line’s new Vice President of Marketing, and is set to manage creative services and marketing initiatives for all of Crystal’s product lines.  Composto is a 25-year marketing management veteran, and previously served as Vice President of Marketing for Silversea Cruises.  Finally, in conjunction with the opening of new dedicated corporate office in Sydney, Australia, cruise industry veteran Karen Christensen, who most recently also served in management at Silversea Cruises, has been tapped to head up the new facility.  www.crystalcruises.com/

Cunard’s flagship liner Queen Mary 2 has recently emerged from a $132 million refurbishment, including redesign and refurbishment of the Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites and restaurants, as well as Britannia staterooms; the addition of 30 further Britannia Club staterooms, 15 Britannia single staterooms and five Britannia inside staterooms; the redesign of key public spaces and restaurants, including the transformation of the former Winter Garden into the Carinthia Lounge, the introduction of The Verandah as the ship’s new specialty restaurant, and the complete redesign of the Kings Court buffet area; ten additional kennels; and a complete repaint of the ship exterior plus technical enhancements and structural changes.  www.cunard.com/

Emerald Waterways has scheduled two online webinars to promote the company’s European river cruises, to be held at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 21, and Wednesday, August 24.  In other news, the line is currently combining its “Sensations of Southern France” itinerary with its “Secrets of the Douro” or “Jewels of the Rhine” cruises to create 15-day programs, offering round-trip flights from $495, plus €200 to spend onboard for spa treatments, a drink package, or “Discover More” tours.  The promotion is valid on new 2017 bookings made by September 2.  Finally, for groups of ten or more, Emerald is promoting its spring, 2017, eight-day “Jewels of the Rhine” sailings with savings of $200 per person, air to Europe from $995 per person, and €100 per person to spend on board.  Single travelers receive half off the single supplement for all cabin categories.  Prices begin at $2,045 per person, and must be booked by September 2.  www.emeraldwaterways.com/

Fathom has announced additional onboard activities aboard Adonia that are designed to enrich travelers’ cultural experience in Cuba, including:  “Getting to Know Cuba/Introduction to Havana;” “Getting to Know Cienfuegos;” Getting to Know Santiago de Cuba;” “Pre-1950’s Cuban History;” “Havana Architecture Bingo;” “Cuban Coffee Games;” as well as “Havana/Cienfuegos/Santiago de Cuba Bands.”  In addition to the new onboard programming, travelers will now have shipboard access to Cuban-made merchandise from a local design store, Clandestina.  www.fathom.org/

Holland America Line’s Veendam earned its second consecutive perfect score of 100 on a U.S. Public Health inspection in Boston on May 21, before beginning a seven-day Bermuda cruise.  Also, at the 2016 Lloyd’s List North American Maritime Awards, the captain and crew of the Veendam were named “Seafarer of the Year,” for the rescue of a pilot who ejected from his single-engine aircraft after running out of fuel in the Pacific Ocean, 225 miles off the coast of Maui, Hawaii, on January 25, 2015.  HAL received the award, which recognizes the skills, bravery and professionalism that seafarers demonstrate daily, at a ceremony in New York in May.  In other news, the line has announced a collaboration with Los Angeles-based Sushi Chef Andy Matsuda, who will train the line’s shipboard chefs in the latest sushi trends and techniques.  Four of his signature rolls will be featured on the dinner menu at Tamarind, the Asian-fusion restaurant on board several HAL vessels.  The noted Japanese-born chef has begun his collaboration and training aboard the new Koningsdamwww.hollandamerica.com/

MSC Cruises is helping travelers to get a feel for its new ship, MSC Meraviglia, by releasing a video that highlights the vessel’s broad range of entertainment, dining options and wellness choices, including a 315-foot-long indoor promenade with LED dome; dining venues such as the Kaito sushi bar and Teppanyaki restaurant, Eataly and the Jean Philippe Maury chocolaterie; family-friendly facilities and attractions in an onboard amusement park featuring two F1 Simulators, a full-sized bowling alley, plus an aqua park with four water slides and a “Himalayan Bridge;” an extended “MSC Yacht Club” spanning three decks with 78 suites and luxurious accommodations; three pools, including an aft pool that will be transformed into a dance floor at night; and the “Carousel Lounge,” where guests will be able to enjoy exclusive performances by renowned Cirque du Soleil.  The video may be accessed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/AwdoBFm42Jk, or on the ship’s microsite, http://mscmeraviglia.com/us/en.  With her first cruise scheduled for June 4, 2017, MSC Meraviglia will spend her inaugural summer season sailing the western Mediterranean.  In other news, MSC has announced that the second of its Seaside-generation ships, set to enter service in June, 2018, will be named MSC SeaviewShe will spend her inaugural season cruising the Western Mediterranean, with embarkations scheduled from Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona.  Bookings will open for the general public on July 18.  All of the line’s Seaside-generation ships are being built by Italy-based Fincantieri.  www.msccruisesusa.com/

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced several itineraries for the company’s Fall/Winter 2017/2018 deployment, including itineraries from U.S. ports of departure, as well as new Australia and New Zealand itineraries from Sydney and Auckland.  Norwegian Jewel will be based in the Asia Pacific region with departures to and from Australia beginning in November, 2017.  Following her Australian season, the vessel will undertake a range of Asian itineraries visiting Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Korea.  San Juan, Puerto Rico, will return as a seasonal homeport, with Norwegian Dawn sailing from the Caribbean port, as well as from Tampa, Florida; and there will be a new 14-day Western Caribbean sailing from New York on Norwegian Breakaway. The new itineraries went on sale on June 29.  Speaking of Norwegian Dawn, the ship re-entered service in Boston on June 17 following a month-long dry dock where she received extensive enhancements including two new restaurants, three new bars and lounges, updated design and décor in all public spaces, refurbishment of all staterooms and a makeover of Garden Villa suites.  Finally, Norwegian’s “Free at Sea” promotion has been extended through July 31, allowing guests who book a new five-day or longer sailing in an oceanview, balcony or mini-suite category stateroom to select their preference of two choices from four onboard amenity offers, including free unlimited beverages, a free Specialty Dining package, free shore excursion credits, a free 250 minute WiFi package, or the line’s “Friends & Family Sail Free” offer, allowing 3rd and 4th guests to sail for free on select dates.  Inside staterooms as well as studio staterooms for solo travelers can choose one free offer. Guests who book a sailing in a suite or “The Haven” will receive all five free amenities.  www.ncl.com/

Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering a $500 per-stateroom shipboard credit, usable for spa treatments, purchases in “La Boutique,” or shore excursions on any sailing through next April 15, aboard Paul Gauguin in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific.  Bookings must be made by July 30, and deposits have been reduced to $250 per person.  In other news, the line is also offering its “Ambassadors of the Environment Family Program” free of charge, a savings of $329 per child, on the December 21, seven-night Tahiti & the Society Islands holiday voyage.  The Ambassadors program, created by Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society, introduces young travelers from age 9 through 17 to the natural wonders of French Polynesia through hands-on, interactive learning.  www.pgcruises.com/

Princess Cruises‘ second musical production show in collaboration with Oscar, Tony and Grammy-winning composer Stephen Schwartz will be a tribute to  Broadway choreography entitled “Born to Dance.”  The new show is scheduled to premiere aboard Star Princess in fall, 2016, followed by Grand Princess and Golden Princess in early 2017.  www.princesscruises.com/

Seabourn has announced that the first steel for its new Seabourn Ovation was cut on June 7 in a ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy.  The vessel is scheduled to enter service during the spring of 2018.  The line has also named Mark Dexter as captain of Seabourn Encore, the helm of which he will take when the ship debuts this December.  Captain Dexter, whose career at sea spans more than 35 years, joined Seabourn in 2007 and most recently served as fleet captain, overseeing the implementation of the company’s Bridge Resource Management program.  www.seabourn.com/

Silversea Cruises will be alternating two new seven-night Galápagos itineraries approved by the Galápagos National Park Service. The 100-guest, all-suite Silver Galapagos will operate both itineraries, sailing Saturday to Saturday from San Cristóbal to Baltra, or vice-verse.  San Cristóbal is a new arrival or departure port for the line’s guests.  Elsewhere, Silversea has expanded its “Silver Select” promotion to include 12 additional voyages in 2017.  The program enables guests to choose from three savings options:  a $1,500 per suite onboard spending credit, a two-category suite upgrade, or 50% off a second suite.  For some expedition voyages, the line is also offering the choice of a two-category suite upgrade or 50% off a second suite.  “Silver Select” is available on new bookings made through the end of this month for select voyages sailing to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asia Pacific, South America, Antarctica, Galápagos, Africa, and the Indian Ocean.  www.silversea.com/

Tauck family members, company executives, travel agents and guests gathered in Straubing, Germany, on June 23 to welcome the new Joy into the company’s fleet of European riverboats. The christening ceremony along the Danube marked the launch of Tauck’s second new ship this year, following that of Grace in April.  Serving as godmothers for Joy were three longtime Tauck employees, Jacque Moran, Mary Murrin and Kristin Robinson. All three initially joined the company to serve as tour directors, before being promoted to management positions within the organization. www.tauck.com/ 

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is offering savings of from $300 to $1,000 per person on cruise-only or cruise & tour fares for groups of 10 or more on its 2017 Europe and Russia river cruises.  Group pricing can be combined with the 5% discount available to past guests, as well as “early bird” savings of up to $1,500 per person.  Other group incentives include one complimentary fare with each nine paid, plus a choice of two of the following amenities:  shipboard credit, waived single supplements (two per group), and/or in-room gifts of wine or chocolates.  For selected longer sailings this year, however, Uniworld is offering a choice of free premium economy air to Europe or an optional upgrade to business class at greatly reduced prices.  Bookings must be made by July 31.  Featured programs include specific sailings of “European Jewels,” 15 days from Budapest to Amsterdam; “Ultimate European Journey,” 24 days from Amsterdam to Bucharest; 15-day “Grand France” from Paris to Avignon; and 15-day “A Portrait of Majestic France” from Paris to Bordeaux.  Finally, in another promotion which ends August 20, the line is offering free air in conjunction with its 2017 Europe and Russia programs.  First, free air will be provided for bookings in all categories for voyages 13 days and longer.  Second, free air will be included for bookings in category 2 or higher for voyages of 12 days or less.  And for bookings in categories 3, 4, and 5 on sailings in these shorter lengths, free companion (second person) air will be provided, which makes it the equivalent of “two for one” air pricing.  www.uniworld.com

Viking Ocean Cruises has unveiled 10 new itineraries to its offerings for 2017 and 2018, which together add more than 30 ports of call to its programs.  Included are “Trade Routes of the Middle Ages,” 15 days from Bergen to Barcelona; “Venice, the Adriatic and Greece,” eight days from Venice to Athens; “South America and the Caribbean,” 11 days round-trip from San Juan; “New York, Bermuda and the Western Indies,” 15 days from New York to San Juan; “Iconic Cities of the Western Mediterranean,” eight days from Barcelona to Rome; “Central American Shores and Cuba,” eight days round-trip from Miami; “From the Caribbean to the Amazon,” 22 days round-trip from San Juan; “Southern Mediterranean Discovery,” eight days from Rome to Barcelona; ”British Isles Explorer,” 15 days from Bergen to London; and “Italian Sojourn,” eight days from Rome to Venice.  Also, Viking’s fourth ship, Viking Sun, will set sail on its maiden voyage in December, 2017, for the company’s first world cruise, spanning 141 days and visiting five continents, 35 countries and 66 ports.  www.vikingoceancruises.com/