Cruise

W E E K L Y
Thursday 16 Feb 2017

Cruise Weekly today
Cruise Weekly today features
five pages of all the latest
cruise industry news.
CLIA charity support
CRUISE Lines International
Association Australasia raised
more than $5,000 at last
weekends annual Cruise Industry
Awards, with guests generously
supporting a raffle to help fund
Mercy Ships.
Mercy Ships is CLIAs global
charity of choice, operating
floating hospitals that cruise
around the world providing free,
world-class health care services
to the developing world.
The organisation also provides
training for health professionals,
with Alan Burrell, managing
director of Mercy Ships Australia
thanking CLIA for its support.
The work that Mercy Ships
is doing is unique and our
partnership is a natural fit.
HLO expands cruise division
HELLOWORLD has confirmed
the $1 million-odd acquisition
of Cruise Marketing Group
and Cruise Factory Pty Ltd (CW
breaking news yesterday), with
HLO executive director Cinzia
Burnes saying the deal reflects
the growth and unprecedented
demand within the cruise sector
in Australia.
The companies being bought
are majority owned by Fred
Sparksman and John Simos,
with Peter Topping having a
small minority shareholding
in the Cruise Factory business
which specialises in white label
cruise websites for travel agents,
powered by an extensive data
feed of cruise lines, itineraries,
ports and packages.
Former owners include Geoff
Hackett, now at Cruise1st, and
Cruise Abroad md Peter Marshall
who resigned as a director of
CMG just over a month ago.
Cruise Marketing Group brands
include Seven Oceans Cruising,
Cruise Abroad and the Worldwide
Cruise Centres network, which
has about 120 member travel
agencies across Australia.
Its unclear what the implication
will be for these agencies,
many of whom are not part of
Helloworld - which in turn already
operates The Cruise Team within
its wholesale division.
Burnes said the acquisitions
would build on the existing The
Cruise Team operation, and
would be beneficial additions to
our wholesale division that will
deliver us results in this key area.
The Travel Corporations
Creative Cruising is expected
to make the most of the move,
with industry pundits expecting
a strong marketing push for the
brand, led by Peter Forsyth, as
Australias only independent
cruise wholesaler.
TUI sells Le Boat
EUROPEAN travel giant Tui AG
overnight announced the sale of
its Travelopia division to private
equity firm KKR, with the deal
encompassing a host of brands
including Le Boat, Sunsail, The
Moorings, Zegrahm and Quark
Expeditions.
UK-based Travelopia had
operated under standalone
management as the worlds
largest collection of specialist
travel brands, with annual
revenue of 1.17 billion and pre-
tax earnings of 50 million.
However as a separate division
of TUI there had been some
uncertainty about its future.
The private equity buyout was
welcomed by chief executive
officer Will Waggott.
This is going to be really good
for everyone in the business to
have a new owner who will focus
on what makes these businesses
good and invest in what they
need to grow, he said.

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 cruise
Which new expedition
ships is right for you?
Find out in the February
issue of travelBulletin.

W E E K L Y CLICK HERE to read

Thursday 16 Feb 2017 One of Hurtigrutens new ships

Uniworld on the high seas Carnival Cuba thumbs up

CARNIVAL Cruise Line (CCL) has has opened bookings for an
joined the Cuba line-up, revealing additional series of sailings to
this week that it has received Cuba in Nov and Dec.
approval to begin sailing to the Departing from Miami, the
island nation in Jun. itineraries range from six to 13
Cuba now appears on 12 four- days in length and include the
and five-day Carnival Paradise lines first calls to Cienfuegos and
sailings from Tampa. Santiago de Cuba.
Four-day cruises in 2017 will Late last year Oceania
include a daytime and overnight announced two sailings to Cuba
visit to Havana, departing 29 Jun, in Mar (CW 13 Dec).
13 Jul, 24 Aug, 07 & 21 Sep and Oceania Cruises chief executive
05 & 19 Oct as well as 03 May. officer, Bob Binder said inaugural
Five-day voyages will sail on 14 voyages to the island had been a
& 28 Aug, 25 Sep and 09 Oct and sell-out success.
include a daytime and overnight
visit to Havana as well as a stop in
either Cozumel or Key West. Majesty delayed dep
UNIWORLD Boutique River AIDA christening Carnival Cruise Line president ROYAL Caribbean Internationals
Cruises isnt normally seen on the
AIDA Cruises twelfth member Christine Duffy said Cuba was Majesty of the Seas delayed its
ocean, but yesterday The Travel
of the fleet, AIDAperla will be an island jewel, unique from 14 Feb departure by a day after a
Corporation made an exception
christened on 30 Jun in Palma de anywhere else in the Caribbean. US Coast Guard inspection came
as the brand participated in the
Mallorca, Spain. The opportunity to visit across some technical concerns.
annual TTC Sailing Regatta on
Bookings for the christening Havana, combined with the The issues included some
Sydney Harbour.
cruise, which will sail 24 Jun-01 fun, relaxed ambiance and wide outdoor lifejackets showing their
TTC ceo John Veitch was on
Jul, are now open. variety of amenities and features age, RCI said in a statement.
board the Uniworld yacht, along
Departing from Palma de offered on Carnival Paradise, will Replacement life jackets arrived
with md Fiona Dalton and key
Mallorca, the vessel will stop by make for a truly one-of-a-kind early yesterday morning and the
industry partners.
Rome, Florence and Barcelona. holiday experience, she said. cruise line said it expected to
Despite their best efforts - and
perhaps reflecting Uniworlds Bookings are open for Carnivals address the other issues shortly.
reputation for serene, relaxed Avalon promo videos sailings that include a visit to The vessel is scheduled for a
river sailing - the team came Havana in 2017. four-night sailing, calling into
AVALON ambassador Deborah CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.
in last in the regatta, with the MEANWHILE, Oceania Cruises
Hutton stars in 10 new videos
coveted Travel Corporation Cup promoting Avalon Waterways
taken out by Adventure World. selling points. The Auckland
The clips are up to 60 seconds in
length and agents are encouraged Hop On Hop Off
Menzler moves up to make use of them on social
AFTER seven years in the role, media channels, websites,
Explorer bus
Rod Menzler has been promoted presentations and in digital departs from
from gm land and cruise newsletters.
contracting to head of tourism Globus national marketing outside Princes
and global partnerships at Flight manager Chris Fundell said Wharf.
Centre Travel Group. the videos are a wonderful
In his new role, he will look illustration of our product and we (Next to Isite
to develop mutually beneficial hope theyll be a useful tool for information centre)
relationships with tourism bodies our industry partners.
Click here for more details
and external partners. To see the vids, CLICK HERE.

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cruise W E E K L Y
Silverseas new cmo
BARBARA Muckermann has
returned to Silversea in the role
of chief marketing officer.
Muckermann was most recently
ceo of Yonderbound, an online
travel company she founded in
2012 and previously spent nearly
four years at Silversea as senior
vice president of worldwide
marketing and sales, Europe.
Based in the Monaco office, she
will report to chairman Manfredi
Lefebvre dOvidio on strategic
and brand initiatives, while
also reporting to ceo Roberto
Martinoli on operational matters.
Watch the Holiday Report with Tom Williams for your chance to WIN the cruise of a
lifetime. Simply tell us how you would live the Royal life on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
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Thursday 16 Feb 2017
Kimberley info events
AGENTS and trade partners are
invited to a series of information
evenings with Aurora Expeditions
next month.
The companys Kimberley
expedition leader Mike Cusack
will cover the companys
Kimberley small ship voyages.
A session will be held in Sydney
on 27 Feb; Brisbane on 08 Mar
and Melbourne on 16 Mar.
The Kimberley Information
Evenings are free, but spaces
are limited, and registration is
required - to RSVP for an event,
CLICK HERE.
Europa 2 vego menus
THE vegetarian and vegan
options on board Hapag-Lloyd
Cruises Europa 2 have been
expanded due to high demand.
Developed by former ceo of
the Michelin-starred Margaux
restaurant in Berlin, chef Michael
Hoffmann, the vegetarian options
are available across the vessels
seven restaurants.
WATCH & ENTER
Terms and Conditions Apply
Crystal ribbon cutting
CRYSTAL Cruises
new dedicated
corporate office in
Sydney held a ribbon
cutting ceremony on
Fri, attended by the
Crystal chairman, ceo
and president, Edie
Rodriguez.
Speaking to Cruise
Weekly earlier
that day, Karen
Christensen, senior
vice pres/managing
director, Australia and
New Zealand said the
local HQ was going
well since opening on
03 Jan.
Its a quiet month
during Jan but weve
had regular bookings
every day, which is
fantastic, she said. ship was in the region for a much
Christensen is overseeing 11 longer season than many other
staff and told CW there were companies during the summer.
long-term growth plans. I think that says a lot about
Were built to take 25 and set the commitment of Crystal to
up to take 25 staff and that is the Australia and New Zealand and I
plan, she said. think thats fantastic, she added.
The team is catering for the In 2018 both of Crystal Cruises
entire luxury Crystal portfolio and ocean vessels, Crystal Serenity
the team is focussing on boosting and Crystal Symphony will meet
sales, passenger numbers and in Sydney Harbour on 17 Feb.
repeat passengers. Rodriguez and Christensen are
Speaking on board Crystal pictured above officially opening
Symphony, Christensen noted the the Sydney outpost.
the Royal life?

cruise
W E E K L Y
HAL supports a good cause
HOLLAND America Line hosted
120 guests, including the Dutch
Ambassador in Auckland on ms
Noordam for a lunch on Tue.
Raising funds for the New
Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
and held in conjunction with the
Dutch Business Association, the
event managed to generate an
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Thursday 16 Feb 2017
impressive NZ$8,475 (AU$7,938)
for the charity.
Pictured celebrating the
successful event are: Marcel
Roos, president Dutch Business
Association; Evangelia Henderson
ceo New Zealand Breast Cancer
Association and Rob Zaagman,
Dutch Ambassador.
Sun Princess gastro
PRINCESS Cruises delayed
embarkation onto Sun Princess
in Brisbane today to allow for a
deep clean following an outbreak
of norovirus on its most recent
cruise to New Zealand.
In a statement to CW, the cruise
line said On any given day during
the cruise 12 to 15 of the 2,000
guests were in self isolation,
noting At no stage during the
cruise was there a large number
of guests ill at any one time.
Metro North Hospital and
Health Service told CW they were
aware of a total of 176 people
being ill at various times during
the 14-night cruise and on board
testing found norovirus to be the
cause of the illness.
TTW restructure
TRAVEL the World (TTW) are
promoting two long-standing
team members to new senior
roles in preparation for the
departure of Deb Corbett in mid-
Mar (CW Tue).
Juliana Higgins will step into the
role of Sydney-based national
marketing and product manager
and Sharon Hando to Gold Coast-
based national sales manager.
Sussanah Teng, will also become
Sydney-based national marketing
and product executive, in a
support role to Higgins.
Journey Cairns debut
AZAMARA Journey sailed into
Cairns for the first time on Tue
morning as part of her maiden
Australian sailing - an 18-night
Singapore to Sydney voyage.
The vessel will make her
Sydney debut on 19 Feb, docking
overnight before heading on a
New Zealand itinerary.
Its not the last time Cairns
will see the vessel, with a return
planned on 28 Mar, at the end of
Journeys maiden season.
Journey is pictured in Cairns.
Genting 17/18 on sale
GENTING Dreams 2017/18
Singapore deployment opened
for sale today, including
itineraries to Surabaya and North
Bali in Indonesia.
The cruise line is running dream
deals offering up to 50% off
across all categories and suite
guests will receive bonus F&B
credits, free wi-fi and 24 hour
butler service.
CLICK HERE for more.
 cruise W E E K L Y
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Thursday 16 Feb 2017

HAL correction
OPRAH Winfrey will be on
QM2 stops by Busselton ACA Update
board one HAL sailing in Jun, not
four, as reported in CW on Tue.
She will join the inaugural O,
The Oprah Magazine Share the MD, CLIA Australasia
Adventure Cruise to Alaska.
Winfrey will also not be on an The CLIAs
additional four O, The Oprah The 16th annual CLIA Cruise
Magazine Adventure of Your Industry Awards were held last Sat
Life sailings through to Oct 2018 evening in Sydney and what a great
which will feature O Magazine- night it was.
inspired activities. The Awards night brings together
the industrys brightest stars
from across Australia and New
Zealand in a fantastic celebration
that recognises their outstanding

PORTHOLE achievements. Each year, the event

continues to grow in stature in
line with the impressive expansion
THE city of Busselton in WA put Tourism Association chief exec of the industry, cementing The
CLIAs as the cruise industrys night
on a host of activities to welcome officer Pip Close said the new
of nights.
DREAM Cruises has taken a Cunards Queen Mary 2 for the visitor centre is the culmination This year saw a total of 19 awards
somewhat unconventional first time on Mon. of over 12 months work. handed out across nine categories
approach to celebrating Live entertainment, gourmet The tech on offer will have a with the top Australian award once
International Womens Day. local produce and wine tastings long-term effect on our ability to again going to Western Australias
The cruise line is giving away and businesses put out the encourage visitors to experience a Bicton Travel. In addition, Bicton
a handcrafted cheongsam welcome mat by decorating diverse range of MRBTA member founder Carole Smethurst was
(dress) to one passenger windows in tribute of the ships product, stay longer in the region inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame.
on every cruise in Mar Pukekohe Travel won the New
2,351 passengers arrival. and ultimately increase the
Zealand Gold Agency of the Year
who can fit into the ideal The visitors experienced amount they spend here. award for the second time in three
measurements as envisioned the revamped Busselton QM2 made the visit as part of years, while manager Gail Littin
by the Master Tailor Mr. Leung foreshore visitor centre, which is its 135-night New York to New also claimed the mantle of Cruise
Ching Wah. equipped with large interactive York global voyage. Consultant of the Year - the first
International Womens touchscreens and virtual reality time a New Zealand agency and
Days 2017 campaign is content to showcase nearby one of its team has taken home
#BeBoldForChange and the experiences and attractions. both top awards.
purpose of the day is to help Margaret River Busselton
CCC seniors deals Saturdays sell-out gala event
forge a better working world - CAPTAIN Cook Cruises is featured an exclusive preview
celebrating the NSW Seniors of award-winning musical The
a more gender inclusive world.
Dream Cruises will also Viking Europe sale festivals with a range of specials Bodyguard with Paulini performing
some of Whitney Houstons
hold a series of beauty-based VIKING River Cruises are available for guests presenting a
best known songs, ahead of the
events throughout the month, offering a cruise plus airfare valid Australian seniors card. Australian premier later this year.
including the first Cheongsam package on select 15-day Grand From 03 Mar to 12 Mar, guests Special thanks must go to all
Catwalk at Sea, professional European Tour departures can enjoy discounts on the our Cruise Line and Executive
hair and makeup workshops, throughout 2018, priced from Seniors Festival Seafood Buffet Partner sponsors, and to all the
skincare talks & dance parties. $5,995 per person twin share. Lunch Cruise and the Seniors winners and finalists we extend our
Festival Harbour Story Premium congratulations.
Following Shanghai-inspired The cruise from Budapest to
classes, passengers can be Amsterdam visits nine UNESCO cruise including refreshments,
professionally photographed world heritage sites and features wine and coffee.
to immortalise your 12 guided tours. Cruises depart from Circular
glamorous transformation. Available until sold out, to book Quay, Sydney.
call 1300 845 464. See www.captaincook.com.au.

Cruise Weekly is Australias leading travel industry cruise publication. Publisher/Editor in chief: Bruce Piper Editorial: info@cruiseweekly.com.au
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