(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (Dec. 6, 2022) - Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, is proud to announce that November was a record-breaking booking month.
Not only was November 25 the best booking day in the Cruise Line’s history, but November 28 was the best booked Cyber Monday, allowing NCL to achieve a record booking week for the week ending November 25, and to then surpass this achievement with a new weekly record this past week. (PRESS RELEASE)_New York, NY (December 5, 2022) – Venture Ashore, the largest independent cruise excursions provider in the world, has earned the prestigious 2022 U.K. Wave Award in the category of “Best for Excursions.” Recognizing excellence in the cruise industry, the Wave Awards—now in their eighth year—are the U.K. cruise industry’s premier travel awards, rewarding and celebrating innovation and excellence within the sector. The eighth annual Wave Awards were held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in London. Hosted by Stephen Mangan, the black-tie ceremony invited guests to gather in the ballroom for a night of entertainment and an opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues and friends. (PRESS RELEASE)_New York City – December 5, 2022 – The world’s newest cruise ship lit up the pre-dawn sky this morning when MSC Cruises’ new U.S. flagship--MSC Seascape—sailed past the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River to dock at Pier 88 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. MSC Seascape is one of the largest cruise ships ever to dock in Manhattan, at more than 170,000 gross tons with a capacity of 5,877 guests. She is also one of the more environmentally advanced cruise ships at sea, featuring a wide range of latest generation environmental technologies and solutions. MSC Seascape’s arrival in New York marks the end of a 17-day journey from the shipyard where she was built in Italy. The ship is in New York for a traditional maritime Naming Ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday evening and include wishes of good luck for her many future sailings from Hollywood legend and celebrated Godmother of the MSC Cruises fleet Sophia Loren. The ceremony will conclude with the customary breaking of a bottle of champagne against her hull. (PRESS RELEASE)_Fort Lauderdale, FL – Dec, 1, 2022 – American Queen Voyages (AQV), a cruise industry leader known as the “Best River Cruise Line in the United States” and part of the Hornblower® Group, announced updates to the all-inclusive fare offerings. The new convenient pricing structure will feature inclusion of port charges, taxes, services fees and onboard crew gratuities as part of the American Queen Voyages all-inclusive fares beginning Jan. 2, 2023. Travel agents will also earn commission on previously non-commissionable fees (NCFs) as an opportunity to increase earnings. “At American Queen Voyages, our ultimate goal is to deliver a cut-above experience for our guests before they even step foot aboard our vessels,” said Cindy D’Aoust, President of American Queen Voyages. “To do this, we are rolling out extra inclusions at one bundled price to create the overall best cost point and financial transparency for our highly-valued guests. After listening to feedback from our travel partners, we knew this new pricing structure was the best way to bundle port charges, taxes, service fees and gratuities into one advertised fare, while offering an increased commission opportunity to our valued cruise travel agents.” (PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., Dec. 1, 2022 — In a strong sign that cruising is back, Holland America Line’s Black Friday booking volumes hit a record high for the shopping holiday in the United States, with volume for the day close to 20% higher than in 2019 and more than 10% higher for the period from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
The trend was especially noticeable in Alaska bookings, where Holland America Line offers an exclusive Alaska Up Close experience. Black Friday U.S. bookings for Alaska were up more than 60% compared to 2019 and up more than 25% for the Black Friday through Cyber Monday timeframe. (PRESS RELEASE)_Miami, FL, December 1, 2022 – Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced a brand-new immersive Grand Voyage itinerary for 2023. Now on sale, the Mediterranean Connection sailing on Marina will embark on a 33-day journey from Venice to Barcelona, immersing guests in the highlights of the Eastern Mediterranean and Holy Lands like never before. Departing on October 11, 2023, this Grand Voyage will call on 28 ports, not repeating one throughout the journey, and will offer three shorter segment options up to 12 days long. “With demand continuing to increase for longer and more destination-immersive voyages, we are thrilled to reveal this new itinerary offering experiences in both iconic and off-the-beaten-path ports of call in a corner of the world with rich history and cultural wonders,” stated Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises. |
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