Wednesday Briefing: Wave Season on the Horizon

Today in the travel industry, cruise lines are rolling out new deals ahead of the official launch of Wave Season

Celebrity Cruises is introducing its Sail Beyond Event, offering travelers savings of up to $200 per person, as well as complimentary perks like free drinks and Wi-Fi, when booking through January 31, 2017, for travel February 1, 2017, through April 30, 2018. 

As part of the deal, guests staying in any stateroom from an inside category to AquaClass, will save up to $150, and those that book an oceanview or a higher stateroom will receive two free perks including:

  • Classic beverage package
  • Unlimited Wi-Fi
  • Prepaid tips
  • $150 to spend on board

Additional guests staying in the stateroom will receive a classic non-alcoholic beverage package and a 40-minute Internet package to use onboard.

Each Suite Class guest will save $200, and the first two guests in Suite Class will receive all four of the following: 

  • Premium beverage package
  • Unlimited Wi-Fi
  • Prepaid tips
  • $150 to spend on board

Additional guests staying in the stateroom will receive a classic non-alcoholic beverage package and a 40-minute Internet package.

In addition to the Sail Beyond Event promotion, Celebrity said it will continue to offer the “Go Big, Go Better, Go Best!” promotion for nearly all of the line’s 2018-2019 sailings. Guests who book an oceanview or higher stateroom and “Go Big” can enjoy a free perk from the choice of Classic Beverage Packages, unlimited high-speed Internet packages, prepaid tips or $150 to spend onboard. Vacationers can choose to upgrade and “Go Better” to get their choice of two perks, or “Go Best” and get all four perks, plus a premium beverage package upgrade. Any guest who books Suite accommodations will be given all four perks ("Go Best") for free. Full details about this offer are available at celebritycruises.com/gobigbetterbest.

Visit celebritycruises.com

MSC Cruises had previously announced its own seat of Wave Season deals, including an enhanced 2 For 1 Caribbean and Europe Promo — now including reduced deposits — as well as up to $350 of added value on the line’s newest ship, MSC Seaside. In addition, as part of MSC Cruises’ Serving You initiative, travel agents will have the chance to benefit from double group amenity points on select MSC Divina Caribbean EZ Groups or receive a free Florida Motor Coach to PortMiami.

MSC Cruises 2 For 1 Cruise Deals: To celebrate Wave Season, MSC Cruises is sweetening its 2 for 1 Caribbean and Europe offers in which consumers save 50 percent off brochure rates by introducing reduced deposits of just $49 per person. Plus kids 11 and under sail free on select sailings.

Example Caribbean and Mediterranean sailings available for booking as part of the 2 for 1 deal include:

  • MSC Divina on April 29, 2017: Departing from Miami, Florida, guests will sail aboard the MSC Divina with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Nassau, Bahamas – prices start at $349 per person.
  • MSC Meraviglia on November 5, 2017: Departing from Genoa, Italy, guests will sail aboard the brand new next-generation MSC Meraviglia – debuting in June 2017 – with stops in Naples, Italy; Messina, Italy; Valletta, Malta; Barcelona, Spain; Marseille, France – prices start at $514 per person.

For more information on the 2 For 1 Promo and to view all sailings visit https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/cruise-deals/top-deals/2-for-1-cruise-deals.aspx

Countdown to MSC Seaside with up to $350 in Value Adds: Just days away from the official one year countdown to the arrival of the MSC Seaside in Miami, MSC Cruises is celebrating with up to $350 of additional value with free shipboard credit, free Wi-Fi and free mealtime drinks on MSC Seaside depending on the category of stateroom booked. Beyond just on-board savings, guests can also take advantage of a deposit of just $49 per person.

Prices start at $539 per person.

For more information on the Countdown of MSC Seaside offer, visit https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Deals/Top-Deals/MSC-Seaside-Sale.aspx

Double Group Amenity Points on 10 & 11 Night MSC Divina Cruises: Beginning in December 2017, MSC Divina will begin offering 10- and 11-night itineraries in the Caribbean, visiting popular destinations such as Belize, Colombia and Panama.

With MSC Cruises new EZ Groups program, travel agents are already able to choose from a list of amenities to add extra perks to their group for their clients or themselves. To celebrate the cruise line’s extended itineraries in the Caribbean, MSC Cruises is now offering agents Double Group Amenity Points  – or the option for Free Motor Coach service to PortMiami from multiple West or Central Florida locations – when they block their EZ Groups on MSC Divina 10 and 11 night Caribbean itineraries. Travel agents will also be able to take advantage of the Free Florida Motor Coach with FIT bookings.

Travel agents looking for more information on the Double Group Amenity Points or Free Motor Coach offer can visit http://www.msccruisesagent.com/groups.

In its 2017 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) forecasted a strong Wave Season and 2017 for cruise travel. 

Cruise travel is expected to continue to increase next year, according to CLIA, with an estimated 25.3 million passengers expected to sail, up from 15.8 million 10 years prior (2007). More ships will set sail in 2017 as well. CLIA reports that cruise lines are scheduled to debut 26 new ocean, river and specialty ships in 2017 for a total investment of more than $6.8 billion in new vessels. From 2017-2026 the industry is expected to introduce a total of 97 new cruise ships totaling an estimated investment of $53 billion through 2026.

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