Editor's Note: As 95 percent or more of the global cruise fleet is back sailing this month, we’ve dropped the word “Recovery” from the title of this weekly news roundup. While there's still work to be done, of course, the cruise industry's progress is substantive. So, once again, this roundup is simply: “This Week in Cruise."
Here’s a look at some of the key developments in the cruise industry this past week.
Norwegian Cruise Line will return to the Canary Islands of Spain for the first time since 2017. Starting November 21, 2022, Norwegian Sun will begin offering 10- to 14-day cruises with embarkation from Lisbon, Portugal; Malaga, Spain; and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. Maiden calls will include Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) and San Sebastian de la Gomera, Canary Islands; Ceuta; Agadir, Morocco; and Horta (Azores), Portugal.
Holland America Line will offer a second 150th Anniversary Cruise on Rotterdam, departing from Port Everglades (Greater Fort Lauderdale), FL, on April 3, 2023. The 16-night itinerary will include a rare New York City overnight call, before continuing on to Rotterdam, Netherlands, retracing in reverse the company's first voyage; bookings will open on July 14, 2022. To accommodate this new transatlantic cruise, the line canceled three voyages.
Celebrating another anniversary, small-ship Hurtigruten Norway has unveiled two new offerings, the “Svalbard Express” and “North Cape Express." The “Svalbard Express” will launch on June 3, 2023, a month ahead of the company’s 130-year anniversary, while the “North Cape Express” will launch on September 26, 2023.
In the river cruise arena, Travel Agent interviewed Pam Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways, about her line’s Mekong River restart, what’s happening in Europe and other trends she’s seeing in the marketplace in 2022.
In addition, Riviera River Cruises added a new France itinerary in 2023.
Cruise lines continue to put out deals and new policies to help advisors in sales. For example, this past week, Scenic Group USA unveiled a new "Advance Commission Program," designed to assist travel advisor partners with early receipt of their commissions. Through through the end of 2022, registered advisors who book their clients on any Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Scenic Eclipse or Emerald Cruises sailing with a departure at least six months out, will receive their commission within 21 days after the booking is paid in full.
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