Purchasing opportunities and travel agents added to FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show

Suppliers and travel agents will have an opportunity to increase their business with the cruise industry because some of the new features at the 23rd annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show. The traditional series of one-on-one meetings, workshops and exhibiting and networking opportunities will be complemented by the Purchasing Initiative and an add-on travel agent event in partnership with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

For anyone looking to supply products to cruise lines, the new Purchasing Initiative will put them direct to customer, with a booth within the first-ever Purchasing Pavilion, specialized one-on-one meetings and networking events with supply chain and purchasing cruise executives, and a workshop focused on sourcing and purchasing.

The Travel Agent/Destination Summit will gather more than 200 CLIA member travel agents at the tail end of the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, allowing them to target the more than 100 cruise executives that attended the event, learn from and about San Juan, and create synergies and opportunities with the other stakeholders participating in and exhibiting at the event.

New Zealand source market grew by 10% in 2015 -- CLIA

A record 66,152 New Zealanders plied the world’s oceans on a cruise holiday in 2015 with a 10% leap in passenger numbers helping to make the country one of the world’s top performing markets, according to a new report released today, CLIA Australasia said in a statement.

The report reveals that New Zealand was one of only three international cruise passenger markets to record a double-digit increase last year, beaten only by Australia and emerging hot spot China (up 52%).

With Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia’s annual New Zealand Cruise Industry Source Market Report now focussed solely on ocean cruising, in line with international CLIA reporting, the latest figures show the New Zealand ocean cruise passenger market has gone from strength to strength, recording almost 65% growth over the past five years.

Cruises in local waters, including New Zealand and the neighbouring regions of Australia and the South Pacific, continued to account for the majority (54%) of cruise passengers, with last year’s strong growth led by an increase in New Zealanders cruising in Australia (up 71%) as well as Asia (up 64%).

Released in Auckland, the figures also show that New Zealand cruise passengers spent almost 680,000 days at sea in 2015. CLIA Australasia Chairman Steve Odell said the 2015 figures meant the equivalent of 1.4% of the population had taken a cruise last year with New Zealand now ranked sixth in the world for market penetration ahead of many established cruise nations including Italy (1.3%), Spain (1%) and France (0.9%).

“New Zealand is still an emerging source market but after another year of solid growth, which saw the nation outperform most key markets, it’s clear that cruising is growing in popularity,” Odell said.

“These figures show us that New Zealanders are increasingly recognising cruising as a great value and relaxing way to travel, not only in their backyard but also as part of an overseas trip.” The annual source market report is based on data received from CLIA’s cruise line members, which account for more than 95% of the world’s cruise passengers.

Disney Cruise Line returning to New York, San Diego and Galveston in fall 2017

In the fall of 2017, Disney Cruise Line will return to New York with sailings to the Bahamas and the Canadian coast – including a new 7-night Canada cruise. San Diego will serve as a home port with cruises to Mexico, and Galveston will again be a homeport with sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Bookings open to the public May 26, 2016. More details on the itineraries can be found on the Ports and Itineraries for 2017 page of disneycruise.com.

New Canada coast itinerary and new ports from New York

Disney Cruise Line returns to New York City in the fall of 2017, for a mix of voyages that include Canada coast and Bahamas itineraries.

On Oct. 21, the Disney Magic will sail from New York on a 7-night Canada sailing – the line’s longest-ever voyage to the Atlantic Canada coast. This sailing includes a new port of call for Disney Cruise Line – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Bar Harbor, Maine, is another new port of call for Disney Cruise Line and part of a 5-night sailing that departs New York on Sept. 27. This cruise also will stop at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.

A total of six 7- and 8-night sailings to the Bahamas, all including a visit to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, will be a part of the 2017 New York season.

Adding to the magic on each of the Bahamian cruises will be the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World Resort when the ship stops at Port Canaveral, Fla. Each guest on these sailings will receive a one-day Walt Disney World Park Hopper ticket and round-trip transportation for the short drive between the ship and the resort.

Return to San Diego, California

In September and October of 2017, Disney Cruise Line will return to San Diego with a variety of Disney Wonder cruises to Baja and the Mexican Riviera.

On most Baja sailings, guests can visit Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico, to enjoy world-famous beaches and snorkeling. 2-night cruises depart San Diego on Sept. 15, Sept. 22 and Oct. 13, and a 3-night cruise departs Oct. 5 and includes a day at sea.

Mexican Riviera itineraries feature snorkeling and scuba diving hot spots, while Puerto Vallerta and Mazatlan are where cliff divers, culture and ziplining through the jungle canopy take center stage. 7-night itineraries departing on Sept. 24 and Oct. 15, call on Puerto Vallerta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Four additional 4- and 5-night Mexican Riviera cruises set sail during the season in San Diego.

Return to Galveston, Texas

Disney Cruise Line returns to Galveston in 2017, with a line up of eight 7-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. All Bahamian itineraries include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.

On Nov. 10 and Dec. 1, the Disney Wonder will sail a western Caribbean itinerary from Galveston to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica.

On Nov. 17, Nov. 24, Dec, 8, Dec. 15, Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, the Disney Wonder will sail from Galveston to Key West, Nassau and Castaway Cay.

Singer Lena Meyer-Landrut to name Mein Schiff 5 on 15 July

Lena Meyer-Landrut, the German singer who made her breakthrough at the Eurovision song contest in 2010, will name Mein Schiff 5, the latest newbuilding of TUI Cruises, in Travemunde on 15 July. The ceremony, which will take place at about 23.00, will be shown on large screens on the beach and the event will be followed by a fireworks show, the company said in a statement.

UK, US and China compete for fourth Oasis class ship – report

The UK, US and China compete for the fourth Oasis class vessel of Royal Caribbean International Travel Weekly reported in a newsletter, currently referred to as Oasis 4.

“There is a massive global skirmish going on at the moment over Oasis 4. It’s hellish for me because I’m the key decision maker and when I make the decision everyone who hasn’t got the ship is going to be disappointed with me. It’s pretty comical,” Michael Bayley, President and CEO of the company was quoted by Travel weekly as saying.

“The battleground features three key characters – the USA, China and the UK,” he added. The vessel is due for delivery in 2018. Asked whether he thought the UK market could fill a ship of that size, Bayley said: “Absolutely, I believe it can.”

Royal Caribbean International currently has Independence of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas based in Southampton. The company is the contemporary market unit of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL).