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Singapore reported to consider using two cruise ships as accommodation vessels

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 April 2020 22 April 2020

The Singapore government is reported to considering using two ships of Star cruises, which is part of the Genting Hong Kong group, as accommodation vessels for migrant workers, Straits Times reports on its website.

“Cruise ships are being assessed for their feasibility as temporary housing for foreign workers who have recovered from Covid-19 and tested negative for the virus,” the report said.

“SuperStar Gemini and SuperStar Aquarius, mid-sized cruise ships operated by Genting Cruise Lines, will be checked for consideration by the Government for factors such as ventilation systems, security protocols and infection control measures,’ Straits Times continued.

SupersStar Geming is of 50,764 gross tons and SuperStar Aquarius of 51,309 gross tons. The sister ships were built in France in the early 1990s for Norwegian cruise Linea nd leter lengthened to their present 229.8 metre length from 190 metres as built.

“If deemed feasible, the two cruise ships may be used to complement other interim facilities such as Singapore Armed Forces military camps and vacant Housing Board blocks that have been refurbished to house healthy workers,” Strains Times said.

Carnival Cruise Line announces enhanced ‘Onboard With You’ pledge to help travel advisors navigate current times

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 April 2020 21 April 2020

Underscoring its longstanding support of the travel advisor community, especially in challenging times such as these, Carnival Cruise Line has announced a variety of enhancements to its Onboard with You pledge to travel partners designed to support and sustain them during this unprecedented pause in operations.

The enhancements include an additional 1% bonus commission on new retail bookings made through GoCCL.com or other online booking tools through June 30, 2020. The line will also maintain agencies’ current 2020 commission rates for 2021, regardless of whether they meet the necessary criteria for this year.

Coinciding with the expansion of the Onboard with You pledge, Carnival’s President Christine Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer Ken Tate and Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Trade Marketing Adolfo Perez were joined by a very special guest, the line’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal, to record a video message to travel partners thanking them for their support and echoing their commitment to the agency community. The video can be viewed here.

“Now more than ever is the message of ‘Onboard with You’ so important, as we all continue to navigate these unprecedented times. We want our travel partners to know how much we value and appreciate them and that they are not in this alone,” said Perez. “Travel advisors have always played a key role in Carnival’s success and we want to ensure that we are taking care of them and helping them to continue to grow and succeed now and in the future.”

The new Onboard with You pledge further builds upon the company’s commitment to protecting travel advisors’ commission on all fully paid bookings cancelled due to the voluntary pause in operations. Carnival was also the first cruise line to offer full commission on the value of the future cruise credits (FCC), providing agents the opportunity to earn commission on their original booking and compensating them for working to rebook their clients using their FCC.

Perez added, “We understand how hard agents’ worked for the first booking and re-booking their clients using the FCC involves additional work. We want to recognize this effort and ensure that agents get commission on both bookings.”

Carnival has also made significant investments to enhance GoCCL Navigator, the line’s online booking and service tool that has become a valuable, industry-leading resource with so many agents now working from home.

As part of the Onboard with You pledge, the line remains focused on its Why Use a Travel Advisor program, the industry’s first consumer-focused program to reinforce the value of using travel advisors, providing additional support to attract new customers.

Atlas Ocean Voyages announces 2021/22 Antarctica season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 April 2020 21 April 2020

Atlas Ocean Voyages, the luxury, all-inclusive adventure and expedition company, today announced that it will unveil its inaugural winter 2021/22 Antarctica season in early-May 2020. The Luxe-Adventure travel brand will launch sales of its Antarctica season ahead of schedule to provide Travel Advisors more opportunities to take advantage of the most immediate and generous program called GET PAID NOW. GET PAID NOW immediately assists Travel Advisors with up to $750 per deposited booking, and their clients receive up to $2,000 savings and more on an exhilarating Luxe-Adventure journey aboard World Navigator. World Navigator, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ first expedition ship launching in mid-2021, will embark on her maiden Antarctica Luxpedition in November 2021 and bring adventurers and like-spirited travelers to the southernmost, most isolated continent for towering icebergs, waddling penguins, playful seals, breaching whales and more.

“Travel Advisors have always been an indispensable partner for cruise lines and now, they need our support more than ever,” said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “Atlas Ocean Voyages created GET PAID NOW to support our valued Travel Advisor community as we navigate these unprecedented times. And we’re opening up our 2021/22 Antarctica season sales early, on May 4, so Travel Advisors can offer more destinations – and more choices – when discussing future travels with their clients. We will all travel again and small, safe, luxury expedition ships like World Navigator will help lead the cruise industry’s recovery.”

“We know Travel Advisors are working extra hard these days planning future dream vacations and travel experiences for their clients,” said Brandon Townsley, Vice President of Sales and Trade Partnerships for Atlas Ocean Voyages. “To support them and recognize their efforts, we want Travel Advisors to GET PAID NOW for selling a Luxe-Adventure journey to the end of the earth aboard one of World Navigator’s2021/2022 Antarctica voyages.”

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ GET PAID NOW recognizes Travel Advisors for their critical role in fulfilling their clients’ curiosities and dreams. GET PAID NOW is applicable for all Atlas Ocean Voyages’ itineraries, including the inaugural 2021/22 Antarctica season, and is combinable with all current Atlas Ocean Voyages promotions. For every booking with deposit, Travel Advisors will receive:
– A $750 gift card per suite NOW
– A $500 gift card per Horizon and Veranda stateroom NOW
– 15% commission
Adventurers and like-spirited travelers enjoy:
– $1,000 savings plus FREE business-class air travel per suite guest
– $500 savings plus FREE economy-class air travel per Horizon- or Veranda-stateroom guest
– Free changes to any itinerary, departing before March 31, 2022.

Victory Cruise Lines suspends service through June 30 for Victory I and cancels remaining itineraries for Victory II

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 April 2020 21 April 2020

Victory Cruise Lines, operated by American Queen Steamboat Company, a Hornblower Family Company, announced that it will extend its temporary suspension for all operations on board the Victory I through June 30, 2020 and cancel all planned itineraries for the Victory II for the remainder of the 2020 season. The Victory I will resume service on July 5, 2020. The decision was made following continued, wide-spread governmental restrictions across ports, cities and public institutions and an extended no sail order through Canadian waters through June 30.

VCL thanks its guests, travel agent partners, vendors and team members for their patience and understanding during this rapidly evolving situation. The decision to suspend service was a difficult choice but necessary in response to Canadian mandates.

“Our top priority remains the health and safety of our guests, team members and crew,” shares John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company. “We came to the difficult decision to consolidate the Victory II itineraries with Victory I due to the shortened nature of our 2020 season, as a result of the ongoing travel restrictions and port closures. It is our hope that in doing so, we can prioritize delivering the extraordinary Great Lakes sailing experience that our loyal guests have come to expect from the VCL brand.

For guests that are booked to depart on the Victory I before June 30, 2020 and those booked onboard the Victory II, no action is necessary at this time. The VCL customer service team will reach out directly to guests and travel agents in the coming days to answer any questions and advise on their available options, which include the opportunity to rebook on a later date, a 125 percent cruise credit or a full refund.

Hapag-Lloyd brings most ships home to Hamburg

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 April 2020 20 April 2020

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the luxury and expedition cruise unit of TUI Cruises, will bring all but one of its ships home to Hamburg, where the company has its headquarters due to the coronavirus crisis.

Hanseatic Nature is due to reach the port of Hamburg today, while Hanseatic Inspiration, Europa and Europa 2 have already started their way back home and are expected to arruve on 2 May.

Bremen will remain off Auckland in New Zealand, the company stated.