Cruise Weekly

#BreakingNews - Oceania Cruises is set to take over Travel Associates' stores next month, in what is set to be an Australian first. The exclusive deal will see Oceania promoted as 'Cruise Line of the Month' through Travel Associates' digital campaigns and in-store activations. Oceania will install a series of deluxe travel specialist 'pop-up' desks inside all Travel Associates stores, with each meeting to provide an opportunity to connect face-to-face with a TA consultant and an Oceania Business Development Manager. The November-long campaign will also include a series of exclusive cheese and wine evening events, inviting guests to hear from the Travel Associates and Oceania teams, and receive special booking offers exclusive for TA clients. More details in Monday's issue of Cruise Weekly.

Cunard has revamped its trade engagement platforms, as it prepares for its “post-home port world”, when Queen Elizabeth ends her long-running annual Australian program at the end of this summer. Commercial Director Katrina McAlpine exclusively revealed to Cruise Weekly Cunard’s revamped famil program, and its updated trade toolkit, as the line pivots to a full fly-cruise strategy. Read more in today's CW.

Flight Centre Travel Group will expand the holiday packages business model of Ignite Travel Group to the United Kingdom, following the all-cash acquisition of Cruise Club UK. Ignite is one of the fastest-growing brands in the FCTG stable, generating TTV of more than $500 million in the first half of the 2024 fiscal year so far, across its three operating divisions – a 20% year-on-year improvement. Read more in today's Cruise Weekly.

Flight Centre Travel Group will expand the Ignite Travel business model to the UK with the acquisition of Cruise Club UK.

Viking and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises have defended their respective titles at the 2024 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA), in what was a banner night for the sector. The two lines were once again named Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator and Most Popular River Cruise Operator respectively, on the industry’s night of nights, taking out the two biggest cruise prizes up for grabs at the awards. Read more in today's Cruise Weekly.

Royal Caribbean International has rolled out new Alaska adventures for 2026, with Voyager of the Seas set to make her debut in the state. The ship will visit Dawes Glacier, Endicott Arm, Juneau, Sitka and Skagway, as well as Icy Strait Point, on seven-night cruises departing Seattle. Read today's Cruise Weekly for more.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has launched Regent Connect, a new sales and marketing solution for advisors to connect with their clients. The new Regent Connect will personalise the sales journey to engage and convert luxury travellers, as the latest part of RSSC’s travel partner program, Regent Elevate. Read more in today's Cruise Weekly.

Cruise is playing an increasingly larger role in Flight Centre’s sales strategy, Managing Director Andrew Stark told Cruise Weekly, as the agency aims to diversify its product offering. Stark said selling more cruise is a goal for the network, particularly as its ‘Bundle and Save’ promotion hits the market, offering $500 off bookings. Read more in today's CW.

Royal Caribbean International is evolving its brand position as the cruise line seeks to champion its shorter product and offer a “total holiday/vacation option”. The highlighting of RCI’s shorter, getaway-style cruises align with the launch of the line’s new ship Utopia of the Seas earlier this year – billed as the “world’s biggest weekend”. Read more in today's issue of Cruise Weekly.

Carnival Corporation & plc kicked off its 2024-25 Australian cruise season on Friday, with the company’s local head Peter Little reaffirming its commitment to the country. The season will see 17 Carnival Corp ships from its nine brands call in Australia, with the company celebrating in Sydney aboard the newly arrived Queen Elizabeth, sailing her final Down Under season for Cunard. Read more in today's issue of Cruise Weekly.