Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines extends standstill

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 22 April 2020 22 April 2020

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK base destinational cruise operator, has confirmed that it will be extending its pause in sailings beyond 23 May 2020 in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but added it is unable to state a date when operations would resume.

Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “At this stage I am not able to confirm a date when we can expect to resume normal operations, as what I don’t want to do is set an expectation and not be able to deliver what we promise. What I can say is that we are keeping a very close eye on the latest guidance from the relevant authorities, including the UK Government and Public Health England, as well as overseas policies.”

“We are very clear on our position that we will not resume cruising until we know that it is safe for us to do so. The safety of our guests and crew is always our utmost priority, and this is especially true now. All guests on affected cruises will be notified with at least 30 days’ notice before their cruise was due to depart,” Deer said in a statement.

“It is regrettable that we won’t be welcoming guests back on board at the end of May as we had initially hoped, but we can’t wait to start sailing again as soon as the world is ready for us to do so.”

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' ocean fleet - Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch - will remain in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, just outside the Port of Rosyth, during the company’s pause in cruise operations.

Singapore reported to consider using two cruise ships as accommodation vessels

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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

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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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

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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.