Line Debuts 100% Commissionable Fares

Marco Polo Operator Intros Agent-Friendly Pricing
Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which operates the Marco Polo, has opened a sales office in Florida and introduced travel agent tools to the North American agency community. One of its selling features is the company’s “agent-friendly pricing” – fares are 100% commissionable, including taxes, fees and port charges. Agents can register on CruiseandMaritime.com to search and book from a live cabin inventory. They also have access to the cruise line’s marketing tools, webinars and training.

Hurtigruten Launches Agent Booking Platform
Hurtigruten has launched a travel agent booking engine that enables travel sellers to book the line’s cruises, land options, air needs, optional excursions and hotels all in one spot. Agents can search by cruise ship, date range, destination, embarkation port and ports of call.

PRODUCT NEWS
Princess Reveals ‘Royal’ Entertainment
Princess Cruises’ upcoming ship, the Royal Princess, will feature “Princess Live!” – a working TV studio with a live passenger audience. The 280-seat studio will give passengers the opportunity to watch the taping of the line’s daily morning show, as well as game shows, Meet the Experts crew presentations, musical performances, cooking shows and more. The Royal Princess is scheduled to launch in June 2013.

HAL Serves Up Vegetarian Fare
Holland America Line now offers a full 22-item vegetarian menu to guests. The menu includes both vegetarian and vegan appetizers, salads, soups and main entrees. It is available for lunch and dinner, at no extra cost, in the main dining rooms of all 15 Holland America ships. In addition, 30 new meatless dishes will be added to the main dining room menu. These items also will be featured as a second vegetarian option in the Lido buffet during lunch.

Seven Seas Navigator Gets a Refurb
Regent’s Seven Seas Navigator will enter dry-dock for a two-week renovation that encompasses a complete redecoration of the ship’s eight Grand Suites and Master Suites, including new built-in cabinetry, furnishings, headboards and bedding, balcony furniture and carpeting. Navigator suites will be refreshed with new carpeting, and concierge-level suites will receive modern amenities like illy coffeemakers. Also new will be Sette Mari at La Veranda, a small Italian dining venue offering both buffet and a la carte service. The Seven Seas Navigator will return to service on May 30.

Victoria Cruises Adds VIP Amenities
Victoria Cruises is enhancing its Executive Deck VIP program, available on its Yangtze River sailings, with additional amenities. New perks include a welcome fruit basket, complimentary laundry (up to four items per day), shoe shine service, complimentary diet soda and wine and beer with dinner, nightly turndown service and the opportunity to pre-reserve seating for evening entertainment.

American Cruise Lines Cooks Up Culinary Collection
American Cruise Lines will operate a series of Culinary Cruise Collection sailings that emphasize the trademark cuisine of geographic regions, including Alaska, New England, the Chesapeake Bay, the Mississippi River and the Pacific Northwest. Examples include two sailings of a Crabfest Cruise on the Chesapeake Bay and two sailings of a Savories of the South Cruise on the Mississippi. In Alaska, guests will get their fill of King Crab on two Alaskan King Crab Cruise sailings, while in New England lobster will be the highlight on two Lobster Festival Cruise sailings.
 
ITINERARY NEWS
Carnival Brings Glory to Boston
Carnival Cruise Lines will return to Boston in 2013 with four- to seven-day Canada cruises aboard the Carnival Glory. Options will include a four-day cruise to Saint John, New Brunswick; five-day voyages to Saint John and Halifax; and seven-day cruises to Portland, Saint John, Halifax and Sydney (Nova Scotia). Prior to its return the ship will undergo a comprehensive renovation that will add Carnival’s Fun Ship. 2.0 dining and entertainment options. New venues will include Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Alchemy Bar, the EA Sports Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar and the Punchliner Comedy Club.

Crystal Intros New Routes for 2013, Including Shorter Europe Voyages
Crystal Cruises has issued a new Atlas that includes the full 2013 calendar, as well as early 2014 sailings. The 170-page book profiles 84 itineraries in more than 75 countries and 250-plus ports of call. New routes include cruises beginning and ending in Reykjavik, Dublin, Bali, Brisbane and Kobe in 2013, as well as explorations of Polynesia, Indonesia and the Andaman Sea in 2014. Nineteen maiden ports of call also are on offer. The line also has increased its offering of shorter (7-12 day) European voyages by 250%.

Princess Opens Most 2013/14 Sailings
With the exception of its Europe cruises, Princess’ 2013/14 itineraries are now open for sale. The season includes a new series of 3- to 5-day cruises in the Caribbean and along the West Coast; the line’s first year-round ship, the Grand Princess, based in San Francisco; and the Caribbean debut of the line’s newest ship, the Royal Princess. Also new are six ports of call including Loreto, La Paz and Progreso in Mexico; Komodo Island, Indonesia; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Kangaroo Island, Australia. Open for sale are cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Canada & New England, West Coast, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, the South Pacific, Asia & Africa, Australia & New Zealand, as well as a 100-day World Cruise.

Royal Caribbean Makes Winter 2013/14 Sailings Available
Agents may now book Royal Caribbean International’s 2013/14 Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda sailings from Florida, New York, Galveston and New Orleans. Seven ships will offer 162 sailings on 47 itineraries. New for the season, the Navigator of the Seas will debut in Galveston with two seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries.