EUROPE AND ASIA CRUISES TIPPED FOR GROWTH IN 2008

Cruise Critic is predicting increased interest in European and Asian cruise itineraries for 2008.

The online resource for consumer cruise reviews, which recently launched a UK site after being purchased by Tripadvisor, said a record number of British holidaymakers will be taking to the high seas this year as cruise holidays experience an unprecedented boom.

"Along with the increased popularity and availability of Asian and European cruises, other 2008 trends we are seeing include a greater number of fitness and spa themed cruises and the building out of new ports of call in the Caribbean," said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief, Cruise Critic.

She said the popularity of Europe-based cruising and the need to alleviate gridlock at the busiest ports means cruise lines are offering more exotic itineraries, including ports of call along Croatia's coast or around the Black Sea.

"Cruise lines are offering more opportunities to explore Asia by sea, as lines like Princess Cruises (with Sapphire Princess) and Royal Caribbean (with Rhapsody of the Seas) have moved larger ships into the market," she added.

Meanwhile, Cruise Critic believes that some Caribbean itineraries are getting a bit stale for long-time cruise enthusiasts.

"In 2008, look for cruise lines and other developers to continue investing in "undiscovered" ports of call. Carnival, a leader in this field, is developing places like Grand Turk, in the Turks and Caicos, and Progreso, in Mexico," it said.

Cruise Critic travel experts have put together a list of the top 10 ports that should not be missed in 2008. These are:

Amsterdam,
Dubrovnik,
Hong Kong
Martinique,
Maui, Hawaii
Muscat
Naples,
St. Petersburg
Sydney
Vancouver, B.C.

OCEAN VILLAGE SEES RECORD SALES AFTER TV CAMPAIGN

Ocean Village has seen sales reach record levels for January following its first ever television campaign in conjunction with The Co-operative Travel Group.


The cruise line says it is already 30% up year-on-year with travel agents pushing sales particularly in the second and third week of January.



The 30-second £400,000 campaign was launched on January 11 and will run for a total of six weeks.


It features on the Granada, Central West and Yorkshire ITV1 regions and encourages people to book their cruise holidays with The Co-operative Travel - which owns 300 branches in the area.


Ocean Village managing director Nick Lighton said: "Our January sales to date have beaten all records for the five years since Ocean Village appeared on the scene. Last week we were more than 30% up year-on-year. Travel agents have really responded well to the Wave opportunity, supported by a heavyweight marketing campaign."


Wave opportunity is the name for the peak booking season for January.



The Co-operative Travel Group managing director Mike Greenacre said: "Since the television campaign broke we've seen a clear uplift in interest in Ocean Village and increased footfall in the shops, resulting in very exceptional growth in sales. We're looking forward to sales continuing to build as the TV campaign rolls out over the next few weeks."

Prices for seven night Ocean Village Mediterranean cruises start at £488 per person, when booked through Jetline Cruise.

SILVERSEA CRUISES ROLLS OUT 2009 CRUISE SCHEDULE

Silversea Cruises has announced its 2009 worldwide voyage schedule and is now accepting reservations.

Silversea's four all-suite ships are set to visit over 320 different ports in 108 countries on a diverse schedule of over 140 itineraries ranging from seven to 92 days. Complete day-by-day itineraries can be found at www.silversea.com.

Silversea will add its first-ever Grand Pacific Voyage, a 92-day extended odyssey that explores the azure waters and pristine beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Following a diverse route from Los Angeles to Papeete, Sydney, and the Far East, with final stops in Alaska and Vancouver, Silver Shadow will visit 45 ports, 15 countries and two hemispheres.


Other highlights include return visits to Alaska plus 10 new destinations: Szczecin (pronounced Stettin, as it was once known), Poland; Malmo, Sweden; Skagen, Denmark; Gozo Island, Malta; Symi, Greece; Koper, Slovenia; Olhahali Island, Maldives; Nemuro, Japan; Visakhapatnam and New Mangalore, India.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE GETS $1BN CASH INJECTION

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced fleet-wide upgrades following a $1 billion cash injection from private equity group Apollo Management.

Improvements will be made to dining, cabins and activities by summer 2008. The announcement was made at the christening of Norwegian Gem in New York City at the end of last year.


An extra $50 million (£25.5 million) will be spent on food and restaurant amenities in the next two years, which equates to an increase of 20% per passenger per day. Most of this will be spent on refitting the ships with Action Station restaurants, replacing traditional buffets with multiple points of service that aim to dispense with trays and queues.


Guests will be greeted with champagne on arrival whatever their cabin grade and there will be signature dishes at each restaurant. Room service will be available from all restaurant menus and reservation technology will be improved.


Among planned enhancements to the cabins, amenities, mattresses and towels will be upgraded balcony cabins and mini-suites will receive a 24-hour telephone concierge service and priority embarkation while suites and villas are to have concierge and butler service, in-room welcome champagne, a private breakfast and lunch area and outdoor butlers in the courtyard villas.


NCL president and chief executive Colin Veitch said Freestyle 2.0 had been driven by agent feedback.


"We don't want to rest on our laurels - we have achieved the milestone of offering the youngest fleet in the cruise industry and will now focus our attention on delivering the next generation of Freestyle Cruising - a significant enhancement to the guest experience across the fleet."


Many Freestyle 2.0 features are in place on Norwegian Gem, which sailed its inaugural US cruise this week. Soft refits will be rolled out across the fleet this summer and the Action Station restaurants will be fitted as each ship goes into dry dock.


Apollo Management will own 50% of NCL under the terms of the agreement, announced in August. Veitch said the $1 billion (£510 million) will be used to reduce debt and to help pay for the ships on order for 2010.

Emily Bamber in New York

CRUISE LINES SEEING CALM FINANCIAL SEAS DESPITE ECONOMIC TIDAL WAVES

With fuel prices going up and the US economy going down, the consensus might be that the cruise industry is facing harder times in 2008. But that's not the case at all.

"The booking picture is quite strong at this time," Howard Frank, the vice chairman of Miami-based Carnival Corp., told investors.

In fact, Frank added, even though Carnival's fleet capacity is expected to rise by 9% in 2008, "we have less inventory left at this time to sell through the remainder of the year."

Analysts say there are a couple of reasons the cruise industry is upbeat despite the strong economic headwinds.

For one, cruise lines are increasingly shifting resources to Europe.

Carnival's capacity in Europe, for example, will grow 21.7% this year; in contrast, its capacity in North America will grow just 3.4%

European cruises can command higher prices and are shielded somewhat from the struggling American economy.

"For those who wrestle with how Carnival could be seeing such strong booking trends when there is so much concern about the US consumer, the answer is: Easy comps and a lower mix of Caribbean deployments," wrote Robin Farley, a cruise industry analyst for UBS, in a note to investors.

But skyrocketing fuel costs still pose a threat. UBS analysts projected that Carnival's fuel costs per day will rise nearly one third from a year ago.

Cruise lines are also counting on consumers to shoulder more of the expense. Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and most other cruise companies -- with the exception of Disney Cruise Line -- have announced new fuel surcharges that will cost passengers an extra $5 per day.

Report by David Wilkening

P&O CRUISES IS ADDING THE FIRST CIRCUS SCHOOL AT SEA TO ITS LATEST SUPERLINER VENTURA.

When the ship launches in April it will include ‘Cirque Ventura’ which will feature a bungee trampoline and a flying trapeze area.


Skilled performers will also hold workshops on the tight wire, acro balance, clowning, juggling and stilt walking.


P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale said: “Cirque Ventura is set to be a firm favourite and is just one of a host of innovations onboard Ventura. Any guest aged eight and over will have the chance to ‘run away with the circus’ and learn some innovative skills."


Cirque Ventura will be operated in partnership with circus skills company, the Generating Company.

Kelly Ranson

GREAT NEW OFFERS FOR 2008 FROM ACE

Take a look at this amazing selection of offers, brought to you courtesy of ACE (Association of Cruise Experts).



WIN A SPA BREAK!: We are pretty sure that after a busy turn-of-year that you will be deserving a break! Well, head to www.cruiseexperts.org and the members area, and in association with the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire you could win a fabulous break!
JOIN US IN MAY: Do not forget that the places to this years Cruise Convention are going fast, so head on over to www.ukcruiseconvention.org and book your place TODAY!

BUNGEE TRAMPOLINE AND FLYING TRAPEZE ONBOARD P&O CRUISES SUPERLINER VENTURA

Passengers on Britain's largest & newest superliner Ventura will be able to fly high above sea level at Cirque Ventura - the first circus school at sea.

Click here for more...

FTO MEMBERS CANCEL KENYAN HOLIDAYS

Source: Travel Weekly by Edward Robertson.

All holiday departures to Kenya for the next two days have been cancelled by members of the Federation of Tour Operators.

Click here for more...

LATEST 2008 EARLY BOOKING AND SPECIAL OFFERS FROM VIKING RIVER CRUISES

Please see below for some Fantastic Early and Special Offers from Viking River Cruises.

Click here for more...

REGENT SEVEN SEAS 2008 SPECIAL OFFERS

Cruise of the week

2 FOR 1 Limited Promotion, 10 day sale.

Click here for more...

A PERFECT VIEW OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ON BOARD MSC CRUISES

Celebrate in style with an exciting journey on board an MSC Cruise ship. Currently available on the MSC Orchestra and MSC Musica are two various itineraries allowing you to enjoy the stunning Mediterranean in January.

Click here for more...

FANTASTIC SAVINGS ON THE PRE-INAUGURAL CRUISE OF MSC POESIA

On 6th April 2008, MSC Cruises most exciting and anticipated ship to date, MSC Poesia will set sail on her pre-inaugural voyage from Dover to Venice.

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TRY SOMETHING NEW THIS NEW YEAR WITH ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

Make 2008 the year to experience a total mind, body and soul escape onboard Royal Caribbean International's latest ship, Independence of the Seas.

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VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY & SWAN HELLENIC TO APPLY FUEL SURCHARGE

Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic will be applying a fuel surcharge to all new bookings on Summer 2008 voyages as from 1st January 2008.

Click here for more...

ACE (Association of Cruise Experts)

First Floor, 41/42 Eastcastle Street, London. W1W 8DU England UK
T: 020 7436 2449 F: 020 7636 9206
www.cruiseexperts.org

PROJECT GENESIS - CONSTRUCTION BEGUN

Frankfurt - The keel of what will be the world's biggest passenger ship has been laid down at the Aker shipyard in Finland marking the beginning of the construction phase of what has been dubbed "Project Genesis."When completed the vessel will be 360 metres in length, have space for 5,400 passengers and be 40 per cent larger than the present record holder, according to the ship's owners, Royal Caribbean International.

The ship is due to start service in autumn 2009 and will be based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Each berth will cost 230,000 dollars to build, making Project Genesis the most expensive cruise ship ever.

Royal Caribbean plans to launch two vessels in this class. The second ship is expected to be completed by August 2010.

Facilities aboard the ships will include a "surf park for wave riders, a climbing wall and an ice rink. The gross tonnage of the 71 metre wide and 73 metre high ship is 220 000 tonnes," the company said.

Currently the largest passenger ships afloat are the Royal Caribbean's two Freedom Class vessels that weigh 160 000 tonnes each.

The Freedom Class is due to get a third ship in May next year when the "Independence of the Seas" is launched.