Cruise, Organisations & Operators,

Cunard has reported that in the first week of January it has booked more guests than any equivalent period in the last decade.The luxury brand has seen strong booking momentum across 2023 and 2024 sailings, with summer itineraries and Queen Anne’s maiden season proving to be particularly popular with guests.Carnival UK president, Sture Myrmell said, “Following two of our strongest booking periods in 2022, we have seen unparalleled bookings during the start of Wave.”
“We’ve increased our marketing investment significantly, including the use of TV advertising for the first time as we reach and appeal to new audiences.”
“It’s clear that guests are looking forward to stepping back on board both in the UK and across all our global markets.”
For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, visit www.cunard.com.

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A limited-edition Cunard x Liberty scarf has been launched to celebrate Liberty’s first store at sea.
The store – which opened on Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 in October 2022 – features the brand’s best-selling items, including silk pyjama sets, purses and bags, as well as two colourways of the special Cunard x Liberty scarf.
The Cunard x Liberty scarf is available on Queen Mary 2 and is priced at $350.Cunard’s association with Liberty dates back to 1968, when an original bespoke scarf, titled ‘Vacances’, was hand-painted by Liberty’s design director at the time, Bernard Nevill. The design was hugely successful and reimagined in 1988 for Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2. The artists in the Liberty design studio have re-drawn this classic design once more, giving it a modern twist by spotlighting the joyful holiday scenes from the original and springing them from the border, giving the scarf a delightful escapist feel.Lee Powell, Vice President of Brand & Product, Cunard, said, “We are delighted to celebrate the first ever Liberty store at sea aboard Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2, and are especially excited to showcase this beautiful scarf designed exclusively for Cunard by Liberty’s talented team.”
The Liberty store will be operated by Harding+, Cunard’s long term cruise retail partner. Plans are underway for Liberty products to be available on Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria later in the year.

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EMERALD CRUISES LAUNCHES 2023/24 YACHT CRUISE BROCHUREThe brochure features a range of new voyages onboard Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, which is set to debut in late 2023.
Highlights include Caribbean and Central American voyages, Transatlantic sailings and new ports of calls across the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea.Emerald will sail to fifteen new islands and countries, as both Azzurra and Sakara will be homeporting in the Caribbean during the winter of 2023 and 2024.
A ten-day Grenadines and Grenada voyage sails round-trip from Bridgetown and calls at Tobago Cays, Bequia Island, Saint Vincent, Union Island, Mayreau Island and Carriacou Island, with prices starting from £4,805pp based on a 24 November 2023 departure.

Meanwhile, the ten-day Coastal Adventures: Costa Rica and Panama itinerary sails from Puntaneras to Curu and Isla Tortuga, Quepos, Golfito, Isla Cebaco, Darien National Park, San Jose Island and Panama City. Prices start from £5,200pp.ADVERTISEMENTThe line will also offer three ocean crossing itineraries, including a 13-day San Juan to Santa Cruz de Tenerife itinerary which sails from San Juan to Tenerife, with prices starting at £4,895pp.

Meanwhile, the 11-day Highlights of Spain, Morocco and Italy itinerary sails from Tenerife to Arrecife, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, Palma de Mallorca, Mahon, Bonifaco and Civitavecchia, with prices starting from £5,550pp.

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Viking® is celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary and its leadership in travel. To commemorate the anniversary, Viking has released a new video message from Chairman Torstein Hagen as he reflects on the company’s key milestones since its founding on August 5, 1997. The new video can be viewed here on Viking’s website, as well as here on Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, Viking.TV. All this week, Viking.TV daily programming has centered on Norwegian culture and history as a tribute to the Hagen family’s Norwegian heritage.
“I am proud of all that we have accomplished in these 25 years. First, we invented modern river voyages; then, we reinvented ocean voyages with our destination-focused approach; now, we are perfecting expedition voyages and exploring all seven continents—in comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “To every member of our extended Viking family of guests and employees: happy anniversary and thank you. These first 25 years have been very good, but we are just getting started.”
This milestone year has also been one of significant launches for the company. In January, the company debuted Viking Expeditions and the first of two purpose-built expedition vessels, the Viking Octantis®, which is currently sailing its inaugural season in the Great Lakes. In the spring, the company welcomed eight new Viking Longships® and its newest identical ocean ship, the Viking Mars®.  This month, Viking is launching three purpose-built vessels for the Mekong, Nile and Mississippi Rivers, and by the end of the year, will have also welcomed a second identical expedition ship, the Viking Polaris®, and another identical ocean ship, the Viking Neptune®.

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Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Co-Chairman of the A&K Travel Group, Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, and executives from shipbuilder Fincantieri welcomed the arrival of the recently acquired ‘Crystal Symphony’ and ‘Crystal Serenity’ to Trieste, Italy, where the ships are being refurbished.
Mr. Lefebvre took the opportunity to formally announce, on behalf of himself and Co-Chairman Geoffrey Kent, the appointments of Jack Anderson as President of Crystal Cruises and Bernie Leypold as Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations.
“Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre are icons and innovators in luxury travel,” Anderson said. “With their ownership, leadership and vision for these ships and the award-winning Crystal Cruises brand, we are embarking on a new and exciting chapter.  We and the entire Crystal Cruises family look forward to welcoming guests again soon.”
“It is an honor to join the new Crystal Cruises with a commitment to not only recreate, but enhance the sophisticated luxury service, cuisine, entertainment, and shore experiences in collaboration with our sister company, Abercrombie & Kent,” Bernie Leypold added.
“We welcome the return of members of our loyal and well-trained Crystal crew to our family and they will be given priority in the hiring process.” ADVERTISEMENT“There are extensive refurbishments planned for both ‘Crystal Symphony’ and ‘Crystal Serenity’ that will elevate the customer experience.  Some staterooms will be combined, creating more butler suites and reducing overall guest capacity,” explained Cristina Levis.  “This will bring a gracious new feeling of spaciousness to the restaurants and public areas.”
The CrystalCruises.com website will soon provide further updates on appointments, ship enhancements, new itineraries and employment opportunities.

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