Category Archives: Cruises

Royal Caribbean International welcomes the action-packed Ovation of the Seas to Singapore from October 2025 through March 2026. The fan favorite Quantum class ship brings a line-up of experiences that make for a memorable holiday for every type of traveler as they visit awe-inspiring destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and more on 3- to 5-night getaways. Starting today, holidaymakers can be the first to mark their calendars and book the new holidays on Ovation on Royal Caribbean’s website.   With their pick of 3- and 4-night getaways, travellers of all ages have in store a taste of the sights and sounds of Southeast Asia, from indulging in renowned street food in the heart of UNESCO World Heritage Site George Town in Penang, Malaysia, to kicking back on the sandy beaches of Phuket, Thailand. Holidaymakers can also enjoy more time on holiday with longer adventures, such as a 5-night cruise that features a night in Phuket to explore the ever-popular night markets and an 8-night escape to Bali to indulge in culture and adventure while roaming the waterfalls and temples of Celukan Bawang in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia.   “Ovation is a ship packed full of adventure, and with the new season’s line-up of holidays, friends and families can choose to holiday their way between short getaways to Penang and Phuket and longer sailings to Indonesia or with nights out in Phuket,” said Angie Stephen, senior vice president, International, Royal Caribbean International. “Singapore is the gateway to explore many of Asia’s most loved destinations, and it’s the combination of all Southeast Asia has to offer and the variety of unparalleled Royal Caribbean experiences that has made this region a central part …

Jerroo Bharrucha, President, TOGA Mumbai, says, referring to the negotiations over tourist guide fees for cruise passengers between TOGA and four operators, says, “We have been asking them to negotiate for a year for season starting September 2024. They have offered us 5% increment for each season, in total 10%. But this is unacceptable to us.”

NS Rathor, Chairman, IATO Western Region, says, “We are facing a lot of problems with the cruise guide rates. We have a lot of international cruise liners coming into Mumbai. For cruise passengers we have to negotiate rates locally with Tourist Guides Association (TOGA). They are asking us to pay 15-20% more than the current rate negotiated with TGFI! We have not yet agreed on that. We have offered them 10%. We will discuss this issue with our members and offer TOGA this rate. We hope they will agree with this.”

Over the past decade, tourism has embraced sustainability as a strategic pillar. A WTTC report shows that 42% of leading tourism companies globally have set a climate target – either interim, long-term, or both. As sustainable business practices gain traction around the world, companies must increasingly consider the concerns of stakeholders – travellers seeking eco-friendly destinations, and communities concerned about their future.   Tour operators Emissions from tour operators vary across the sector, depending on how asset-light or asset-heavy they are. Some operators express concerns about limitations they encountered regarding infrastructure at destinations, while others are investing in sustainability initiatives. But the current infrastructure and technology at some destinations are not developed enough for those investments to yield results in the short term. For example, some tour operators want to invest in electric buses, but current EV coach battery life is inadequate for longer tours. Travel agencies and OTAs Travel agents — both brick-and-mortar and online — interact with a variety of industry players, from suppliers to destinations, and influence consumer choices. They are well-placed to help the industry achieve its sustainability goals, though these efforts are complicated by the new reporting frameworks. OTAs and travel tech companies more broadly are not easily classified, as they often fall in the software sector rather than tourism. As such, they also lack specific guidance on how to tackle sustainability issues relating to their travel operations. They will likely have to consult sector-based guides, such as for car rental and leasing, hotel and lodging, and airlines. Accommodation One complicating factor for hotel chains is the industry’s range of business models and ownership structures. Many operate under franchise agreements with multiple levels of control, …

Europamundo, a JTB Group company, introduces exciting full board river cruises in Europe for the first time ever, with a duration of 5-10 days. Find more than 100 departures, in 32 routes, distributed among more than 10 ships, to sail across rivers carrying history in their waters such as Rhine, Danube, Douro, and Moselle – flowing through 18 countries and 82 cities. Aparna Basumalik, Commercial Head, (India Subcontinent & UAE), Europamundo, says, “These cruises have the best price quality ratio in the market.” For support and login, contact to indiasalessupport@europamundo.com

Europamundo, a JTB Group company, introduces full board river cruises in Europe with a duration of 5-10 days. Find more than 100 departures, in 32 routes, distributed among more than 10 ships, to sail across rivers carrying history in their waters such as Rhine, Danube, and Moselle – the same rivers that will take us to 18 countries and 82 cities to discover. These cruises have the best price quality ratio in the market.   Grand Cruise Croatia This 8-day starts in Dubrovnik, the heart of the Dalmatian coast, with a guided tour of Dubrovnik. This is followed by an excursion to Mljet Island, one of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic. The sailing also includes a visit to the Krka Falls National Park, and a guided tour of the Trogir city. Built on an island, Trogir is a gem of labyrinthine streets interspersed with staircases and vaulted passages. This is followed by a visit to Split, Hvar, and Vis, and then finally Kotor and back to Dubrovnik.   Landscapes of the Rhine Embarkation for this cruise starts in Frankfurt with a group transfer from Frankfurt airport to Mainz and an Overnight in Rüdesheim onboard the ship. In the morning we will enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Moselle on a scenic navigation that will take us to the charming town of Cochem. One of the most picturesque and popular towns on the Moselle River, it stands out for its spectacular “Reichsburg” castle. The city is known for its tourist interest, its beauty and for its wines, as some of the best wines in Germany are produced in this area. The cruise then sails through Bernkastel, TRIER, ZELL, KOBLENZ …

Arshdeep Anand, Chairperson, ATOAI Women’s Collective, shared, “Increased air connectivity is directly proportional to increased tourism activity in a particular destination. Govt is making efforts to develop niche tourism in the country in the form of island tourism, adventure tourism, wildlife tourism, spiritual and wellness tourism. If our domestic carriers can come up with connectivity to develop these circuits, it would boost the tourism potential within the country. There is also a great demand-supply gap from India in relation to flights to Scandinavia for Northern lights, except to Finland and Copenhagen.

As Sun Princess prepares for its February 28 maiden voyage, the newest ship from Princess Cruises is poised to raise the big ship culinary landscape by offering an unrivaled collection of culinary options from celebrated chefs and celebrity collaborators, as well as ingredients sourced from high-end purveyors, and a lineup of exciting and new experiences. Today the line revealed additional dining experiences exclusively available to guests sailing on the next level Love Boat. Spellbound by Magic Castle – the Next “Extraordinary Experience” from Princess The cruise line has announced that Spellbound by Magic Castle will be the latest in Princess Cruises’ new category of “Extraordinary Experiences,” following the wildly successful 360: An Extraordinary Experience, the remarkable, multi-sensory culinary journey that debuted last year aboard Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess. Spellbound by Magic Castle blends the captivating world of magic with the art of culinary and mixology to create an extraordinary innovative immersive dining experience, steeped in magic and adventure. Just unveiled, the evening begins in an exclusive area of the Horizons Dining Room for a delectable, shared dinner before being escorted to the secluded Spellbound Bar, nestled behind a non-descript door where magic and mixology awaits. Talented, Magic Castle-sponsored magicians perform incredible feats of illusion in themed rooms and theatrical cocktails are delivered by sleight-of-hand servers. With three nightly offerings at 5 pm, 7 pm and 9 pm at limited capacity, advanced bookings are required with a $149 per person cover charge. Sushi Master Makoto Okuwa Comes Aboard for Kai Sushi Sun Princess guests eager to try something new will savor Kai Sushi by Makoto Okuwa – reshaping traditional sushi with a creative approach. Through this exclusive partnership, the Master …

Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary Madhya Pradesh Tourism said, “Long distance, intra-state cruises will be a new attraction for 2024. We have a buoyant plan for cruise tourism in 2024. The main attraction will be the nearly 130 km inter-state cruise on river Narmada.”

Joel Katz, MD (Australasia), CLIA, has said that cruise tourism is managed tourism. “Ships don’t just turn up. Visits are planned 2-3 years out and in coordination with local port authorities who manage the port bookings. Cruise tourism contributes to the economic vitality of ports, neighbouring communities and local residents.”