Atlas Ocean Voyages Announces World Traveller's Inaugural 2022 Season, Vaccines Required Beginning October 4th.

Travelers Enjoy Up To 20 Percent Early Booking Savings for Mediterranean’s Chic Resort and Historic Destinations

The luxe-adventure cruise brand will require proof of vaccination from all guests, beginning with World Navigator’s October 4, 2021, voyage.

Having just successfully launched the cruise brand’s first ship, World Navigator, Atlas Ocean Voyages today unveiled the inaugural season for its second expedition ship, World Traveller. Launching on July 15, 2022, at Lisbon, Portugal, World Traveller promises to deliver more exciting experiences and captivating destinations, for which Atlas is known. For her inaugural season, World Traveller will sail 11 voyages, ranging from six- to- 12-nights, and visit a combination of chic and historic destinations throughout the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas. In nearly all destinations, World Traveller’s small size allows her to dock in or closer to port centers for guests’ greater convenience. Additionally, travelers can enjoy early booking savings of up to 20 percent for World Traveller’s inaugural season with deposited bookings by September 30, 2021.

“World Traveller’s construction is very well along in our Portugal shipyard. We look forward to the timely launch of our second small, luxury expedition ship,” said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “With World Traveller, Atlas Ocean Voyages will have two small, luxe-adventure ships, covering more of the globe and twice as many compelling destinations, allowing new and returning guests to experience more authentic cultures and breathtaking locales.”

Travelers can enjoy up to 20 percent savings when they book World Traveller’s inaugural summer season. For all bookings made with deposit by September 30, 2021, travelers will receive 10 percent savings on all World Traveller itineraries and can receive an additional 10 percent savings, for a total of 20 percent, when they pay in full by October 7, 2021.

World Traveller departs Lisbon on July 15, 2022, for a nine-night inaugural voyage, visiting Spain’s Costa del Sol and Balearic Islands. Guests will call at Portimao, Portugal; Gibraltar, U.K.; and Spain’s Seville (Cadiz), Puerto Banus, Malaga, Formentera and Ibiza. The inaugural voyage concludes at Palma de Mallorca. A shorter, seven-night voyage, departing September 27 from Malaga to Lisbon, showcases the historic side of the region and features the surrounding cities of the Straits of Gibraltar: Gibraltar, U.K.; Cueta, Spain; and Tangier, Morocco.

Following her inaugural voyage, World Traveller charts her course to the chic beach and resort destinations of France’s Cote d’Azur and the Italian Riviera. On the July 24 voyage, guests combine the Balearic Islands and the Cote d’Azur on a seven-night itinerary from Palma de Mallorca to Nice, France, while the subsequent nine-night itinerary from Nice to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, concentrates on the Italian Riviera and features an overnight in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Rome.

Two voyages combine Greece and Italy’s southern Mediterranean coast. The August 9, 10-night itinerary departs Rome (Civitavecchia) for Athens (Piraeus) and connects the Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Greece, and features two nights in Positano, Italy, while the September 7, 11-night voyage charts westward from Athens (Piraeus) to Malta and focuses on the Greek Isles and Sicily. On the following September 18 voyage that departs Malta, World Traveller combines the Balearic Islands with Sardinia, Italy; features a call at Tunis, Tunisia; and concludes with an overnight at Malaga.

Traveler can also choose among two Greece and Dalmatian Coast voyages. The two voyages alternate departures from Athens (Piraeus) or Venice; transit the Corinth Canal; and call at UNESCO World Heritage destinations of Kotor, Montenegro and Dubrovnik and Hvar, Croatia. The 10-night, northbound itinerary, departing August 19, features an overnight at Hvar and adds calls at Delphi (Itea), Olympia (Katakolon), and Corfu, Greece; Butrint (Saranda), Albania; and Korcula, Croatia. The August 29, nine-night southbound voyage includes a call at Rovinj, Croatia, and Gaios, Greece.

World Traveller concludes her inaugural season in the Atlantic, with a six-night Madeira and Canary Islands voyage, departing October 5, from Lisbon to Tenerife. The ship then charts west to Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, calling at Cape Verde’s Santiago Island and Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxe-adventure expedition cruise brand designed for discerning, fun-seeking travelers to immerse in unique and awe-inspiring moments in remote and captivating destinations. World Navigator, Atlas’ first ship, has begun service and is sailing Egypt and Greek Isles itineraries for summer 2021; Caribbean, South America and Antarctica for winter 2021/22; and the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Arctic, and Central and South America in summer 2022. The cruise brand’s second ship, World Traveller, launches in July 2022, with three additional sister ships, World Seeker, World Adventurer and World Discoverer, to join the fleet by the end of 2023. At 9,930 GRTs, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ ships are Polar Category C- and Ice Class 1B-certified.

Atlas’ signature All Inclusive All The Way provides all guests a complete and seamless experience by including complimentary round-trip air travel, choice of a shore excursion at every port, unlimited premium wine and spirits, international beers and coffees, prepaid gratuities, polar parkas, emergency medical evacuation insurance, WiFi and L’OCCITANE bath amenities. In every stateroom, guests enjoy robes, slippers and binoculars to use on board, personalized coffee, teas and bar service, and butler service in suites.

The luxe-adventure cruise brand welcomes travelers to ‘come back to something brand new’ in its ongoing marketing campaign “At Last… Atlas” (www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com/itstime.) For more information about Atlas Ocean Voyages, please visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. Travel Advisors can call 1.844.44.ATLAS (1.844.442.8527) to book their clients on an unforgettable luxe-adventure expedition.

Princess Cruises Announces 2019 Europe Season

A destination leader in Europe, recognized for offering the "Best Itineraries," Princess Cruises today announced its 2019 cruises and cruisetours, open for sale December 14, 2017.

Noteworthy itineraries for the 2019 season include Northern Europe, with the cruise line's return to Greenland on Pacific Princess, new departures out of Dublin on the popular British Isles itineraries aboard Crown Princess and the opportunity to search for the Northern Lights in Norway on Sapphire Princess, sailing the longest season ever out of London (Southampton), England.

All cruises also include the cruise line's exclusive and award-winning Local Connections program, bringing storytellers aboard to share their personal insights about upcoming ports, offering guests an insider's guide to their next destination.  

The 2019 season features five ships sailing to 130 destinations from the corners of the Mediterranean to the northernmost tip of Europe. Guests can choose from 85 unique itineraries on 211 cruise departures, visiting 37 countries, featuring 30 ports with longer time ashore, including five ports with overnight stays.

"Europe is a destination our guests want to come back to year after year," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia group president. "Our 2019 itineraries offer so many desired European destinations and experiences that will leave our guests inspired and changed by the local culture, food, landscape and charm of these iconic places."

Highlights of the 2019 Europe season include:

New Itineraries and Cruisetours

• Greenland & Iceland (with Optional Edinburgh Military Tattoo) 18-day voyage on Pacific Princess, roundtrip from London (Dover), calling to Greenland, Iceland, and Edinburgh (Rosyth) for the opportunity to see the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo
• Search for the Northern Lights 12-day voyage on Sapphire Princess, roundtrip from London (Southampton), with an overnight in Alta and a late-night stay in Tromso, to enhance the chance of seeing one of Mother Nature's greatest wonders
• Scandinavia & Russia 11-day sailings from Helsinki (in addition to Copenhagen and Berlin (Warnemunde)
• British Isles 12-day cruises departing from Dublin (in addition to London (Southampton) and Paris/Normandy (Le Havre)
• Grand Mediterranean and Grand Western Mediterranean 11-day voyages on Emerald Princess, combinable for a 22-day Grand Mediterranean Collection voyage
• Spanish Passage & Panama Canal 29-day Adventure from Barcelona to Los Angeles on Emerald Princess
• Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Wales on 14-day cruises aboard Pacific Princess, with maiden calls to Portland (for Stonehenge), Portree (Isle of Skye), and Aberdeen

Northern Europe

• Scandinavia & Russia 11-day sailings from Copenhagen, Berlin (Warnemunde), or Helsinki on Ocean Medallion-enabled Regal Princess, featuring overnights in St. Petersburg and late evening stays in Berlin (Warnemunde)
• Scandinavia & Russia 14-day sailings from London (Southampton) on Sapphire Princess or from London (Dover) on Pacific Princess, featuring overnights in St. Petersburg
• British Isles 12-day sailings on Ocean Medallion-enabled Crown Princess, with round-trip departures from London (Southampton), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), or Dublin
• Overnight stays in Dublin on select British Isles sailings, in addition to late departures from Belfast on every 12-day British Isles sailing
• Two opportunities on Pacific Princess and three opportunities on Crown Princess to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo from either Greenock, Rosyth, or South Queensferry
• Round-trip London (Dover) sailings on Pacific Princess, visiting a variety of boutique Northern Europe destinations, including Greenland, Iceland, Norway, the Shetland Islands, and the Faroe Islands
• Additional opportunity to visit Greenland on a 16-day Greenland & Canada voyage on Ocean Medallion-enabled Caribbean Princess, roundtrip New York

Mediterranean

• Emerald Princess offers 58 sailings in the Mediterranean, ranging from seven to 22 days and departing from Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), and Athens (Piraeus)
• More Ashore late-night stay in Chania (Crete) and Mykonos on every seven-day Mediterranean & Aegean and late-night stay in Barcelona and Genoa on every seven-day Mediterranean on Emerald Princess
• Two unique 14-day itineraries from London (Southampton) to the Western Mediterranean on Sapphire Princess
• Pacific Princess 11- to 28-day voyages, visiting a variety of destinations throughout the Mediterranean such as Croatia, Greece, Malta, and Corsica, with overnight stays in Venice on all 12-day voyages between Rome (Civitavecchia) and Venice
• European Explorer 10-day sailings between Rome (Civitavecchia) and London (Southampton) on Sapphire Princess, combinable with the 27-day Mediterranean & Southeast Asia voyages between Rome (Civitavecchia) and Singapore for an epic 37-day Indian Ocean & Europe Grand Adventure
• Opportunity to visit one of the newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Sites of 2017, the "Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar," which include the Fort of St. Nikola in Sibenik and the Fortified City of Kotor

Europe CruisetoursTo further enhance guests' European vacation, Princess Cruises is pleased to offer four unique cruisetours to choose from in 2019: 

• NEW - Highlights of Spain: Offered with the seven-day Mediterranean or 11-day Grand Western Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, visiting Madrid, Valencia, Toledo and featuring the sights and tastes of Spain
• Ring of Kerry: offered with the 12-day British Isles cruise, includes a traditional Ceili dinner and highlights the Cliffs of Moher, Killarney and Cork
• Classic Italy: visit Venice, Florence and Rome's greatest sights: Venice's St. Mark's Square and Doge's Palace, Rome's Coliseum and Vatican museums, the Duomo and Michelangelo's sculpture of David in Florence. All sights are offered with the seven-day Mediterranean & Aegean cruise or the 11-day Grand Central Mediterranean cruise 
• Imperial Treasures: brings guests to Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin for a memorable introduction to these historic European cities and is offered with the 11-day Scandinavia & Russia cruise.

Captain's Circle Savings and Early Booking DepositAs new benefit under the Princess Cruises Captain's Circle loyalty program, guests who have reached Elite status will have the opportunity to secure their booking a day earlier than the general public, which goes on sale December 14, 2017. A reduced deposit of 10 percent is available for bookings made by August 31, 2018.  

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

5 Reasons Why A Luxury River Cruise In Europe Might Be Perfect For You

 I recently had the chance to experience a 5 star European river cruise for the first time and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Stepping aboard the ‘Space-Ship’ like boat that was docked in Amsterdam, I was about to glide through Amsterdam’s remarkable network of canals, in river cruising luxury – if you want to explore European destinations at a gentle pace, river cruising is certainly one of the best ways to do this. Imagine yourself sipping sparkling champagne, whilst listening to nothing but the calm, gentle sounds of the river lapping against the bows.

Here are five reasons why a luxury river cruise might perfect for you.

1. Location, location and even more locations…

Rather than staying in one resort for a week or spending all day at sea, your cruise will take you too many different towns, cities and countries, where you can discover new cultures and sample the tradition and cuisines. You will drift through gorgeous towns and villages, visiting beautiful cathedrals, churches and pretty cafes. Docking stations are always close to the city or town, so you will never get lost or have to endure long transfers when experiencing the different places.

2. Smaller ships = more personal attention

Whilst large ocean liners can accommodate thousands of passengers in one voyage, river cruises tend to be a lot smaller and more intimate. With regular social interaction at meal times it’s easier to make friends on-board, and staff can pay more attention to you than they would with more passengers to assist. Various ships, depending on the operator, have a personal butler service. This means you can enjoy room service on the balcony (cocktail in hand) and take full advantage of other luxury services, such as having your clothes freshly laundered each day. Guests can also expect the evening entertainment on-board to be inspired by the culture of the port they have visited that day.

3. Luxurious surroundings

Holiday operators are now investing more money, into expanding their ships and equipping them with deluxe furnishings. Modern river boats contain restaurants, WiFi, spas, open bar, a gym, butler service, balconies and even a swimming pool – all within 50 feet of your door. My recent luxury river cruise contained a fully stocked mini-bar each day, at no additional costs.

4. Gourmet food and service

Not content with a run-of-the-mill buffet? Look no further than a luxury river cruise – you can sit down, relax and order your food without having to lift a finger. Buffet breakfasts are the norm but the evenings, after a long day sailing and exploring the cities, you can tuck in to a multi-course gourmet meal. There are also extensive wine lists, with fine red wines from France and fruity white wines from Italy – The professionally trained waiters will pour you whatever you like, when you like.

To say the food on board a luxury river cruise is ‘quality’ would be an understatement! The chefs prefer to choose home-made dishes from the country they are docking in that day, so you can experience the food culture from country you are in – anything from Hungarian Goulash to Danish cheese platters

5. Relaxation and rejuvenation

A luxury river cruise will have a spacious, cosy lounge area so you can sit back and enjoy a cocktail whilst taking in the magical views of the river banks. You can unwind on your private balcony or mingle with other guests over canapés. River Cruising is all about going at your own pace, and that doesn’t matter if it’s relaxing on the deck taking in the sights, or having a few drinks over dinner with friends.

Over 130,000 British travellers took a River Cruise in 2014 – a six percent increase on the year before, with Europe being the most popular destination. With an abundance of food, wine and luxurious amenities at your fingertips, it isn’t difficult to understand why river cruise holidays have become so popular in recent years.

Contributed by Colin Matthews , Managing Director at Travel Club Elite. A Luxury Travel Blog

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