Cruise in Brief

Louis Cruises has announced plans to launch a new brand in September. The Greece-based cruise line will launch Celestyal Cruises using Louis Cristal and Louis Olympia sailing out of Pireaus and Lavrion. The new brand will have an authentic Greek experience under the ‘Kalimera’ programme the cruise line started in 2013 with a focus on food, wine, archaeology, history and music. Full story here

Celebrity Cruises has launched a new trade toolkit to create customised marketing materials. The Celebrity Xtra trade pack has been designed for independent agents and consortia and includes two web banners, eight wall posters and an A4 poster based on the Suite Class that can all include the agent’s own logo. A revamp of Celebrity Eclipse is also in the pipeline including new food and drink venues.

TUI Cruises has ordered two more ships under the Mein Schiff name. Mein Schiff 5 and 6 will be delivered in 2016 and 2017 to bring the cruise line’s total ship count to six. Each of the two new ships will have 1, 250 cabins with 82% featuring balconies. Full story here

Lindblad Expeditions will revamp its National Geographic expedition cruise ship next month. The National Geographic Orion will enter drydock this September to undertake renovations to its public spaces. Plans are also in place to redesign the bar and library spaces. Full story here

P&O Cruises has announced a GBP26 million refurbishment for its Aurora ship this winter. The ship will be adorned with the cruise line’s new Union Flag livery when it comes out of the shipyard in December, with the Sindhu and Glass House restaurants to also be added during the drydock period. Much of the upgrade is focused on food and beverage, but will also include its casino and children’s clubs. Full story here

Compagnie du Ponant has released details of its South American programme for 2015-16. The new itineraries will be available from October 2015 to March 2016 on Le Boreal, L’Austral and new ship Le Lyrial. Itineraries include a 12-day/11-night journey from Acapulco to Fuerte Amador and 18-day/17-night trips from Rio de Janeiro to Dakar and another from Recife to Bridgetown. The cruise company has also launched new ‘Green Expeditions’ that include Zodiac outings.

Windstar announced its first-ever series of Cruisetours in Asia. The new collection allows passengers to extend their cruise with a land element, with rates including all sea and land activities, including the cruise, hotels, excursions, meals and transfers. The first range of Cruisetours will allow guests to explore destinations in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Cambodia. The ‘Singapore, the Malay Peninsula, & Myanmar Cruisetour’ includes a 10-day voyage to and from Singapore and a four-day trip to Myanmar, with visits to Yangon and Bagan. Full story here

Silversea Cruises celebrated its 20th anniversary in London with lunch on Silver Cloud this week. The lunch was held with Silversea partner Relais & Châteaux with the group’s grand chef Michael Caines MBE serving up dishes. Silversea’s ships have the only Relais & Châteaux restaurant at sea, La Champagne.

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a ‘Bring your Friends and Family For Free’ promotion in the UK. The campaign started yesterday and will run until 26 August and is available on selected cruises departing from September 2014 to April 2015 on Epic, Breakaway, Getaway and Jade.

P&O Cruises has unveiled details of its “biggest ever” year of cruising in Australia, with a five-ship fleet paving the way for new cruises from Cairns and Singapore and the line’s largest presence to-date in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland. The company’s 2015-16 programme will offer 250 cruises, including a series of new itineraries and inaugural port visits to destinations including Honiara, Jakarta and Koh Chang. The season will kick off on 25 November 2015, with a five-ship display. Full story here

Oceania Cruises has announced a new foodie cruise with its executive culinary director Jacques Pépin. The 11-night cruise with the top French chef will take place on ‘Riviera’ from 7 July 2015 with live cooking demonstrations, lectures, overseeing menus and book signings. The itinerary will cover the Straits of Gibraltar and along the southern coastlines of Spain and France.