Cruising Updates
Wild Earth Travel, Swan Hellenic offers
Wild Earth Travel has partnered with Swan Hellenic to offer exclusive bonuses across a selection of expedition voyages departing in 2026 and 2027, including Antarctica, West Africa and Indonesia.
Cruising Europe’s Eastern capitals
Clients can save up to 35% on Viking’s 17-day Capitals of Eastern Europe journey from Vienna to Bucharest or vice versa with The Viking Savings Event.
Trafalgar spotlight’s river savings
Trafalgar is reminding travel advisors to take advantage of its Trafalgar river spotlight savings of between 30-50% off, specifically targeting the 2026 Christmas Market season.
‘Extra level of interest’ as PONANT releases its latest Smithsonian Journeys dates
PONANT Explorations has just released its 2026-27 Smithsonian Journeys collection with a special offer and the promise additional dates being released soon.
Ambassador live with Cruise Deals
Cruise Deals NZ now offers live online booking and NZ dollar pricing for UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line.
Low season 2026 Greece offer
Wild Earth Travel has a low season Greece offer aboard M/Y Galileo, with 2026 departures priced from approximately €1,700 per person.
Viva Expeditions expands with Swan Hellenic
Viva Expeditions has expanded its polar expedition cruise portfolio with the addition of Swan Hellenic.
The new partnership takes Viva Expeditions’ range of polar expedition vessels to more than 35 ships.
Viking bookings open for 2028-29 expeditions
Viking’s 2028–2029 expedition voyages are open for booking.
They feature newly released departure dates across the company’s most popular itineraries in the Arctic, Antarctica and the Great Lakes.
Viking’s Zeppelin flights on select river voyages
Viking has introduced a new optional shore excursion on its eight-day Rhine Getaway and 15-day Grand European Tour itineraries – a helium filled Zeppelin flight offering an aerial perspective over Cologne and the Ruhr Valley.
Japan charter with PONANT and WJ
Sixteen agents were joined by Kazutoshi Goto and Shoko Inuguchi of Hankyu Travel Japan, along with Chris Lyons and Dorothy Chambers from World Journeys, for an exclusive industry gathering on Wednesday.
Wild Earth Travel’s Antarctica e-brochure for agents
Wild Earth Travel has released a new Antarctica e-brochure for travel agents, designed as a selling resource that brings together itineraries, insights and first-hand experience of the White Continent.
Seldom visited Micronesia locations added to the latest Heritage Expeditions release
Small-ship expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions has a new voyage exploring rarely-visited destinations in Micronesia.
PONANT releases new themed voyages
PONANT Explorations has a new programme of 40 themed voyages for 2026 and 2027 focusing on art, music, gastronomy and wellbeing.
NCL’s newest vessel opens for sale
Norwegian Cruise Line has opened for sale Norwegian Aura voyages. The largest vessel in NCL’s fleet, Aura will homeport in Miami beginning in June 2027 following her debut in Europe in late May 2027.
Additional river ship for Trafalgar
Trafalgar is expanding its river cruise portfolio with the introduction of Trafalgar Harmonie. It will sail the Seine with a new itinerary, Best of the Seine with Paris & Normandy, debuting in April 2027.
More suites on new Oceania ship
Oceania Cruises has unveiled newly designed suite accommodation aboard Oceania Sonata, the first ship in the Sonata Class, debuting August 2027.
Demand v capacity in luxury cruise means clients should ‘act now’ for the right sailing
Demand for cruising will continue to outpace capacity in the near-future, reinforcing the need for agents to ensure their clients make informed but relatively quick decisions, according to an industry executive visiting Auckland this week.
NCL releases more 2027-28 details
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced its 2027-28 northern hemisphere winter deployment.
PONANT expands choice in the Pacific
PONANT Explorations Group is expanding its French Polynesia offering with two ships based in the region from late 2026 and 2027.
Travelmarvel launches Kimberley 2027
Travelmarvel has released an early preview of its 2027 Kimberley Cruising programme, with savings of up to $2,600 per couple now available for a short time across all Kimberley Coast Adventure departures.
Alaska programme expands with charter
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will expand its Alaska programme from 2027.
Cruise Month 2025 gets record results
October’s Cruise Month campaign has unlocked record levels of engagement from both consumers and travel agents, producing its best-ever results in Australasia.
Enhancements for NCL ships
Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem will be unveiling revitalisations in April and May 2026.
Regent to debut epicurean studios
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is launching Epicurean Enrichment Studio, culinary theatres on board Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager.
Wild Earth Travel attends launch of Douglas Mawson
Wild Earth Travel was on the ground in Sydney recently for the launch of Aurora Expeditions’ newest purpose-built polar vessel, Douglas Mawson.
HX Expeditions extends Galápagos partnership
HX Expeditions has announced a three-year extension of its successful partnership with Metropolitan Touring, the longest-established travel operator in the Galápagos, founded in 1953, in which HX holds a significant minority stake.
From Athens to Venice – Platinum agents enjoy eight days on the Adriatic with Viking
Viking’s top Platinum sellers have returned from their eight-day Venice, the Adriatic & Greece cruise.
Football and cruising combo ideas
As visitors from around the world start to plan their northern hemisphere summer aligned with taking in a FIFA World cup game, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is luring travellers with Inside Passage sailings to Alaska. These can paired with varied match days.
PONANT outlines new itineraries in 2027, Kiwi market growth and strong Polynesia performance
By Faye Spooner
PONANT Explorations is looking ahead to 2027 with new itineraries, including Philippines and a 12-day ‘Polar Express’ to the North Pole, as part of its growth plan.
Aurora’s 2027-28 Antarctica season
Aurora Expeditions has unveiled its Antarctica 2027-28 season, featuring 34 voyages.
Early look at Aranui’s new ship
Aranui Cruises has revealed a peek inside new-build Aranoa, with a suite of new renderings.
Service, subtlety, slower travel stand out for Viking’s Platinum agents
Being on a Viking Cruise for eight days in the Mediterranean has further convinced some of the brand’s biggest trade supporters that it suits a high proportion of their client demographic and is catering for trends that are currently driving travel.
NCL unveils new APAC voyages
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has unveiled nearly 50 new voyages in its 2027-2028 season to trending destinations across Asia Pacific including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and Hawai’i.
Platinum performers soak up Europe – note Viking’s magnet for repeat sales
The variety of cruising offered by Viking, high service levels for both clients and trade, plus (increasingly) an offering outside of the peak European season are all factors that have helped drive sales for the brand’s top selling agents.
Circle Pacific part of 2027-28 APAC season
The 2027-28 summer season will feature three Princess ships sailing in Australasia and the Pacific: Royal Princess, Grand Princess and Sapphire Princess.
NCL expands pre-cruise land offers
Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded its Cruisetour Collection in Europe for 2026.
Explorer’s Club expands to include Paul Gauguin, Aqua Expeditions
PONANT Explorations Group has expanded its partnership with The Explorers Club to include Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions.
Uniworld’s largest extension set for 2027
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will launch four new ships and six new itineraries in 2027.
HX extends education programme
HX Expeditions has announced the global expansion of its pioneering education partnership with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and its Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
Hurtigruten's climate neutral voyage departs
After announcing the initiative earlier in October, Hurtigruten’s MS Richard With has now departed Bergen on the company’s first climate-neutral voyage.
Winter homeporting to return to Auckland
Carnival Adventure will be homeported in Auckland from May to July 2027.
Savings on PONANT voyages in Europe
PONANT Explorations is highlighting its 2026 Europe Collection, introducing a selection of small-ship voyages discovering destinations from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe.
Viking’s new Ocean Voyages brochure
Viking’s new 2026-2028 Ocean Voyages brochure is out with 248 pages of content. Features include larger maps and in-depth overviews of some of the most popular combination itineraries as well as shorter journeys.
Tauranga cruise season starts, first-time ships on way
Two back-to-back ship arrivals marked the start of the Tauranga cruise season last week, as the region prepares to welcome up to 230,000 passengers and crew over the next seven months.
Wild Earth launches French Polynesia guide
Wild Earth Travel has released a new French Polynesia e-brochure, designed as an easy reference tool for travel agents and a resource for clients.
Viking receives two new river ships
Viking has taken delivery of its newest river ships, Viking Honir, which will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, and Viking Thoth, which will sail the Nile.
WA and beyond: Spirit’s ANZ, Pacific season
NCL’s Norwegian Spirit makes her debut in Western Australia on 9 December.
New Uniworld land and cruise combo
Uniworld will launch six new itineraries across Europe and Asia in 2027.
NCL sees ‘high value’ guest potential, while highlighting value in current economy
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) continues to see multiple levels of opportunity to, in and from this region, with a focus on guests seeking a more boutique premium experience while also highlighting the benefits of cruising when economic conditions are tight.
Galapagos cruising and beyond
Peru Andean Travel Company is seeing increasing interest out of Australasia for its boutique cruising in the Galapagos and customised experiences in Ecuador and Peru – a trend which encouraged the company to exhibit at Luxperience in Sydney for the first time this year.
Uniworld launches 2026 savings
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has released a new limited-time offer, giving travellers the opportunity to save $3,000 per stateroom on 2026 departures.
Alliance to promote travel to Norway
Hurtigruten APAC has formed a new collective called the Hurtigruten Nordic Alliance, established to elevate New Zealanders’ and Australians’ travel to the Nordics and to drive mutual growth.
NCLH’s new three-brand loyalty programme
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, the company operating Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has launched its new Loyalty Status Honoring Program.
Tauck to add new riverboats
Tauck plans to add two new riverboats to its fleet in 2027, along with two ships launching in 2026.
More...
Refurb under way for Heritage Adventurer
Heritage Expeditions reports the first wave of the ship-wide internal refurbishment of its 140-guest flagship Heritage Adventurer is underway in Singapore.
Aranui releases 2027 itineraries
Aranui Cruises’ 2027 programme features two ships, with new build Aranoa joining Aranui 5 in March that year.
Oceania 2027-28 open for reservations
Oceania Cruises has launched its 2027-28 Collection of Voyages with more than 230 cruises encompassing a year’s plus of itineraries across seven ships.
PONANT expands yachting segment
PONANT Explorations Group is expanding its exclusive sailing offering.
