Small-Ship Booking News
By Anne Kalosh.
Just a handful of cruise ships are currently sailing and the way forward remains murky near term.
But, increasingly, lines are reporting strong demand for trips in 2022, 2023 and beyond.
As more people get vaccinated and the COVID-19 infection rate ebbs, travelers are planning ahead. Some lines are seeing a recent surge in small-ship booking by retirees. It makes sense — they’re among the first to get vaccinated and many have disposable income from stock market investments that have held up well.
The small-ship sister brands American Queen Steamboat Co. and Victory Cruise Lines, for example, reported a strong response to the recent release of their 2023 program. It was the earliest the two lines have ever opened sales for a season.
Additionally, AQSC and Victory bookings taken during January and February were running more than 35 percent higher than in November and December.
2023 highlights include Victory’s two new expedition vessels, Ocean Victory and Ocean Discoverer, to sail in Alaska for the first time together.
Expedition ships Ocean Victory and Ocean Discoverer are scheduled to sail together in Alaska for the first time in 2023. * Rendering: Victory Cruise Lines
Some of the most popular itineraries being reserved two years out are “Mighty Mississippi,” from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans on American Queen in September 2023 and the always-in-demand Memphis to New Orleans cruises, which also sparked interest for available dates in 2021 and 2022.
Additional bookings of note were for Great Lakes cruises on the coastal ships Victory I and Victory II.
Particularly popular in AQSC’s newly opened 2023 itineraries is a long “Mighty Mississippi” voyage on American Queen. * Photo: AQSC
Getting Ready To Go
In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, American Cruise Lines now has six vessels on location, up from five previously, as the company gears up to begin sailing — it hopes — in the spring.
American Harmony, one of this U.S.-flag line’s modern-style riverboats, completed its journey from the East Coast to the Pacific Northwest via the Panama Canal. Arriving at Astoria, Oregon, it joined modern series sister American Song, and two of the line’s classic paddle-wheelers, American Pride and Queen of the West. All four riverboats are in Astoria to complete final preparations for the 2021 season.
American’s cruises on the Columbia and Snake rivers explore from the mouth of the Pacific in Astoria to the country’s deepest canyon in Clarkston, Washington. 2021 cruises include a new selection of active excursions and on-board inclusions, from wine tastings to evening entertainment.
American Harmony was repositioned as American prepares to introduce two more modern riverboats to the Mississippi River this year, American Jazz and American Melody.
American’s other two boats in the Pacific Northwest are American Constellation, scheduled for Alaska and Puget Sound deployment, and American Spirit, for Puget Sound.
American Harmony has joined five other American Cruise Lines vessels that are hoped to operate in the Pacific Northwest in spring and summer. * Photo: American Cruise Lines
Time Keeps On Slippin’ Into the Future
Some cruise restart dates keep slipping.
Sea Cloud Cruises, which had hoped to resume sailing in March/April, is delaying until early May.
New Mediterranean itineraries are planned, each focused on one country and all operating round-trip instead of the line’s usual practice of beginning at one port and ending in another. This makes it easier to arrange air travel during this period of COVID restrictions.
Sea Cloud is now planned to be the first ship in the fleet to begin, on May 7, with cruises from Piraeus, the port for Athens, to the Greek Islands. Sea Cloud II is to start on June 2, with voyages from Nice, France, alternating along the Côte d’Azur and around Corsica.
New ship Sea Cloud Spirit’s maiden voyage is now set for June 2 from Civitavecchia (Rome) and voyages from there will focus on Sicily and Tuscany.
Sea Cloud Cruises has new sailing dates and Mediterranean routes for its tall ships. * Photo: Sea Cloud Cruises
Windstar Changes And Wave Offer Extended
Windstar Cruises, meanwhile, delayed its planned restart from May until June and extended its wave season offer.
The new dates are as follows: Wind Spirit — June 10, Tahiti; Star Breeze — June 19, Caribbean; Wind Star — June 19, Mediterranean; Wind Surf — June 29, Mediterranean; Star Legend — July 4, Mediterranean; Star Pride – July 14, Northern Europe/Iceland.
Impacted passengers will receive a 125 percent future cruise credit or a full refund.
Windstar also extended its wave season offer to now apply to bookings made through March 31.
The “Sail Small, Live Large with Big Perks” promotion lets travelers choose from a set of free perks and offers a reduced deposit of 5 percent instead of 15 percent.
Meanwhile, the “Pick Your Perk” options include up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom, one night pre- or post-cruise hotel stay with Europe voyages, a premium beverage package or free Wi-Fi.
Travelers may pick one free perk — they vary depending on the cruise length and room category.
Also, Windstar’s updated Travel Assurance Booking Policy allows cancellation up to 48 hours prior to departure for 2021 cruises.
Travelers can still take advantage of wave-season deals at Windstar Cruises, when booking by March 31. * Photo: Windstar Cruises
Miami Move
In other Windstar news, the line plans to move its office from Seattle to Miami in June 2022. The new location will accommodate mostly operations functions while areas such as marketing, revenue, accounting and IT will have the opportunity to relocate to parent company Xanterra Travel Collection’s Denver office.
Windstar President Chris Prelog explained that having an office in cruising’s capital will be beneficial for building industry relationships and attracting new talent, while also putting operations employees closer to the line’s ships and crew in Europe and the Caribbean.
Windstar Cruises hopes to resume sailing with the June 10 Tahiti voyage. * Photo: Windstar Cruise
Ponant Disappointments
Illustrating the current pandemic-related uncertainties, there were disappointments for Ponant and its travelers booked for special sailings in New Zealand and Qatar.
The French line’s plans to operate New Zealand cruises for Kiwis only that were to start in February aboard Le Lapérouse, had to be canceled last minute on a crew visa snag.
Though Ponant got the OK from New Zealand’s Ministry of Health in December and Immigration New Zealand granted critical worker visas for 29 officers and engineers, visas ultimately were denied for 61 other crew, mostly hotel staff, considered “nonessential.”
And, citing the ongoing pandemic, Discover Qatar, the destination management division of Qatar Airways, postponed its first expedition cruise series, “Whale Sharks of Qatar by Sea,” until 2022.
Eight- and 10-night adventure cruises had been planned aboard Ponant’s Le Champlain from March 24 to May 7.
Qatar is home to one of the world’s largest aggregations of whale sharks. For five months each year, hundreds of these “gentle giants” congregate in a restricted marine zone off the northeast coast. Those on the expedition cruises would have been among the first to see whale sharks in these waters.
It is hoped this special cruise series can operate next year.
The domestic New Zealand cruises planned on Ponant’s Le Lapérouse were canceled on short notice due to crew visa issues. * Photo: ©Philip Plisson:Ponant
Good News For Solo Travelers
Star Clippers is beckoning solo travelers by waiving single supplements on certain cruises in 2021 through 2023 across all itineraries, including Mediterranean, Caribbean and Southeast Asia.
Single travelers can feel at ease in the social and casual on-board atmosphere of the company’s tall ships, where it’s easy to meet new friends and bond over the joy of sailing. QuirkyCruise can vouch for that.
We’ve gone solo on the 170-passenger Star Clipper in the Mediterranean. It was a breeze to meet mingle at the tropical bar on deck, at open-seating dining and while participating in water sports and activities like knot-tying and climbing the mast.
The single supplement waiver — valid for residents of North, Central and South America only — is also ideal for those who like to travel with a friend but prefer the privacy of their own cabin.
Some examples of solo fares: A three-night cruise from Venice starts at $870 per person and a seven-night voyage from Piraeus (Athens) is priced from $1,850.
Water sports are among the myriad ways for single travelers to mingle and make friends on Star Clippers’ tall ships. * Photo: Star Clippers
ESPA Products, Treatments on Ritz-Carlton’s Evrima
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection selected ESPA to provide treatments and wellness programming in the spa aboard its first yacht, Evrima, scheduled to debut July 24 in Venice. ESPA’s natural formulations contain plant extracts, marine actives and essential oils.
The Spa by Ritz-Carlton aboard Evrima encompasses an aroma steam room, dry sauna, relaxation lounge and outdoor areas. A variety of rituals will be inspired by the sea, with individually tailored treatments including aromatherapy and exfoliation.
In addition, spa-goers can purchase a Three-Day Discovery Program, a Five-Day Journey Immersion Program or a Six-Day Journey Immersion Program.
Evrima will also offer a gym with a wellness coach, group exercise classes and seminars.
Everything’s Coming Up Roses
AmaWaterways became the latest river-cruise line to schedule sailings to the spectacular, once-in-a-decade Floriade Expo in the Netherlands.
Between April 14 and Oct. 9, 2022, passengers have the opportunity to visit the expo during a cruise along the Rhine and Dutch and Belgian waterways. An included excursion to the Floriade is available with nine different itineraries, among them the new (in 2021) “Best of Holland & Belgium” (round-trip Amsterdam) and “Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps” (sailing from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland).
Other itineraries featuring the Floriade are “Tulip Time” (round-trip Amsterdam), “Captivating Rhine and Enchanting Rhine” (between Amsterdam and Basel), “Rhine & Moselle Fairytales” and “Rhine & Moselle Delights” (between Amsterdam and Basel), “Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle” (Amsterdam to Luxembourg) and “Treasures of the Main & Rhine” (Nuremberg to Amsterdam).
Located just outside Amsterdam, Almere will host the Netherlands’ largest public event as part of the International Horticultural Expo, with the theme “Growing Green Cities.” Visitors are encouraged to “explore, touch and change” at Floriade, which features stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls.
Or, Gardens Of France
Alternatively, AmaWaterways travelers can visit some of the most picturesque gardens of France during Seine and Saône cruises. “Impressions of the Seine & Paris” includes excursions to Monet’s gardens at Giverny and the Harcourt Arboretum in Lyons-la-Forêt.
“Essence of Burgundy & Provence” sails through one of the most renowned wine regions and gives access to the topiary garden at Château de Couches and the baroque-style garden of Château de Cormatin.
AmaWaterways visitors including Capt. Geoffrey at Monet’s gardens in Giverny. * Photo: AmaWaterways
Paul Gauguin’s 2022
Paul Gauguin Cruises’ 2022 schedule features a return to Fiji.
The Gauguin will be showcasing its most sought-after itineraries: the seven-night “Tahiti & the Society Islands,” 10-night “Society Islands & Tuamotus,” 11-night “Cook Islands & Society Islands” and 14-night “Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands.”
The ship will also be returning to Fiji, offering 12-night and 13-night “Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands” itineraries. These voyages follow in the wake of explorers, encompassing the Society Islands, home waters of the Gauguin, and the Cook Islands with its distinct culture and exquisite lagoons.
Other highlights include sailing across the International Date Line, a rare visit to the Kingdom of Tonga, and the paradisiacal Fijian islands.
Paul Gauguin returns to Fiji in 2022. The most popular traditional Fijian dance is the meke, of which there are several versions. * Photo: Paul Gauguin Cruises
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HEIDI SARNA
