Recommend December 2017 - 90

Cruise

SAILING INTO 2018
Vivian Holley

Here's what you can count on in the
2018 cruise picture: There's certain to be
something that pings your clients' radar.
From an onboard underwater multi-sensory
lounge dubbed Blue Eye (Ponant), to a shore
excursion to catch a performance by the
Russian Ballet (Uniworld), the coming year
promises a plenitude of not only new ships
but fresh concepts, first-time itineraries, and
downright irresistible adventures.
Take that Blue Eye. "Ponant wants
passengers not only to see the fragile and
captivating marine life," says Navin Sawhney,
the line's CEO of the Americas, "but to be
inspired to preserve it. The lounge is an
innovative way to better understand the
ecosystem and environment we live in." It's
also crazy fun. Set beneath the water line
on Le Laperouse and Le Champlain (two
Explorer ships debuting in summer 2018 with
two more to follow in 2019), the space will
spotlight a pair of portholes that re-create,
yes, the eye of a whale. Digital screens will
90 december 2017

project images filmed live by underwater
cameras, complete with sea sounds. Besides
Blue Eye, clients can score a chance to cross
the Antarctic Circle via a choice of 25
sailings in 2018-2019.
Edie Rodriguez, brand chairman and
corporate special advisor for Ponant, notes
that she can't wait to show travel agents all
of the cruise line's "iconic itineraries of
a lifetime, from the cold weather
destinations of the Chilean fjords to
warm weather destinations like Cuba
and Kimberley, Australia."
Among other brand-new choices in
the cruise industry:
■ MSC Cruises, slated to introduce MSC
Seaview in May, will send MSC Lirica on
a first-ever voyage to the East Mediterranean,
April 6-Oct. 26, calling at Mykonos,
Heraklion/Crete, and Corfu, Greece;
Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Bari, Italy.
■ Norwegian, scheduled to begin inaugural
sailings of its new Norwegian Bliss in spring,

plans to home port Norwegian Breakaway in
New Orleans for the 2018-19 winter season,
cruising to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico;
Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand
Cayman; Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; and
the island of Harvest Caye, Belize.
■ Viking Ocean Cruises, set to launch Viking
Orion (formerly known as Viking Spirit) in
July, will also kick off its new Viking Voyages
concept that combines itineraries of both river
and ocean cruises. "Guests can fly overseas
once and enjoy two sailing experiences,"
points out Sheryl Van Aken, Dream Vacations
franchise owner and vacation specialist. "It's
the best of both worlds where the river meets
the sea, including both coastal ports and
villages along the river banks."
■ From uber-luxury Silversea comes the new
Couture Collection, custom-curated ocean-plusland programs of five to 11 days. Think private
helicopter service in Mongolia, vintage rail in
India, Gulfstream jets in Antarctica.
■ Already underway and continuing through
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