As well as all the new builds, two ships are being stretched to cope with the increase in demand and registration has opened for the second agents’ Cruise Convention in Southampton.
There are also lots of new itineraries, guaranteeing that wherever clients want to cruise, there will be a ship for them.
Use our month-by-month guide to cruising in 2008 to make sure you grab your slice of the action.
Jan ¦ Feb ¦ Mar ¦ Apr ¦ May ¦ Jun ¦ Jul ¦ Aug ¦ Sep ¦ Oct ¦ Nov ¦ Dec
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JANUARY
What’s new: Fred Olsen’s newly stretched Balmoral sets off on its maiden voyage. The ship, acquired from Norwegian Cruise Line, has been fitted with a 30-metre mid section to increase passenger capacity by 350 to 1,340.
Sell it to: Clients who want a traditional British cruise.
How much: From £2,240 per person for a 12-night Gardens and Palaces Cruise from Dover to the Baltic in June, including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess sets off on the cruiseline’s first world tour. It’s been so popular that two ships will sail around the globe next year.
Sell it to: Clients with time and money for an American-style circumnavigation.
How much: From £11,709 per person for a 108-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Dover departing January 2009, including flights and transfers.
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What’s new:The Association of Cruise Experts is publishing a Cruise Port Guide featuring essential details of about 250 of the most popular ports in the world, including river destinations.
Use this to: Excite clients about the places they will be visiting.
How much: Free to ACE members, about £7 for non-members.
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FEBRUARY
What’s new: Hurtigruten has a four-night cruise from Bergen to Tromso, followed by three nights in Tromso to coincide with National Sami Day and Reindeer Races.
Sell it to: Cruisers with a competitive spirit.
How much:From £995 per person including flights, transfers, four nights’ half-board on the ship and three nights’ bed and breakfast.
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What’s new: MSC Cruises has a new Latin dance-themed cruise on MSC Armonia’s cruises from Brazil, with daily classes and live shows.
Sell it to: Dancing divas.
How much: From £1,389 per person for an eight-night cruise from Rio de Janeiro including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: Ultra-luxury cruiseline Yachts of Seabourn’s first world cruise, on new ship Seabourn Odyssey, goes on sale. The 108-day cruise starts in June 2009, departing from Fort Lauderdale and ending in Athens.
Sell it to: Clients with deep pockets.
How much: From £26,625 per person cruise-only for 108 days including gratuities and all drinks.
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MARCH
What’s new: Carnival Cruise Lines is launching a new seven-night cruise from Barbados visiting St Kitts and Dominica as well as the well-trodden islands of Antigua, St Lucia and St Thomas.
Sell it to: Caribbean regulars in search of something new.
How much: From £1,039 per person from Barbados in April including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: Malaysia-based Star Cruises’ 1,960-passenger SuperStar Virgo moves to Hong Kong, from where it will be sailing two, three and five-night cruises to Xiamen and Sanya in China, and Halong Bay in Vietnam.
Sell it to: ‘Been-there-done-that’ Med and Caribbean cruisers.
How much: From £1,340 per person for a five-night cruise including flights, transfers, plus one hotel overnight in Hong Kong.
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What’s new: Sushi king Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa is opening two restaurants on six-star ship Crystal Symphony. The Silk Road and Sushi Bar, already on Crystal Serenity, debut during a transpacific cruise from Los Angeles.Sell it to: Clients with a yen for sushi.
Sell it to: Clients with a yen for sushi.
How much: From £3,675 per person cruise-only for a 17-night voyage from Los Angeles to Hong Kong.
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What’s new: Viking River Cruises is launching three and four-night sampler cruises – two a month through the season – between Basle and Dusseldorf.
Sell it to: Couples looking for a relaxing short break.
How much: From £495 per person for three nights, including flights, transfers and one excursion a day.
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APRIL
What’s new: MSC Cruises’ 3,013-passenger MSC Poesia will be named in Dover by Sophia Loren at what is promised to be a very British ceremony. It then sails to Venice, where it will be based for the summer.
Sell it to: Lovers of all things Italian.
How much: From £698 per person for a seven-night eastern Mediterranean cruise from Venice including flights and transfers. Children under 18 sharing a cabin with two adults cruise for free.
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What’s new: P&O Cruises’ new flagship Ventura will be named in Southampton. It’s the biggest ship ever built for the British market and brings both a Marco Pierre White restaurant and Noddy to the high seas – P&O is obviously trying to keep all bases covered.
Sell it to: Families and couples attracted by new-wave British cruising.
How much: From £799 per person for a seven-night Iberian Adventure from Southampton in May, calling at Vigo, Lisbon, Bilbao and Brest.
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What’s new: Royal Caribbean International’s new Independence of the Seas – a sister to the two largest ships in the world – arrives in Southampton, its home for the summer.
Sell it to: Families who fancy big-ship cruising from the UK.
How much: From £1,499 per person for a 14-night Western Med cruise with calls including Gibraltar, Cannes, Livorno (for Florence/Pisa) and Lisbon.
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What’s new: EasyCruiseLife joins easyCruise, operating seven-night cruises around the Greek islands from Piraeus. On most days the ship docks by noon and stays late so passengers can experience the nightlife ashore.
Sell it to: Young people who want to party their way around Greece.
How much: From £70 per person cruise-only for seven nights’ island hopping around Greece.
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What’s new: Former Orient Lines’ ship Marco Polo sets sail on its maiden cruise from London Tilbury to the Norwegian fjords for Transocean Tours, which is chartering the ship from its new Greek owners.
Sell it to: Cruisers aged 55-plus who don’t want the hassle of flying.
How much: From £629 per person cruise-only for a six-night Springtime Fjordland cruise from Tilbury departing April 19.
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MAY
What’s new: The Association of Cruise Experts is holding its second Cruise Convention, this time in Southampton, with lectures and seminars, and a chance to look around five ships.
Use it to: Learn from the experts how to increase sales.
How much: £42.50 plus VAT per person for ACE members, £63 plus VAT for non-members.
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What’s new: Princess Cruises’ 3,110-passenger Crown Princess becomes the biggest cruise ship in the Baltic, offering two 10-night itineraries from Copenhagen, each with a night in St Petersburg.
Sell it to: Families fed up with the Med.
How much: From £1,094 per person for a 10-night cruise from Copenhagen in May including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: Fred Olsen’s Braemar goes into the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg to be stretched, increasing passenger capacity from 727 to 977, adding more cabins and suites, a new restaurant and observatory lounge.
Sell it to: Older couples and singles who like traditional British cruising.
How much: From £2,355 per person for a 14-night cruise around the Black Sea from Civitavecchia (Rome) in September, including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jade arrives in Southampton for the cruiseline’s first series of ex-UK cruises aimed at the British market.
Sell it to: Families who don’t want to fly.
How much: From £1,299 per person for a 14-night Mediterranean Escape, with calls including Malaga, Barcelona, Civitavecchia and Gibraltar.
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JUNE
What’s new: Holland America Line’s new 2,044-passenger Eurodam arrives in Southampton so agents can see the vessel before it goes to Rotterdam to be named. It will spend summer cruising the Baltic and Norwegian fjords.
Sell it to: Older clients who prefer American-style cruising with a touch of luxury.
How much: From £1,969 per person for a nine-night Baltic cruise from Copenhagen including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: St Helena Line, which sails from Cape Town to the island of St Helena, where the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte spent the last six years of his life, has a history-themed cruise departing June 8.
Sell it to: Adventurers who want their place in history – RMS St Helena is being retired in 2012, when the island’s first airport opens.
How much: From £1,549 per person cruise-only for a 10-night cruise, eight nights’ bed and breakfast on St Helena and tours guided by historian and former military attache for South Africa Major Pretorius.
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JULY
What’s new: Carnival Cruise Lines makes its ex-UK debut with a naming ceremony in Dover for the new 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor, followed by a summer season of 12-night cruises to the Baltic.
Sell it to: Fun-seeking families and couples.
How much: From £1,049 per person cruise-only.
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What’s new: Peter Deilmann has a seven-night jazz cruise on the Danube, when Addi Munster’s Old Merry Tale band and their swing orchestra will be treating guests to cruise jams and late-night sessions.
Sell it to: Jazz lovers with a taste for good food.
How much: From £1,399 per person cruise-only for seven nights departing July 6.
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AUGUST
What’s new: Swan Hellenic makes its Mediterranean return having been saved from extinction and reunited with the cruiseship Minerva, which sailed for the line from 1996 to 2003.
Sell it to: Over-55s who want to discover the world.
How much: From £1,720 per person for a 14-night Voyage to the Mediterranean, including return flight and transfers.
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SEPTEMBER
What’s new: Oceania’s Regatta leaves London for the ultimate Mediterranean cruise – a new 27-night voyage to Venice calling at 22 ports on the way.
Sell it to: Would-be world cruisers with neither the time nor money for a global jaunt.
How much: From £3,688 per person cruise-only.
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OCTOBER
What’s new: Hebridean International Cruises goes Footloose in the Balkans with new itineraries that offer hiking among included excursions. Options include a walk in Butrint National Park in Albania and from Zalogo to Cassope in Preveza, Greece.
Sell it to: Well-off over-50s who want to keep fit on their cruise.
How much: From £3,051 per person for a seven-night cruise from Dubrovnik to Crete on Hebridean Spirit including flights, transfers and all drinks on board.
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NOVEMBER
What’s new: Princess Cruises’ new 3,110-passenger Ruby Princess arrives in Fort Lauderdale to start a winter series of western Caribbean cruises calling at Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel in Mexico and Princess’ private island, Princess Cays.
Sell it to: Sun-seekers who enjoy being pampered.
How much: From £877 per person for a nine-night flycruise including transfers.
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What’s new: Ocean Village is launching one-way cruises between Barbados and Aruba on its newest ship, Ocean Village Two. There’s a different itinerary in each direction so clients can book a two-week cruise.
Sell it to: Active families and couples who don’t do cruises.
How much: From £849 per person for a seven-night cruise from Barbados to Aruba or vice-versa, including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 leaves Southampton for the last time, bound for its new home in Dubai, where it will become a luxury floating hotel. The last cruise is sold out, but there is availability on other departures.
Sell it to: Nostalgic clients who want to be part of history.
How much: From £1,899 per person for a 13-night Land of the Midnight Sun cruise from Southampton to Spitsbergen in Norway in June.
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DECEMBER
What’s new: Celebrity Cruises’ new 2,852-passenger Celebrity Solstice launches with onboard glass-blowing demos and a small bar with an ice-filled table for caviar and vodka tastings.
Sell it to: Couples seeking a touch of luxury.
How much: From £1,232 per person for a seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: MSC Cruises’ biggest ship MSC Fantasia launches with a VIP Yacht Club for top-grade passengers offering butler service, a private observation lounge and bar.
Sell it to: Europhiles who like a big ship.
How much: Itineraries and prices are not yet available.
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What’s new: Island Cruises makes its Caribbean debut with Island Star, which will be based in Barbados and sail three 14-night itineraries.
Sell it to: Families and couples wanting a casual cruise.
How much: From £1,099 per person in January 2009 for a Latin Caribbean cruise including flights and transfers.
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What’s new: Thomson returns to the Caribbean after an eight-year break with the 1,450-passenger Thomson Destiny, sailing two seven-night itineraries from La Romana in Dominican Republic.
Sell it to: Traditional cruisers on a budget.
How much: From £1,079 per person for a seven-night cruise including flights and transfers. January 2008 bookings qualify for an all-inclusive upgrade for £30 per person.
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