Travel Professionals News

The Seattle-based Holland America Line said its small ship  835-passenger Prinsendam had been sold to a company that would put it in service with a German cruise operator Phoenix Reisen. Holland America said the ship will leave the Holland America fleet on July 1, 2019. For sailings after July 1, 2019 Holland America Line says it is reaching out to booked passengers and their travel professionals to re-accommodate guests. At 37,983 tons, Prinsendam is more than 30% smaller than the next smallest vessel in the Holland America fleet. It's the only Holland America ship to carry fewer than 1,000 passengers — a level often seen as the threshold between a small and mid-size ship in the cruise world.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) gathered together its cruise community, including cruise line executives, travel agency leaders and key suppliers and partners, for CLIA’s annual Congressional Cruise Caucus where they will engage with Washington, D.C.’s legislative and political leaders. CLIA said one of its primary goals is to educate policy makers and advocate for sensible legal and regulatory frameworks that facilitate continued growth opportunities for the entire cruise industry. CLIA engages with policymakers year-round, and Congressional Cruise Caucus is an important component of those advocacy efforts. CLIA members will use this opportunity to educate lawmakers on cruising’s place in the broader travel community…

Holland America Line has promoted Amy Barnett to the position of division sales director for the East. In her new role, she will be responsible for planning, organizing and directing sales programs, as well as analyzing and implementing strategic and tactical initiatives to increase sales in North America. Barnett will manage a team of 16 business development managers and four sales coordinators. She will report to Eva Jenner, vice president, North America sales. Barnett joined Holland America Line in 2004 as a business development manager covering northern Florida where she was responsible for cultivating relationships with top-producing travel agency owners and travel professionals. Previously, she worked for Norwegian Cruise Line, Orient Lines and NCL America.

Fathom has engaged 44-year cruise industry veteran Maurice Zarmati to work with the burgeoning company. Fathom, which provides a different kind of cruise that combines travelers’ love of travel with their desire to make a difference, will tap Zarmati’s extensive knowledge of the cruise industry to augment its already robust tools designed to support travel professionals in marketing this one-of-a-kind travel experience. “Maurice has been a trusted advisor to Carnival Corporation and me for more than four decades, beginning in 1972 when my father invited Maurice to be among the small group of founding members of the Carnival Cruise Lines team,” said Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation.

Holland America Line announced today that effective Dec. 1 Orlando Ashford will join the company as president to lead the award-winning cruise line's brand and business, including its fleet of 15 premium vessels carrying approximately 850,000 guests annually to all seven continents. Ashford joins the company from Mercer, the global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement and investments, where he was president of the Talent Business Segment. “We are fortunate to have Orlando join our team, bringing with him a career's worth of global experience leading high-performance teams that helped innovate some of the most respected and well-known companies in the world,” said Stein Kruse, chief executive officer, Holland America Group.

AmaWaterways has chosen Valerie Wilson of Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. to be Godmother of the lines new ship 'AmaPrima'. Wilson will christen the ship at a traditional christening ceremony in Vilshofen, Germany on August 6, 2013. As the New York City-based Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Valerie Wilson Travel, Wilson leads one of the largest privately owned and family-managed travel agencies in the United States. She also serves on numerous advisory boards and as a mentor to up-and-coming travel professionals.

The Crystal Harmony has emerged from a multi-million dollar overhaul featuring expansive new spa facilities, Connoisseur Club and remodeled public areas from stem to stern. "The total redesign of our Crystal Spa and the construction of the Connoisseur Club are in direct response to the needs and expectations of today's sophisticated traveler," says Crystal Cruises president Gregg L. Michel. "When Crystal Harmony debuted in 1990, the innovative design blending large ship amenities with small ship exclusivity was applauded by guests and travel professionals alike, and a new era in luxury cruising was born. We take our position as a leader in luxury cruising seriously and are committed to continually evolving our product."