Grab yourself a coffee and catch up on today’s news in brief. It is packed with the latest deals, updates from the industry and everything you need to know in bite-size pieces.
Solomon Islands borders to open on 01 July 2022
Tourism Solomons has welcomed Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare’s announcement the country’s border will fully reopen on 1 July 2022. This easing of restrictions means that from that date, foreign nationals can once again enter the country.
However, health precautions will still apply with all incoming travellers required to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival, in addition to a negative RAT test within 12 hours of arrival. Only those people that have completed a full course of vaccinations will be allowed to enter the country from overseas, with the exception of children unable to be vaccinated.
The current quarantine period for international travellers is 14 days but this will be dropped to six days on 01 June and then three days post that date with international visitors required to quarantine in Honiara. A negative RAT test will be required on day three post arrival before they can be released.
Viking Cruises record Europe River Cruise sales
Viking’s limited time Europe river cruise offers have seen record sales across 2022 river cruise bookings. Demand for river cruise sailings has been the strongest since the start of the pandemic with sales more than doubling since the campaign launched, as travellers snap up the opportunity to travel again and explore Europe for less.
A large percentage of those bookings have come through our trusted travel agent network with a high proportion being new to Viking or new to cruising in general, indicating that there is a real eagerness to return to travel and an appreciation that guests can travel now. Feedback from the agent community indicates that guests are trying new experiences they would not have previously considered, and travelling for longer, with Viking agents seeing guests booking back to back cruises across river and ocean, or including a cruise as part of a longer trip visiting family and friends.
Travel agents still also have the opportunity to win one of 100 free self-famils so you too can experience a Viking European River cruise in 2022. The first 100 agents to make two or more new twin share or single supplement reservations for any 2022 Viking Europe river cruise before 30 June will win a complimentary self-famil stateroom on a select 8-day Viking European river cruise in 2022.
Scenic unveils the new Scenic Eclipse 2024 itineraries
Scenic has released their Scenic Eclipse Australia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands, 2024 brochure featuring the new Grand Voyages which combine multiple ultra-luxury itineraries for the trip of a lifetime, plus land journey and city stay extensions.
Scenic General Manager Sales & Marketing, Anthony Laver, said “Bringing Scenic Eclipse II home to Australian and the Pacific Islands waters will be a major event for our guests, travel trade partners and the Scenic team, setting the new benchmark for ultra-luxury cruising in the region. Since releasing these new destinations in January, as part of our worldwide collection, we’ve seen strong demand from guests booking multiple voyages across the many unique itineraries. This has inspired the development of our new Grand Voyages. Combining the best new itineraries in the Oceania region with South America, guests can now travel from Chile to Australia on a journey to the farthest reaches of the world. Or choose to cruise along Australia’s East Coast, across the Top End and to the stunning Kimberley region, exploring the Indigenous culture, spectacular scenery and so much more.”
Explore Worldwide unveils 11 new European trips
Explore Worldwide has launched 11 NEW European adventures that show off the highlights with a focus on travelling slowly through lesser-known parts of Europe. Many of these tours focus on using public transport with opportunities to explore on foot and really get under the skin of these beautiful destinations.
Choose from Italian trips by rail – from Rome to Venice or Venice to Rome – then on to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Go island hopping in Greece or Croatia, or travel slowly through Spain, Portugal and Morocco, watching the scenery gradually change from Europe to Africa. The trips have been created specifically with the Australian traveller in mind, often taking time to explore more than one country or to see a European destination in greater depth.
Avalon Waterways launch trade incentive
Avalon Waterways has launched a two-month trade booking incentive for agents and selling consultants to win big throughout June and July. For agents who book and deposit three Avalon passengers between 1 June – 29 July 2022, Avalon Waterways is offering a free Suite Rewards cruise for 2022. The incentive applies to new bookings only and excludes groups and charters.
Once agents have booked and deposited three passengers in the booking period, all they need to do is email sales@globusfamily.com.au or phone 02 8259 11 60 with their booking reference(s) once the deposit is on file, to redeem and choose their free 2022 Suite Rewards itinerary.
Popular itineraries available as part of the Suite Rewards programme include the eight-day Romantic Rhine cruise from Amsterdam and Basel, and eight-day Danube Dreams between Budapest and Deggendorf, to name just a few of the exciting cruises up for grabs. As part of Avalon Waterways Suite Rewards programme, one travel companion sharing the cabin can also access and pay a discounted Suite Rewards rate to join the winning agent abroad.
