Main image credit: jessicaburnett
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK and Ireland’s 2026 conference will be held from June 4-6 in Southampton.
The annual conference, the 18th, will include ship visits, conference sessions, a trade fair and a celebratory sailaway evening party. An optional ‘New to Selling Cruise Day’ will take place on June 3, which will combine sales training and brand introductions from suppliers, for agents who are looking to build their cruise knowledge and bookings.
The first full day of the event will comprise conference sessions and an industry trade fair in the evening. The conference sessions will take place at the O2 Guildhall, with trade fair details to be confirmed.
On day two, attendees will have the option to visit Cunard’s Queen Anne or P&O Cruises’ Britannia. The sailaway party will follow that evening at the O2 Guildhall.
Delegates will then have the choice to visit Celebrity Apex, MSC Virtuosa or Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur on the final day.
Registration opens shortly and details of the theme and keynote speakers will be announced soon.
Asia Pacific debut for Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic has released full details of its first four cultural expedition cruises of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia aboard SH Minerva.
The first three cruises in the series are only provided in Swan Hellenic’s complete Cruise Plus formula, which includes specially-booked hotel accommodation, charter flights and transfers to reach the departure ports. All can be combined into longer voyages as desired.
The four cruises, spanning April 5 through to May 20, 2026 are:
A 13-night ‘Wild Eden of Papua New Guinea’ Honiara to Jayapura sailing from April 5–18. The Cruise Plus package provided includes one night’s hotel accommodation in Brisbane, all transfers, a charter flight from Brisbane to Honiara to join SH Minerva, and a charter flight to Bali for international connections after the cruise.
The 10-night ‘Secrets of the Coral Triangle: West Papua and Raja Ampat’ Jayapura to Sorong voyage from April 18–28. The Cruise Plus package provided includes one night’s hotel accommodation in Bali, all transfers, and a round-trip charter flight from Bali to Jayapura to join SH Minerva and then return home after the cruise.
The 11-night ‘Raja Ampat and the Philippines cruise: the Last Paradise on Earth’ Sorong to Manila cruise from April 28–May 9. The Cruise Plus package provided includes one night’s hotel accommodation in Bali, a charter flight from Bali to Sorong and all transfers.
The 11-night ‘Philippines to Japan Cultural Discovery Cruise’, sailing Manila to Hiroshima from May 9–20.
Bookings for all these Asia Pacific 2026 cruises are now open on the Swan Hellenic website.
Families flock to Iona for ship takeover visit
385 guests recently attended a P&O Cruises 2025 family day takeover ship visit in Southampton
The ship visit took place on board Iona in Southampton, attended by 90 travel agents and their families.
Guests spent the day exploring Iona’s family-friendly spaces, from swimming pools to entertainment venues, while enjoying lunch. The event offered the chance to discover more than 30 venues and take part in a variety of family-focused activities throughout the ship.
Michaela Farn, Not Just Travel, commented: “What a fabulous day! None of my family had even been on a P&O Cruises ship before and they absolutely loved Iona. Being able to take some of the family on a ship visit was fantastic.”
Tyrion Kivell-Davies, Travellers World UK. was equally effusive: “The staff were all amazing and every single member of staff seemed happy and engaged which made you feel at home straight away. I loved the ship and think the visit may convert my non-cruising husband.”
The visit impressed InteleTravel’s Kiran Roopra: “I already have some customers interested in booking a trip on Iona after I shared some information about the family day on social media. The whole experience was seamlessly organised, from the time we showed up to the time we left. I loved how friendly the P&O Cruises team was.”
No solo surcharge on Ponant polar expeditions
Ponant Explorations is allowing solo guests to book double staterooms or suites without paying extra.
Upcoming solo-friendly highlights include:
· ‘Journey to Austral Lands and Valdes Peninsula’: From Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, with three sailings in February and March 2026. 18 nights on board Le Boréal, L’Austral or Le Lyrial is priced from £12,630pp.
· ‘The Geographic North Pole’: From/to Longyearbyen, three sailings depart in July and August 2026. 15 nights on board Le Commandant Charcot is priced from £32,560pp.
Anthony Daniels, General Manager for UK and Ireland at Ponant Explorations, said: “Solo travellers often seek introspection, and the polar regions provide unmatched stillness, vastness and personal space – with no compromise on comfort.
“Equally, with as few as 132 guests, our small ships make it easy to meet like-minded travellers on curated excursions and shared experiences. The value of all-inclusive pricing, expert-led excursions and seamless logistics also offer true peace of mind and clarity for solo bookers.”
New brochure responds to twin-centre trend
Star Clippers has launched a brand new brochure solely dedicated to bespoke Greek Islands packages, offering a variety of cruise-and-stay options.
Through The Porthole: Greece and Her Islands is the first printed version in what will be a series dedicated to different destination experiences. It features eight tailor-made packages, including, for the first time, a sailing incorporating a pre-cruise stay in Albania’s Tirana and Berat. The voyage is priced from £5,129pp for 13-nights, departing July 14, 2026.
The cruise line has noticed an uptick in guests incorporating a twin-centre to enhance their sailing experience.
Fay McCormack, General Manager of Star Clippers’ UK GSA, said: “Throughout 2025, we have noticed an increase in enquiries for multi-centre stays, blending our sailings with either a pre or post-cruise stay which isn’t the embarkation or disembarkation port.
“Our guests’ sense of adventure parallels in their preferences for elongated and enriched experiences, and this brochure is our way of recognising this trend to ensure our passengers can continue to experience fresh and unique offerings.”
Holland America Line spotlights 2027 Canada and New England season
Holland America Line has announced details of its 2027 Canada and New England season, which will see Volendam and Zuiderdam operate 20 voyages across 13 itineraries from May to October.
The programme will range from seven to 14 days and spotlight the region’s national parks, French heritage and scenic cruising along the St. Lawrence River. Most itineraries include calls at either Montréal or Québec City, while a new cruise dedicated to the area’s iconic lighthouses has also been added.
Among the highlights of the 2027 season are:
- A nine-day ‘Lighthouses and Harbors of Canada and New England’ trip, departing October 2, 2027, aboard Volendam, from Montréal to New York City. Guests will have the opportunity to see up to 10 lighthouses through 22 shore excursions, including Maine’s Portland Head Light and Nova Scotia’s Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse. Fares start from £2,469pp.
- The 10-day ‘Canada and New England Circle: New France and Montreal’ sailing, departing May 29, 2027, roundtrip from Montréal, with visits to Québec City, Saguenay, Prince Edward Island, St. Pierre and St. John’s. The voyage is priced from £2,589pp.
- An 11-day ‘Canada and New England Circle: Maritimes and New France’ voyage, departing June 8, 2027, from Montréal to Boston. The sailing visits five national parks including Gros Morne, Saguenay Fjord and Jacques-Cartier, alongside calls in Newfoundland, Halifax and Baie-Comeau. The itinerary costs from £2,999pp.
Onboard, guests can immerse themselves in the line’s Destination Dining concept, which showcases local flavours such as Maine lobster, Prince Edward Island mussels and Boston baked beans. Departures from Québec feature a locally inspired cheese and wine celebration.
Paul Grigsby, Vice President of Deployment and Itinerary Planning at Holland America Line, said: “Our Canada and New England itineraries are designed to showcase the wonders of the region – from its breathtaking national parks and storied lighthouses to its rich French heritage.
“Guests can experience magnificent French culture without ever leaving North America, all while enjoying a front-row seat to the stunning fall foliage that makes this part of the world unforgettable.”
