Renowned British astronaut Tim Peake will join Queen Elizabeth for a special Alaska sailing in July 2026 as part of the cruise line’s Insights Programme. Peake, who spent over six months aboard the International Space Station between 2015 and 2016, will be a guest speaker on the 10-night voyage departing from Seattle on July 20, 2026.
During the cruise, guests will have the opportunity to hear Peake speak live at the Royal Court Theatre, where he will share stories from his time in space and his earlier career with the Army Air Corps. His talks will delve into the science of space travel, the experience of life aboard the ISS, and personal reflections, followed by a Q&A session.
The voyage itself includes stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell, and Victoria (Canada), with prices starting from £1,459 per person based on two sharing a Britannia Balcony stateroom.
Learn how to sell the Arctic with ECN
The Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) has launched a new training product to boost travel trade professionals’ competitive edge to grow sales and expertise.
ECN’s brand new ‘Behind the Scenes Interview Series’ lifts the lid on how itineraries to some of the most remote regions of the world are put together.
Upcoming sessions include:
- Exploring the Amazon with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – find out how the expedition manager navigates the planet’s most formidable waterways on August 19
- Epicurean Expeditions with Atlas Ocean Voyages – how immersive food-focused sailings bring cuisine, culture and storytelling together for multi-sensory expedition cruise experiences on September 9
- How Expedition Cruises Are Organised with Swan Hellenic – join an Expedition Operations Manager on how she brings the best customer service together with environmental compliance to create the best guest experiences on October 28
- Scouting Baja California with PONANT – find out how an expedition director identifies landing sites and wildlife encounters to ensuring cultural and environmental sensitivity on November 11
- Running Expeditions Aboard Scenic Eclipse – join the Director of Discovery Operations speaking about how luxury, technology and the wilderness come together for immersive experiences on November 25.
Riviera promotes festive cruising with giveaway
Riviera Travel is giving away one festive cruise for two people on the MS Riviera Resplendence as part of their ongoing Riviera Vault rewards initiative during the month of September.
Launched in July 2025, the Vault gives agents access to booking rewards with other prizes including teeth whitening treatments, gourmet hampers from Fortnum and Mason, lifestyle vouchers that can be used for Costa Coffee, Greggs, Marks and Spencer, and more!
The cruise company is also encouraging festive sailings, with bookings for festive cruises up 112% year-on-year.
Sample itineraries include:
An eight-day ‘Christmas on the Rhine’ cruise discovers towns such as Strasbourg, Speyer, Koblenz, and Cologne, with a lavish Christmas Gala Dinner and onboard entertainment. It is priced from £2,349pp (based on two sharing).
While a six-day ‘New Year on the Danube’ sailing welcomes in 2026 with guided tours of Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava and winter scenery along the Danube Bend, plus a glamorous New Year’s Eve celebration with live classical music and a gala dinner onboard. The voyage is priced from £2,149pp (based on two sharing).
‘Live like a Local’ with Azamara
Azamara Cruises has announced its ‘Live like a Local’ programme designed to transform the way guests experience each port of call.
Guests embarking on cruises across Azamara’s 2026-2027 Mediterranean programme will now enjoy access to authentic cultural experiences, including intimate small-group excursions guided by locals, entry to regional festivals and artisan workshops, curated culinary adventures showcasing authentic regional cuisine and access to cities during off-peak hours.
The new proposition also provides an ideal backdrop for sailings during the quieter months of the year when guests can experience the authentic culture of the destinations they visit, without the hustle and bustle of the peak holiday season.
