Tag Archives: CLIA

Virgin Voyages Introduces Golden Ink Awards For Agents

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Virgin Voyages has confirmed its first-ever First Mate Spectacular Soire and Golden Ink Awards, in a get-together cruise for its travel agents, according to a press release.

The cruise line will invite the top 100 North American “First Mates” with the most bookings between November 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022, to come aboard for a complimentary cruise in January, according to Virgin Voyages.

“Our First Mates have always been in our corner, so we wanted to find a way to celebrate their commitment to this incredible brand. The Golden Ink Awards are one of the only advisor-focused awards in the cruising industry. It’s so important that we take the time to show First Mates our appreciation and to treat them to the same incredible experience that their clients have loved,” said John Diorio, vice president of North American sales, Virgin Voyages.

The four-night cruise aboard the Valiant Lady will depart from Miami on January 4, 2023, and will take guests to Key West and Bimini, as well as a stop at Virgin Voyages’ Beach Club. Each First Mate participant will be invited to bring a guest to share the experience on a sea terrace cabin and will receive $200 in onboard credit. There will also be representatives from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) onboard.

The First Mate Spectacular Soiree will also include a cocktail party, exclusive cabin drops, educational opportunities, and the first-ever Golden Ink Awards, which will recognize the top agents in a variety of categories, ranging from sales manager-nominated categories to best creative marketing.

With a deadline of October 31, 2022, the company has not yet finalized its top 100 list, so agents still have time to book their clients and earn a spot on the coveted list. First Mates can increase bookings by reminding clients of any remaining Future Voyage Credits, booking reservations of 10 or more cabins, taking advantage of the line’s new Match and Sea More project, and using Virgin Voyages’ LetsGoBook platform.

CLIA Blasts New CDC Cruise Program as Discriminatory

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The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has voiced its displeasure with the CDC’s new COVID-19 cruise program.

“Regrettably, upon initial review, the latest CDC guidance appears out of step with the actual public health conditions on cruise ships and unnecessary in light of societal trends away from more restrictive measures,” the association said.

“We are confounded by the CDC’s imposition of even more complex and unwarranted measures which ignore empirical evidence that the industry’s protocols have provided a greater level of COVID mitigation than most any other setting. The CDC’s guidance for multitiered cruises is counterproductive to consumers, creating market confusion between the various tiers, and potentially unworkable in practice.

“CLIA and its members are fervently devoted to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting passengers, crew, and the public against any adverse health consequences.  The record of this unwavering commitment is extensive and irrefutable. 

“Against this backdrop, we continue to be dismayed by the CDC’s decision to maintain any Travel Health Notice for the cruise. CDC has long recognized the paramount importance of vaccination in protecting against COVID-19 and the vaccination rate on cruise ships is close to 100%, whereas on land it is only about 63%. It seems unnecessarily discriminatory against cruise to maintain that the chances of getting COVID-19 on a cruise “are very high” even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. This discounts the importance of what the CDC has otherwise promoted as the single most important touchstone for public health and safety.”

CLIA CALLS FOR PHASED RESUMPTION OF US CRUISING IN JULY

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Clia has urged the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lift its framework for conditional sailing order (CSO) and allow the sector to plan for a phased resumption of cruise operations from US ports by the start of July.

“These voyages were successfully completed with industry-leading protocols that effectively mitigated the spread of Covid-19,” said Craighead, who noted plans for further sailings in the Mediterranean and Caribbean during spring and into summer.
Craighead said the CDC order no longer reflected operational realities thanks to a combination of an accelerated vaccination programme and better Covid mitigations and protocols.
“The cruise industry has adopted a high bar for resumption around the world with a multi-layered set of policies intended to be revised as conditions change,” said Craighead. “Our members continue to follow this multi-layered approach to enhancing health and safety that has proven effective, making cruising one of the best and most adaptable choices.”

The association said this would dovetail with President Biden’s forecast for when living in the US would be “closer to normal”; president and chief executive Kelly Craighead said the “highly-controlled” resumption of cruising in Europe, Asia and the South Pacific had proved it was possible.