Scenic talk cruising in Toronto

Scenic highlighted its host of river and ocean cruises at Toronto’s Old Mill this week in the latest of a whistle-stop series of presentations across Canada.

Caroline Poulson, business development manager, Eastern Canada and Neil Dudley, director of business development, addressed a packed hall of consumers and travel agents alike, showcasing the cruise line’s range of destinations and detailing the offers currently available on its 2018 cruises.

‘Never lose your sense of wonder,’ was the tagline for Scenic’s range of signature Enrich encounters in Europe. These activities and events, handpicked by Scenic Journey Designers, were described as the type of tourist experiences that are inaccessible to the ordinary traveller, and range from medieval feasts in Germany to gala dinners and performances in Avignon, France.

The Scenic executives also demonstrated Tailormade, a program that allows guests a highly-customizable tourist experience with over 240 tour options in over 140 European locations.

Scenic’s European portfolio, which includes popular tours such as Jewels of Europe and Romantic Rhine & Moselle, was recently expanded to incorporate a new cruise along Portugal’s Douro River. The high demand for this destination was noted, with Dudley advising guests to book at least a year in advance in order to avoid disappointment.

Scenic will also set sail for Southeast Asia in 2018 aboard its smaller, all-balcony suite five-star ships Scenic Spirit and Scenic Aura, with destinations including the Mekong and Irrawaddy Rivers.

The Scenic team also used the occasion to highlight Scenic Eclipse, billed as the world’s first all-inclusive discovery yacht, whose maiden voyage will take place in August 2018. Described as ‘the point on the map where luxury meets discovery,’ the ship, which includes its own submarine and helicopters, will set sail on routes in the Americas, Antarctica, the Norwegian fjords, and Europe and the Mediterranean.

Speaking with PAX after the presentation, Dudley reflected on the company’s strong emphasis on promoting its 2018 itineraries across Canada.

“For Scenic, it’s all about 2018, because we’re 91 per cent sold out for this season,” he commented. “We have about 30 presentations throughout the country to promote our 2018 cruises.”

Dudley also emphasized the limited-time offers currently available on Scenic’s European cruises.

“The current promotion is 2018 at 2017 prices, which is good until the main brochure comes out in May,” he noted.

Flights and taxes to Europe are included on Standard Suite bookings on cruises of 15 days or longer, in addition to a €200 gift card; Standard Suite bookings on cruises of 14 days or less will guarantee included flights and taxes to Europe, in addition to a €100 gift card; and flights to Europe are available for €295 when booking any Balcony Suite on Scenic’s Gems of the Danube with Prague or Bordeaux Sojourn, with a €100 gift card also included.

Further information is available by visiting Scenic’s website at www.scenic.ca.