Jim Bits Travel Notes: Goway Incentives, Sandals Webinars, Globus Turns 90

Sailing down the Yangtze River in China is a bucket list item for many. It's one of those special itineraries, where skimping on a cheap cabin simply won't do. Goway Travel has been representing Sanctuary Retreats for years. The luxury Yangzi Explorer ship gets the company's stamp of approval for delivering quality five-star service.

But five-star cruising comes at a price. Luckily, with a little forward thinking, clients can take advantage of early booking bonuses on select departures. For a limited time, book any of the departures listed on Goway's website, a minimum of 3 months in advance, and your clients will receive 25 per cent off plus a cabin upgrade (subject to availability and valid on 2018 departures only). That's a savings of more than $300 per person. That's worth taking the plunge on a booking you've been thinking about for ages.

It doesn't stop there. Exclusive to Goway clients, book by May 4, 2018 and couples will receive a complementary 45-minute Huangding signature reflexology couple's massage.

It isn't just the clients who get to take advantage of great deals. To make things fair, agents will receive an additional $100 per couple on their Goway Rewards Card.

The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer operates both upstream (four nights) and downstream (three nights) between Yichang and Chongqing. It's a perfect addition to any China travel itinerary.

"With so many ships sailing the Yangtze on a daily basis, it's important to research the different options," said Diane Molzan, general manager of Goway's Asia division. "The quality between ships can vary dramatically, especially when it comes to dining options."

The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer is ideal for North American tastes while cruising. The 38 deluxe rooms are 31 square metres, making them the largest entry-level room size on the river. Suites are 39 square metres. There are 20 of these, plus four specialty suites. All rooms come with private balcony. Aside of the quality of the food and the comfort of the rooms,

Sanctuary is also known for their intimate group sizes, with a 1:1 crew to passenger ratio. Once docked, group sizes for the shore excursions will always be intimate.

Prices start at $1,199 Cdn. per person, based on double occupancy. While the Early Booking Bonus will be available throughout the 2018 season, the free upgrade will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

As part of their weekly webinar series hosted by resort management teams, Sandals Resorts has unveiled the upcoming schedule for April. Created exclusively for travel agents, the virtual sessions take place for 30 minutes every Friday afternoon and provide useful, up-to-the-minute information directly from the featured resort as well as unique sales tips for that property.

Friday April 6, 2018 - Beaches Ocho Rios, 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Friday April 13, 2018 - Sandals Grande St. Lucian, 12:30pm - 1:00pm EDT

Friday April 20, 2018 - Beaches Negril, 12:30pm - 1:00pm EDT

Friday April 27, 2018 - Sandals Montego Bay, 12:30pm - 1:00pm EDT

To register for the Sandals webinars, Canadian agents can send an email - that includes their IATA number and the date of their preferred webinar - to [email protected] in order to receive further details and log-in instructions.

By registering for the Sandals webinars, agents will also receive a recorded version that they can play back at their leisure.

For more information, agents can contact their local Sandals Business Development Manager or call Inside Sales at 1-800-545-8283.

The Caribbean Journal reports that former United States President Bill Clinton's Clinton Global Initiative is launching a major initiative aimed at spearheading recovery efforts in islands affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria last fall.

"The new Clinton Global Initiative Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery has announced a series of eight unified programs that seek to help islands that were hit particularly hard, including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Dominica," the Journal reported.

"In the wake of the terrible hurricanes, the people of these islands have shown a remarkable resilience and a resolve to do long-term work and build back better," Clinton said at the launch event held at the University of Miami.

The network of hundreds of regional and global leaders has launched a series of programs include a drive to replant more than 750,000 trees and restore Puerto Rico's natural habitat; restoring school infrastructure and housing in Dominica; improving mental health in Puerto Rico; a move to improve children's health in the US Virgin Islands; a $600 million climate resilience agency in Dominica; primary healthcare for school-aged children; solar power for primary health clinics in Puerto Rico and medical supplies for Puerto Rico's elderly.

Members of the Globus' family of brands' Toronto team got together to celebrate a big birthday recently: the company's 90th birthday. It was in 1928 that a a young Antonio Mantegazza purchased a owboat to transport visitors across Lake Lugano, Switzerland, describing the local sights along the way. Today, the Globus family of brands - escorted tour brands Globus and Cosmos, Monograms for independent travellers, and river cruise company Avalon Waterways - is still headquartered in Switzerland and offers more than 500 itineraries around the world.

It's like two trips in one.

Viking recently announced its 2019 Ocean & River Voyages, which provide guests the unique opportunity to explore Europe's legendary rivers on an award-winning Viking Longship before setting sail to Scandinavia on one of Viking's award-winning ocean ships. Debuting in May 2019, the Grand European and Viking Fjords itinerary will sail Budapest to Bergen, combining Viking's popular 15-day Grand European Tour cruise on the Rhine and Danube Rivers between Budapest and Amsterdam - with the 8-day Viking Shores & Fjords ocean itinerary, which sails the North Sea, between Amsterdam and Bergen. Viking will also offer additional departures in 2019 of the 15-day Rhine and Viking Shores and Fjords combination itinerary, which debuts in June 2018 and will sail between Basel and Bergen.

"Our guests are experienced travelers who appreciate immersive cultural experiences, while also exploring the world in comfort," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "Only Viking can provide a destination-focused voyage that marries the river and sea into a single, unified journey. With one flight, our guests can experience both of our award-winning cruise products, making it even easier for them to explore the world."

Starting in June 2018, Viking's first two combination cruises will set sail, allowing guests to explore even more throughout Europe with rich cultural experiences in each port of call. With the new Ocean & River Voyages, guests can experience sailing through the heart of Europe on an award-winning 190-guest Viking Longship, as well as sailing the high seas on one of Viking's award-winning 930-guest ocean ships. Full details on the new 2019 Ocean & River Voyages can be found on Viking's website here and highlights include:

Uniworld Boutique River Collection's newest Super Ship, the S.S. Beatrice, sets sail on her maiden voyage along the Danube from Budapest to Giurgiu, with a land extension in Bucharest. Debuting with a fresh, sleek yacht-like design, the S.S. Beatrice is the first vessel in the brand's award-winning fleet of floating boutique hotels to be upgraded to a Super Ship.

"We're thrilled to continue to offer clients the highest standard in river cruising with the debut of S.S. Beatrice," said Ellen Bettridge, Uniworld CEO and President. "We've seen great success with all of our Super Ships and their level of luxury demonstrates the way forward for the brand. We're excited to bring all of our ships up to this impeccable standard, with plans to upgrade the River Empress and River Royal to Super Ships in 2019."

The S.S. Beatrice boasts yacht-style light wood with blue and white finishes throughout. Its renovated lobby features elegant mirrors, marble floors, a white Murano chandelier with blue shades, and a grand staircase made of nickel and black iron - a signature design element of Uniworld's Super Ships. The ship's redesigned lounge includes sofas and chairs with hand-made upholstery, a parquet floor and upholstered ceiling panels, solar shades, and new USB ports allowing clients to charge anywhere they are sitting. The artwork throughout the ship includes pieces from Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder and Pino Signoretto.

The ship offers four dining options all inspired by famous Austrian composers, including Mozart's, the ship's main restaurant; Wolfgang's bar and lounge and newly added Schubert's and Max's. For clients seeking an immersive culinary experience onboard the S.S Beatrice, Max's restaurant offers intimate cooking classes where clients can create local European cuisines alongside the chef. Menu highlights at Max's include broccoli coleslaw, regional Bohemian bread pudding dumplings and homemade apple strudel. Schubert's, an 18-seat café located at the bow of the ship, offers clients shared plates from lunch through dinnertime. The cozy Austrian-styled eatery features menus reflecting the cuisine of the ship's destinations, including brisket bouillon, Wiener Wurst with mustard, and an Austrian Kaiser Burger.


Additionally, the ship offers two new Grand Suites each measuring 310 square feet and a second 390 square foot Owner's/Royal Suite. Connecting rooms, ideal for friends and families travelling together, have also been added. The S.S Beatrice sails on six itinteraries to destinations including the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia.

For more information, please visit uniworld.com or contact your local sales manager.