From holiday itineraries in the Caribbean and Central America to FIFA World Cup programming at sea and new marketing technology for travel advisors, these brands are rolling out initiatives aimed at driving bookings and boosting engagement across the cruise sector.
Star Clippers Expands Holiday Cruise Offerings
Star Clippers has opened bookings for its upcoming holiday sailings, with itineraries focused on the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Panama.
The line’s three sailing vessels — Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer — will operate Christmas and New Year cruises throughout December and early January. Select bookings made by June 30, 2026, include a $400 air credit per cabin and a bottle of Champagne for travelers booking category 2 through 6 staterooms.
One of the season’s featured itineraries is the 7-night Windward Islands Christmas Cruise aboard the 227-passenger Royal Clipper, departing round-trip from Barbados on Dec. 19, 2026. Ports of call include destinations throughout the Grenadines and Windward Islands, with stops in Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Martinique.
Star Clippers is also expanding its Central America holiday program with a 7-night Panama to Costa Rica Christmas sailing aboard the 166-passenger Star Clipper. The itinerary includes visits to Isla Tortuga and the Pearl Islands, destinations known for rainforests, wildlife and smaller ports inaccessible to larger cruise ships.
For more information, visit starclippers.com.
Royal Caribbean Adds FIFA World Cup Fever Across Fleet
Royal Caribbean will broadcast FIFA World Cup 2026 matches fleetwide from June 11 through July 19, 2026, through a partnership with Sport 24.
Matches will air live on stateroom televisions and throughout onboard venues, including pool decks, theaters and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade locations. The cruise line will also introduce soccer-themed activities and programming during the tournament.
The initiative aligns with Royal Caribbean’s partnership as an Official Miami World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. In Miami, the line will participate in fan activations connected to the FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park, where matches will air on large outdoor screens alongside entertainment and food programming.
For more information, visit royalcaribbean.com.
Crystal Launches New Marketing Platform for Travel Advisors
Crystal has partnered with Approach Guides to launch a new suite of digital marketing tools for travel advisors.
The platform allows advisors to create co-branded marketing pages featuring Crystal itineraries, destinations and promotional offers that can be shared across email and social media channels. Advisors also receive personalized Crystal booking pages designed to help generate leads and convert inquiries into sales.
Crystal and Approach Guides will host a webinar on May 21 demonstrating how advisors can customize and distribute the new marketing materials.
The platform also includes integration options for host agencies, allowing advisors to access co-branded Crystal content directly through internal systems and existing workflows.
For more information and to register for the webinar, visit us02web.zoom.us.
