Latest news with #Vacaya
Travel Weekly
28-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
How river charterer Transcend is making inroads with tour operators
Brinley Hineman Transcend Cruises, which first positioned itself as a solution for the meetings and events market on European rivers, is also attracting tour operators to its charter-only model. The brand designed its river cruise ships with the MICE market in mind, but it now says that land-based tour operator charters are already a sizable piece of its business. Transcend has worked with LGBTQ operator Vacaya and UK-based Imagine Cruising. And it is in discussions with other operators for 2027 and 2028 charters, include those that specialize in niche tours. "From the tour operator side, we identified at the very beginning that that was one of our audience segments," said chief revenue officer Kimberly Daley. Other river cruise ships -- from Tauck, Amadeus River Cruises and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, for example -- can also be chartered. But Daley, whose professional background includes roles at tour operators like Pleasant Holidays, Mountain Travel Sobek and Abercrombie & Kent, said that chartering with those lines can be difficult for tour operators due to the schedules those lines have to keep for their own itineraries. But Transcend's partnership with Lindblad Expeditions through 2028 marks an important milestone. Transcend will operate two National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions itineraries on the Rhine next year on Transcend's 120-passenger Connect, and both companies envision the partnership growing from there. "A lot of what [Lindblad was] trying to achieve was an entry into a growing market and be able to differentiate themselves and enable the type of robust learning and engagement that they're known for," Daley said. The partnership formed after Daley said she began outreach to operators, including Lindblad. The Connect and Evolve will begin cruising next year. The ships can sail the Rhine, Danube and Main, but Transcend's goal is to grow its fleet to 10 to 12 ships on those rivers and other waterways. Transcend allows a level of customization and flexibility that is enticing for operators and not commonly found on other lines, Daley said. The lodging is customizable, with the ability to convert cabins into suites. Partners fully plan their itineraries and excursions for up to seven-night sailings, which enables them to pick and choose what they want to highlight on their itineraries. The lower deck of the ships will have flexible space for wellness activities and a theater to support TED-talk style events. For Lindblad, Daley said, the flexible spaces work for its National Geographic experts and other lecturers. The ability to craft the itinerary from scratch enabled it to create one itinerary focused on castles and another on medieval history. Transcend hopes to be the "brand behind the brand," Daley added, ensuring its partner's branding is front and center with screens to reflect the partner's logo on the ship's exterior. Transcend is actively building partnerships with tour operators and travel agencies, and it anticipates more brands will come on board, but it has reported limited space for next year. "Our goal is to enhance whichever brand is on our ship beyond what they've ever thought was possible," Daley said. "Our imagination is pretty much the limit, other than where the rivers can take us."
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MTV Star Involved in Dramatic Migrant Boat Rescue Aboard Cruise Ship
MTV icon Downtown Julie Brown unexpectedly featured in a rescue mission when the cruise ship she was performing on noticed a boat in distress in Trump's recently-renamed Gulf of America, otherwise known as the Gulf of Mexico. Brown, 61, was performing with vacation company Vacaya aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas on a seven-night Caribbean sailing adventure from New Orleans when on Wednesday, the captain spotted a boat in distress, she relayed in a video taken at the time of the rescue. The former Club MTV host said their ship was on the way to Mexico from Cuba when the captain decided to make a stop. 'The captain of the ship saw—while we were hauling so fast the other way—thought he saw a boat in distress,' Brown said. 'So we looped around. Big loop. Took us about 20 minutes, probably, to loop back around, and it was indeed a boat in distress.' Vacaya CEO Randle Roper said in a news release that 11 refugees 'adrift in the Gulf of Mexico' were brought aboard the cruise ship and provided with food, water, and medical care. They were also swabbed for diseases. 'As they were coming towards the boat, I waved to them, and they all waved back to me,' Brown said. 'So they're obviously in good spirits as well.' 'It's sad that some people have to put themselves through such trauma in hopes of finding a better life, but that's where we are today,' Roper said. 'I'm so proud of our LGBT+ guests rallying to collect clothes for these fellow humans in need.' The Daily Beast has reached out to the Coast Guard for further information on the rescue. President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on his first day back in office, stoking controversy over what to call the international waterway.
