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Luxury Cruise line Silversea has started taking bookings for all cruises departing in 2012.

Silversea Cruises is offering eight new destinations, a world voyage and plenty of multiple day
and overnight stays.

First off the dock is a 115-night voyage on the 382-passenger Silver Whisper , which sets sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 6 January 2012, and wraps up in Monaco on 1 May. This odyssey will visit 45 ports in 27 countries in the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with 13 overnight stays including Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok and Mumbai.

The ship then moves onto seven-night voyages highlighting St Petersburg in Russia, followed by Canada, Panama Canal and the Caribbean. Australia and New Zealand feature on the itinerary of Silver Shadow, which is set to undertake a 19-day voyage from Auckland to Fremantle. A special holiday cruise ending in Sydney visits Bali, Darwin, Cooktown, Cairns and Brisbane and spends New Year’s Eve in the Great Barrier Reef.

Silver Shadow will also offer seven-night sailings in Alaska between Seward and Vancouver. Silver Spirit is bound for a 64-day grand circumnavigation of South America, featuring three days in Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval, before seasons in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, with a transatlantic crossing in between.

Silver Cloud and Silver Wind will explore Mauritius to South Africa, Egypt, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, eastern Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Amazon and South America.
For adventurers, the 132-guest Prince Albert II expedition ship has a range of options in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia; Central America; West Africa, Britain’s Northern Isles, the Arctic, and Russia’s Franz Joseph Land.

Silversea’s eight new destinations are Santander, Spain; Porto Novo, Cape Verde; Larnaca, Cyprus; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Christiansted, St Croix; and Foynes and Killybegs in Ireland.

“Our 2012 schedule has been carefully designed to offer a broad range of travel choices, including multiple-day calls and overnight stays showcasing traditional must see destinations, as well as journeys to remote regions that are inaccessible to mega-ships,” said Steve Odell, Silversea’s
senior vice president Asia Pacific.

For details, call 1300 889 953, or visit www.pht.com.au

Blue Suede Cruise was a real rock and roll cruise. It was a dream voyage on a luxury ship filled with people who just loved music from the 50’s and 60’s and loved to dance. It took many months to prepare and it was terrifically successful cruise! From the people who bring you other cruises like, Rock The Boat, Cruisin Country and the Greek Thalassa Cruise, this was a fantastic first cruise! Onboard were over 2,000 people and so many entertainers including Mr Lonnie Lee from the original Six O’Clock Rock and Australia’s Mr Jerry Lee Lewis, Jade Hurley.

Blue Suede Cruise began as a dream and ended up making so many fans for the music cruising business. Bands like Graham Cornes’s All Star Rock Band, The Chevrolets, The Memphis Moovers and The Highlights kept the crowd moving and rocking throughout the days and into the nights.
Whether in the Atrium or on the many other stages around the Royal Caribbean’s, Rhapsody Of the Seas, including the outdoor pool area, the entertainment and enjoyment continued for 7 days. It was a terrific cruise and being a ship built to handle all weather, the waves were barley felt onboard.
People love to hear music, we all love to reminisce and coupled up with cruising, this is the way to go for baby boomers or lovers of 50’s 60’s music, whether it be Rock’n’Roll or Rockabilly.

Those who were lucky enough to get on board, would all be now just making plans for the next great Rock’n’Roll cruise, due to depart, in November next year, called Rock The Boat . On this cruise, entertainers from the USA will lead the way. Billy Washington’s Drifters Tribute band, Shawn Klush and Donny Edawards, both top Elvis Tribute Artists, as well as UK’s finest tiribute band, Phil Haley and His Comments. Australia’s The Delltones will be on board as well as Cameron Scott, undeniably Australia’s most recognised Buddy Holly Tribute performer. Bands from all over Australia, like rockabilly bands, The Atomic Hi-Tones and The Straight 8’s will keep the crowd dancing. It adds up to an exciting enjoyable cruising experience with like-minded enthusiasts, who get to see cosmopolitan Noumea with its fabulous shopping and attractions, and the picturesque Isle of Pines.

Rock The Boat departs Sydney on November 6, 2011 for detailed info call Phil Hoffmann Travel

Qantas ceo Alan Joyce has just confirmed the phased resumption of A380 services from Sat 27 Nov.

The move, exclusively foreshadowed on Saturday by Travel Daily, will see QF31 from Sydney to London via Singapore on 27 Nov operated using an A380 which will be transported from Los Angeles to Sydney on a ferry flight.

Joyce said the decision to resume A380 flights follows an intensive Trent 900 engine inspection program, with Qantas saying it is "now satisfied that it can begin reintroducing A380s to its international network progressively".

He said QF would initially operate a single A380 on routes between Australia and the UK, and as more of the superjumbos return to service will "assess when and how best to deploy them".

Joyce said that in line with the conservative Qantas approach to operational safety, the carrier is voluntarily suspending A380 services on routes that regularly require use of maximum certified engine thrust, and will do so until further operational experience is gained or possible additional changes are made to engines.

A380 engines are still subject to the accelerated inspection regime mandated by the European Aviation Safety Agency on 11 Nov, Joyce added.

Australians can now get married or renew their vows on any P&O cruise ship.
P&O CRUISES HAS INTRODUCED ITS FIRST EVER program offering wedding services, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals on Pacific Jewel, Pacific Dawn, Pacific Sun and the soon-to-debut Pacific Pearl.

The cruise line handles the event’s catering, music, photographer, flowers and post-wedding dinners in its restaurants. Jenny Lourey, senior vice president of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O, said the new service was an extension of the romantic opportunities of cruising. “Thousands of our passengers have found their true love on our ships, and many of them take their honeymoons with us, but now we’re offering the ultimate in romance with weddings onboard,” Lourey said. “Couples are always looking for a
memorable wedding location, and running away to sea to get married on a ship has to be one of the best.”

Wedding ceremonies, performed by a celebrant, will be available in port in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Fremantle and Auckland. Vow renewals and commitment ceremonies can be performed at sea by the Captain or a senior officer. The wedding package includes priority boarding, a dedicated venue, music, a rose bouquet and buttonhole, photographer, sparkling wine and wedding cake, as well as dinner for two in the ship’s fine dining restaurant.

Group travel discounts are also available for the wedding party. Optional extras include cocktail receptions, hire of the exclusive Salt Grill by Luke Mangan onboard Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl, and the Seafood and Steakhouse Restaurant on Pacific Sun.

Passengers wanting to renew their vows or declare their commitment during their cruise can also enjoy a tailored ceremony onboard. The package includes music, a rose bouquet, a photo of the special occasion
and sparkling wine, plus dinner for two in the ship’s specialty restaurant. ‘Ceremonies At Sea’ bookings will open in September for cruises from October 2010. Wedding packages are priced from $1320
and commitment ceremonies from $450.

For more info, contact your local Phil Hoffmann Travel Agent or call 1300 88 99 53

Adelaide agent Nigel Rodighiero (Phil Hoffmann Travel) was named winner of the 2010 Avis Travel Agents’ Scholarship of Excellence at a ceremony in Sydney last night.

He was one of six finalists - two of them from the same Sydney agency.

The other finalists were Paul Mirabito of FCM Travel Solutions NSW
Louise Brown, Spencer Travel NSW

Leanne Downie, Spencer Travel NSW

Marica Salpietro, Globetrotter Corporate Travel Victoria

Kelly Spinks, Jetset Albany WA

Mr Rodighiero wins Qantas business travel for 2 to New York, six nights of luxury hotel accommodation, an Avis car for seven days, $750 worth of foreign exchange products and free tuition for year 1 of a three-year Bachelor of Tourism Management course at Southern Cross University (value $10,000).

Avis travel industry manager Russell Butler says 2010 was one of the most difficult to judge in the scholarship’s 14-year history.

He said that what gave Mr Rodighiero the edge was his focus on establishing a genuine connection with his clients in order to truly exceed their expectations - or in his words, ‘to take a client’s dream holiday and make it even better than they imagined’.

Phil Hoffmann Travel recently hosted a lunch for the Quarter Club members and Troy Forrest (member) responded with this positive feedback:

In just under 2 hours at an intimate Boardroom lunch for Quarter Club members, travel industry luminary Phil Hoffmann generously shared and demonstrated some remarkable business lessons that would outshine an MBA masterclass. Here’s just a taste of the wisdom he kindly offered guests at the beautiful new Phil Hoffmann Travel premises in Glenelg….

1. A smile sets the tone – from the staff member who greeted me on the ground floor to Phil who warmly welcomed me into his boardroom, friendliness permeated the building.


2. Hold the elevator door – the staff member at the reception desk could have just said “take that elevator over there up to the 2nd floor”. She didn’t. She walked with me, opened the door, pressed the button and said “Jo will be there to greet you on level 2”).


3. Jo was on level 2 to greet me (with a smile) – within 30 seconds of entering the building, I’d had an expectation set and met. Wow.


4. Hospitality; easy but rare – Phil offered and poured drinks, as did his staff. “Please, come enjoy some food”.


5. Little touches stick – A single Ferrero Rocher chocolate on every setting. Delighting and decadent without breaking the bank.


6. Gratitude from the host – “Thank you for coming, we’re very happy to have you in this room”, err, when it was we the guests who should have been expressing such gratitude.


7. Small talk sets people at ease – having a broad general knowledge to talk to different people about, Phil made guests feel comfortable before sitting more formally at the table.


8. Provenance is interesting and reassuring – Phil shared the history of his business, from a humble 3-person operation to a 150+ person business winning international awards. We like stories – human stories – and that you’re here to tell the tale means we can trust what you’re saying.


9. Be aware of market shifts – Phil discussed the shift away from domestic travel services that once was bread and butter for his business (now a cut price carrier war), to the new boom industry of luxury cruises. Know where the market is taking their money, and…


10. Adjust your sails – With more Boomers taking cruises and travelling overseas, why not offer language classes for clients? Italian cooking classes for those about to take a trip to Tuscany? Be ready to flex.


11. Market market market – Phil described investing heavily in radio and print, even when there were global travel reductions due to wars and SARS… when people come back to travelling (and they will), who will they remember? Make sure people know you’re there.


12. It’s scary… and it will be again – Phil commented that in his 30-odd years in the business, he’s seen big ups and downs in travel demands, and he’s fully aware they’ll happen again. If you believe in what you’re doing, hold your nerve.


13. Love what you do – Phil’s advice to his staff – “I hope you love what you’re doing as much as I do. If you don’t, leave, and go and find something you do love.”


14. Invest in people – rather than the boss taking all the O/S trips, Phil often sends his staff away. After all, they’re the ones dealing with the clients, advising them, inspiring them.


15. Reward people – little touches – health plans, massages, trips away… they work hard, and they’re valuable, so look after them.


16. Celebrate and bond together – Friday night drinks in each of his branches are a cultural norm.


17. Don’t overmanage, but expect a lot – there’s no clockwatching in Phil’s business, but by his own admission, “the hours are long and it’s not 9 to 5”.


18. Flexible work arrangements – enabling some staff to work from home if they have kids / other life needs is a concession Phil makes to keep good people – and productivity doesn’t suffer


19. Don’t drop your pants – Phil says to clients looking for the cheapest provider “I can’t do that for you, because then I can’t offer you the 24 / 7 service you want”. If you offer more than the rest, then charge accordingly – or it’s not sustainable.


20. (Ash) clouds have silver linings – Phil said after disasters like 9/11, SARS and more recently, the Icelandic Volcano, retail travel gets the yips. But corporate travel continues unabated. And more than ever, they look for security, peace-of-mind, not discounts. Be the peace-of-mind that clients are craving in uncertain times, and there’s a place for you.


21. Cater to the “Do-it-for-me’s” – Phil described having to send one of his team members to New York to deliver a passport to a client. He discussed the amazing array of extras you now receive for a single fee on the new mega-cruise liners. We’re time-poor, and if you show you’ll go above and beyond, we’ll pay.


22. Find ways to wow – Phil described a tour group of several thousand who he had gathered at the top of Santa Monica Pier at dusk, and a light switch was flicked to turn all the lights off the carnival rides on – an “oooooh” moment that will stick in client minds.


23. Embrace technology – While initially skeptical of Facebook and Twitter and the net, Phil says he now has a team working to make these communications mediums work for the business. Just because you didn’t grow up with it doesn’t make it wrong.


24. Make suppliers work for you – Pitched to by a youth radio for his ad business, Phil (thinking their listener demographic was all wrong) asked the young pup sales reps “How do you book your travel”, and got a “do it myself online” response (shooting themselves in the foot). Then he said “So find a way to help me engage this group, then come back to me and we’ll talk.” It’s not a dead-end, it’s just going to take some thinking.


25. Create reunions – Phil’s team set up a reminiscing lunch for all returning tour groups, then encourages them to stay in touch to recollect the times they shared. Some keep this tradition going for years, and most come back and book more trips.


26. All-in expo’s – There are 2 days a year staff can’t take leave, and that’s at a major expo Phil runs for clients and guests. It’s the litmus test of how the business will run the next year, and it’s a major differentiator.


27. Make the most of your life’s schooling – Phil quoted a senior journalist who used to write a column in The Advertiser, who when asked how long it took him to write his column each day, said “30 years.” Everything you’ve done counts – use it, market it, charge a premium for it – it’s valuable.


28. Don’t burn bridges – Phil says he has a lot of corporate customers come back to him after leaving in pursuit of a cheaper deal. “Can we come back – we just don’t get the service we want.” If you blow a raspberry at them as they leave, they won’t return like this.


29. Run facility tours – after lunch, Phil, one of his managers Jo and his wife Alison took guests on a facility tour, showing off their new premises.


30. Unfinished doesn’t mean unprofessional – with some parts of their office still being constructed, it would be easy to close a door and hide it away. But say to people “Use your imagination and picture….” while pointing to cables hanging out of a roof and unfinished carpentry… they feel like they were there at the beginning.


31. Follow through on commitments – describing a new corporate client that wanted to sign a supply contract, Phil booked a meeting with them, mistakenly thinking they were in Adelaide… when they were actually in Western Sydney. Rather than cancel, Phil jumped on a plane and made the trip. Handing over a contract with quite a few zero’s on it, the client said “I can’t even get Sydney travel agents to come out here!”


32. Train train train – Not the travel type. Get people as upskilled you can as often as you can in as much as you can. It’s a way of engaging, it translates to informed resources for clients, and it prepares people for whatever else they go on to do in life (and they become unpaid advocates for your business).


33. Promote with personality – describing his radio slot with Bob Francis, Phil said that in an hour on radio, you get the chance to share not just your technical knowledge, but some personality.. it’s what clients like hearing.


34. Take opportunities – like the chance to bring a small group of Quarter Club members in for a lunch, that takes time, and effort, and even a small investment… but just might pay bigger dividends.


35. Take risks – Jumping into expensive new IT systems and new premises in the middle of a GFC when everyone else is bunkering down… it takes faith and backing yourself to make it work (then working your tail off to make sure it does)


36. Take responsibilities – Phil headed up AFTA (Australian Federation of Travel Agents) from Adelaide for a number of years as National President. To be involved, to make a difference, to show a better way. He’s busy, but he believes in the importance of being involved in industry bodies to affect change.


37. Know when to say no – Phil shared that he’s charged his accountant with the responsibility of ‘pulling him back if the ship takes on too much water’. It’s one thing to give a lot of yourself; it’s another to know when to get focused on the fundamentals.


38. Get some balance – time with his wife and family – work hard, but make sure you’re enjoying the ride.


39. Surround yourself with great people – you can’t run a 150+ person business on your own. Hire, train, nurture and keep great people close to you, delegate, empower, and remarkable things happen.


40. We want to feel part of a family – Phil’s wife Alison made coffee for guests at this lunch. This is a 150+ person business, and it’s not because they don’t have someone else that could make the coffee… it’s a sign of importance they place on making you feel part of their inner circle. It works.


41. Every conversation is an opportunity to promote what you offer – I left the boardroom with some travel brochures and know when the next Travel Expo is… be generous, but remember what pays the bills.

Thank you Phil, for generously sharing your wisdom at this unique forum, and for letting me feel part of the “Hoffmann family” for a couple of hours!
Troy Forrest
42 MIGHTY Sales Reps

Phil Hoffmann Travel amongst many Travel Agents worldwide are using the chaos in Europe to drive home the value of booking through traditional channels. Our agents are working around the clock to assist passengers stranded by the volcanic ash cloud.

Simon Hills, chairman of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) , said the situation highlighted the perils of booking with online operators, as they cannot provide the same level of service. “Why people would continue to book through them is beyond me,” Hills said. He added that wholesalers, through their on-the-ground suppliers, had been able to better accommodate passengers amid the hotel room shortage in Europe and the UK. Hills said rooms were so scarce that some travellers had refused to leave their hotel room at the scheduled check-out time. Travelscene American Express chief executive Mike Thompson said the situation showcased the “real value of booking travel through a licensed travel agent and booking the right insurance policy from the right provider”.

He said the crisis will serve as a reminder to the general public to make sure they are buying the
right travel insurance policy. “We’re working hard to profile the fact that, when it comes to travel
insurance, apples aren’t apples,” he said. Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) chief executive, Jayson Westbury, said agents should be congratulated on the way they have handled the crisis, pointing to the constant stream of information being issued to industry.

Source : Travel Today