Thursday July 24

Summer has arrived!

So let us start with one of the exciting new ships coming next year - and here TTG follow Chef James Martin around Britannia as she is being fitted ahead of launch next year.  James talks about the new Culinary School where up to 24 guests can be trained at once - read more here

Let us stay with training, as this week Carnival Cruise Lines announced a 'training blitz' across the country for the summer, aiming to train 500 staff from 14 agencies: read more here.

Crystal Cruises has been in the news this week for two reasons.  Firstly there was an interview with Travel Weekly for the new President and CEO Edie Rodriguez - where she describes new ship builds for the line as a 'must': read more here

And secondly for the announcement over a new north-west passage cruise from Anchorage to New York in 2016: read more here.

Over on river cruising there was a great fanfare for the launch of AmaWaterways AmaSonata christened in Vilshofen: read more here; whilst at Silversea Cruises a new host of shore excursions have been announced with destinations including the Andes, Patagonia, Polynesia and New Zealand. Read more here.

It is probably the towing of Concordia that was the main news of the week with the ship now being towed to Genoa where she will be scrapped after a mammoth salvage operation.

And to finish a reminder that you can book places now for the August Premium and Luxury Cruise Expo, and for the November River Cruise Expo at the CLIA website.

Until next week!