Operators Stake Claims on 2027–2028 While TUI Feels the Middle East Squeeze

Tauck has confirmed ms Harmonie will join its river fleet in 2028, the fifth new vessel in a rollout that began with Lumière and Serene in 2026 and continues with Reverie and Saudade in 2027. Two older ships retire as the newcomers arrive, expanding Tauck's Rhône capacity by more than 50% once the program is complete. Deposits for 2028 sailings are fully refundable, giving advisors a no-risk way to get repeat river clients into the calendar before fall pricing lands. Combined with the 2026 and 2027 additions already on sale, Tauck's multi-year fleet renewal gives advisors a steady pipeline of new-ship product to pitch loyal cruisers, rather than a one-off launch to sell once and move past.

Collette has named Matt Drummond director of partnerships ANZ, pulling the 20-year trade veteran from G Adventures — where he was national sales manager — to lead trade relationships as Collette grows its small-group Explorations line in Australia and New Zealand. It gives agency partners a dedicated, well-connected contact in the region. Days earlier, TTC brought more than 110 APAC staff and chair Carl Leaver to Sydney to open a new Oceania headquarters, with Leaver flagging upcoming brand refreshes across Contiki, Trafalgar and Uniworld plus continued digital investment. Neither move changes bookable product today, but both signal escorted operators investing hard in ANZ trade relationships — worth watching for refreshed Trafalgar product ahead, and a new Collette contact advisors can use for group and FIT placements this season.

Globus and sister brand Cosmos are extending their Small Group Discovery line outside its European home base for 2027, adding itineraries in Japan (including Hokkaido), Chile and Northern Patagonia, Peru's Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley paired with the Galápagos, and Southern Australia with Tasmania. The expansion gives advisors new bookable product to pitch to repeat European-touring clients ready for a next-chapter destination, diversifying a lineup that has leaned heavily on coach touring across Europe. For advisors building 2027 client conversations now, these are concrete named itineraries — not a brand promise — worth flagging to past Globus and Cosmos travelers browsing outside their usual routes.

Princess Cruises has opened its 2028 Alaska season with 185 sailings across eight ships, including the cruisetour combinations that packaged-tour and leisure sellers use to bundle land touring with the cruise. Opening this far ahead lets advisors get high-demand Alaska clients into inventory and pricing before the peak-season rush, particularly for cruisetour departures that historically sell out earliest. With Alaska remaining one of the most reliable land-cruise upsell categories for escorted and packaged sellers, an early 2028 opening is a straightforward booking opportunity — advisors with repeat Alaska clients or bucket-list first-timers should start those conversations now rather than waiting for the 2027 booking season to crowd the calendar.

TUI's tour operator and airline division posted a €17.4 million Q3 loss, a roughly €67 million swing from a year ago, as airspace disruption and traveler wariness around the eastern Mediterranean cut long-haul and Middle East bookings and forced repatriations. Revenue fell 7.9% and customer volume dropped 6.4%, with TUI reporting that displaced demand is flowing toward Greece and Spain instead. For advisors selling escorted Europe and Mediterranean packages, this is an early read on how geopolitical risk is reshaping client itineraries this season — Middle East product needs contingency messaging, while Greece and Spain are absorbing the overflow and may see tighter availability heading into fall.