So, we come to the end of the year. A year that started with much promise for the cruise industry, but which quickly became all about survival and fighting fires.

It would be unfair to paint 2020 as a complete and utter lost 12 months, however, despite the ample evidence for doing just that. We have all joined forces to help one another, offered advice to colleagues and competitors alike, opened up new avenues of communication via video calls, and generally become more invested in our local communities and the people we share our lives with.

Yes, none of this can gloss over the damage that Covid-19 has caused, but I do feel we have become closer as an industry in recent months and I imagine that every person working in cruise has felt that love and support from others when they have needed it.

Which brings me to this issue. You will see the front cover is different from those we usually produce – the reason being that this is of course our annual advent calendar promotion.

We have worked with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines to create a very special campaign that is all geared towards winning prizes, kindly provided by Fred Olsen. Please see The Briefing section for more information on how to play and win.

Prizes alone cannot erase the pain of what many have experienced, but this is about giving something back and showcasing our continued commitment to putting smiles on faces.

We also have a special river cruise supplement pull-out, and a section dedicated to all things expedition.

Best of luck winning those prizes. See you in 2021 – hopefully in person.