news to use CRUISING Tourism Update
ASSOCIATION OF CRUISE EXPERTS
RCI plans major trade campaign
BY LAURA GELDER Agents are being encouraged to sell
'the extras' on Royal Caribbean International’s world sailings in 2012. With up to 20 per cent off all cruises
ANDY HARMER ACE Director The cruise sector sets exceptionally high
standards – it’s incredibly innovative and consistently invests to enhance the whole holiday experience. Cruise lines continue to over-
deliver whilst providing some of the best value-for-money options available to holiday-makers and I’m sure it’s value that people will be looking for in 2012. This year will see seven new ocean-going ships being launched, along with 12 new river cruise boats. New ships, by their nature, bring industry ‘firsts‘ whether that’s a water coaster, planetarium, an ice-bar, an ice-skating rink or new dining venues and entertainment options. At the same time it’s worth
reminding ourselves that cruise lines have also been enhancing the cruise experience by bringing ‘themes’ to particular sailings. These are important not just because they add a new element for guests but because they play a significant role in helping travel agents attract new cruise customers. Themes allow agents to target
groups of people who may not have previously considered a cruise, by playing to one of the unique selling points that a cruise offers, which is travelling with like-minded people. Imagine, as an example, if one of the
following is a passion: golf, wine, cuisine, politics, wildlife or perhaps flora and fauna. Having expert speakers together with activities both onboard and ashore can have huge appeal, particularly when coupled with sharing these experiences with other like-minded individuals. Cruising is still a small sector of the
total travel industry so there’s huge potential to grow the market. Identifying someone’s interest and talking about themed voyages is another opportunity to bring new customers to the world of cruise.
booked before February 29 2012 the RCI sales team is supporting agents with hands-on help to ensure they have the right tools to sell these offers. Agents can also offer free car parking
and coach transfers on UK departures as well as upgrades on some sailings. Trade sales support materials will be
sent to agents this month (January) to remind agents of the offers and provide clear details of applicable and available sailings remaining. They will also be given logos and artwork for cooperative consumer advertising, which will be supported by consumer advertising including on TV, radio and in the press.
www.royalcaribbean.co.uk
Amazon cruise selling fast
Agents’ support for Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Amazon & West Indies cruise, departing from Tilbury on January 3, 2013 for 42 nights has already attracted more than 100 passengers after just a couple of weeks on sale. The 2012 version of the same cruise
sold out weeks ago and the company is expecting its 2013 voyage to do likewise. The 800-passenger Marco Polo cruise crosses the Atlantic via Amsterdam, Lisbon, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands to Santarem in Brazil at the mouth of the Amazon River. It also takes in four Caribbean islands:
Grenada, St Vincent, Saint Lucia and Barbados. The return voyage visits Horta and Ponta Delgada in the Azores. There is no flying involved. Prices from £2946pp.
www.cruiseandmaritime.com
Hurtigruten bears Arctic cold MS Nordstjernen is being sent to
Spitsbergen, Norway, by Hurtigruten to provide extra capacity there next summer. Located 1200km from the North Pole, Spitsbergen is home to the King of the Arctic – the polar bear. The company thinks increased demand may come from followers of Prince Harry’s recent Arctic expedition and the BBC's Frozen Planet series. The extra ship will offer passengers
the opportunity to travel the coast of Spitsbergen between June and August 2012 on one of 21 five- and six-day itineraries. Commented Kathryn Beadle, managing director at Hurtigruten UK: “ I can’t urge agents enough to get up to speed on the new voyages and ride on the back of the current interest that The Frozen Planet is creating as I expect these voyages to fill up quite quickly.”
A five-night ‘Polar Encounters’ voyage
to Spitsbergen costs from £1614pp. The deal includes four nights of full-
board on the ship, one night’s B&B in a Longyearbyen hotel plus landings, sightseeing in Longyearbyen and the services of an expedition team. It is based on two sharing. However,
flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten, starting from £844pp.
www.hurtigruten.co.uk
Norwegian sails ahead out of its home ports
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced plans to base six of its ships in its home ports of Miami, New Orleans, Tampa and New York for 2013/14 sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida. Other itineraries will include
Norwegian Star out of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera, via the Panama Canal to Miami, Norwegian Gem out of New York and Norwegian Dawn out of Boston and Québec, continuing Norwegian's commitment to Canada and New England.
Norwegian Epic will make two transatlantic voyages between Miami and Barcelona while Norwegian Star will sail from New Orleans to Copenhagen in April 2013 and from Copenhagen to Miami in October 2013.
www2.ncl.com
www.sellinglonghaul.com • January 2012 25
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