CRUISING
steepen, particularly as lines continue to invest in new and jazzy ships. These include NCL’s new megaship Norwegian Breakaway, which makes her debut in the UK this spring, and the world’s-biggest cruise ship, RCI’s Oasis of the Seas, which is set to make a splash with a 2014 sailing from Southampton. The message to agents is clear: this is the time to build your expertise in the ex-UK cruise sector. As a relative newcomer to ex-UK cruising
W
MSC Cruises has worked hard to build awareness amongst the trade, maintaining commission levels between 10% and 14%. Stephen Moffett, Sales Director for MSC
Cruises maintains: ”Agents keen to sell our ex-UK sailings should advise clients that although we are an Italian line and offer an
ith the increase in APD and airfares the growth curve in UK-based cruising is likely to
international product we have also geared our UK-based ship, MSC Opera, to British tastes by introducing afternoon tea and bingo, amongst other things.” Commenting on the potential for greater sales of the ex-UK cruises, Chris Truscott, new Head of Sales for Cunard Line & P&O Cruises said: ““What cruise passengers have in common is that they love travel and new experiences and generally enjoy culture, music, food and golf. They also like to travel with ease so agents should stress the wonderful simplicity of a cruise that starts and ends in Southampton.” Nicky Tempest-Mitchell, Head of Trade Sales for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises advised agents to: “Capitalise on the diversity of options now available to passengers who want the convenience of sailing from the UK, particularly when selling to fi rst-time cruisers”.
It will be all eyes on Southampton in June when Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, will name Princess Cruises’ new 3,600-passenger Royal Princess in Southampton. The ship will be Mediterranean-based this summer but naming her in Southampton marks Princess’s commitment to the UK market, with Crown Princess and Caribbean Princess operating ex-UK.
Cruise talk Demand for cruises from the UK are set to boom as `the Olympic effect’ attracts foreigners to cruise around Britain and home-grown travellers take a closer look at their own backyard, says CLIA UK & Ireland Director Andy Harmer. “Ex UK passenger numbers increased
by 78,000 passengers last year and we’ve seen increasing numbers of foreign visitors fl ying into the UK to start their cruise. Of
FROM THE PORT
EX-UK CRUISING
Ex-UK cruising is booming! This year’s Annual Cruise Review from CLIA UK and Ireland highlights a trend for UK-based sailings to rival fl y-cruises in popularity. Maria Harding reports
30 May 2013
www.sellinglonghaul.com
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