CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE
Crystal sales chief Beck seeks agents’ feedback
Hollie-Rae Merrick
hollie@travelweekly.co.uk
Crystal Cruises’ new UK boss wants to go “back to basics” with the trade to ensure agents are getting the support and service they require.
Helen Beck took up her role as
vice-president of international sales and marketing a month ago, following Philip Ordever’s switch to lead the brand’s new river cruise venture. Speaking in her first trade
interview, Beck, who joined from Royal Caribbean, said “coming into the business with fresh eyes” would enable her to review Crystal’s existing sales processes. “Being new allows me to go
back to basics with the trade,” she said. “I’m only four weeks in so I’m taking everything in and learning and understanding how we do things and why we do them. “Are there areas we need to
improve on? I need to look at the whole landscape to see how we
Avalon Waterways doubles fam trip places to 80 this year
Avalon Waterways plans to host up to at least 80 agents on fam trips this year as it seeks to distinguish itself from other river cruise lines. National account manager
Paul Sharp said it was important to educate agents in what was becoming an “even more competitive” market. The line will host agents on
three and four-night itineraries on new ship Avalon Tapestry II.
FAM TRIPS: Agents will sail on Avalon Tapestry II in France
The sailings will be on its Paris to Normandy Beaches cruise, with departures throughout April. Avalon is also joining forces with
cruise industry body Clia to host a special fam for members of the
“We’ll be putting more focus on charters and incentives because it is a market we can really capitalise on”
can work smarter. I want to have those conversations with agents.” Beck said she believed new opportunities for the trade included a greater chance to sell charters, particularly on the yacht and river cruise ships, which have a smaller capacity. “We will be putting more focus on charters and incentives because it is a market we can really capitalise on,” she said. “We have massive growth planned and we need the trade with us on this journey. The next few years are going to be so exciting for Crystal and we need the experience and skills of the trade to share our message. “Agents not currently
working with us should see the opportunities and the
NEWS IN BRIEF
Carnival Magic to return to service this weekend
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Magic is currently in drydock for a multimillion-dollar renovation. The ship will return to service on March 6 with new dining and bar venues and will operate year-round Caribbean sailings out of Port Canaveral, Florida.
goccl.co.uk
Fly for free on wine-themed sailings with AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways is offering free flights on selected wine-themed cruises. The seven-night sailings are available from £1,399 on the Danube, Douro, Mosel, Rhine, Rhone and Seine.
amawaterways.co.uk
HELEN BECK: ‘I need to look at how we can work smarter’
growth afoot and jump on the rollercoaster with us. There’s so many different aspects to our business now – ocean, river, yacht cruising and luxury air.” The UK leads US company
Crystal’s international business,
followed by Australia and Japan.
thecruiseportfolio.co.uk
association. Up to 20 agents have been invited on the trip, taking place on April 6-8. Further trips are planned for later in the year. Last year Avalon Waterways
hosted 40 agents. Sharp said: “It’s a difficult challenge for agents who haven’t experienced a river cruise to be really confident in selling all aspects of this high-value holiday. “We are committed to providing
as many agents as possible with the opportunity to experience it themselves, increase their product knowledge and be confident in
selling river cruise to customers.”
avaloncruises.co.uk
3 March 2016
travelweekly.co.uk 25
Get a Flavour of Norway with new Hurtigruten cruise
Hurtigruten is offering a new Flavour of Norway package combining flights and a five-day Tromso-Bergen sailing. The trip includes visits to the Lofoten Islands and tour of Bergen. Prices start at £745 including flights.
hurtigruten.co.uk/agents
Advert
DID YOU KNOW?: Throughout 2015 AmaWaterways cancelled ZERO river cruises in Europe – despite the challenges presented by unusually low water levels, AmaWaterways kept on sailing. Make sure you book your next customers’ river cruises with confidence.
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