p6 news mar20 18/3/09 18:43 Page 6
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ttglive.com
P&O confident of enough
ex-UK demand for Azura
Lee Hayhurst.
opportunity for agents to stimulate the market.” However, Price said there was enough poten-
P&O CRUISES’ new 3,000-passenger super-liner Unlike Ventura, which will remain targeted at tial in the market for cruising out of the UK to ab-
Azura will go on sale on March 30 before the full the family market, Azura is being marketed sorb the capacity. This week the Passenger
programme, with a rush of sales expected. at traditional P&O Cruises customers. About Shipping Association revealed that the
When sister ship Ventura went on sale two 45% of Azura’s customers are expected to number of UK passengers starting a cruise
years ago it prompted a record day for sales, not be new to P&O Cruises, above the fleet in the UK last year grew by 23% to 577,000.
just in the UK but for first-day sales of any ship average of 39% but below Ventura’s 54%. Azura’s maiden voyage will be on April
across the Carnival Corporation worldwide. The ship will be based in Southampton 12, 2010, from Southampton with calls
The line’s head of marketing, Philip Price, said for its first summer season in 2010. to ports such as Venice and Dubrovnik.
the operator was gearing up for a similar deluge. There had been speculation that P&O Prices lead in at £1,524.
“It would be a stretch to beat Ventura would have to base Ventura or Azura abroad
but it’s well within our powers. It’s a huge and run a fly-cruise summer programme. New Azura brochure ■ Cruise news, p24
Cunard primes trade for QE day
CUNARD has unveiled “It is up to agents
details of its new ship, whether they take pre-
the Queen Elizabeth, and registrations, as Cunard
assured agents they will won’t be,” said Carol
be supported with online Marlow, managing direc-
training and marketing tor of Cunard.
materials. Reservations for the
Queen Elizabeth is due ship’s maiden voyage and
to launch in October 2010, inaugural season go on
but before that, agents sale worldwide at 1pm
can get trained up on BST on April 2, 2009.
NCL races ahead
all the ship’s features on Complete Cruise Any passengers who have sailed with Cunard
Solution’s Waves of Wisdom training scheme. before will be able to book on the “preview” with red nose cash
Agents will receive Queen Elizabeth brochures booking day on April 1.
detailing itineraries and prices, flyers, and Marlow added: “Agents will have everything NORWEGIAN Cruise Line treated its President’s
posters. Cunard staff will also be visiting agents they need to sell on April 2. Elite Club to a day out at the races at Cheltenham
to inform them about the ship. “We have had lots of interest, but as we are a last Friday – on Red Nose Day.
However, Cunard will not take pre-registra- global brand, it is better and fairer for agents to To do its bit for the charity, the line donated a
tions from customers. take pre-registration and call us on the day.” £20 bet to each table and in total £340 was
raised from the winnings on the day’s big race,
Queen Elizabeth: Key facts and features
the Totesport Gold Cup.
This week NCL unveiled more details of its
■ Queen Elizabeth will be Cunard’s second- ■ Based out of Southampton, it will enter new ship Norwegian Epic, including The Studios,
largest ship ever after Queen Mary 2. service on October 12, 2010, with a 13-night which it claimed will be the biggest suite
■ It is Cunard’s third new ship in six years, maiden voyage to the Atlantic Isles. complex at sea.
giving the cruise line what it claims is the Prices start from £1,489. Pictured with their red noses on are, from left:
youngest fleet in the world. ■ The ship will have art deco features and Stephen Park, UK general manager, NCL; Jenny
■ It is named after the first Queen Elizabeth, memorabilia throughout to pay homage to Ellis, head of retail at Cruise Thomas Cook; Nick
ship launched in 1938 by the Queen Mother. its namesake and reflect the 1930s. Wilkinson, sales director, NCL; and Tony Youster,
■ The new Queen Elizabeth will cost ■ Entertainment will include country house- Ideal Cruising managing director.
£365 million and carry 2,092 passengers. style garden parties and period dancing.
■ Norwegian Jade to quit Southampton, p26
06 20.03.2009
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