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Cruise ship visits
Value of seeing
ships first-hand:
We try to
make the
visit as informal and
pleasant as possible,
and not rush our ship visits. Wilkinson explains: “We welcome should contact their regional sales manager for
guests around the travellers with disabilities to experience how further information.
ship. We serve a easy and enjoyable our cruise product is.”
three-course lunch Alison Parker, general manager of Accessible HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
with wine whenever possible, and people Travel, took a party onboard Norwegian Jewel Holland America Line offers key agents the
can ask as many questions as they like.” last September, charging £25 per client. She chance to invite clients onboard when it has
Toni Rowe sales support manager, sent out 80 invites and was inundated with ships in UK ports. It operates on a request basis
Seabourn replies. only and visits tend to take place in ports such
“I could have filled that ship five times over,” as Dover where more guests can be accommo-
Escorting says Parker. “I was even contacted by people dated. Interested agents should contact
clients on a not on our database. Many of our clients don’t Carly Perkins at cperkins@carnival.com.
ship visit is a really normally get these sort of invitations so it is
good sales exercise lovely that NCL is so proactive.” How to book:
from an agent’s point Parker took 28 clients and half of these were Crystal Cruises
of view. If there’s a wheelchair users. “It’s an opportunity to show Programmes are publicised in trade emails
cost we pass it on to our clients that these ships are accessible. Once and through Ace:
the client but if they’re they’ve seen the bathroom facilities and the ■ cruiseexperts.org
serious about potentially booking, they bedrooms, they are encouraged to book. Contact for Crystal Cruises’ marketing team:
will pay.” “Even while we were sat having lunch on the ■ crystalmarketing@cruiseportfolio.co.uk or call
Jamie Loizou sales and marketing director, ship, two clients came over with their credit 0207 287 9060
Mundy Cruising cards, wanting to book there and then.”
The success of the NCL visit led Parker to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
We are contact Royal Caribbean International and Register for a weekly e-news alert for updates:
investing a another visit was arranged, to Independence of ■ cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk
great deal in ship visits the Seas. “Royal Caribbean was equally accom-
– there are so many modating and willing to think outside the box. The Yachts of Seabourn
different groups we Once our clients can see it working for them, Check for details on Ace website and contact
want to invite onboard we get lots of bookings out of these visits.” Ace direct:
to sample the product, ■ cruiseexperts.org
from sports groups and SILVERSEA CRUISES Contact Seabourn’s sales team:
families to clients with disabilities.” Silversea opens its ships up to agents when in ■ toni.rowe@seabournuk.com
Nick Wilkinson sales director, NCL London, but due to limited space the company
says it’s unlikely it can accommodate clients Hebridean International
Ship visits are too. However, in small ports such as Jersey, Email sales manager David Smith:
a very good Fowey, Cork, Dublin, Oban, Londonderry and ■ david.smith@hebridean.co.uk
opportunity for agents Edinburgh, Silversea is open to agents taking
to showcase our clients onboard and it looks at this on a case-by- Peter Deilmann
product to their case basis. Agents should contact their regional Contact head of sales Claire Hancer:
database. We’re trying sales manager for all ship visit enquiries. ■ 0207 436 2931
to spread awareness
of Deutschland to as many travel agents REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES NCL
and their clients as possible.” Regent Seven Seas has ship visits this summer Sign up for ship visits at:
Stuart Perl managing director, in Southampton, Londonderry, Greenock, Cork, ■ ncl.co.uk/shipvisit
Peter Deilmann Cruises Dublin and Portland but places are limited and Call NCL’s agency sales team:
visits operate strictly by invitation only. Agents ■ 0845 658 8040
26
TTG Knowledge – March 2009
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