p18 cruise Dec11 8/12/09 16:25 Page 18
Cruise
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest cruise news, visit
ttglive.com/cruise
Princess plans
virtual naming
NCL’s UK general manager, Stephen Park (left), and sales director, Nick Wilkinson, flank Janine Barr, Terra Travel, and
Brendan O’Connor, Bryan Somers Travel
PRINCESS CRUISES is organising what it claims is
the first online ship-naming ceremony, for Ocean
Princess, and offering anyone who takes part the
chance to be an honorary godparent.
NCL’s classy agents
The “virtual christening” will take place
throughout the inaugural voyage of Ocean
Princess, which started last week and continues
to December 19.
win Epic party trip
Every new godparent who christens the ship
online will trigger a $1 donation from Princess to
Katherine Lawrey.
agents at London’s Fifteen restaurant last week,
the New England Aquarium, to a maximum of NCL has invited 15 agents who are top of the during a lunch hosted by general manager
$25,000. class in its training course to act as ambassadors Stephen Park.
Ocean Princess, formerly Tahitian Princess, at Norwegian Epic’s naming ceremony next year. The lunch was held to mark the first birthday
left dry-dock in Singapore last week on a 19-day The agents, who are heading the leaderboard of NCLU, which won the training website
Taste of the Orient cruise, the first under the as the top scorers and most active agents on category in this year’s TTG Travel Awards.
ship’s new name. the online NCLU course, will help to host the Park said: “We have asked these agents to join
Pieter van der Schee, Princess Cruises’s UK 2,500 guests expected at the ship’s inaugural us on Epic next year because they have become
head of brand marketing, said the virtual chris- two-night cruise from Southampton in June. The such strong ambassadors for the NCL brand.
tening aimed to hook people with the fun leaderboard, called Top of the Class, is currently “These agents represent a cross-section of
approach and them prompt them into thinking led by Neil Henderson, owner of Banana Travel. the UK travel industry and it’s great to see the
about the oceans and the work of the aquarium. “I’ve sold NCL six cruises in the last year as a enthusiasm they have for selling cruise.”
Honorary godparents will also be able to direct result of the training. The forum, helping More than 3,300 UK agents have registered
explore the ship via a webcam and see a photo you chat with senior NCL staff and other agents, with NCLU in its first year. Head of marketing
journal of her in dry-dock. is particularly useful,” he said. Claire Riches said the line hoped to increase that
Ocean Princess will offer a season of Asia, NCL bosses handed over the invite to the 15 to 5,000 by the end of its second year.
India and African sailings, before arriving in
Europe for two seven-night round-trip voyages
from Dover to the Norwegian fjords.
Meanwhile, Princess Cruises distributed a
Crystal to provide
until 3pm to help with agent queries and bookings.
The line said forward bookings for 2010 had
chocolate-filled advent calendar to 2,500 agents
with 50 “golden tickets” hidden inside. Agents Saturday support
been “phenomenal”.
Andy Harmer, Crystal Cruises’ sales and
who find a ticket should email agents@princess- marketing director, said: “There is still demand
cruises.co.uk by December 31 to enter a draw CRYSTAL CRUISES is to open its reservations for ultra-luxury cruising and 2010 sales are
with a top prize of £100 of M&S vouchers. office on Saturdays for six weeks from January 9. looking so positive. Opening our reservations de-
The line also wants agents to email in photos The company said it took the decision to open partment on Saturdays is further demonstration
of themselves enjoying the calendar and choco- at the weekend due to unprecedented demand of our commitment to supporting agents and
late and will reward the best image with a prize. from the trade. Staff will be on call from 10am providing them with whatever they need to sell.”
18 11.12.2009
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