p16 cruise Feb26 23/2/10 16:12 Page 16
Cruise
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest cruise news, visit ttglive.com/cruise
New line seeks
to raise profile
From left: Matthew Lonsdale, proprietor, Mundy Cruising; Priti Mehta, senior sales manager (south), Silversea Cruises;
Jamie Loizou, sales and marketing director, Mundy Cruising; and Edwina Lonsdale, managing director, Mundy Cruising
NICHE line Voyages to Antiquity is looking to
boost its profile ahead of its launch this spring.
The line, which will offer cultural cruises to
Mundy bookings
historic sites in the Mediterranean, will unveil its
ship, Aegean Odyssey, in Athens with a short
cruise for invited guests in mid-April.
Its first commercial cruise, a 14-night Light of 40% up on 2009
Greece itinerary, will set sail on May 4.
Managing director David Yellow said the com-
Katherine Lawrey.
the recession had affected booking patterns.
pany had linked up with Nobel Caledonia and MUNDY Cruising has made a strong start to 2010, “There is no question we are getting more late
Bath Travel to promote the programme, but was with sales 40% up on this time last year. business than before,” she said. “It used to be
interested in working with any agents that had Managing director Edwina Lonsdale said: “We that 10% of our sales were for departures within
the right customer profile for the brand. are even ahead of 2008 at this stage, which was three months, but that figure is currently at
The Aegean Odyssey has been virtually rebuilt one of our best years ever, so we’re very pleased 30%. People are still spending cautiously.”
over the past two years. The ship’s capacity has with how things are going.” Mundy Cruising’s good start to the year
been reduced from 570 to 380, with spacious She attributed the growth to Silversea and coincides with a move to offices just off London’s
Concierge Class staterooms replacing some of Seabourn’s new ships, which have heightened Oxford Street.
the smaller cabins. There is also a new health interest in the luxury cruise market. Silver Spirit The cruise agency’s new base incorporates
spa, hot tub and observation lounge. started sailing in December and Seabourn wood, glass and brass to create a shipping theme
Yellow claimed forward bookings had Odyssey last June. Seabourn Sojourn will be and was designed by Lonsdale’s husband and
exceeded predictions, with about 60% of passen- launched in June, while Seabourn Quest will business partner, Matthew.
gers coming from the US and the rest from the follow next year. “We have tried to create an environment for
UK, Australasia and South Africa. Lonsdale added that the luxury market had our staff that is beautiful and luxurious, just like
The popularity of Greek, North African and maintained its pricing pretty well, although the product we sell,” he said.
eastern Mediterranean sailings, which include
calls in Libya, Egypt and Syria, has prompted the
line to add similar itineraries for 2011.
Alliance aims to boost membership
Voyages to Antiquity plans to unveil a preview
brochure in June covering sailings from February LEADING Cruise Agents’ new associate director, to be engaged and involved in debating some of
to December next year. A new itinerary to the Michael English, is keen to attract new recruits the key issues facing the sector,” he said.
Black Sea will include calls at Batumi in Georgia, and to encourage existing members to become English’s appointment aims to strengthen the
Sochi in Russia, and Yalta and Odessa in the more proactive. alliance’s position in the cruise market and help
Ukraine. English, head of field sales for Celebrity Cruises to build its programme of activities.
■ Agents interested in working with Voyages and Azamara Club Cruises, also wants more LCA Meanwhile, the association is without a chair-
to Antiquity should contact David Yellow on members and cruise lines to attend events. man following the resignation of Fred Olsen
01865 302 550 or send an email to: “The LCA has increased its base of agents, but Travel’s Clare Dudley. The role will be rotated
d.yellow@voyagestoantiquity.com it is also about getting the existing membership among the directors until a replacement is found.
16 26.02.2010
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