NEWS Clia UK hosted a virtual Luxury & Expedition Showcase last week. Harry Kemble reports


Shanks confident of ‘really strong bounce back’


S Peter


ilversea’s UK boss has predicted a sales “bonanza” over the next 12 months as pent-up


customer demand for cruise soars during the pandemic. Peter Shanks reported “very


good” forward sales for the line’s sailings, adding that it was likely there would be “another jump in demand” when the destinations on the government’s traffic light system are revealed early this month. Speaking as part of a panel


discussion during Clia’s Luxury & Expedition Showcase, the line’s UK and Ireland managing director painted a positive picture for the industry,


Mundy owner reveals expedition cruising targets


Families, teenagers, soon-to-be retirees and the new-to-cruise market are potential expedition cruise customers for agents, according to a specialist. Edwina Lonsdale, Mundy


Cruising’s owner and managing director, outlined why the sector appealed to those who “want to make every single second count”. She said: “We can move


clients [from mainstream ocean cruise] but also we can bring in clients who have never cruised. “They come on board and


Demand further


out is very good, so the bucket list is coming forward. Our 2023 world cruise sold out


drawing upon past passenger figures shared by trade association Clia. He said: “Two million [British]


people go cruising every year, they’ve not been for two years. Four million going into 2022 – that means bonanza. When we get more confidence, and all start sailing, the future demand means there could be


a really strong bounce back.” Silversea is to return with Greek


sailings on board Silver Moon from June. Focusing on the line’s sales, Shanks said: “Demand further out is very good, so the bucket list is coming forward. Our world cruise in 2023 sold out pretty quickly. But he said: “2022 sales are


really quite spectacular. We’re seeing real success not just in the ‘normal destinations’ – the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.” Bernie Carter, Oceania Cruises’


Shanks


senior vice-president and managing director, EMEA, added: “People have been pent-up for so long and they’ve not spent money in the previous year, so that’s another reason [for a sales spike]. They just want to do something very special to get past this whole experience.” Lynn Narraway, Seabourn’s UK


and Ireland managing director, revealed the line would soon release a new agent learning module focused


on expedition ahead of the launch of Seabourn Venture later this year.


understand the whole concept of what cruise is all about. [Expedition cruise] really plays to the zeitgeist – [passengers] want to see new places and they want quality not quantity.” Lonsdale also pointed to


families with teenage children and people “who are coming up to retirement”. “It gets family groups


travelling together without the frictions that can sometimes arise,” she added. Robin West, Seabourn’s


vice-president, expedition operations, told agents that summer was a good time to book expedition cruises to the Arctic or Antarctica, as it was “never a bad experience”.


Aurora Expeditions reveals more Brits than ever are booking with the line


The chief executive of Aurora Expeditions has reported that more Britons “than ever before” are booking with the Australian expedition line as they are “looking for a special adventure”. Monique Ponfoort said passengers were also increasingly “wanting to


reconnect with nature” as the world emerges from the pandemic. She told the showcase: “We know this year has been a very tough year


for you [Britons]. We know now more than ever that guests from the UK are coming to us. “We’re seeing quite high demand. For


us it is a fairly easy connection. It is a nice fit between us and the Brits – we know how to enjoy each other’s company, have a laugh and have a good time.” Ponfoort said the “only upside” of the


pandemic for the luxury line had been that it had allowed time to do more research for future itineraries.


Monique Ponfoort


8


6 MAY 2021


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Ryan Clark/Clark Imagery


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