NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


Line hosts 30 UK agents at flagship naming ceremony. Harry Kemble reports from Rotterdam


HAL reports UK sales in ‘good place’ as it christens Rotterdam


H


olland America Line christened its new flagship,Rotterdam, in its namesake city,


as the line’s international sales vice-president insisted the Carnival Corporation brand was in “a good place”. Nico Bleichrodt delivered the


upbeat message as Princess Margriet of the Netherlands christened the 2,668-passenger ship by smashing a bottle against its hull on May 30. He confirmed Westerdam, the


final HAL ship to resume operations, would come back into service this month, sailing again on June 12, and the line had extended its flexible booking promise until January 1, 2023. Speaking on board Rotterdam, he


said: “I think we’re in a good place. The UK market is performing well, mostly Alaska and the Mediterranean [bookings]. We’ve seen some UK


guests sailing from the Netherlands.” Bleichrodt said it was “absolutely


the case” when asked if the UK was one of the best-performing markets. “The UK is the second-largest


in Europe – it’s very close to the German market,” he added. “Unfortunately, Holland


America Line is not sailing out of the UK, so we will be focused


on the exotic [regions], Alaska and other deployment such as the Mediterranean.” He added that Holland America


Line’s UK and Ireland managing director Lynn Narraway and sales director Wendy Lahmich were promoting the line’s fly-cruises “perfectly” in the UK. Narraway, who is set to take up an


Naming ceremony for Rotterdam (right)


expanded role at Seabourn later this summer, said: “We haven’t got a ship out of the UK so we’re all fly-cruise. “We had our best year ever in the UK in 2019, so that’s what we’re striving for again.” She confirmed Alaska and European bookings were currently up versus 2019. Bleichrodt vowed to focus on


sailings in South America and Asia in 2023-24. He added that Westerdam had been earmarked to homeport in Asia but would now be based in Australia and New Zealand. Asked about the line’s wave


performance, Bleichrodt said it was experiencing high booking volumes akin to the sector’s peak sales period. “Many of the countries lifted the


protocols in mid-March,” he said. “We have seen a significant uplift


in bookings since then. You can see this in all countries.”


FIRST IMPRESSIONS


Patrick Hill, head of sales, Paramount Cruises “This is my first time on a HAL ship and the first to the fjords. I


think HAL is known for its itineraries around the Far East and Australia – it really appeals to agents. The ex-UK market is a bit saturated at the moment.”


Katie Wilson, cruise product manager, Bolsover Cruise Club “This is also my first time on a HAL ship – I wasn’t sure what


to expect. I didn’t think the line had made a


massive deal about it on social media. I think it’s amazing – the BB King Blues Club is awesome. HAL is bringing classic cruising to a new generation and modernising it too.”


Mark Godden, head of product, Cruise Circle “It’s such a big thing for HAL to have really good music – every bar


has a different tune in a different style. The free flights offer is massive for UK customers. Why would anyone go from Scotland to Southampton to board a ship when they can go to Amsterdam?”


Seabourn and HAL set to split sales teams in Europe


A sales team restructure at sister operators Holland America Line and Seabourn is set to be announced soon, according to Nico Bleichrodt. HAL’s international sales vice-president said splitting


the teams would be “good” for the brands, adding that jobs would be created rather than lost. “It will probably happen in the next couple of weeks


or months,” said Bleichrodt. “We’re accruing staff here in the European markets


to support Seabourn and Holland America Line.” Lynn Narraway, UK and Ireland managing director


at both lines, said: “The brands are doing so well in the UK that you can’t give each the attention it deserves.”


12 9 JUNE 2022 travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURES: Ruben Bleichrodt, Rebekka Mell


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48