Cruise start-up hits £1m sales after four months
Ella Sagar
The founder of cruise start-up Cruise Monks has nearly surpassed his first-year sales target in just four months. The agency, set up by Wael
Seliman in November 2024, has already exceeded £1.1 million in sales – putting it on track to smash its initial target of £1.4 million. Seliman previously ran Cruise
Kingdom before leaving the business last year, and prior to that worked at Ahoy Cruises for nearly 10 years. He said his new business had hit
the £1 million milestone “far earlier than planned” and is now “on track” for £2.9 million in sales for the first year, more than double the forecast. He is projecting £3.5 million in sales in the agency’s second year of trading and £6 million in year three. Seliman has been running the
agency single-handedly so far but plans to take on two staff this month and four more by the end of the year. He also aims to move into an office by the firm’s anniversary in November. Cruise Monks focuses on offering
“unique itineraries that most people have not seen or done before” and that appeal to both regular passengers and new-to-cruise customers.
£2.9m
Cruise Monks’ revised first-year sales projection
Seliman added: “There is a gap
in the market for such a company where it is customer and destination- focused, and I have proved so far that Cruise Monks can fill it.” He reported longer cruises were
the agency’s most popular with its bestselling products being packages of 20-plus nights, including a 20-day French Polynesia and Hawaii voyage with Norwegian Cruise Line. Most of the business’s itineraries
are tailor-made and combine land stays and cruise, with Asia, South
Cox & Kings appoints MD as it
plots US and Australia growth Upmarket operator Cox & Kings is to embark on a “significant phase of global expansion” including launches in the US and Australia. Parent company Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group confirmed the plans as it announced UK & EMEA senior sales vice-president Jennifer Charlton would become managing director in addition to her current role.
8 10 APRIL 2025
Africa, Mexico and South America among the most popular destinations. “I don’t sell many short itineraries
or typical Mediterranean or northern Europe cruises,” Seliman said. “I am trying to be different. Offering luxury at affordable prices has always been the message since the start.” Seliman added that Cruise Monks
was able to offer “heavily discounted rates” thanks to the agency’s “good relationship with close partners”. Cruise Monks’ target audience is
people aged 50+ who want to “explore more but not necessarily spend more”, said Seliman, who commented that the agency looks to add value in the form of inclusions such as drinks packages, Wi-Fi and onboard credit. The agency is a member of The Advantage Travel Partnership.
Emerald Cruises to gain two superyachts and a river ship
Emerald Cruises is to add two superyachts and a river ship to its fleet. Superyachts Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara will debut in winter 2026-27 and winter 2027-28 respectively, with itineraries set to be released in June. River vessel Emerald Lumi is due to launch with sailings on the Seine from Paris in 2027.
Cruise Monks founder Wael Seliman on NCL’s Norwegian Viva
Atas members report peaks sales increase of 13%
Atas has hailed a strong peaks period with overall revenue for January and February across its members up 13% versus the same period last year. Speaking at an Atas Leaders
Dinner on April 2, director of the touring and adventure association Claire Brighton also revealed booking volumes were up 9% overall (including direct sales) compared with the first two months of 2024 – and up 11% via agents. “These figures were driven by a
strong January and a slightly softer, almost flat, February,” Brighton told attendees at Browns Covent Garden. “But if you look at agent-specific
data, both January and February were slightly ahead of last year. It was a strong start to the year on the back of a very strong peaks last year.” The top-selling destination in
those months was Italy, followed by India, Spain, Vietnam and South Africa. Destinations that experienced the biggest year-on- year growth were Peru (+110%), Morocco (+98%), Spain (+75%) and Japan (+58%). Brighton identified solo travel
as a major growth opportunity for agents, with the trade accounting for only 8% of overall solo bookings.
Claire Brighton
ROL Cruise promotes Wikevand to chief commercial officer role
Sarah Wikevand has been promoted to become chief commercial officer of ROL Cruise in the first strategic appointment made by Rosie Cairns since she became chief executive. Wikevand was previously joint managing director with Cairns and continued as sole MD after the cruise retailer moved to employee ownership in November, which saw staff become 51% shareholders.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Sarah Lucy Brown
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