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CONFERENCE SELLING CRUISE DAY Clia’s Selling Cruise Day: More than 340 delegates attend sessions about the


Swartz: The pandemic has changed cruising forever


T


he former boss of Princess Cruises, who led the line’s response to the Covid outbreak on


Diamond Princess last year, believes that cruising “will change forever” after the pandemic. Jan Swartz said “consumers have


changed forever and cruising will change forever”. She suggested passengers would


likely choose to sail closer to home in the short term. But she added: “From summer 2022 onwards, we see great passion from guests to take flight and see some faraway, exotic locations.” Swartz also reflected on the


incident on Diamond Princess last year that caught the world’s attention as 712 cases were reported on board while the ship was quarantined off the coast of Japan. Swartz said: “The past 20 months


have been full of growth, challenge and phenomenal teamwork where we all had to dig deeper than we ever expected so we could drive through this epic storm to brighter


We all had to dig deeper than we ever expected so we could drive through this epic storm to brighter days


days and smoother seas ahead.” She added that responding to


the outbreak gave Princess “an opportunity to demonstrate who we were as a company to come and front up to the world from a place of genuine care with a single priority to keep everyone safe”. Communication that was


“consistent, honest and transparent” kept crew, guests and shoreside teams together, she added. Swartz told Clia delegates that


British couple David and Sally Abel,


who were quarantined on Diamond Princess and posted video diaries, had stayed in contact. “Support came from extraordinary places,” she said. In December 2020, Swartz was


promoted to president of the Holland America Group, which includes the Princess, Holland America Line, Seabourn and P&O Cruises Australia brands. She paid tribute to agents, saying:


“We recognise it has been a very challenging time for travel agents and we’ve worked to stay in partnership and collaboration.” Swartz added that cruise lines


under her watch had used the past 20 months to “significantly elevate the guest experience”, adding that every Princess ship had been fitted with Medallion-class technology meaning that passengers would be able to wear the technology device during sailings. She added that the safety


assembly process was another “small example” as passengers now watched the safety information in their own cabin. More safety information is


retained by the passenger, said Swartz, who added that onboard internet connectivity had been improved.


NCL boss invites trade on Prima shakedown


Hundreds of UK agents will be among the first passengers to experience Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Prima class of ship next year. Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast,


shown to delegates at Clia’s Selling Cruise Day, NCL president and chief executive Harry Sommer announced that agents would be invited to join the two-night cruise on Norwegian Prima departing Southampton on August 12. Norwegian Prima is due to set sail next


summer as the first of six ship launches planned by NCL between 2022 and 2027. Details about how agents can secure a


8 11 NOVEMBER 2021


cabin next summer have yet to be confirmed, but Sommer said the 3,215-passenger ship would not operate at full capacity during the shakedown sailing. He said: “The one secret that I share with


you today is our very first test cruise – not the christening – but the test cruise is going to be out of Southampton. “We would love as many people as we


possibly can have [but] I think we’ll have 2,200 people on board the first cruise. We’re not going to go full occupancy. “Hopefully a lot of people in the room today will be able to join us.”


McAuley urges cruise sector to


The cruise sector must avoid a price war as it emerges from the impact of the Covid pandemic, Clia’s Selling Cruise Day was told. Lisa McAuley, owner of Silver Travel Advisor, said research


carried out by the mature travellers’ review site showed price was the fifth most-important factor when booking. It ranked below flexible booking terms, health protocols,


financial protection and breadth of holiday choice. “I can’t remember a time where price fell out of the top


three,” said McAuley. “That’s a positive. [Customers are] staying for longer and they’re trading up.” She warned lines and agents not to discount, adding: “There are so many challenges that we’re facing now, we really


From left: moderator Lucy Huxley, Travel Weekly; Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity Cruises; Lisa McAuley, Silver Travel Advisor; and Barbara Baldini, Avalon Waterways


Andy Harmer, Clia UK & Ireland


travelweekly.co.uk


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