A DAY WITH... TRAVEL WEEKLY ON THE ROAD
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Harry Kemble @HarryKemble
Top Day with @forever_cruises. Thanks for having me. Not the biggest agency, but certainly one of the boldest!
HARRY’S DAY AT FOREVER CRUISES
ABOVE: Forever Cruises’ office in Cricklewood, north London
LEFT: David Tan
new problem – a lack of staff to process orders. For nine months, Tan, Suchde and Parkar typically worked 12 hours a day for seven days a week. They eventually reduced their hours by recruiting a customer manager, product manager and digital marketing manager. “We have managers in place responsible for
what we were doing before,” said Tan. “Now we are here five or six days a week.” In addition, Forever Cruises has a four-
strong sales team, made up of homeworkers. Parkar said the sales team are encouraged
to stay at home if their commute is more than an hour and half, to boost productivity. “Ideally, we would have a balance of people
working from here in the office and working from home,” he said. “We want productivity. If you are going to travel and an hour and a half each way, then just stay at home.” Forever Cruises is recruiting for three more
sales workers, to be based in its office in China House at the Wing Yip Business Centre in Cricklewood, northwest London. “The challenge is we do not have enough
people,” Parkar added. “We need more sales people. There are a percentage of calls that are overflows and we are losing out on them.”
Popular sells Sailings in Asia are Forever Cruises’ most popular, with itineraries south of China and
across the Indian Ocean the firm’s top sellers. “We are doing a lot of Sri Lanka and South America is getting big too,” said Parkar. Alaska has been going “really well” for the
agency in the last six months, Tan added. Initially, Forever Cruises did not advertise
Mediterranean sailing prices in print, because clients were “quicker” to book ex-Asia sailings. Previously, the agency did not have enough
staff to book the less-lucrative Mediterranean bookings as well but a move to Traveltek’s iSell reservation system has simplified and quickened the process, allowing it to increase its Mediterranean offering.
Anchored allegations Forever Cruises hit the national headlines last month after reports emerged of drug-taking and sexual antics on board its annual ‘Anchored’ party cruise sailing. Tan and his team chartered Royal Caribbean
International’s Vision of the Seas to host the six-day party itinerary from Barcelona to Cannes, Ibiza and Majorca. Forever Cruises denies the allegations, but the publicity boosted visits to its website and has not deterred Tan from continuing the event. He said another Anchored sailing would operate next year. He declined to reveal details but said: “Plans are in place for next year. It will be bigger and better than before.”
near London’s busy Staples Corner – a major road junction – is the Forever Cruises office. There are no obvious signs this is the home of a multimillion- pound turnover business. And if I’m honest, I’d expected a snazzy shopfront with a smart logo, given the waves the agency is making in the cruise industry. But I soon learn that Forever Cruises
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tends to shun convention. The team of directors encourages its sales team to work from home; the company now advertises only online; and its top-selling sailings are miles away from the Mediterranean, the UK’s favourite cruise destination. In the three years since its creation,
Forever Cruises has had its knockbacks, but it has always reacted accordingly. Much of that is down to David, Manish and Sam, who are all prepared to try something new. Their outlook is progressive and, for that, they should be applauded.
Tucked away in a business park
Singapore Forever Cruises, which is not part of any consortium, is looking to open an office in Singapore, having held six months of talks with potential stakeholders. Tan said Singapore had been chosen as it is a “main hub” for departures for Forever Cruises bookings. “We do not know when we will be able to
confirm,” he said. “The market over there is very big. We would like to have it set up as soon as possible.”
12 July 2018
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