Explora boss pledges ex-UK sailings Lucy Huxley


Explora Journeys will operate northern Europe itineraries from the UK “in the next couple of years”, according to MSC Cruises chief executive Pierfrancesco Vago. Vago told a Travel Weekly webcast


the line would begin operating itineraries from the UK to provide a “luxury experience” to British customers without the need to fly. He hinted the


ship sailing the itineraries could be Explora III, which is due to enter service in summer 2026 and will be the first in the fleet to be powered


by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Asked if Explora would consider


basing a ship in Southampton and sailing ex-UK, Vago said: “For sure, there will be an Explora ship operating from British shores. It will operate northern Europe itineraries, which goes towards the luxury experience where you don’t have to catch a plane as you’re closer to home. “It will happen in the next couple of years.” He also hinted at


Pierfrancesco Vago


an expansion into the expedition cruise sector, saying the line had to invest more in technology before


it could build a ship for the polar regions,


Tributes pour in for ‘one in a million’ Angela Mayall


Hollie-Rae Brader


Tributes have been paid to award-winning Designer Travel agent Angela Mayall, who died on Saturday after a short illness. Mayall, who was recently


diagnosed with cancer, was described by industry friends and peers as a “real one in a million who could light up any room”. Mayall joined the travel industry


16 years ago after being encouraged to by her friend and Designer Travel managing director Amanda Matthews. The two met in hospital when their children were born and


6 13 JUNE 2024


shared what Matthews described as “an instant connection”. Matthews said: “My beautiful best


friend has gained her angel wings and will now be the brightest star in the sky, shining like the biggest diamond. “Life is so cruel: our beautiful


Angela taken too young and so quickly. While I am so very sad, I am also grateful for every experience we’ve had – a full 22 years of doing everything. My heart is broken and I will miss you every day.” Mayall picked up numerous


industry awards during her career, including Aspire’s Homeworker of the Year in 2017. More recently


There will be


an Explora ship operating from British shores in the next couple of years


but it was a long-term possibility. Vago went on to hail the success


of the brand, saying Explora Journeys had “opened up a new market” within the cruise sector by tapping into the new-to-cruise, luxury customer base. He said the line deliberately


designed seven-night itineraries to cater for people who are too busy to take a longer holiday. “Our idea is to bring in people


who have never cruised before but all


of a sudden see the value for money in our luxury product,” he said. Vago described the UK market as


“paramount” for both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys and said the MSC Cruises brand has a “perfect relationship” with British consumers. Asked how he felt about hotel


companies such as Four Seasons entering the cruise sector, Vago said it was a “very good thing” for the industry, and welcomed the publicity it would bring luxury cruising. “Other brands coming into


the market will help speed up the process of showing the high-income population that there is a new platform for holidays, which is not necessarily a hotel on the Mediterranean coast, it is a cruise,” he said.


she was highly commended in the Luxury Seller of the Year category at last year’s Aspire Awards ceremony. Lisa Fitzell, managing


director of Elegant Resorts and If Only, described Mayall as “a truly wonderful person who everyone loved to be around”. She said: “The travel industry has


lost one of its best luxury travel experts, recognised with numerous awards, which I know meant so much to her. She was a truly wonderful person. Her clients adored her, as we all did.” Oasis Travel managing director


Sandra Corkin described Mayall’s death as a “huge loss for the travel industry”. She said: “Angela was truly beautiful inside and out and had a magnetic personality. She was passionate, great fun and a wonderful person to be with.” Inspire managing director Lisa


Henning said: “Angela was one of life’s shining stars. I had the pleasure of sharing one of the best fam trips I have ever been on with her. She was filled with so much fun and happiness.” If Only sales director Tracy


Angela Mayall at the Designer Travel Awards


Docherty said Mayall was a “pleasure to work with”, adding: “Not only was she a great supporter of If Only product, but also a great sounding board and point of reference when we wanted to get an agent’s view. “She was passionate about her


job, and her clients weren’t just her customers, they were her friends.”


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: MSC


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