Fred Olsen Travel bolsters its river cruising division


Samantha Mayling


samantha.mayling @travelweekly.co.uk


Fred Olsen Travel’s new head of river cruise, Sukie Rapal, is planning fam trips, incentives and training to help agents capitalise on growth in the sector.


She joined from Midcounties Co-operative to take up the newly created post. She joins Dave Chidley and Lucy Hone, who have recently taken up the new roles of UK sales manager and business development manager respectively at Fred River Cruises. Reporting to managing director


Steve Williams, Rapal’s remit is to strengthen relationships with independent agents, as Fred River Cruises focuses on trade sales and being a ‘one-stop’ shop for agents. The company also offers what


it claims is “some of the best commission levels in the sector”, with rates starting at 12.5%. A new trade portal went live in


12.5%


The lowest level of commission for agents


along with the growth in the market, that prompted the recruitment of Rapal, Chidley and Hone. The company sells other river


SUKIE RAPAL: New head of river cruises is planning agent activity


early April, featuring marketing assets and special offers. Fred River Cruises is a general sales agent for Amadeus River Cruises, American Cruise Lines and Pandaw. It is also a preferred sales agent for Russia’s Volga Dream and India’s Far Horizons. It was the recent addition of


American Cruise Lines and Pandaw,


cruise lines, including Fred Olsen River Cruises. “We want to make it simple and hassle-free for agents to sell river cruises,” said Rapal. “We package the products and become a tour operator in the UK for the brands we represent. We can offer exclusive deals for agents to sell.” Rapal’s first day was April , when she joined agents on a


mega-fam on board Amadeus Queen in Rotterdam. “River cruising is growing as the baby-boomer generation is


looking to explore,” she added. fredrivercruises.co.uk


FIRST GLANCE Silversea has released details and images of its new ship, designed for the Galapagos Islands, which will launch in summer 2020. Silver Origin will feature Basecamp, which will host educational activities and offer a digital wall that will provide destination-related content. The Explorer Lounge will be fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows and host lectures by the ship’s expedition team. The Observation Lounge, meanwhile, will offer a library of books about the islands. silversea.com


NEWS IN BRIEF


AmaWaterways appoints UK marketing manager AmaWaterways has appointed Sarah Thomson as UK marketing manager. She has spent the past five years as a customer relationship management executive and trade marketing executive at Virgin Atlantic. amawaterways.co.uk


Celestyal to visit six new ports on Adriatic itinerary


Celestyal Cruises has added a seven-night itinerary in the Adriatic Sea for December 2020 featuring six new destinations. Departing from Venice, it calls at Corfu and Patras, in Greece; Kotor, in Montenegro; and Dubrovnik and Spilt, in Croatia. There will be four departures, with prices starting at £789. celestyalcruises.co.uk


Cruise & Maritime unveils


‘soft expedition’ programme Cruise & Maritime Voyages has launched a ‘soft expedition’ programme in Mexico. The 11-night Treasures of the Sea of Cortez itinerary leads in at £1,199, with six departures this winter. cruiseandmaritime.com


Carnival to offer private


pool on board Mardi Gras Carnival Cruise Line will offer an exclusive retreat with a full-bar service, private pool and cabanas on Mardi Gras. Loft 19 will be available to all passengers but those staying in Carnival Excel suites will get priority. Mardi Gras is due to launch in summer 2020. carnival.com


Azamara introduces 15


events to AzAmazing range Azamara Club Cruises will add 15 events to its AzAmazing Evening programme from June. Highlights include a traditional musical performance in South Korea and a tribute to the Knights of Rhodes by a classical quartet. azamaraclubcruises.com


24travelweekly.co.uk18 April 2019


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