NEWS in sessions held aboard three ships last week. Harry Kemble reports from Southampton
Delegates on board MSC
Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa
Paul Agent delegates Ludlow
P&O Cruises hails trade and offers Arvia inaugural places
P
&O Cruises’ president vowed to invite any Clia Conference agent delegate who makes an
Arvia booking within the next two months to the ship’s inaugural event, as he expressed his appreciation for the trade. Paul Ludlow told delegates
at the three-day conference in Southampton that agents were “a major source of business” for P&O Cruises, adding they were “vitally important” to the line. He said: “We’re going to offer
all of you an opportunity. For any of you that book a holiday on Arvia between now and the end of July, we’re going to guarantee you a place at our inaugural activities at the end of the year. “We’ve got more than 1,000
places to give away at Arvia’s inaugural event, so get booking.” Agents were also urged by Ludlow
to tell the line how they would like to be supported going forward. “We’ve had a lot of change in the
travelweekly.co.uk
travel industry over the last 20 years,” he added. “One thing that has been consistent is our travel agent partners. This industry has grown and our agent partners have grown with us.” Reminding agents about the line’s
Shine Rewards Club programme, he said: “You can really prosper selling our holidays. We absolutely need you at every step of the way.” On recent booking volumes, he
said: “Wave wasn’t what we wished it to be but now we’re into May, which is often a slightly quieter period, we’re seeing volumes that are akin to wave. “Booking trends are going to be
a little messy for a while. They will settle down.” Ludlow reported that May 9-15
was P&O Cruises’ best-ever booking week for “newcomers” – new-to-brand passengers.
Courts praises cruise’s role in coastal regions
Maritime minister Robert Courts said the cruise industry has a “vital part” to play as the government tries to “level up” UK coastal communities. He outlined how the sector continues to be “a key contributor” to the
UK economy, thanks to its “tireless efforts”. Speaking in a pre-recorded video message, Courts said: “Cruise is a
vital as well as a historic part of levelling up the coastal communities. “The industry not only creates wonderful memories for your guests and
thousands of jobs on board or in port but also the economic support that ripples out into the hospitality sector and the wider travel industry and uncountable businesses of every size in Britain’s coastal communities. “We’re wholly committed to making the UK the best place for the cruise industry to continue to invest.”
Del rio hints at plans for new vessels
T
The boss of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has suggested the company may place orders for new ships this year. In a video interview with ravel Weekly editor-in-chief
Lucy Huxley, broadcast to delegates, president and chief executive Frank Del Rio predicted there would be a gap in the cruise sector’s order book “sometime in the future”. The first Prima-class ship,
Prima, comes into service in August. The sixth and final Prima- class vessel is due in 2027. “I’ve got to start thinking
about 2028 and 2029, which seems like a millennium away but is around the corner,” said Del Rio. “From the moment you start thinking about a new vessel or new concept you probably have four to five years, so it’s 2022 plus five years to 2027.” Norwegian Prima will carry 3,215 passengers. Del Rio added: “We were very pleased that we were lucky enough to build these smaller vessels.”
26 MAY 2022
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