29 September 2008

New 'agent-friendly' A4 Hurtigruten brochure

Hurtigruten has reverted to an A4 format brochure for ease of racking by agents.

The cruise company has also redesigned the brochure for 2009-10 as it seeks to match a 25% year-on-year rise in passengers and sales revenue.

The programme covers exploring cruises in Norway, Spitsbergen, Greenland and Antarctica and features a 30% early booking discount, no single supplements of selected Norwegian sailings and a 10% discounts for repeat passengers which can be combined with the early booking offer.

Prices are now offered as cruise-only with the option to add land arrangements, flights and excursions separately.

Overall brochure prices lead in at Ã&#pound;532 per person for a Classic Southbound Voyage in Norway, land arrangements start at Ã&#pound;85 per person and flights start at Ã&#pound;245.

Head of commercial Kathryn Beadle said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœAll prices throughout the brochure are now cruise-only which allows agents to offer more flexibility to their customers.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœFor the first time, all land arrangements such as transfers, additional hotel nights and domestic flights have been separated out on the Norway product to allow agents the ultimate freedom to tailor a trip for their customers.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœMost importantly all elements are still fully commissionable and we want agents to have the option to create itineraries which best fit in with their customers needs.Ã¢â¬~

She added: Ã¢â¬ÅâœAll the new features of this brochure have been put together with the travel agent in mind.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe new, exciting clean look will help them identify and sell key product, and the revised size of the brochure was decided on after extensive feedback from agents who said that the A4 format is easier for them to rack and distribute.Ã¢â¬~

In Norway there are three new themed itineraries, including Ã¢â¬ËœGastronomy in a musical FrameworkÃ¢â¬â¢, a Ã¢â¬ËœFolk Music VoyageÃ¢â¬â¢ and a Ã¢â¬ËœNational & Regional CostumesÃ¢â¬â¢ voyage. A new discovery cruise Ã¢â¬ËœCoastal Discovery & GeirangerÃ¢â¬â¢ is a combination of the southbound voyage and the Geiranger Fjord.

A new itinerary includes Greenland, Labrador, New Foundland and New York. A new Christmas & New Year voyage includes the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands.

There are three new European itineraries operated by MS Fram: Las Palmas to Lisbon over Easter 2009, Lisbon to London next spring and Ã¢â¬ËœDelights of the Baltic SeaÃ¢â¬â¢ from London to Hamburg.

A new suite service introduced for 2009 includes tea/coffee making facilities in the cabin, invitation to visit the bridge, complimentary tea and coffee throughout the voyage, late check-out as well as optional breakfast in cabin and a minibar. Additionally, a laundry service, complimentary beverages and two free excursions are available on Explorer voyages on board the MS Fram.

by Phil Davies