27 February 2009

Small ship sourcing firm looks to sign up 850 UK agents

Agents are being given the opportunity to earn extra commission by booking small ship cruises.

A company providing access to 500 vessels of between four and 150 cabins in destinations worldwide, believes its niche has an appeal to consumers even during the economic downturn.

eWaterways, which launched in the US last April, is making its ships available to the UK travel trade for the first time.

Heading the company’s trade division is Clive Howard, who has 20 years’ experience in the cruise industry. He aims to have signed up 850 agents by June.

The global aggregator of small ship cruises features river cruise vessels, hotel barge trips, expedition voyages, coastal cruises and sailing and yacht journeys, which can be chartered wholly in many cases or by the cabin.

Destinations include major European rivers from the North Sea to the Black Sea, fjords of Scandinavia, coast of Croatia, canals, expedition cruises around the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon and polar regions, as well as luxury yachting in Fiji, the Bahamas or the Cayman Islands.

Chief executive Daniela Wagner, former global managing director of Octopus Travel and vice-president of corporate affairs for the World Travel & Tourism Council, is heading the new venture with Soren Langelund, previously vice-president operations for international markets at Cendant Travel Services.

Wagner said: "Times are tough but this is a great time for the trade to really push the value that cruising offers as it’s a very all-inclusive product.

"Also as people are cutting back on incremental holidays such as city breaks they’re still in the market for a truly inspirational main holiday.

"With the average ticket price of £1,400 per person, the launch of eWaterways is not only a great earning opportunity as we pay generous commission rates, but also a chance to expand their portfolio as these are products which have not been on sale in the UK before now."

She added: "We believe there is a serious gap in the market for a business like eWaterways.

"These sorts of vessels are highly sought after but are difficult to source. By bringing them all together in one place and combining it with rich destination content we will become the only place you’ll ever need to come to for all small ship cruise products."

by Phil Davies