Agents to view new ships at cruise convention
Friday, 20 Nov, 2009
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Three new ships will be available for agent visits as part of the 2010 UK Cruise Convention in Southampton.
NCL’s Norwegian Epic, P&O Cruises’ Azura and Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Eclipse will be in port during the convention which runs between June 24-26.
More than 600 delegates are expected to attend the fourth ACE Cruise Convention with sessions taking place in the QEII Cruise Terminal.
Business seminars, key note speakers and the main conference will be held along with a cruise trade fair, networking events and ship visits.
Agents will be among the first to see Norwegian Epic which will be in Southampton prior to departing to New York for its christening on July 2.
Visits will also take place on board Azura and Celebrity Eclipse, both of which are being launched in April, and Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.
The convention will begin on the morning of Thursday 24 June and together with the key events, agents will also be invited to attend a Sail Away Party and Gala evening.
ACE director Flo Powell said: “The 2010 ACE UK Cruise Convention is set to be the biggest and best yet.
“It will provide an opportunity for travel agents specialising in cruise to hear the latest news and trends within the industry, visit the most modern cruise ships, attend business sessions and hear from key industry leaders.
“Despite the tough economic climate, the cruise business is growing with a predicted increase of 6.5% in 2010, to 1.65 million passengers.
“The convention is designed to help agents take advantage of this continued popularity in a cruise holiday and grow their business.”
Doug Morrison, ABP Southampton port director, said: “Holding the convention in Southampton will provide delegates with a great opportunity to visit a variety of exciting vessels and enjoy the delights of the local area.
“The UK cruise market has grown substantially in recent years and to cater for this growth we have invested over £41 million in our facilities, the most recent of which being our brand new £19 million Ocean Terminal. We continue to be committed to ensure we provide the best service and a seamless operation from ship to shore.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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