Cruise sales still buoyant despite Concordia tragedy
Agents at this year’s ACE Cruise Convention in Southampton seemed fairly optimistic on how the cruise market was faring this year, despite its well-publicised problems.
Here’s a quick snapshot of their views:
"Business has been picking up and going in the right direction and we smashed April’s sales target. The Concordia accident did cost us one booking, though I don’t think it put people off. The view among our customers was that people still get on planes after an air crash."
Danielle Cox, TUI, Colliers Wood, London
"The Costa Concordia accident was a problem for a week and that’s it. I think the industry handled it well and put out the right messages. As the authorities have changed things since, it makes people realise they are taking action and listening to them. I have been selling more Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises as I think people are looking for more quality and value for money. They are seeing prices on some cruises coming down and they don’t want to be with people who have paid £499 as that changes the ambience on the ship."
Gary Jenkins, GoCruise franchisee
"We haven’t had any sales dips due to Costa Concordia or anything else, but we also haven’t seen any increase because of the recent bad weather either. We tend to sell mainstream lines and the CCS brands and Royal Caribbean International are popular. We haven’t seen any take-up of river cruising. People come in and ask for brochures, but don’t come back to book. The most luxurious lines we book are Celebrity Cruises and Cunard. Celebrity is growing more for us as some customers are a bit wary of Cunard and its different classes, which makes them think of Titanic."
Chanel Reilly, First Choice Superstore, Milton Keynes
"Cruise is always busy for us and sales have increased for UK sailings on the likes of P&O Cruises. We tend to sell Royal Caribbean, P&O and Thomson Cruises, which has boomed for us. The Complete Cruise Solution brands (P&O, Princess Cruises and Cunard) are down for us because of the commission changes and now we are selling more Thomson sailings."
Fern Dickinson, TUI, Huddersfield
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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