New cruise excursion website targets travel trade
A cruise excursion website has launched to the trade and the consumer offering an alternative to those sold on board.
Cruisingexcursions.com promises pre-bookable and competitively-priced shore excursions and activities in more than 240 cruise ports of call.
The Birmingham-based company claims to be the first in Europe on such a scale and across so many destinations.
“Agents can benefit from up to 8% commission, with transparent pricing meaning they won’t be undercut by direct sell,†said the launch announcement.
The website is headed up by Sky Blue Transfers MD Simon Purchase with a team that includes Denise Joy looking after trade relations and Simonne Fairbanks as CruisingExcursions.com’s head of product and contracting.
Joy previously worked for Lunn Poly, Airtours and Medinland before becoming beach commercial manager responsible for direct contracting at the Co-Operative Group.
Fairbanks was with Apartments Abroad for many years and also worked at Seligo.
A trade support and customer relations team will operate from Birmingham.
Purchase said: “Our customers will have the opportunity to research, compare and book shore activities on-line rather than rely on the activities provided by the cruise line operator.
“Additionally the travel trade, many of whom have become cruise experts, who usually find the job stops after the cruise is sold will now have the chance to fully immerse themselves in the whole itinerary and earn valuable extra income.â€
CruisingExcursions.com will also offer one-way or return transfers from airports and hotels to cruise ships and will tailor make itineraries for individuals and groups.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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