p22 cruise sep26 23/9/08 17:22 Page 22
Cruise
Lee Hayhurst
020 7921 8001
lhayhurst@ttglive.com
For the latest cruise news, visit
ttglive.com/cruise
Youtravel seeks
CCS crackdown on
cruise partners
YOUTRAVEL.COM is looking to expand the
booking transfers
number of cruise lines it works with having
launched a dedicated section on its website.
Lee Hayhurst.
will be giving a consistent message to all our
Currently, the line works with some Nile cruise COMPLETE Cruise Solution has tightened up its trade partners and passengers.”
operators and easyCruise. To date it has also policies regarding transferred bookings after Mark Pilkington, CCS head of sales, said some
featured sailings in destination sections on its seeing an increasing number of requests to customers were using the relaxed approach
website such as Turkey, Egypt and Greece. make changes in recent months. to transfers to defer bookings to a later date.
However, the interest shown in easyCruise has The trade arm for P&O Cruises, Cunard, He suspected others were using transfers to
prompted Youtravel to look to build further Princess Cruises and Ocean Village has written reduce the value of the booking before can-
partnerships in the sector. to trade partners explaining its decision. celling, to incur a smaller cancellation charge.
Sales and marketing director Paul Riches said: CCS originally wrote to say that it would be “Some agents have told us they are spending
“Cruise is one of the fastest-growing areas of enforcing its current policy, but this week more and more time and money administrating
the UK travel industry and one which is still revealed a new policy. these transfers and we are making it too easy for
predominantly booked through the trade. Transfers are now only allowed once, for the customers to play the game,” he said.
“By teaming up with Youtravel, cruise lines same line at an equivalent or higher price, and “The number of transfers has been increasing.
can access different audiences and attract new within six months of the original cruise. I guess we live in a less certain world where peo-
cruisers. Likewise, we are able to offer our agent CCS said in a letter: “The reason for the firmer ple want to chop and change a little bit more.”
partners the breadth of product they’ve come to approach is because it has become apparent that The CCS policy on transfers not permitted
expect from us.” the level of transfer requests is rapidly increas- under the new rules is cancellation and loss of
ing during the current global economic downturn; deposit if it is made prior to the date the balance
Worldchoice steps
this is not of benefit to you the agent or to us. of the cruise is due. If the transfer request is
“Our aim is to protect bookings and to follow made after the balance due date the booking will
our booking conditions. The positive is that we be cancelled and charges applied appropriately.
up its cruise plans
WORLDCHOICE has appointed a cruise manager
as it aims to increase its share of the UK market
from 7% to 9%.
Charles Weller has joined the consortium
having previously worked for Royal Caribbean
Cruise Line, Victoria Travel and Go Cruise.
He will be tasked with growing the marketing
and training support for Worldchoice’s Cruise
Club members and to take membership to 75.
Worldchoice also plans to develop its Atol facil-
ity for members to package their own cruise deals.
The consortium claimed in the first six months
of the Cruise Club, sales for members increased
by 30%.
Helen Talbot, head of
sales and marketing, said:
“Our members are already
proving their strength
within the cruise sector.
“Now, with Weller’s HAYS TRAVEL’S Stockton brand manager Catherine Raine (right) and Adele McGough,
appointment we can forge cruise product manager, present a special gift to customers Morris and Yvonne Richards.
Charles Weller: new ahead with our plans to be a The couple booked a Princess Cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and
cruise manager bigger contender.” the store presented them with flowers, champagne and $100 onboard credit.
22 26.09.2008
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