p24 cruise nov21 18/11/08 17:42 Page 24
Cruise
Lee Hayhurst
020 7921 8001
lhayhurst@ttglive.com
For the latest cruise news, visit
ttglive.com/cruise
EasyCruise to sell
Costa UK sales
through Amadeus
drive for 2009
CARNIVAL-owned Italian line Costa Cruises has
promised no let-up in its activities aimed at the
Lee Hayhurst.
ing the current arrangement that allows agents UK in 2009.
EASYCRUISE will be available to sell through to access a net rate 10% discount. UK managing director Marco Rosa said the line
Amadeus Cruise by next February as it seeks to “We want to make it absolutely clear we are was on course to see UK business increase 61%
build relations with the trade. not just making gestures, we are moving closer in 2008, although there has been a marginal
The one-ship budget line has adopted a new to the trade,” Ellerby said. decline in yields.
strategy since selling its original ship to owners “Our brand awareness online is very strong; if A 2010 brochure, due out in early 2009, will
in Dubai and moving operations to Greece. we are talking to the trade we need to be on see Costa building on its cruises in the Middle
Cruises are now half-board instead of cruise- Amadeus for those online travel agents.” East and the Far East, which are popular in the
only, and the line has increased its price point The line currently sees 20% of its business UK, by adding more capacity.
from around £9 a night to £40. And, for 2009, it globally come through trade partners, a figure it Rosa said Costa’s UK strategy had not been
has also published its first brochure. wants to increase to 50%. changed to take account of the crisis affecting
As a result, Paul Ellerby, sales and marketing Now in its fifth year, easyCruise operates one the global economy. “It would be wrong to save
director, said it wanted to work more closely with ship, easyCruise Life, that sails between Bodrum money on marketing: you either go forward or
agents to find a new customer base. Talks have in Turkey and Athens from April to October. you will be dead,” he said.
started with Advantage and Worldchoice. Last month easyCruise took on Mark Godden “This year has been fantastic for us. We are
A tie-up with bed bank
Youtravel.com, agreed as UK sales manager who
WTM cruise reports
up year-on-year and hit budget in July. We are
at last year’s WTM and extended for a second was previously at Bookable spending more and more money and brand
year, has proved very successful and now Holidays and NCL. awareness is increasing.”
accounts for 30% of UK sales. Next year will see the double launch of Costa
A new trade website, offering enhanced ■ Read more about Cruise: Pacifica, a sister ship to Concordia, and the
commission of 15%, will launch next month end- bumper feature, p55 smaller Costa Luminosa.
HAL picks up Responsible Tourism award
HOLLAND America Line was named Best Cruise or
Ferry Operator in the Virgin Holidays Responsible
Tourism Awards at WTM.
The line was recognised for its 20% reduction
in dockside emissions, by linking to shore-side
electricity supplies so engines can be turned off,
and for a 50% increase in recycling.
The line had also trained its officers in new
techniques to help reduce the number of
collisions with whales.
Richard Meadows, HAL’s executive vice-presi-
dent, marketing, sales and guest programs, said:
“We continually review, monitor and improve
our operations, and we remain committed to
minimising our environmental footprint.”
Justin Francis, managing director of
Responsibletravel.com and director of the
Virgin awards, said: “Holland America Line has
successfully tackled the environmental impacts Prize guy: Bill Morani, HAL’s vice-president for environmental management systems, collects the award from Responsible
of its business.” Travel’s Justin Francis (left), Virgin Holidays’ Amanda Wills and Stena Line’s Lars Olsson, chairman of the PSA
24 21.11.2008
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