How we help Travel Counsellors sell cruise

Last year, two million people in the UK went on a cruise holiday, with CLIA anticipating that the cruise market will grow by 8% globally this year.

We’ve been selling cruises since our inception in 1994, with cruise now representing 11% of our overall revenue.

But, we’re not ones to stand still. We’re working hard to ensure our franchisees can grasp the opportunities presented by the increasing demand for cruise.

Here are just a few areas where we help you to sell more cruise holidays.

Product

• We have a huge range of cruise products: from specialist river, adventure and expedition cruises, firm favourites like the Mediterranean and the Caribbean to more bespoke yachting and sailing holidays

• We have great relationships with all major cruise operators and work closely with them to deliver exceptional service to our cruise customers

• Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, Royal Carribbean, APT, Hurtigruten, MSC, American Queen, Regent Seven Seas and Star Clippers are just some of our trusted partners

Technology

• Our online booking system, Phenix, enables you to search offers, check availability and book directly with cruise lines – or build cruise into part of a bigger itinerary

• The MyTC app integrates seamlessly with Phenix, so you can create detailed quotes and send them directly to your customers' pocket. And it's more than just a pretty way to deliver documents - quotes sent to customers via our app convert 20% higher than quotes not sent via the app

Marketing

• We host weekly broadcasts from our in-house TV studio, dedicated to all things cruise. It allows our Travel Counsellors to learn about different products, and the latest offers direct from suppliers

• We provide a whole host of marketing materials; from personalised Travel Counsellor branded items, social media posts and assets, and sales promotions for you to share with your customers

• We create three cruise brochures every year, which are sent directly to your cruise customers and prospects (unless you opt them out). There’s no work required from you, and the brochures drive results, just as Claire Horne discovered:

“I was flicking though our excellent cruise brochure and saw a river cruise with APT to Vietnam and Cambodia that reminded me of a customer. I checked the mailing list and my customer had been sent the brochure, so I gave them a call. Later that day they called back to say they wanted to book the holiday for themselves and their friends.”

Community & Support

• Franchisees can meet and network with suppliers at our regional training events and conferences, meaning they get all the info they need from the experts themselves

• Travel Counsellors can call on the expert assistance our head office team, who can help to prepare quotes if you need a little extra support

• Last year alone we ran 38 ship visits for our team: the perfect way to experience first-hand the on-board experience your customer will have, and find the cruise that’s perfect for them

Check out the video below to see inside MSC Bellissima, which launched in March 2019. Michelle Leonard told customers all about her time on board Bellissima, and won £25k of sales as a result.