How Emerald Cruises gave this agent her best birthday ever

Claire Ketteringham from Panache Cruises, who stayed onboard Emerald Harmony, had this feedback:

"A highlight for me was the staff on our ship, Emerald Harmony, and the little touches they provided. The trip fell on my birthday so when I returned to my cabin on my birthday evening my bed had been decorated with towels made to look like cakes and two towel monkeys hanging from the lights. They had placed a ’Happy Birthday’ sign on my bed and had rose petals scattered around, plus I had a little birthday cake with my name on it and a bottle of bubbly with a personalised card from the staff on the ship. It was probably my best and most memorable birthday ever!

"But it wasn’t just for my birthday. Each night we all were left little gifts in our cabins such as little bracelets that had been handmade by children in a local school; another day we got a map so we could see where we had been; another was a cotton scarf that we had seen the locals making by hand in one of the villages; and we were even given the very useful gift of a pot of tiger balm for any mosquito bites! It was something really special to meet these genuinely beautiful people who just cannot do enough for you. I asked one of the staff where I could buy a bottle of water whilst I was out on a tour and he went to the van and got the water for me and ran back with it.

"The trip was filled with local tours, which really made the entire cruise a more enriching experience overall. I felt mixed emotions as we were taken through the deep, dark history of the Killing Fields in Cambodia and the War Museum in Vietnam. These moments were uplifted by visiting villages where the locals showed us their crafts, sang and danced for us, and the children wanted to just meet us and show us where they live. It is a real eye opener to see how basic they live yet they are all so happy with life and more than welcoming for us to visit.

"I’ll be selling this experience to my more mobile clients, those who are fascinated by history and culture and looking for a bucket-list experience."

Rebecca Ashworth from Travel Counsellors travelled onboard Scenic Spirit and these were her thoughts:

"The whole experience was amazing and every day was a new highlight. I was particularly impressed by all the Scenic Freechoice and Enrich experiences, which gave us some really memorable personal encounters with locals, showed us the history of this amazing country and brought us closer to some of the world’s most spectacular monuments.

"I was most surprised by the welcome that we received from the locals on arrival at remote villages. As we pulled alongside the riverbank to disembark, the children waved at us and showed love hearts, then when we left, they gave us the biggest wave and blew kisses. They welcomed us with open arms and this showed me just how much they love the ships visiting them in their own villages.

"This river cruise experience is aimed at clients who like five-star food, fine wines, exceptional service and are happy to try different dishes, while also exploring authentic Cambodia. It is a way of seeing the most amazing places but travelling in true luxury with first-class service.

"From arriving in Cambodia and being met by our guide to leaving, every member of staff I met went over and above the level of service needed. They remember your name, your drink of choice and where you like to sit for dinner, the say “Welcome Home!” when boarding the ship. This trip created so many lifetime memories for me and I would highly recommend this cruise to anyone that wants to experience the real Cambodia and travel in style!"

Jack Rossier from ROL was also onboard Scenic Spirit and he said: “There is nothing quite like a Tuk Tuk ride at night-time in the rain, seeing the city lights of Phnom Penh and then stopping at a local distillery for an exclusive tour and tasting behind closed doors. I also loved the contrast between busy Phnom Penh and the beautifully peaceful Silk Island.”

Hays Travel’s Lauren Holyoak added: “It was truly a dream way to explore the magical waterways of the Mekong River. My favourite was the Farewell Temple Dinner, when we sat beneath the clear night sky watching cultural dances in the ruins of an ancient temple – it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen!”

Scenic Group director of trade sales Andrea Stafford explained: “We were forced to suspend our southeast Asia programme for two years because of the pandemic, so we thought we’d go back with a bang! It was great to welcome so many eager agents from the UK and around the world.

“What we know well is that there is huge appetite for the Emerald Cruises and Scenic River cruise products. There are many potential guests out there looking for holidays that go the extra mile, and our river cruises do that by combining exceptional luxury with exceptional experiences.”

Retailers represented included those from Hays Travel, Panache Cruises, Imagine Travel, Destinology, Travel Counsellors, SPAA, Stewart Travel, Love to Travel, Crumlin Travel, Jimmy Martin Travel, Kuoni and ROL, who joined fellow travel agents from the US, Europe, Canada and Australia.

Additions to the Scenic Group’s 2023/24 programme include the chance to explore Vang Vieng and Vientiane in Laos for the first time, plus a host of new Scenic Freechoice excursions across Cambodia and Vietnam, including bicycle tours of Hoi An, pottery making in Bat Trang and a high tea experience at the world-famous Raffles Hotel in Phnom Penh.