“It’s not all ballgowns and tiaras” – how a fam helped agents bust Cunard myths
Two agents explain how a transatlantic fam on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 gave them an authentic insight into life onboard, from the friendly atmosphere to insightful seminars.
Bolsover Cruise Club’s Danny Forsythe and GoCruise & Travel’s Helen Smith were among a group of agents on a seven-night Cunard sailing from Southampton to New York this summer. It was part of an expanded fam offering from the line, which ran four fams in 2022, and will have hosted agents on eight trips by the end of 2023.
It was the first time travel advisor Smith and marketing manager Forsythe had sailed with Cunard, and for Smith, one of the biggest eye-openers regarded the dress code. She explained: “I think people unfairly associate Cunard with being all ballgowns and tiaras, but from my experience that just isn’t the case.
"Being able to actually live and breathe the brand, you understand that there are of course opportunities to dress up and be glam, but equally, lots of people were having a great time in a more relaxed setting. You could very easily do both and guests that wanted to do either were getting on fabulously. People can do their own thing and have a perfectly enjoyable holiday.”
Forsythe expected the cruise to be “very traditional and very formal,” but said: “Even though the formal elements are available if you’re looking for them, the overall atmosphere was just one of relaxation and friendliness.
“The age groups onboard varied massively, and there was a really good energy on the ship. I was also really blown away by the quality of the shows in the theatre and the variety of talks and seminars on offer. For example, we heard from two Second World War veterans who were talking about the D-Day landings, which was incredible, and I wouldn’t even know where to experience that sort of thing on land, let alone at sea. The whole trip was packed with unique experiences like that.”
Tom Mahoney, director of UK sales at Cunard, said: “Fam trips are always a fantastic opportunity for agents to immerse themselves in the Cunard experience and to really get a feel for what makes our brand so special.
“I’m delighted to hear that both Helen and Danny found their voyage on Queen Mary 2 to be so valuable and we look forward to welcoming more of our travel agent partners onboard in the months ahead.”
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