Travel 2 raises stakes in luxury cruise sector with dedicated brochure

Pledging to “step up activity” in its fifth year of offering Cruise Plus by Travel 2, the firm said the move comes after “enjoying huge growth in the sector over the last 12 months”.

Mark Henderson, specialist product, Travel 2, said “year-on-year business for the top-end cruise lines” had leapt 342%.

“The revenue growth we have seen in the luxury cruise segment has been phenomenal and this proves there is a real appetite among consumers to experience what these remarkable ships offer,” Henderson said.

The first dedicated Luxury Cruising brochure is planned for December.

It comes after the recently launched Florida brochure and will likely contain some 100 pages covering luxury cruise, river and expedition.

“We are keen to focus not only on [Asia and Europe] for luxury cruising but also to grow Caribbean, South America, Australia and New Zealand and rest-of-the-world itineraries,” Henderson said.

Citing figures revealed at the recent Clia Conference in Southampton that showed capacity in the luxury cruise sector is set to rise 18% by 2021, he said the brochure’s timing was “perfectly placed in advance of a wealth of new ship launches by 2021”.

He added: “Cruise lines such as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Seabourn all have launches in the pipeline and there are new entrants coming, such as Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Scenic Eclipse II, so it is a very exciting market to be involved in.”

The Cruise Plus by Travel 2 department, which takes cruise calls only, has already grown by 60% in the past 12 months, with more staff to come, Henderon said.

Celebrations for the fifth anniversary of Cruise Plus start on July 9, including an “exciting agent booking incentive” through TTG, while key account managers will be visiting agents with treats.

Travel 2’s specialist roadshows from the end of October will include luxury cruising.

Travel 2’s team will also be offering in-person training with agents and assisting with luxury cruise events in-store or shows.