New Apprentice cohort navigate stormy waters in cruise challenge
Will PayneVirgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady starred in the opening episode of the latest series of BBC One’s The Apprentice on Thursday night (6 January), which left the travel industry bemused by Lord Alan Sugar’s latest crop of wannabe business tycoons’ new take on cruising.
Two teams were tasked with creating, marketing and selling a new cruise line after they boarded the vessel in Portsmouth.
After much deliberation as to who would be the team captains, the groups settled on the names "Bouji Cruises" and "Never-Ending Nautical" for their new companies.
One particular aspect which caught the eye of viewers was Never-Ending Nautical’s brand logo, which Virgin Voyage’s associate vice president of international sales, Shane Riley, described via Twitter as "you know, green and brown, like a tree".
Meanwhile, Advantage Travel Partnerships chief Julia Lo Bue-Said said: "Not sure I can look, but it’s just so funny hearing them justify the green and brown logo."
Well I like it… 🤥 #theapprentice pic.twitter.com/KxFXpY7wZg
— Shane Lewis-Riley 🔻 (@ShaneRileyVV) January 6, 2022
Cruise specialist travel agency, The Cruise Room, however, embraced the team’s questionable logo.
WE’VE BEEN INSPIRED AND DECIDED TO CHANGE OUR LOGO!
— The Cruise Room (UK) (@CruiseRoomUK) January 6, 2022
Thank you to designer @Helenos77 for our brand new logo… we know… it’s bouji… it’s like a tree, you know a tree that has brown and green…
Merchandise range to follow… #TheApprentice @BBCOne @Lord_Sugar @VirginVoyages pic.twitter.com/OZE3Hw5xu3
Meanwhile, Clia director Andy Harmer said the group was looking "forward to working with a new cruise line member soon" and Emerald Cruises’ David Winterton thanked Virgin Voyages for "bringing some fun and smiles to a struggling industry".
Brilliant first episode. Well done @ShaneRileyVV, bringing some fun and smiles to a struggling industry #TheApprentice
— David Winterton (@wintertonsworld) January 6, 2022
Chief executive of the JG Travel Group Andy Freeth, meanwhile, didn’t believe the new candidates would make it in the world of cruise marketing while cruise agency Cruise Circle said: "What do you all think of Scarlet Lady anyway? Her sister ship, Valiant Lady launches later this year. If you want a bouji trip, drop us a message and we can help you out. No turds included."
I’m a big fan of @bbcapprentice but I have absolute confidence that none of this year’s candidates have much of a shot at a career in marketing in the Cruise sector.
— Andy Freeth (@Andy_Freeth) January 6, 2022
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