Pre and Post Guide 2018 by Cruise Adviser

PRE & POST GUIDE 2018

HOW TO MAKE A CRUISE

EVEN BETTER

The added extras that can transform your clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; holidays

EXTEND YOUR FIVE-STAR RIVER CRUISE The Blue Danube - Vienna, Budapest & Salzburg Plus four-day Budapest Extension from £1,748pp On selected departures you may choose to extend your holiday with our three-night tour staying in Budapest, the magnificent, dynamic capital and ‘Pearl of the Danube’.

Selected departures up to October 2018 & April to October 2019

The Douro, Porto & Salamanca Plus four-day Lisbon Extension from £1,748pp On selected departures you may choose to extend your holiday with our three-night tour to Lisbon, Portugal’s elegant and eccentric capital city.

Selected departures from April to November 2019

Rhine Cruise to Switzerland Plus four-day Glacier Express extension from £2,028pp On selected departures you may choose to extend your holiday with our three-night tour staying in hotels in Chur and Zermatt, travelling on the Glacier Express and seeing probably the most iconic peak in Switzerland – the Matterhorn.

Selected departures from April to October 2019

SO MUCH IS INCLUDED • Fascinating tours and excursions with expert guides • The services of an experienced cruise director and tour manager • Return flights from a selection of UK airports • Spacious and beautifully appointed suites or cabins with hotel-style beds and river views • All meals on board including welcome cocktails, a welcome dinner and the Captain’s Dinner • Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi

Contact our agency sales team: 01283 744307 Visit: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents Email: agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk Riviera Travel booking terms and conditions apply.

YOUR AGENCY SALES TEAM

ABTA No. V4744

Joseph

Darren

Tamzin

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Paul

Emma

WELCOME

How can you make a cruise even better? One of the most commonly repeated objections we hear from those who haven’t cruised before is that cruise ships don’t spend long enough in port, and thus don’t allow in-depth explorations of destinations. While more cruise lines are offering later departures and more overnights, there is logic in this criticism. The EVEN BETTER best thing about cruise – that you get to see many destinations in a short time – is also one of its negatives: you don’t get to spend long in each place. By offering guests a pre or post-cruise stay, they can do both. It’s also a fantastic way of making extra commission. With many cruises starting or ending in blockbuster ports, such as Venice, Barcelona or Amsterdam, it makes perfect sense to bolt a few nights in a hotel onto the cruise. But, as Jane Archer explains in our walk-through guide, beginning on p15, there are any number of options for extending a cruise holiday. One popular choice is rail, as Rocky Mountaineer’s Steven Harris explains in our in-depth interview on p12, while we also take a look at the new Eurostar route to Amsterdam on p9. Elsewhere in this guide, Jeannine Williamson joins Pandaw in Laos (p24), and explains why it’s the perfect destination to see in depth. We hope you enjoy reading – and good luck selling.

THREE GREAT ADD-ONS FOR A CRUISE P9

PRE & POST GUIDE 2018

HOW TO MAKE A CRUISE

The added extras that can transform your clients’ holidays

To request copies of the Ex-UK, Luxury and River Guides, please email info@cruise-adviser.com

A VISIT TO THE RIJKSMUSEUM

This museum – which houses works by Rembrandt, among others – is a great place to visit before or after a river cruise to or from Amsterdam. P12

LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN

The Rocky Mountaineer is the best way of seeing the scenery and wildlife of the Canadian Rockies before or after an Alaska cruise. P18

SEE SUNRISE AT THE TAJ MAHAL

Ganges cruises can easily be paired with a tour of India’s famed Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra – home of one of the world’s most iconic buildings.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Introducing Boutique Cruising

aboard Spirit of Discovery She’s the only small ship being built for the British market. aboard Spirit of Discovery Launching Summer 2019, Spirit of Discovery’s inaugural season is selling fast. And with such great value, it’s not hard to see why. She’s the only small ship being built for the British market.

Launching Summer 2019, Spirit of Discovery’s inaugural season Book now with Saga and your customers can try a boutique is selling fast. And with such great value, it’s not hard to see why. cruise from only £802 per person, backed by our Price Promise. Plus, we guarantee if they love their fi rsttry cruise with us, Book now with Saga anddon’t your customers can a boutique we’ll happily refund theirper money. cruise from only £802 person, backed by our Price Promise. Plus, we guarantee if they don’t love their first cruise with us,

Call FREE on 0800 or visit saga.co.uk/agents we’ll happily refund074 their8021 money. Or call Agency sales FREE on 0800 068 8732 Call FREE on 0800 074 8021 or visit saga.co.uk/agents Saga Trade Team Find us on social media Or call Agency sales FREE on 0800 068 8732 Saga Trade Team Find us on social media

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Price is per person, based a Standard StandardBalcony Balconycabin cabin aboard Spirit of Discovery’s Rendezvous Price is per person, basedon ontwo twopeople peoplesharing sharing a aboard Spirit of Discovery’s Rendezvous in Rouen cruise, departing Includes optional optionaltravel travelinsurance insurance underwritten by Great Lakes in Rouen cruise, departingFebruary February 12, 12, 2020. 2020. Includes underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE,SE, UKUK Branch, rights,ororaaprice pricereduction reduction if not required (cover Insurance Branch,and andadditional additional cancellation cancellation rights, of of £18£18 if not required (cover is is subject to to medical questions). at time timeof ofgoing goingtotoprint print and is subject to availability change. subject medical questions).Price Pricewas was correct correct at and is subject to availability and and change. Private chauffeur service included mileseach eachway; way;shared shared chauffeur chauffeur service miles each way. Please call call for details. Private chauffeur service included upup toto 7575 miles servicefrom from76-250 76-250 miles each way. Please for details. Saga’s holidays cruises exclusively forthe theover over50s 50s(but (but a a travelling travelling companion 40+). Saga Holidays is ais trading name of of Saga’s holidays andand cruises areare exclusively for companioncan canbebe 40+). Saga Holidays a trading name ST&H (registration 2174052). ST&HLtd Ltdand andSaga Saga Cruises Cruises Ltd are subsidiaries of ST&H Group Ltd Ltd ST&H Ltd Ltd (registration no.no. 2174052). ST&H Ltd (registration (registrationno. no.3267858) 3267858) are subsidiaries of ST&H Group (registration no. 0720588). All three companies are registered in England and Wales. Registered Offi ce: Enbrook Park, Sandgate, Folkestone, (registration no. 0720588). All three companies are registered in England and Wales. Registered Office: Enbrook Park, Sandgate, Folkestone, CT20 With respect general insuranceproducts products sold sold in in the representative of Saga Services KentKent CT20 3SE.3SE. With respect to to general insurance the UK, UK,ST&H ST&HLtd Ltdisisananappointed appointed representative of Saga Services Limited, registered in England and Wales (companyno. no.732602), 732602), which which is byby thethe Financial Conduct Authority. Limited, registered in England and Wales (company is authorised authorisedand andregulated regulated Financial Conduct Authority. For more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate, visit www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. This is not a brochure, For more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate, visit www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. This is not a brochure, terms and conditions apply. NHA-SC9857. terms and conditions apply. NHA-SC9857.

CONTENTS How to package cruise in more creative ways

Cruise Adviser

1. FIND ACTIVITIES THAT COMPLIMENT YOUR CUSTOMERS’ CRUISE

Pre & Post Guide 2018

Adding pre and post-cruise options to your clients’ itinerary is not only a great way to extend their holiday, but also a great way to increase your own commission

2. KNOW WHERE THE BUSIEST PORTS ARE AND WHAT ATTRACTIONS ARE NEAR THEM TOP THREE BUSIEST PORTS IN EUROPE

BARCELONA ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA) BALEARICS

Editor’s letter How a little extra can make your clients’ cruise even more special

OF BRITS WHO TAKE AN ALASKA CRUISE WILL ALSO TAKE A ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TOUR

3. KNOW WHAT TYPES OF PRE AND POST ADD-ONS ARE OUT THERE Understanding what add-ons are available at certain departure ports will help you to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for your customers. These can include things like…

News 6 Record growth in Asia cruises; CMV unveils new round-the-world itineraries; APT offers Australia and New Zealand agent incentives New route opens up new opportunities 9 Eurostar’s London to Amsterdam service has launched – good news for anyone taking a river cruise to or from the Dutch capital Infographic 11 Deconstructing pre and post-cruise stays in numbers and pictures Rocky Moutaineer 12 Sam Ballard talks to Steven Harris from the Canadian scenic rail operator – which is incredibly popular with Brits who take cruises around Alaska, for good reason Why not add that little bit extra? 15 A look at why pre and post-cruise add-ons are a great way of earning commission – coupled with a few suggestions King of the Mekong 24 Jeannine Williamson visits the lesser-known parts of Laos with Pandaw – the perfect cruise to partner with a pre or post stay

Head of sales Simon Leeming simon@cruise-adviser.com 020 3865 9337 Sales executive Bryan Johnson bryan@cruise-adviser.com 020 3865 9338

Publisher Sam Ballard sam@cruise-adviser.com Publisher Anthony Pearce anthony@cruise-adviser.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Graphic design Matthew Coles Sub-editor Nathaniel Cramp

FAMOUS HOTELS

UNIQUE ACTIVITIES

HISTORICAL CITY TOURS

TRADITIONAL SIGHTSEEING

ONCE IN A LIFETIME SAFARIS & EXPERIENCES

NOVEL TRAIN TOURS

NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

INTERVIEW

“It’s basically a cruise on wheels…” A scenic rail tour on Rocky Mountaineer is the ideal addition to an Alaska cruise. Sam Ballard spoke to acting sales director Steven Harris about their growth plans There is arguably no better example of a pre or post-cruise tour than Rocky Mountaineer. More than 61 per cent of British passengers who embark on an Alaska cruise will also bolt on a Rocky Mountaineer train journey. Those statistics are extraordinary. The tours, which couple scenic train journeys with hotel stays in old railway towns and famous spots like Lake Louise – are all about making the most of

travelling to the West Coast and extending a seven-day Alaska cruise. The big news for 2019 is that more of the company’s new Gold Leaf carriages will be entering service. We spoke to Steven Harris, acting sales director, to find out more. Why should agents send their customers on a Rocky Mountaineer tour? Really and truthfully, the best way of seeing British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains is by train. You go through areas that you wouldn’t see even if you were travelling by road. You wouldn’t see half the scenery. Then, when you add the ambiance on board, the quality of the food that we serve and the hosts it all goes to add to the overall experience. You can see eagles, bears – all sorts of wildlife – while our hosts tell

you the history of the region. It’s basically a cruise on wheels.

How important is the trade to Rocky Mountaineer? The trade is our number one distribution channel. The vast majority of it comes through our wholesale partners and tour operators who sell the Rocky Mountaineer product or who use our product and bolt on an Alaskan cruise. In our own 2019 brochure we have 65 packages. We partner with Holland America Line in our brochure, but we also work with the likes of Celebrity, Regent, Cunard – all of the main players that sail out of Vancouver and, of course, Seattle, which we operate out of as well now with an overnight in Vancouver.

Do your passengers fit the same profile as a cruise passenger? Very much so. The average age of a Rocky Mountaineer passenger is 63, so if you took a river cruise passenger as an example, they are absolutely ideal. These are luxurious experiences through some of the most stunning scenery in the world. How luxurious is a Rocky Mountaineer trip? It’s totally luxurious. There’s Gold Leaf and Silver Leaf carriages – the former is our flagship carriage, which has a separate dining room run on different seating. The Silver Leaf has oversized panoramic windows and meals are served at seat. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

If you would like to receive another copy of this guide for your office, just email info@cruise-adviser.com with the subject line ‘Pre and Post Supplement’ and we will send one out

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

The Americas

Adding pre and post-cruise hotels to Mediterranean and Baltic voyages from Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Athens and Copenhagen might seem obvious, but many clients might not realise they’ll miss seeing the cities if they don’t stay an extra night or two. It’s an easy way for agents add value to the booking. Voyages to Antiquity includes pre and postcruise city stays in most itineraries. For something different, it is offering a five-night pre-cruise tour of the Peloponnese ahead of a nine-night cruise around the Greek Isles next April. Clients will stay in Athens, Delphi and Nafplio and visit ancient sites such as Mycenae and Epidaurus. From £2,345 per person for 13 days, including flights and all excursions. The delightful Douro river in Portugal is loved for its scenery and wine, but think how much better it would be with hotel stays in Lisbon and Madrid added on? AmaWaterways’ 13-night Flavours of Portugal and Spain itinerary sandwiches a week-long river cruise between three nights in each capital city. From £4,213 per person departing July 6, 2019, including flights and transfers.

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LAOS

King of the Mekong Jeannine Williamson sails through lesser-known Laos with Pandaw – perfect to pair up with pre and post options in this fascinating southeast Asian country “Slowly, slowly, take it easy” instructs our watchful guide Vieng as I clamber up the rough mud-hewn steps on the riverbank in the wake of a slow-moving chain of fellow passengers. Above us, sitting on the grassy brow, a group of doeeyed youngsters observe our progress and follow us in Pied Piper fashion when we finally reach the top. In remote Laotian villages, many without electricity and only accessible by boat, sightings of western visitors are almost as rare as the elusive golden wild cat that lies low in dense surrounding forests. We provide novel and unforeseen entertainment for the giggling children and watching us is akin to a living soap opera. With an itinerary subject to the whims of Mother Nature, our rapid downstream journey on the Upper Mekong had

Europe

A journey on the Rocky Mountaineer train followed by a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver or Seattle is a perennial favourite but why stop there? Clients taking the train to Seattle to start a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line should be advised to stay a couple of nights in the city as well. You can go up the Space Needle, tour the Boeing Factory and discover the old downtown that lies beneath the streets. If time and budget allow, suggest they stay five nights to visit Mount Rainier and go winetasting in Washington State. On the US east coast, Holland America Line’s Canada and New England cruises from Boston are a perfect excuse for adding a few nights in the city, where clients can hit the revolutionary trail (the US Declaration of Independence was read out here in 1776). A seven-day cruise from May 11, 2019 costs from £1,049 per person excluding flights. A wildlife cruise around the Galápagos Islands is magical; the icing on the cake is a postcruise trip to Machu Picchu, the mountain-top city of the Incas abandoned in the mid16th century and discovered by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911. Celebrity Cruises has a 13-night holiday combining a week in the Galápagos with Machu Picchu from £12,759 per person departing June 9, 2019, including all flights and transfers.

The Cruise Adviser River Guide is brought to you by Waterfront Publishing

UNIQUE DESTINATIONS

been dotted with extra stops, including rural communities only visited by Champa Pandaw on a couple of occasions; sometimes never before. This means our journey is full of totally authentic and unscripted experiences, the majority of them a world away from structured sailings in the European heartland of river cruising. One morning we are invited to celebrate the birth of a baby and the next welcomed to a funeral and encouraged to down eye-wateringly fiery shots of home-made lao-lao, a spirit brewed from rice. One afternoon a sprightly 80-yearold who’d outlived six wives plays us tunes on a bamboo woodwind instrument called a khene while he jigs in the dusty street. Most memorably, a woman beckons us over to see her supper cooking on an

open fire – closer inspection reveals a charred but perfectly formed rat in the frying pan. She gives a gap-toothed beam as our local guides and one brave passenger rise to the bush tucker style trial and accept her offer to try some, while the rest of us politely decline. For the record, he says it tastes like quail and lives to tell the tale which is the toast of dinner back on our 28-passenger ship. With a population of less than seven million, landlocked Laos is Southeast Asia’s smallest and least-known country, particularly compared with its neighbours Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma) and China. This makes it an enticingly offthe-beaten track choice for a voyage along the twisting Upper Mekong book-ended by the charming Unesco-listed CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

PRE AND POST OPTIONS Pandaw offers a number of pre and post-cruise extensions to their itineraries. For the Laos sailing, that includes a stay at the beautiful Rachamankha hotel in Chiang Mai after the cruise. The three-day tour includes a rickshaw ride to Wat Phan Tao, a wooden temple well off the tourist trail. The pre-cruise option is a four-day tour to the curiously named Plain of Jars, an area with 300 huge stone jars carved out of rock and weighing about six tons each. Believed to be between 2,500 and 3,000 years old, the legend says that King Khun Chuang had them constructed in order to store wine.

French colonial city of Luang Prabang and the buzzing Laotian capital Vientiane. Asia is one of the most talked-about regions for river cruises and, according to Clia, the Mekong is becoming more popular, with 8.2 per cent growth in 2016/17. This lesser explored stretch of the Mekong, dotted with occasional rapids, certainly has plenty of appeal for welltravelled and open-minded clients of all ages with a reasonable level of fitness. Pioneering cruises through Laos were spearheaded by Asia small-ship specialist Pandaw, which remains at the forefront of sailings in this region. To meet increasing demand the line has fast-tracked a new vessel to join its three-strong Upper Mekong fleet, which will increase its total number of ships to 17. Pandaw’s 10 and 14-night Laos sailings have also been supplemented by the new 21-day Halong Bay, Red River and Laos Mekong combination cruise in Vietnam and Laos. Andre Dreyer, Pandaw’s sales and marketing manager, said: “When we introduced The Laos Mekong itinerary three years ago Pandaw was the first river expedition company since pre-war days to cross all of Laos, from Vientiane in the south to Chiang Saen on the Thai border. This destination has proved so popular that many departure dates are sold out well in advance. To meet growing demand for this route we announced the build of a new ship, RV Sabaidee Pandaw, and even had to bring forward the launch date by 10 months to November 2018 in order to meet capacity.”

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NEWS

Do you have a story for us? Email info@cruise-adviser.com

CRUISE PLUS

Record growth in Asia cruises

Luxury offering enjoys strongest year to date

Cruise Plus by Travel 2 has reported record bookings, revenue and passenger growth following its fifth birthday. The standout development is the trend towards Asia cruises. Revenue for cruise bookings to Asia has grown by 208 per cent in the last year, with passenger numbers more than tripling. In response to rising popularity for cruise holidays in general, Cruise Plus is launching a separate Luxury, River and Expedition Cruise

brochure later this year, which will increase the breadth of choice available to agents. Lisa McAuley, managing director B2B tour operations, dnata Travel Europe, said: “More and more holidaymakers are choosing cruise for its variety of destinations, fantastic value

for money and its diversity of products. We are confident that agents will find the dedicated Ocean Cruise brochure an invaluable selling tool.” To mark its launch, one agent will win a Cruise Plus holiday worth £3,000. Find details of how to enter at travel2.com.

CMV New round-the-world itineraries introduced

APT Agent incentive to sell NZ and Australia

CLIA Unprecedented demand for conference

Cruise & Maritime Voyages is offering customers the opportunity to enjoy an extended stay in Australia or New Zealand by combining a voyage on Vasco de Gama with a cruise aboard Columbus to create a unique round-theworld itinerary. With two packages to choose from, guests can enjoy almost three months in Australia or New Zealand, plus sojourns to destinations including the Caribbean, Panama and India.

APT’s latest brochure features new tours for Australia and New Zealand in 2019-20. To encourage partners to secure new bookings for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, APT is offering free return economy flights for one agent and a companion to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Entries are valid on any APT escorted tour booking made from September 27 to November 30, 2018. Read the T&Cs at apt-experts.co.uk/incentive.

Clia UK & Ireland has seen unprecedented demand for places at its flagship three-day conference in May next year, with more than half of the places already snapped up. The event takes place in Southampton between May 15 and 17 next year and is the largest travel agent conference in the UK. Delegates will also have the chance to visit several ships, including the new Celebrity Edge. To book a place visit cruisexperts.org.

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Britain’s leading independent cruise line presents

Australia & New Zealand No fly, cruise & stay!

For an extended stay in Australia or New Zealand, your customers can combine a voyage on board Vasco da Gama with a Columbus cruise sector to create a unique Round the World itinerary. A great way to visit family or friends spending Christmas ‘Down Under’ or simply exploring this wonderful continent while enjoying the Austral summer – and all without the need to fly!

Columbus

Vasco da Gama

125 night Round the World Cruise

123 night Round the World Cruise

With almost three months in New Zealand (Combo 20-01) from £9275pp

with almost three months in Australia (Combo 20-02) from £9095pp

Routing: Caribbean, Panama, Pacific, Australia, Far East, India, Ancient World, Suez & Med.

Routing: Caribbean, Panama, Pacific, New Zealand, Far East, India, Ancient World, Suez & Med.

Vasco da Gama 2019 Southbound Voyage (V001C) from London Tilbury to Auckland (49 nights)

Vasco da Gama 2019 Southbound Voyage (V001) from London Tilbury to Sydney (53 nights)

Sail: Wed 9 Oct 2019 Arrive: Wed 27 Nov 2019

Sail: Mon 7 Oct 2019 Arrive: Sun 01 Dec 2019

Columbus 2020 Northbound Voyage (C06AK2) from Auckland to London Tilbury (76 nights)

Columbus 2020 Northbound Voyage (C06SY2) from Sydney to London Tilbury (70 nights)

Sail: Wed 19 Feb 2020 Arrive: Tue 05 May 2020

Sail: Tue 25 Feb 2020 Arrive: Tue 05 May 2020

Standard Twin Inner from: V001C 1st Person £7269 / 2nd Person Free (£3635pp)

Standard Twin Inner from: V001 1st Person £7859 / 2nd Person Free (£3929pp)

C06AK2 1st Person £12259 / 2nd Person Free (£6129pp)

C06SY2 1st Person £11289 / 2nd Person Free (£5645pp)

Combined fare £9764 less EXTRA 5% saver = £9275pp

Combined fare £9574 less EXTRA 5% saver = £9095pp

Standard Ocean View from: V001C 1st Person £8789 / 2nd Person Free (£4395pp)

Standard Ocean View from: V001 1st Person £9509 / 2nd Person Free (£4755pp)

C06AK2 1st Person £15579 / 2nd Person Free (£7789pp)

C06SY2 1st Person £14349 / 2nd Person Free (£7175pp)

Combined fare £12184 less EXTRA 5% saver = £11575pp

Combined fare £11930 less EXTRA 5% saver = £11334pp

12.5% Enhanced Basic Commission+ • Promotional support • No direct booking discounts Book Online at: www.cruiseandmaritime.com Call: 0844 414 6161 Agency Sales: 0844 414 6140 Brochures: www.trade-gate.co.uk Book by 31st Oct 2018. +Applies to sales achieved over £5k for 2018/19 cruises. Subject to availability. Terms & Conditions apply. Offers may be withdrawn without notice. Offered for sale in the UK by South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd trading as Cruise & Maritime Voyages. ABTA V9945. ATOL 4619. Calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge. 4576

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REPORT

New route opens up new opportunities Eurostar introduced a new London to Amsterdam service earlier this year which is good news for European river cruise customers looking to do something extra It’s no big secret, but the river cruise sector is doing rather well. In 2017, passenger numbers rose by a massive 21 per cent. Total bed nights were up 24 per cent across a market that is made of about 210,400 people. European rivers represent 90 per cent of the entire sector. And, sitting on top of the pile? The Rhine (and its tributaries, including the Moselle) with just under 50 per cent of the total market share. It all means that the desire to take a river cruise through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland has never been stronger. This all makes the launch of Eurostar’s London to Amsterdam service last April rather well timed. The route, which can take under four hours, opens up the market even more to potential CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

passengers who can’t bear the idea of flying onto the Continent. However, be warned that while the London to Amsterdam route is up and running, return journeys don’t begin until late 2019. For travel agents, the revenue opportunities are huge – particularly when it comes to bolting on a pre-cruise stay in the glorious Dutch capital. Amsterdam is a city that is extremely multifaceted. Relatively small in scale, it has a smaller population than Birmingham, and boasts an infamous party scene – making it a favourite for stag and hen parties. However, these groups mainly congregate around the Red Light District and rarely see what else the city has to offer. For those who want high culture, in the famous Museum Square you’ll find

the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, Museum of Modern Art and the Van Gogh Museum – all within a couple of minutes of each other. There is also the world famous Anne Frank House, where the young diarist and her family hid from the Nazis. The city is not short on choices for hotels, either. All of the major brands have properties in Amsterdam, ranging from reasonably priced options such as the Mercure Amsterdam Canal Hotel – which is located a few streets away from the museums – to spectacularly opulent properties such as the Waldorf Astoria. However your client chooses to spend their time in Amsterdam, be prepared to convince them – especially if they have never been – that the city has more to offer than cannabis and red lights. 9

New Travel Agents bookable website live now For the first time ever you can now book Titan holidays online. Of course, our expert Sales and After Sales teams are still on hand 7 days a week too, but we hope this will make the process even quicker for you! • Book 24 hours a day • Admin area to add API, check commission and reprint invoices

• A few quick steps to complete a booking • Check latest prices and availability

Claim a £20 Lifestyle e voucher pluss a new limited ed edition Chico co the Cheetah for every booking made online*

Visit our new website and register today

www.titanagents.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply. Valid for online bookings only booked between 1 October – 31 December 2018. No cash alternatives. Agents are responsible for their own tax implications. Please claim by emailing agentincentives@titantravel.co.uk

How to package cruise in more creative ways 1. FIND ACTIVITIES THAT COMPLIMENT YOUR CUSTOMERS’ CRUISE

Adding pre and post-cruise options to your clients’ itinerary is not only a great way to extend their holiday, but also a great way to increase your own commission

2. KNOW WHERE THE BUSIEST PORTS ARE AND WHAT ATTRACTIONS ARE NEAR THEM TOP THREE BUSIEST PORTS IN EUROPE

BARCELONA ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA) BALEARICS

OF BRITS WHO TAKE AN ALASKA CRUISE WILL ALSO TAKE A ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TOUR

UNIQUE DESTINATIONS

FAMOUS HOTELS

UNIQUE ACTIVITIES

HISTORICAL CITY TOURS

TRADITIONAL SIGHTSEEING

ONCE IN A LIFETIME SAFARIS & EXPERIENCES

NOVEL TRAIN TOURS

NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

INTERVIEW

you the history of the region. It’s basically a cruise on wheels. Do your passengers fit the same profile as a cruise passenger? Very much so. The average age of a Rocky Mountaineer passenger is 63, so if you took a river cruise passenger as an example, they are absolutely ideal. These are luxurious experiences through some of the most stunning scenery in the world. How luxurious is a Rocky Mountaineer trip? It’s totally luxurious. There’s Gold Leaf and Silver Leaf carriages – the former is our flagship carriage, which has a separate dining room run on different seating. The Silver Leaf has oversized panoramic windows and meals are served at seat. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

What is your most popular route? The most popular route is our First Passage to the West. You start at our station in Vancouver and head out to Banff and Lake Louise in Alberta, with a call at the small railway town of Kamloops. One of the biggest misconceptions about Rocky Mountaineer is that you spend a week on the train – you don’t. Our longest tour has three days on board the train. How important is the trade to Rocky Mountaineer? The trade is our number one distribution channel. The vast majority of it comes through our wholesale partners and tour operators who sell the Rocky Mountaineer product or who use our product and bolt on an Alaskan cruise. In our own 2019 brochure we have 65 packages. We partner with Holland America Line in our brochure, but we also work with the likes of Celebrity, Regent, Cunard – all of the main players that sail out of Vancouver and, of course, Seattle, which we operate out of as well now with an overnight in Vancouver. If you would like to receive another copy of this guide for your office, just email info@cruise-adviser.com with the subject line ‘Pre and Post Supplement’ and we will send one out

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

PRE & POST CRUISE

LAND- BASED EXCURSI O N S

Seabourn Journeys are superbly crafted land extensions to the Seabourn cruise experience. These optional pre- or post-cruise land-based excursions explore many of the world’s most treasured sites that cannot be accessed on a single-day excursion from the ship. Our fully escorted options enable guests to combine exceptional land and sea experiences seamlessly. Agent tour commission is 14%, this is in addition to the cruise commission.

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designed the cover was featured on with Lasvit Art installation Tihany in collaboration by Adam D.

Most Seabourn Journeys welcome between two and ten guests, guaranteeing an intimate, personalised adventure in Seabourn style. Quality hotel properties have been selected with most meals included.

Visit pages 38-43 of the new Extraordinary Worlds Seabourn Cruise Collection brochure for more of our incredible Seabourn Journeys in the Americas, Asia and Australasia You can book Seabourn Journeys via POLAR online, or by calling our reservations department Contact your BDM or e-mail Salessupport@seabourn.co.uk Call: 0344 338 8614 | Reservations: 0344 338 8610 www.seabourn.com

PRE AND POST IDEAS

Why not add that little bit extra? Adding pre and post-cruise stays can transform a client’s holiday and also earn agents extra commission. There are plenty of options, so here are a few ideas… Who would fly to Venice, join a cruise and leave without seeing the city? Or sail into New York and go to the airport for a flight home? Hopefully no one, or at least no one who has booked a cruise through an agent. Adding pre and post-cruise stays to a voyage is one of the most important tools in an agent’s arsenal, delivering good service and setting them apart from a faceless online booking. Get it right and you have a customer for life, which makes it worth suggesting clients add a stay element to their cruise, but there are many more reasons to pop the question. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

A cruise-and-stay holiday is ideal for couples who can’t agree on which to do; it might just sway a first-timer to go on a cruise; it personalises the clients’ holiday and means extra revenue for the agent. Andy Harmer, Clia director UK & Ireland, said adding on a pre or post-cruise stay can be overlooked by cruisers, but it is an easy way for agents to add value to the booking. He added: “Pre or postcruise hotel packages offer a fantastic opportunity for travellers to experience the city of embarkation and/ or disembarkation. If the

destination requires a longhaul flight, a hotel stay means travellers won’t feel tired on the first day of their cruise.” Clients can book their own pre and post-cruise stays online but it is time consuming (as well as the hotel, there are transfers and maybe flights or trains to organise) and many will appreciate suggestions of what else they can do. This is where agents who know their stuff come in. There are so many options, from off-the-shelf cruise-and-stay holidays to packages tailormade for your client. Here are some ideas to get you started. 15

The Americas A journey on the Rocky Mountaineer train followed by a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver or Seattle is a perennial favourite but why stop there? Clients taking the train to Seattle to start a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line should be advised to stay a couple of nights in the city as well. You can go up the Space Needle, tour the Boeing Factory and discover the old downtown that lies beneath the streets. If time and budget allow, suggest they stay five nights to visit Mount Rainier and go winetasting in Washington State. On the US east coast, Holland America Line’s Canada and New England cruises from Boston are a perfect excuse for adding a few nights in the city, where clients can hit the revolutionary trail (the US Declaration of Independence was read out here in 1776). A seven-day cruise from May 11, 2019 costs from £1,049 per person excluding flights. A wildlife cruise around the Galápagos Islands is magical; the icing on the cake is a postcruise trip to Machu Picchu, the mountain-top city of the Incas abandoned in the mid16th century and discovered by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911. Celebrity Cruises has a 13-night holiday combining a week in the Galápagos with Machu Picchu from £12,759 per person departing June 9, 2019, including all flights and transfers.

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Europe Adding pre and post-cruise hotels to Mediterranean and Baltic voyages from Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Athens and Copenhagen might seem obvious, but many clients might not realise they’ll miss seeing the cities if they don’t stay an extra night or two. It’s an easy way for agents add value to the booking. Voyages to Antiquity includes pre and postcruise city stays in most itineraries. For something different, it is offering a five-night pre-cruise tour of the Peloponnese ahead of a nine-night cruise around the Greek Isles next April. Clients will stay in Athens, Delphi and Nafplio and visit ancient sites such as Mycenae and Epidaurus. From £2,345 per person for 13 days, including flights and all excursions. The delightful Douro river in Portugal is loved for its scenery and wine, but think how much better it would be with hotel stays in Lisbon and Madrid added on? AmaWaterways’ 13-night Flavours of Portugal and Spain itinerary sandwiches a week-long river cruise between three nights in each capital city. From £4,213 per person departing July 6, 2019, including flights and transfers.

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Asia Asia is made for cruise-and-stay holidays, with everything from hotel nights in Singapore or Bangkok to Belmond’s Eastern and Oriental Express train through Thailand and Malaysia among the many options. Seabourn offers pre or post-cruise tours to the temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap on voyages that start or end in Singapore. The six-day itinerary, priced from £4,299 per person, includes a tour of Phnom Penh, a visit to Angkor Wat at sunrise and a Khmer cooking class. New in 2019, Avalon Waterways has cruises on the Ganges in India combined with a Golden Triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Clients will visit bazaars, ride a rickshaw and see the sun rise over the Taj Mahal. Prices from £5,770 per person for 15 days departing September 7, 2019, including flights and transfers. Star Clippers’ sailings in Indonesia from Bali are made for packaging with pre or postcruise stays in either a beach resort in the south of the island or a few nights in the rainforest in Ubud. The cruise costs from £1,530 per person for seven nights departing June 22, 2019, excluding flights. If clients are flying to Bali via Singapore or Hong Kong (there are no direct flights from the UK) you should also suggest a city stopover either on the way out or home. It’ll enrich their holiday and add revenue to the booking.

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Australia/ New Zealand Few people go to Australia just to cruise, so there are numerous opportunities for agents to step in and package a voyage with plenty of land elements. Princess Cruises has a five-day Southern Australia Explorer voyage from Melbourne to Adelaide next October that can be paired with few nights in each city and a trip into the outback on The Ghan, Australia’s answer to the Orient Express. The cruise costs from £519 per person excluding flights; four nights on The Ghan travelling from Adelaide to Darwin – a journey of almost 3,000km – costs from Aus$2,629 per person For clients cruising the Kimberley in Northern Australia with Silversea offer a few nights in Cairns, where they can dive or snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. The cruises, from Broome to Darwin, offer everything from crocodiles to helicopters and cost from £5,580 per person departing April 15, excluding flights. A pre or post-cruise stay in Sydney is a must for clients on voyages that start or end in the city. Royal Caribbean has sailings to New Zealand from £1,299 for nine nights in October 2019, or the South Pacific from £1,620 for 10 nights in December. Prices are per person and exclude flights.

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The Caribbean An island-hopping cruise around the Caribbean is the best way to see the region but a few hotel nights pre or post-cruise is nevertheless most appealing. Marella Cruises is king of the Caribbean cruise and stay, offering sailings from Barbados and Jamaica that can be combined with any number of the resort hotels offered on both islands by parent company Tui. The whole thing is then packaged with Tui flights, making it easy for agents to book and seamless for the client. A 14-night cruise-and-stay holiday pairing a seven-night Paradise Islands voyage from Barbados with a week in a hotel costs from £1,761 per person departing March 3, 2019, including flights. Mickey fans planning a Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral with Disney Cruise Line just have to add a pre or post-cruise stay in Walt Disney World in Orlando. A 14-night package pairing 10 nights at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort with a fournight Bahamas cruise costs from £1,698 per person departing August 16 2019, excluding flights. San Juan in Puerto Rico is a popular turnaround port for Caribbean cruises with the likes of Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International, but with no direct flights from the UK, clients have to enter via New York or Miami. Cue a pre or post-cruise stay in either city. If you would like to receive another copy of this guide for your office, just email info@cruise-adviser.com with the subject line ‘Pre & Post Guide’ and we’ll send one out CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

11-day Caribbean ocean cruise San Juan roundtrip 11 days, 9 guided tours Departing January to March 2019; October 2019 to February 2020

Prices from £2,840pp

The whisper of palm trees swaying on a picture perfect beach. The soft touch of fine white sand between your toes. The dazzling sight of tropical birds in a lush forest. The mouthwatering taste of Creole cuisine. When you discover the many beautiful islands of the Caribbean, it’s comforting to know that you’re travelling with the very best – and enjoying the very best value for money, with everything you need to enjoy yourself included in the price. Join us on Viking Sea, and explore the Caribbean in comfort with us. Days 1-2 San Juan, Puerto Rico Day 3 Tortola, British Virgin Islands Day 4 St. John’s, Antigua Day 5 Castries, St. Lucia Day 6 Bridgetown, Barbados Day 7 Roseau, Dominica Day 8 Basseterre, St. Kitts Day 9 Philipsburg, St. Martin Day 10 St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Day 11 San Juan, Puerto Rico

To find out more call 020 8780 7985 or visit vikingcruises.co.uk Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to availability and change. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade stateroom available on West Indies Explorer, departing on selected dates in 2019 & 2020. Prices valid until 31 October 2018. Single supplements 100%. For more information please visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us.

Explore Russia in Viking comfort St. Petersburg to Moscow 13 days, 10 guided tours Departing May to October 2019

Prices from £3,295pp

To find out more call 020 8780 7985 or visit vikingcruises.co.uk Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to availability and change. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade stateroom available on Waterways of the Tsars, departing on selected dates in 2019. Prices valid until 31 October 2018. Single supplements 100%. Please note a visa may be required and is at the passengers own expense. For more information please visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us..

The glow of the golden rooms in Catherine Palace. The view of Kizhi’s Transfiguration Church, built without a single nail. The taste of homemade cranberry-infused vodka and local delicacies in a welcoming family home. The sight of the priceless paintings in The Hermitage. When you discover the treasures of Russia, it’s comforting to know that you’re travelling with the very best – and enjoying the very best value for money. Days 1-4 St. Petersburg Day 5 Mandrogy and Svir River Day 6 Kizhi Island Day 7 Kuzino Day 8 Yaroslavl Day 9 Uglich Day 10 Moscow Canal and Moscow Days 11-13 Moscow

LAOS

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“The scenery of Laos is varied and incredible, and experiencing Laos by water is often a smoother experience than by road. Our itinerary includes two days docked at the charming city of Vientiane and the temple city of Luang Prabang, two of the must-visit destinations. The journey inbetween these two highlights stops at many tribal villages and national parks, allowing guests to feel they are really getting to know river life along the Upper Mekong. Pandaw remains the only river cruise operator offering Vientiane to Chiang Sean departures, but we expect to see the country’s popularity increase as seasoned travellers look for new experiences.” The traditionally-styled vessels with their teak decks and gleaming brass fittings have been built to replicate the ships of the 19th century Irrawaddy Flotilla Company that once plied the Burmese waterways, and they provide a comfortable backdrop for modern-day passengers. 26

Our journey begins in the northern Thailand province of Chiang Saen, once home to the notorious Golden Triangle drug trading zone and where we visit the thought-provoking Hall of Opium Museum. We set sail through a lush green scenery of conical mountains and jungles where the tips of golden temples and Buddha statues peek over the trees and water buffaloes cool off in the shallows. Most days there are village walks where Vieng explains the difference between the 49 lowland and upland tribes that make up the country’s distinctive ethnic groups, such as the Khmu who are fishermen and the Hmongs who hunt on land. At the Pak Ou caves, set in sheer limestone cliffs, we marvel at the thousands of Buddha statues set in the rocks. Another day some passengers cool off in pools at the cascading Kuang Si waterfalls while others tour the heart-warming sanctuary providing a home for bears rescued from bile farms.

Back on board the eversmiling crew welcome us with cool towels and refreshing drinks. Later in the week we enjoy a thrilling switchback ride through the rapids outside Vientiane before settling down to the daily briefing over the eagerly anticipated cocktail of the day. Throughout the cruise meals flavoured with a myriad of herbs and spices showcase local cuisine, with the accommodating chef rustling up off-menu items for anyone fancying simpler fare. When we first set sail cotton strings are tied around our wrists in a centuries-old baci ceremony to bring good luck and calm the 32 Laotian spirits said to govern different parts of the body. We are told to leave them on for at least three days, but I leave Champa Pandaw with mine still unbroken to prolong the memory of a visit to this beguiling and undiscovered country. If you would like to receive another copy of this guide for your office, just email info@cruise-adviser.com with the subject line ‘Pre & Post Guide’ and we’ll send one out CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

CHRISTMAS BASH 2018 You are invited to join us for a night of networking, fun and festive cheer to celebrate our fourth birthday WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 THE LIBRARY, SHOREDITCH HOUSE, LONDON, E1 6AW 6.30pm – Drinks reception 7pm – Introduction 7.15pm – Networking 8.30pm – Food 9.30pm – Prize draw 11pm – Close Held in one of London’s most exclusive private members’ clubs, travel agents are invited to meet the Cruise Adviser team and our sponsors before the Christmas break Availability is limited, so please RSVP to info@cruise-adviser.com as soon as possible to secure your place

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK, CALL 0333 241 2319 OR VISIT AGENTS-UK.NCL.EU *Fares shown are guideline prices only, subject to availability and can change at any time. Fares are per person in £GBP, based on double/twin occupancy including government taxes, port expenses and fees. The £50 per person reduced deposit is applicable to eligible new bookings made in the UK and confirmed between 1 October 2018 and 7 December 2018, for stateroom categories up to mini-suites only, it is not applicable to bookings of Suites and The Haven. In the event of cancellation, guests can transfer their £50 deposit to a new cruise booking up to 120 days before departure of the original cruise booked but cannot transfer the unlimited internet package to another booking unless this offer is applicable to the new cruise booking when made. Full Norwegian Cruise Line booking conditions apply to all bookings. Visit www.ncl.co.uk for full details of Premium All Inclusive and booking conditions. The protection of your personal data is very important to us. All personal data is collected and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy which is available at www.ncl.com/about-us/privacy-policy. ©2018 NCL Corporation Ltd. Ships‘ registry: Bahamas and United States of America. 6986.9.2018