There is still a “big education piece” around cruise to ensure customers understand the nuances between the lines, agents have been told.
Addressing delegates at this year’s Clia conference, Mel Evans, partnerships and projects editor at the Metro, said people “definitely” get confused between cruise lines, while “lots” of members of the public are unaware of what is available within the industry, such as expedition, small-ship and luxury cruising.
“People do not understand the breadth and diversity within the cruise industry,” she said.
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“People think every cruise ship is for 3,000 people and say they don’t want to sail because they want something more intimate, but they don’t understand there are options out there for them to choose from.
“There is still a big education piece to do.”
Cunard president Katie McAlister put the onus on cruise lines, saying they need to provide agents with the tools to “immerse themselves” in each brand, which they can then share with their clients to explain the differences between each company.
“Us cruise lines have a job to do by creating amazing content beyond brochures so agents can immerse themselves in the experiences and understand what it feels like to go on board, which they can share with their customers,” she said.