| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 22/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 26 |
| Copyright: Other |
cruise agents profile
Cruise agent profile is a regular spot looking at howbusinesses operatein this specialist
sector of the travel trade
Michele Dance
ocean world travel
birmingham
Name: Michele Dance, Ocean World Travel.
Number of staff: five but this will rise to eight following the relocation.
Proportion of business devoted to cruising: 100%.
Customer profile: retired people who like to cruise out of the UK and are motivated by discounts. The agency is trying to break into the family cruising market.
How many of your customers are new to cruising? 25%.
What are the most popular ships? Black Watch, Oriana, Arcadia and Aurora.
What are the most popular cruising destinations? Mediterranean and the Norwegian Fjords.
What are the advantages of selling cruising? We have a lot of buying power, so we get marketing contributions and other benefits.
What are the drawbacks? If we have a customer that wants to book a hotel abroad along with their cruise, we can’t do that. We have to rely on booking the cruise-and-stay product offered by cruiselines.