| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 24 |
| Copyright: Other |
Royal Olympic eyes upmarket cruisers
The new Olympic Voyager is targeting clients keen to explore a multitude of countries. Tanya Jefferies reports
ROYAL Olympic Cruises plans to target an upmarket, destination-hungry clientele to fill its four-star ship Olympic Voyager.The newly launched 840-passenger ship has an average cruising speed of 27 knots, meaning it can visit more destinations in a week than other vessels. In its first season, it is operating a series of seven-day cruises taking in ports in Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Israel. It will then cross the Atlantic to carry out a South American programme this winter (Travel Weekly June 19).
Head of UK operations Vic Howlett said: “I find that some people collect destinations like others collect postage stamps and we can offer that opportunity.
“We want to appeal to people who have been on other ships, who are probably prepared to pay more and who want to go on a new ship but not one of the mega ones. Our other ships are three star, but we expect Olympic Voyager to be classified as four star. The cruise agents who have seen it said they would sell it as a four-star ship.”
Howlett admitted that business last year had been tough because of the Kosovo crisis but said UK bookings for this year were currently 60% up compared with this time last year.
He expects to put on a further 40% in bookings next year, which would represent an annual passenger total of around 7,000.
The company shortly plans to publish a year-round brochure covering the period between this November and November 2001. This will include the inaugural programme for Olympic Explorer – a sister ship to Olympic Voyager – which is due to be launched next March.
Speed limit: Olympic Voyager’s average speed is 27 knots which means it can visit more destinations in a week than any other cruise ship
Olympic Voyager
Owner: Royal Olympic Cruises.
Passenger capacity: 840.
Agents’ view
Name: Jeremy Scott.