New itineraries
CUNARD Line is planning to step up its presence in the increasingly competitive ex-UK cruising market in summer 2001.
Traditionally, the ex-UK market has been dominated by P&O Cruises and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, but Airtours and First Choice have also unveiled plans to enter the market this summer.
Cunard plans to operate nine back-to-back voyages out of Southampton on Caronia (formerly Vistafjord) in 2001, whereas in previous years it has offered one or two options.
However, QE2, which normally does five ex-UK cruises a year, will only carry out three in 2001. Cunard plans to increase the frequency of QE2’s transatlantic cruises out of Southampton instead.
Cunard national sales manager Andy Magowan admitted there had been increased activity in the ex-UK market of late, but he said: “I don’t think we are going to be competing with P&O and certainly not with Airtours.
“We are asking passengers to come and cruise out of the UK, but there is room enough for all of us. There is a huge market of people who do not want to fly. We’ll offer a five-star alternative.”
P&O Cruises marketing director Carol Marlow said: “P&O is the market leader in ex-UK cruising. Competition obviously benefits the consumer and that is great.”
Marlow claimed that P&O’s ex-UK bookings were looking particularly strong at present but she did not reveal any details.
Airtours head of specialist products Vicky Wilby said she was comfortable with the extra competition in the ex-UK market.
“We are attempting to provide our very strong loyal following with something new,” she said. “This move gives us six additional itineraries.”
n Cunard has just spent $20m on upgrading QE2 and $5m on Caronia. Travel agents were invited to see the changes at trade events in Liverpool and Southampton in December.