© PCL
Thomson — which has offered four gulets and four different cruise itineraries this summer — will only offer one boat and one itinerary in its Summer Sun 2006 programme.
Product manager Ruth Barker said: “We’re focusing on offering the boat for sole charter in 2006, rather than shared weeks, although we do have the flexibility to sell it as a shared option, if necessary.
“More and more people are looking to take the whole boat, be it families, or groups of friends. They don’t have to fill the boat, we can sell it to smaller groups and charge an under-occupancy supplement.”
She said customers like the extra flexibility this allows.
“You can control who you’re on holiday with, and — with the agreement of the captain — can also change the route. It’s a larger, higher-standard boat, sleeping up to 16, and it’s been equipped with more facilities, basic water sports and so on.”
Thomson’s Eastern Horizons route starts in Fethiye then heads to Marmaris, Dalaman, Olu Deniz and some small coastal villages, before returning to Fethiye. First Choice has devoted two pages of its new Adults brochure for 2006 to gulet cruises.
Senior product manager Hayley Smith said: “In 2005, our two cruises were hidden away in the back of our Turkey brochure, which is aimed at families, but this year we’ve put them into our adults’ programme. We get a mix of young and old. Some clients travel in couples, but we’re going to push it as a group holiday this year.”
The operator also offers better single-traveller prices in 2006.
“It’s perfect for singles,” said Smith. “A hotel can be a bit daunting, but on a boat you all eat together anyway, so it’s easy to socialise. It’s a relaxed and friendly environment.
Turkey and Greece specialist Tapestry operates four luxury gulets along the Lycian coast. Managing director Nick Wrightman said the product was equally suited to sole-chartering or those who wanted to share with other holidaymakers.
“You might think that sharing space on a boat with other people would cause problems, but it really doesn’t.”
There are opportunities to get off the boat on shore excursions, and guests can get to know each other through the soft adventure activities some boats offer. Tapestry’s four luxury boats carry windsurf boards, and most operators will provide snorkelling equipment free of charge.
Wrightman added the crew was the most important element of any gulet holiday.
“You can have the best boat in the world but if the crew isn’t right it would be a disaster. All of our crews are hand-picked locally.”
Thomas Cook will retain its six boats and six itineraries for 2006, but product manager for Turkey, Charlotte Murgatroyd, said it will also focus more on sole chartering.
“It is a brilliant option,” she said. “You’ve got the whole boat to yourselves and the captain can tailor the itinerary for you.”
