EASYCRUISE has doubled the amount of money travel agents can make selling its itineraries.
The budget cruiseline is also considering adding commissionable excursions to its website after an encouraging first winter season for EasyCruise One in the Caribbean. The company was pleased that a large number of trips were sold to clients on board.
Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of the cruiseline, told Travel Weekly he was surprised by the amount of business coming from smaller independent agents and said he wants to encourage more by offering a 10% net rate, up from 5%.
“We have had a lot of success from unexpected quarters, it’s not been about the big chains,” Haji-Ioannou said. “A number of small independent agents have figured out this is a good thing to package up.”
Blackpool-based Save ’n’ Sail managing director Philip Nuttall said he wants to promote the cruiseline. “EasyCruise is a great entry level into cruising,” he said.
Cabins for EasyCruise’s second summer season in the Mediterranean have gone on sale with prices higher than last year, according to Haji-Ioannou. “There is a deal available around the time of the Monaco Grand Prix for £300 a night. This is not just about selling cruising at £9 a night,” he said.
EasyCruise has plans for a 504-passenger second ship and Haji-Ioannou is in discussions with a number of shipyards in Europe about building it.
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