Dissatisfaction with the quality of some charter flights is hitting repeat cruise holiday sales, according to travel agents who inspected Princess Cruises’ latest ship in Venice last week.
With Crown Princess’ summer sailings to the Caribbean and Bermuda out of New York almost sold out, its winter itineraries out of San Juan using direct charter flights with Thomson are expected to prove a hit with UK customers.
But travel agents have warned that the quality of many flights, including ground handling facilities, do not match the expectations of cruise customers. In response, Princess Cruises and sister line P&O Cruises, are considering placing representatives on selected long-haul flights from this autumn.
The cruiselines are also in discussions with First Choice about using its new wide-bodied Boeing 767 charters that have improved long-haul cabins offering a 33in leg pitch in economy and are being deployed to key cruise destinations like Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Glamorgan-based Traveland director Philip George said the most complaints he gets from cruise customers are about the flight, and stressed the importance for cruiselines to work on ensuring the “shore-side service compliments the high standards on the ship”.
“Having a person from the cruiseline on the flight means they will know the standards that are required. People without product knowledge cannot enhance it because they don’t know what it’s about,” he said.
Princess head of brand marketing Pieter van der Shee said: “A lot of people when they book a cruise are very price sensitive. At the moment we are confident we are offering the best quality and value combination that’s available in the market.”
A First Choice spokeswoman said: “The flight is not just about getting from A to B, it should be an enjoyable experience. That’s why we have invested significantly in upgrading our long-haul offering.”
Crown Princess will be officially named in New York on June 14 with entrepreneur Martha Stewart chosen as godmother
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