Travel Weekly launches its own Cruise Club – 11 Jan 2007

With 2007 being billed as another big year for cruise Travel Weekly has created its own Cruise Club.

Travel Weekly has recruited five travel agencies for the club who are either newcomers to cruise or are looking for significant growth in 2007, including a high-street multiple, a homeworker, a high-street independent and two independents focusing on online and telesales.

Travel Weekly will track the progress of these agencies through 2007 from the busy early-year booking period and into 2008.

Passenger Shipping Association director of business development Andy Harmer said he expects the club will demonstrate all agents can forge a healthy cruise business in a sector often considered to be dominated by the cruise giants such as Bolsover.

“For many agents cruise is the most lucrative part of the industry, and more and more agencies are realising if they are going to survive and have a future, cruising is one area that is going to sustain them,” he said.

There has been an enthusiastic response to Travel Weekly Cruise Club from cruiselines. Carnival has invited members to the inaugural of Carnival Freedom in Venice in March and Princess Cruises has offered to host a fam trip for them.

Thomas Cook has agreed that one of its branches can be part of Cruise Club. Head of Cruise Thomas Cook Jenny Ellis said: “Travel Weekly’s Cruise Club is a great opportunity to further cruising knowledge and experience.

“We’re delighted our Wolverhampton, Wulfran Square store is part of this new initiative.”

Travel Weekly acting editor Martin Couzins said: “I look forward to reading about the successes of our Cruise Club members.”