A travel agent was celebrating this week after making a £62,000 booking for a round-the-world cruise.
Consultant Chris Aldred of Bolsover Cruise Club in Barlborough Links, Derbyshire, was in her office at 8.30am the day P&O Cruises’ World Voyages brochure went on sale. She wanted to be the first to book the 2009 cruise for two people on board the cruiseline’s Aurora.
The operator said Aldred’s booking was the largest single booking for the programme.
“I jokingly asked the client if he wanted the top suite. But when I told him what it was like he said he’d like to book it.
“On the Saturday morning the brochure went on sale, I sat with my finger on the mouse waiting to book. I managed to reserve the Library Suite, which was exactly what the client wanted.
“When I rang him to say it was booked, he said: ‘My wife is gleefully jumping up and down on my wallet.'”
Aldred, who has been working at the cruise agency for three years, says she managed to clinch the booking thanks to her knowledge and experience of the cruise sector.
She said: “Knowing about cruise ships is key. I was able to offer the client ideas about what he could do on a cruise. It is the biggest booking I have made so it’s a great earner.”