The Leading Cruise Agents of the UK has doubled its membership to almost one hundred independent retailers.
Worldchoice Cruise Club’s 45 agencies and either other independent agents – Global Cruising, Global Professionals, White Star Cruises and five GoCruise franchisees – have all joined LCA.
Similarly, new cruiselines have joined the association, including Orion Expedition Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Star Clippers and Amadeus Waterways.
The Worldchoice members have committed to the group for two years and make up 7% of its bookings. The association offers exclusive deals for its members.
LCA chairwoman Clare Dudley said: “Our increasing membership and associate membership offers greater opportunities for cruiselines to work more closely with specialist independent agents.”
The extra members follow the simplification of LCA’s membership subscriptions to open it up to more cruise specialists. From this month there will be one set single membership fee of £250, regardless of turnover. Previously there was a two-tier scheme for small and large agencies.
The association has also introduced a new fee structure for agencies with more than one shop. After paying the main £250 fee there is a smaller charge of £45 for each additional shop location.