Warwick-based cruise specialist Cruiseco has reached a milestone after gaining 100 agency members since opening its UK office four years ago.
The business, which has its head office in Sydney, works with independent agents and sells traditional cruises as well as creating its own cruise charters.
National sales manager Joe Lavers said: “We are delighted our membership has reached 100 locations across the UK and can see this continuing at a steady pace.
“We are hoping to reach 200 by 2019 but our aim is to maintain our exclusivity, which we would lose if we had too many members or members who were not independent agents.”
The company has exclusive rights to P&O Australia in the UK and has full-vessel charters with a number of cruise lines including NCL, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Azamara and Uniworld. They include a ‘Back to the 80s’ sailing out of Southampton on Royal’s Navigator of the Seas with singers such as Tony Hadley and Kim Wilde, and a classical music‑themed cruise starring Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe on Celebrity Silhouette.
Lavers said the company first came to the UK when it was ‘drumming up’ interest for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. A UK office was set up two years later.
It is now also looking to build its own ship to operate in Asia, with specific plans still under wraps.
Cruiseco corporate development manager Ken Byers said: “We look forward to continuing to work with agents and cruise line partners in the UK, sharing our exclusive product with our members.
“This achievement further cements Cruiseco UK’s mission to provide unique and innovative cruise product across the world.
“We believe the UK market will deliver promising returns and growth for many years to come.”