Over-50s cruise and escorted tours operator Saga has brought forward the launch of a second new-build ship by a year.
Healthy pre-registrations for first new ship Spirit of Discovery, set to launch in 2019, prompted the line to confirm an option to build a second ship, 999-passenger vessel Spirit of Adventure, and for it to launch in 2020 instead of 2021.
Last week, the operator also unveiled customer membership scheme Saga Possibilities during a half-year trading update at which it reported a 63% increase in travel profits to £11.9 million.
Saga returned to selling through the trade in 2015. Jeannette Linfoot, Saga tour operations managing director, said agents now accounted for almost 10% of the company’s sales, and claimed third-party business would “go from strength to strength”.
“The trade, from a commercial point of view, is important to us,” she said. “We have invested in the trade team and do a lot of targeted marketing campaigns with partners.
“There is a portion of the demographic who want to book with their travel agent and we see consistently strong year-on-year growth in that channel. You have to listen to your customers.
“We have aggressive plans to grow our business and there is a piece of the pie for everyone.
“If there are independent agents not currently working with us, our trade team is happy to meet them to see how we can work together in a more individualised way.”
Linfoot said Saga Possibilities, launched with Apple, Nuffield Health, wine retailer Majestic and restaurant chain Prezzo as partners, was an exciting development for agents because it would drive brand loyalty.
Saga, which recently unveiled a ‘Keep Doing’ rebrand to appeal to more-active customers, enjoys a 70% repeat customer rate.