Sovereign Cruise Club is planning to recruit eight more members of staff after reporting a 15-fold increase in revenue since 2005.
The luxury cruise agent currently employs 16 call centre staff at its office in Reading and will move to larger premises – a converted barn in Grazeley, Berkshire, with space for 30 staff – in June.
The company is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and will host a party at Claridge’s in London on July 6 for VIP clients and cruise line executives.
Managing director Stefan Shillito bought the business in 2005 when it employed just two staff.
The company says it is one of the top-selling agents globally for Cunard and Seabourn, and will book its 500,000th luxury cruise this year.
Shillito said he welcomed increased capacity in the luxury cruise sector, adding that he had a waiting list for the first Ritz-Carlton ship, launching this year.
Seabourn added its fifth ship, Seabourn Ovation, this month, while Cunard, Silversea, Ponant and Crystal Cruises all have ships on order.
“For a long period, about 10 years, the mainstream cruise sector has been building large ships and during that time there were very few new luxury ships – but we’re now seeing them come through,” he said.
“The mass market often wants to upgrade. Passengers become more discerning and want more exclusivity. To fulfil that shift, we need more luxury ships.
“I’m very excited about Ritz‑Carlton. We’ve already got people on the waiting list.
“Around 70% are small-ship luxury travellers and 30% are luxury land customers.”