Ultra-luxury all-inclusive line Regent Seven Seas Cruises could have a ship based in the UK within two years.
UK managing director Graham Sadler said the cruiseline’s UK passenger numbers will increase by 25% by the end of the year. Earlier this month, the cruiseline reported a 48% increase in sales from the UK between January and May.
Sadler said: “The next thing we need is to offer round-trip cruises from the UK. I have been asking for three years, and the time is now right. Our ultra-luxury clients would love to be able to cruise from the UK.”
“I would like to see Seven Seas Voyager offering cruises in late May and June to the Baltic and Norwegian fjords.”
Sadler forecast that Regent’s inclusive shore excursion programme, brought in as a value-added means of getting bookings during the recession, would continue when the recession ends.
Under the programme, passengers can have as many free excursions as they can fit into a day, which can be worth up to $900 per person.
Sadler said: “It has been a great success. We only have space left on 20 cruises this year. I am sure prices will increase when we come out of the recession, but I think free excursions will stay. It’s a huge selling point, and we can negotiate good prices for Regent by promising to deliver large number of passengers. Because they are free, everyone goes on the excursions.”
For 2010, Regent has moved away from its usual seven-night cruise programme, and is now offering a lot of 10-, 11- and 14-night voyages, often lengthening the voyage by adding overnight stays in European cities.
The cruiseline is also bringing its all-balcony, all-suite ship Seven Seas Mariner back to the Mediterranean from Alaska, replacing the smaller Seven Seas Navigator which is going to Alaska.
Sadler said both changes, plus increased confidence in the market as people have reassessed their priorities during the recession, have created huge demand for cruises in 2010.
He said: “The longer cruises are more popular with the UK and US markets. We are way ahead with Mediterranean bookings for 2010, and even taking bookings now for Christmas 2010.
“Our onboard bookings have also gone through the roof because once people have tried an ultra-luxury cruise, they don’t want to trade back down.”
Sadler said a lot of the additional bookings this year were coming from new-to-cruise passengers, but also cruisers who were trading up to the ultra-luxury all-inclusive experience. All onboard bookings are tracked back to the agent who made the client’s original cruise booking, so they receive the commission.