Scenic Tours is looking to increase trade sales next year with a far-expanded all-inclusive European river cruise programme for 2010.
General manager Chris Townson said the cruise operator was hoping to boost the current 15% of sales achieved through agents following last week’s launch of the programme.
He said: “We are increasing trade business with key agents, a mix of specialists and multiples, but we are taking a very targeted approach. We have had agents on the ship and are doing deals where we can.”
For 2009, Scenic had just the 15-night Jewels of Europe Amsterdam to Budapest cruise. Next year, it is offering different itineraries but all based on the Amsterdam to the Black Sea route.
Townson said: “We will see how 2010 pans out, but my feeling is we need to expand to other rivers.”
Scenic currently has just four identical 168-passenger river vessels, two of which were launched in 2008 and two this year.
The core 15-night Amsterdam to Budapest cruise is repeated, but for 2010 is available either with a two-night Venice extension and return rail travel by Orient-Express or with two nights’ pre-cruise in Paris and two nights in Prague at the end.
Early booking prices for the 15-night cruise start at £2,395 per person including flights and transfers.
There is also an eight-night cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest, a 21-night voyage from Amsterdam to Cernavoda in Romania, on the Black Sea, and a 12-day Budapest to the Black Sea itinerary. Scenic also has pre-cruise add-ons to see the Oberammergau Passion Play and Nile cruises in Egypt.
For 2010, flights are with British Airways as well as KLM, and clients can also opt to travel by Eurostar or take an overnight ferry crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam with DFDS Seaways, with cabin, dinner and breakfast included.
Townson said the price is the same whichever they choose, which is part of Scenic’s all-inclusive policy. Free wine, beer and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner, there are free excursions daily and no gratuities to pay. The speciality restaurant is also included in the price.
Townson said: “The inclusive model works well for us. Our passengers are 60-plus and don’t want to be paying extra for things all the time.”
He added the vessels fill from the top down, with biggest demand for deluxe and junior balcony cabins. About 20% of Scenic’s passengers are British, with about 60% coming from Australia and the remainder from the US.