Agents can tailor a new app – dubbed the “Netflix for cruise” – to share content, engage with customers and help sell cruises.
CruiseAppy allows agents to upload video content from cruise lines and ports, send push notifications and chat with customers.
Push notifications can be sent through the app to alert customers to changes in fare prices or cabin availability before the cruise.
CruiseAppy, created by former Traveltek global sales director Peter Whittle and launched this week, also allows passengers to chat with their agent during the cruise, access discounts at land attractions and book tables at restaurants.
Lonely Planet has supplied CruiseAppy with arrival guides for ports around the world.
So far, Whittle has signed up five agencies, including Vision Cruise in Merseyside, which has helped generate a test customer base of 10,000 users.
“It really is like Netflix for cruise,” he said. “Like Netflix, you have different genres of programme, such as cruise and stay. What this will do is generate more sales.”
According to Whittle, the app’s chief executive and co-founder, 55% of holiday bookings originate from mobile search.
He said: “I saw an opportunity to set up a walled garden within an app and thought I could make it available to cruise sellers.
“Our pilot industry partners have found the app very powerful for booking and enquiry generation, especially when used in conjunction with push notifications. There will be a time when 100,000 people are engaging with this app.”
During testing, on average 5.5% of users responded to push notifications. The figure compares with about 2% for all mobile apps.
Apps created by CruiseAppy, under participating agencies’ brands, are available on iOS and Android devices and can be accessed via the App Store and Google Play.