Choosing a cabin on a ship is one of the biggest barriers to selling to new-to-cruise customers, according to a leading travel agent.
The Travel Village managing director Phil Nuttall said cabin grades and numbers can be off putting for agents and customers unfamiliar with cruise ship accommodation.
Customers choose their cabin at the time of booking and are often faced with a huge choice of room types.
Cabin types are new-to-cruise agents’ “worst nightmare”, Nuttall said.
“Despite what all the cruise lines will argue – cabin grades are right up there with the biggest barriers to selling cruise.
“We must find better ways of selling the positions of cabins.”
Nuttall, who is also chair of the Clia UK travel agent advisory council, said cabins should be allocated on arrival and if passengers wanted to choose their cabin beforehand, they should pay a fee.
More: ‘Find another holiday’: Rzymowska’s message to anti-LGBT customers
Cruise industry must issue ‘clear’ sustainability message
He made the comments during his opening address at Clia’s Winter Forum this week.
“If we do not challenge ourselves to make the entry into selling cruise easier, we’ll still be talking how we engage guests and travel agents in five years’ time,” Nuttall said. “This is a big deal.
“Guests who have never cruised before and normally take a land-based holiday would find it easier to get into cruise (if they did not have to pick a room number).”
However, Princess Cruises’ UK and Europe vice president Tony Roberts said: “It is important for guests to have that choice.
“Most cruise line booking systems will suggest a cabin for the passenger.”
Podcast: 2019 – a good or bad year for travel?