PREMIER Cruises’ UKgeneral sales agent Globe Corporate Travel is cutting its ties with the cruiseline after it chartered two of its ships to US companies.
Jill Lawrence, who acted as Premier’s sales and marketing manager in the UK, said she had little product left to offer UK operators after the cruiseline chartered out Seawind Crown and OceanBreeze to US companies. Premier was previously sold by Tradewinds, British Airways Holidays, Cosmos, Unijet, Kuoni and Sovereign. However, their programmes will be wound up by the end of the year, according to Lawrence. She is staying on at the gsa.
Industry sources said Premier had made itself unpopular in the UK by repositioning cruises without notice and withdrawing ships to satisfy the US or South American markets.
However, Tradewinds contracts manager Gordon Torrance said Premier had offered attractive seven-night itineraries out of popular resorts such as Barbados and Cancun, which had sold well in the UK.
Miami-based Premier was unavailable for comment as Travel Weekly went to press.