Cruise specialists have reported a significant upturn in demand in recent weeks, with one agent claiming the sector was experiencing a “renaissance” as the wave season got under way.
Following two flat peak sales periods in 2021 and 2022, agents said they were now enjoying a bumper sales period with returning customers and those new to cruise keen to book.
Cruise Circle managing director Jason Daniels revealed he was forced to temporarily pause some marketing channels because his sales team “could not cope” with a surge in demand.
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The Derbyshire-based OTA is welcoming three new starters this month, boosting its sales team to eight.
“I am feeling very positive – I’m more than confident,” said Daniels.
“From the industry’s perspective it feels like it’s full steam ahead.”
Cruise365 managing director Anthony Blackmore and Alison Earnshaw, managing director of Cruise118 parent World Travel Holdings, echoed Daniels’ comments.
Blackmore said: “Cruise is going through a very big renaissance. December was much stronger than in the previous three years. It’s just what we wanted to happen.”
Earnshaw added: “Looking at the last week or so there has been a significant upturn in demand. Off the back of how it has started, I’m feeling quietly confident.
“January 2 was the busiest day we’ve had for a while; the booking trends are definitely going in the right direction.”
However, Earnshaw warned there was “still an element of uncertainty” in the market.
Late bookings for cruises departing within the next three months were strong, said Earnshaw, who added that customers were booking “a bit of everything”.
Sandra Corkin, managing director of Northern Ireland agency Oasis Travel, reported cruise sales were 18% up on average against 2018 and 2019.
“We noticed at the end of last year our cruise business had increased,” she said. “That is down to customers seeing cruise as good value with so much included and Royal Caribbean putting on a charter flight from Belfast that has almost sold out.
“We’ve found that since Covid our cruise business has come back very strong.”
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