Virgin Voyages has unveiled ‘mini-wave’ offers and incentives for its travel agent partners, known as First Mates.
The initiative follows the cruise line’s Celebration Sailing, marking Virgin’s 50-plus-year legacy, during which the brand honoured its travel partners with the inaugural UK First Mate Awards.
The two incentives for the trade are ‘Make Me a MerMillionaire’ and ‘First Mate Loot’.
More: Virgin Voyages pledges to address reservations ‘pain points’
Make Me a MerMillionaire will see one First Mate [agent] become a points millionaire and a further nine winners will share an additional one million Virgin Points.
To be in the draw, agents can log sales with First Mate Loot. The more bookings made, the more entries in the draw.
With First Mate Loot, Virgin Voyages has launched ‘Twenty Five for 2025’ whereby agents can earn £25 per booking when Sailors [passengers] choose 2025 European departing voyages.
All other departing voyages from now until 2026 will earn First Mates £5 per voyage.
Thirdly, a ‘Sip and Save’ initiative aims to boost sales and means clients can save 70% off a second passenger on all voyages through to 2026.
Those who book onto a new 2025 voyage will also receive a free Bar Tab of up to $300 in premium drinks.
The new awards ceremony recognised travel advisors and organisations “who embody the Virgin spirit and are brilliant to do business with”. The winners were:
- Best Cruise Specialist: Iglu Cruise
- Best Retail Agency: Hays Travel
- Best Homeworker Agency: InteleTravel
- Rising Star: Paramount Cruises
- First Mate Champion: Kieran Miller
- First Mate Champion: Lindsay Coulter
- Partnership Innovation: Barrhead Travel
- Rising Star: Stewart Travel
