An InteleTravel agent has received a Christmas boost by arranging a £100,000 booking for a group of psychics to sail with Royal Caribbean.
Southampton-based cruise specialist Christine Etheridge has booked more than 50 psychics onto a five-night trip from Southampton on Independence of the Seas, calling at Hamburg and Zeebrugge.
A total of 52 cabins have been booked so far, including two with accessible facilities for wheelchair users, with scope for more to be added in future.
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Etheridge (pictured) said: “While the psychic world is not for everyone, I have found all the people involved to be a very normal, lovely group.”
Etheridge, who runs Complete Escapes, landed the booking after she was contacted by ‘Modern-day Mystic’ Kate May through Facebook. This led to a meeting with psychic and medium Ann Thomas.
The pair, who were convinced they could encourage many of their followers to join them on a cruise, tasked Etheridge with finding the right sailing.
“It did take a long time to find the right date and duration of cruise to suit all requirements, because they initially wanted it to be longer, but we settled on a five-night trip and Independence of the Seas in September 2025 ticked all the boxes,” said Etheridge, whose booking value currently stands at £103,598.
“I have checked with Royal Caribbean about the group and they are very happy to host them. They will be discreet on board, working in closed groups and not involving other cruisers,” she added.
The mediums have set up a website to answer any questions about the activities they will host on board and take money for the trip. They then book the cruise through Etheridge, who is also on hand to answer any questions about cruising.
The psychics first approached Etheridge because they wanted to book through someone who offered full financial protection and had a strong understanding of the cruise sector.
“I’ve been on 30 cruises in the past 10 or 11 years, so I’ve developed a real knowledge of the sector. Specialising in the sector has paid dividends and it’s a great booking to have,” Etheridge said.