Panache Cruises creates free guide to ‘reassure customers’ amid Middle East conflict

Panache Cruises has sent a free guide to more than 200,000 customers in its database with answers to questions about the impact of the Middle East conflict on travel.

The ‘Safe to Sail’ guide aims to offer “clear information” on the ongoing situation in the region between Israel, Iran and the US, which started on February 28, which has led cruise lines to change itineraries and airlines to shift routes around affected or adjacent areas.

Chief executive James Cole, who founded Panache Cruises during the pandemic in 2020, said: “Whenever you get major global events like this you get an information vacuum.

“As soon as the conflict started our priority was helping any stranded passengers get home and we’ve been working side-by-side with the cruise lines.

“However, we know from the feedback we’re getting from customers that people just want to speak to someone and get accurate information, so we felt we had to do more.”

During the pandemic, the luxury cruise agency produced a similar guide called ‘Great Restart’ to help people wanting to travel.

“More than 12,000 people contacted us during Covid with questions about the cruise industry and we were able to provide answers and reassurance,” Cole said.

“Nobody knows how long the situation in the Middle East will last so people are anxious about booking holidays.

“The Middle East isn’t a big luxury cruise destination but several hundred thousand air passengers transit through the region’s hubs on a daily basis so that has a knock-on effect for people’s onward journeys and the cruise industry.” 

Cole added the agency has “managed to maintain its sales” since the conflict began and has “returned to a more regular trading pattern”, with an increase in demand for the Mediterranean and Caribbean, Europe river cruises and expedition.