Agents are being urged by Scenic Group to look beyond couples by reducing single supplements on a range of sailings across its river and ocean cruise brands.
The discounted supplements for solo travellers apply to a wide selection of itineraries, ranging from eight to 15 days in duration, and are available on departures both this year and in 2024.
New deals cover the entire Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises portfolios, including five-star Scenic Europe River cruises, six-star ultra-luxury Scenic Discovery yacht voyages, Emerald Cruises Europe river sailings and Emerald Cruises luxury yacht itineraries.
The revised rates include a £2,585 saving on an eight-day Scenic Gems of the Danube itinerary on May 3 with a revised lead-in of £4,895.
The cost of a nine-day Emerald Cruises’ Enchantment of Eastern Europe sailing on June 18 is down from £6,195 to £4,225.
Richard Twynam, who took over as Scenic Group UK and Ireland managing director in November, said: “The business is completely committed to developing and strengthening its ties with retailers, as this move with single supplements demonstrates.
“We are convinced that our Scenic and Emerald Cruises River and Ocean cruising brands are the best in the business, offering experiences that cannot be matched elsewhere. We have already set out our plans to build agent knowledge of our products, with more fams, ship visits and training. The next step is making the whole sales conversation easier.
“In the luxury market you are dealing with high-value products and single supplements can sometimes be a stumbling block. As a business we want to ensure a sale conversion is as easy as possible for our agent partners.
“Reducing supplements for solos give agents more opportunities to sell. There are lots of affluent single travellers out there who we know would love the quality, immersive holidays that we offer.”
Twynam said the reduced supplement offers would be promoted regularly by Scenic and Emerald Cruises.
The business would also continue to look to provide deals on itineraries on departures further out, rather than just using reduced supplements as an ad-hoc sales tool to fill cabins, which is a traditional tactic across the cruise industry.
He added: “Singles are a big potential opportunity for us. We’re offering a huge range of regional departures, enriching experiences, all-inclusive meals and beverages, and personal butler service – when you have that sort of attention to detail customers have a right not to feel aggravated by high supplement charges.
“We are about being great hosts for our guests and great business partners for our agents.”