Unforgettable Travel Company is looking to “build partnerships” with small-ship companies to run more joint charters in 2025.
Last year the company partnered with Windstar Cruises and Variety Cruises to put together sample cruise itineraries covering mainland Greece and the Greek islands.
It also worked with sister company Unforgettable Greece, based in Athens, to handpick hotels, private tours and excursions for the trips.
Chief commercial officer Graham Carter is now looking to build on these tie-ups by joining forces with other small-ship specialists.
He said: “One of our projects this year is building relationships with small-ship cruise companies to organise group trips and charters with them so we can continue our clients’ journey.
“If we can find really good partners who have the same belief in service that we have, and we can start working with them, we can keep our clients on the unforgettable journey with us.”
He described it as “a really huge project” still in its early stages and added the company was “busy” looking at European river, ocean and touring product, building relationships with different lines and “vetting them”.
Carter added: “Realistically, for the trade it is probably a launch for 2026 once we have built the cruise and land itineraries to make sure it’s a product we can have control over and make sure there are interesting pre and post-land combinations that coincide with the cruise itself.”
He said SeaDream Yacht Club, AmaWaterways, Scenic, Windstar and Uniworld were among the companies they were currently in discussion with.
Unforgettable Travel Company’s destination specialist cruise line, Unforgettable Croatia, is also working on “taking boutique cruising to the next level” this year, said Carter.
Unforgettable Croatia is aiming to merge small-ship cruising and luxury charter yacht experience with its new Yacht Cruise Collection.
This is a new series of six adult-only sailings for a maximum of 28 passengers per sailing between June and September 2025 on luxury yacht Alfa Mario.
Carter has seen “more and more demand” globally for small-ship cruising and yacht charters, so this new offering looks to give people “a taste of what the yachting world is like” with more personalisation and “elevated” amenities and excursions at a lower price point than a private charter.
He said the concept had been tested on five or six departures this year, and he would like to double the number of departures for next season.