MSC Cruises’ sales chief claims booking levels are “absolutely off the scale” and are “getting stronger every day”.
UK and Ireland sales director Steve Williams told a Travel Weekly webcast strong Boxing Day sales figures were “just like old times”.
January 8 was the line’s “best-ever” Sunday and the following day was also a “record-breaking day”, Williams claimed.
More: MSC Cruises to launch ‘huge’ TV advert this month
He said: “On Boxing Day I saw something I haven’t seen in many years. As you know I used to be a frontline travel agent. We used to have queues outside the travel agency – it was that Boxing Day rush.
“When I got the sales figures on December 27, it was just like old times, the numbers were absolutely off the scale.
“You think it may just be a one-off and then ever day since Boxing Day, the numbers have got stronger and stronger.”
Williams explained the line normally expects booking levels to take off in the second or third week of January.
MSC is launching a TV advertisement campaign on January 23 to “keep the market going as we move into February and March”, said Williams.
“We are looking exceptionally good,” he added. “There’s obviously a huge choice of itineraries out there, so whether customers want a Med cruise out of Southampton, a Norwegian Fjords sailing or a fly-cruise in the Caribbean or Dubai all of these products are doing well.”
But he noted ex-UK was “doing particularly well”.
Williams highlighted how consumers – whether new-to-brand or new-to-cruise – were quickly “realising the value of cruise”.
“A lot of people choose a cruise over fly holidays because of logistics, problems with airports, strikes and challenges with getting overseas,” he explained.
Williams noted how MSC rewards agents “really well”, adding: “We don’t have non-commissionable cruise fares and taxes.
“If you booking a £1,000 cruise, agents are earning their full commission on that, so there are really good earnings for them.
“If the agent is making a booking where they add on shore excursions or spa packages or dining packages, we also pay commission on that. It can be a really rich booking for that frontline agent.”
This month MSC Cruises is giving a seven-night cruise for two every day as part of its wave season promotion. To enter the prize draw, agents must a MSC booking.
Williams suggested the competition may be extended into February. “The competition has proven to be hugely successful,” he said. “We may look to extend that further so watch this space. We love to reward our partners.
“Our travel agent partners have made us who we are today. They understand the product really well.”