Ponders Cruise & Travel has become the first travel agency to take a full charter of APT’s Lady Eleganza yacht – and is already planning a second trip for 2025.
Owners Clare Dudley and husband Paul Adams joined clients last month on the eight-night luxury Croatian Island Cruise.
Dudley admitted that committing to fill the 18-cabin yacht had been a risk, but credited the support of her travel agency team for giving her the courage to take the challenge on.
The cost, depending on cabin type, ranged from £4,455 to £5,500, with 32 people in total travelling.
“It was scary as it was a big commitment and I had to fill the yacht to make any money, but my team made me believe we could,” she said. “The majority of cabins sold quickly. I was getting panicky about those left, but we sold them three months ahead of departure.”
She added: “It was the first time I had ever chartered a yacht and the first time any agent in the UK had chartered this yacht.”
APT & Travelmarvel head of sales and business development Brad Bennetts said the idea came from meeting Dudley at the Clia Winter Ball in 2022 where he explained the introduction of the company’s first small-ship sailing programme.
“Following that, Clare visited Lady Eleganza in Dubrovnik, and we were delighted to confirm the charter soon after,” he said. “This first charter was a great success, prompting Ponders Travel to begin planning a second charter in 2025.
“The positive feedback and success of this endeavour have also led to numerous inquiries for similar charters, including on our new luxury river ship in Asia, Mekong Serenity.”
Last month’s Croatian island cruise from Dubrovnik to Zagreb included a night in Zagreb at the end of the trip, and visits to Marco Polo’s birthplace of Korčula and the waterfalls of Krka National Park, as well as six swim stops. The agency also organised onboard entertainment such as quiz nights.
Dudley said: “It felt very exclusive just having my clients on board – we all felt like VIPs. Almost all want to do it again.”
She offered to help other travel agents take on similar ventures. “I’d be happy to help other agents who want to know how to do this. I would not have done it without the encouragement of my team,” she said.