Clockwise from top left: Gareth Harding; Kieran Eccles-Miller; Sarah Hook; and Mark Henderson
The cruise industry’s wave season traditionally takes place between January and March, when deals can help incentivise customers to book. We’ve pulled together an expert panel of Clia Cruise Masters, which includes Gareth Harding, luxury travel designer, Travelosophers; Mark Henderson, head of specialist product, Gold Medal; Kieran Eccles-Miller, personal travel consultant, Magical Traveller; and Sarah Hook, cruise consultant,
Iglu Cruise, and here is their forecast for the ships and the destinations that should see plenty of interest this year.
Which cruises will you be marketing heavily?
Gold Medal’s Mark Henderson: There are so many unique cruise itineraries available in Asia, and we suspect Celebrity Millennium will be a popular choice as we head into 2024. When clients book a Celebrity Cruises voyage with Cruise Plus, they can tailor-make their holiday; whether that be a cruise around the Indochina coastline and then onwards to Bali for a beach break, or a sail around Japan before exploring on land as part of a tour.
Travelosophers’ Gareth Harding: I’m excited about the return of the newly refurbished Crystal Cruises – the exceptional levels of service (almost 1:1 staff to passenger ratio) and impressive space onboard (other lines would carry almost 500 more guests on ships this size). For those who prefer a smaller vessel, it’s great to see Oceania Cruises returning to Alaska with Regatta. With only 690 guests at full occupancy and a relaxed, country house feel, she is an ideal size for exploring the region and calling at some smaller ports that larger ships can’t reach, plus there’s delicious dining and expert speakers onboard.
Iglu Cruise’s Sarah Hook: Our biggest seller will likely be P&O Cruises. Its six ships sailing from Southampton to the Mediterranean during summer are always popular and there’s limited availability for three and four-berth cabins in school holidays. The newest ship, Arvia, with mini golf, high ropes, infinity pools and an escape room, has sold well and this looks set to continue in 2024. We also find Britannia and Arvia’s two-week cruises to the Caribbean for winter sun are easy to sell, with the free coach transfers offered by P&O Cruises to and from Southampton a unique proposition.
Magical Travellers’ Kieran Eccles-Miller: I work with my husband Phil and our primary focus is on Virgin Voyages, which sells well with our core demographic; with enticing itineraries and UK departures, Virgin has been a strong performer. Despite challenges with flight costs in 2023, we anticipate increased interest in Med sailings across all lines for 2024.
