Why sell it

Agents who get on top of selling ocean cruise holidays cannot go wrong. Cruisers are a loyal bunch, taking two or more holidays at sea a year, and most book through the trade, which means lucrative earnings for all.

After almost a year since fears for the spread of Covid-19 forced ships to stop sailing, there is an additional incentive for getting on board with cruise – namely huge demand from seasoned cruisers.

Peter Shanks, Silversea UK and Ireland Managing Director, says: “We know two million people in the UK take a cruise each year and one million are addicted.”

The industry has agreed strict protocols to protect against the virus once ships can sail again, including testing passengers before boarding and regularly during the cruise, reducing capacity to allow for physical distancing and dropping self-service buffets.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International’s President and CEO, says: “The vaccine will be a game-changer; people had to sacrifice summer 2020 so summer 2021 will be a big holiday.”

Who to sell to

There really is a cruise out there for everyone. Floating resorts from the likes of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise

Line, P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line have everything a family could wish for, from specially-designed accommodations and fast-food outlets to fine-dining emporiums and laser tag, water slides, go-karts and many more fun activities.

Not to your client’s’ taste? They might prefer Star Clippers’ sailing ships or an adventure on the high seas on one of the stylish ships being built to take on the icestrewn waters of the Arctic and Antarctica. Sybarites will be in seventh heaven on the ultra-luxury lines’ small ships, where Champagne is on tap.

Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises VicePresident UK and Europe, says the line’s ex-Southampton cruises are in big demand. “Close to home is most popular at the moment,” he reveals.