Jami Sales, managing director of UncommonCruises.com, tells Travel Agent in the US that agents should get themselves "pumped up" about the new cruise ships launching this year "then pick up the phone and let clients know that something very exciting is going on - and that you want to be sure they know about it."
I'm with Jami on this. She might be talking about the US market but there's nothing British cruisers like better than to think they are among the first passengers on a new ship. And why not? We all love new things.
With nine new ships coming out this year (that's excluding three others not on sale in the UK), ranging from uber-luxury with Yachts of Seabourn and Silversea to fun in the sun with Carnival Cruise Lines, there's got to be one that appeals to everyone.
You can have big or small - sizes range from Viking River Cruises' 189-passenger Viking Legend to Royal Caribbean International's 5,400-passenger behemoth Oasis of the Seas - Italian style courtesy of Costa and MSC Cruises, or go green with Celebrity Cruises' next Solstice-class ship - that's the one with real grass on top. Anyone for croquet?
Jane Archer
