Sister cruise lines Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery and Hebridean Island Cruises have been brought together under a new trade-facing umbrella brand, All Discovery Cruising, which has been launched simultaneously with a video training programme for agents.
It's all designed to help agents learn more about the three cruise lines so they can give good advice to customers looking for a small-ship discovery-style voyage.
The three cruise lines each has one ship - Voyages of Discovery has the 708-passenger Discovery; Swan Hellenic the 394-passenger Minerva and Hebridean Island Cruises the 49-passenger Hebridean Princess.
The training uses video and voiceovers from the lines' sales managers to explain the difference between the three brands, including their customer profiles and price points.
All Leisure Group, which owns all three cruise lines, acquired the 508-passenger Alexander von Humboldt last year. It is currently being operated by Germany's Phoenix Reisen and will join the All Leisure fleet in 2011.
There's still no hint which brand it will join - or if it will be used to start a new cruise line. Anyone care to lay some bets?
Jane Archer
