Sponsored by Cruise Plus
Boost your wave 2025 sales with Cruise Plus and be in with a chance of winning a cruise‑and-stay holiday fund worth £4,000
Boasting partnerships with the world’s leading cruise operators and airlines, more than 25 touring companies and a portfolio of over 100,000 hotels, Cruise Plus has been helping travel agents craft their clients’ dream holidays for the best part of 20 years.
Indeed, the Gold Medal sister brand’s collection of exceptional itineraries provides an impressive array of pre- and post-cruise experiences that perfectly complement a holiday at sea.
And now, with the wave period on the horizon, Cruise Plus is giving agents the chance to win a £4,000 holiday fund to spend on their own cruise‑and-stay escape. The winning agent can choose to go anywhere they like, with the Cruise Plus experts on hand to tailor their ideal itinerary, combining flights, hotel stays, tours and cruising.
To enter, agents need to make a Cruise Plus package booking between now and 31 October 2024. All bookings will be entered into a prize draw before winners are chosen.
To help the trade ramp up their cruise-and-stay holidays during the competition period, Cruise Plus has published a variety of marketing assets, including a printed book which has been sent to more than 300 agents across the UK to rack in store.
In addition to this, posters, social media assets and a wealth of information are available for agents to download and share via Cruise Plus’ campaign hub, which can be found at goldmedal.co.uk/cruise-plus.
Why choose Cruise Plus?
The package holiday operator’s vast partnership network means it can give travel agents access to out-of-date range flights that are unavailable to most consumers, as well as favourable accommodation rates. This lets Cruise Plus package cruise‑and‑stay holidays into late 2025 and into 2026 to meet growing market demand.
Mark Henderson, head of specialist product, Cruise Plus, explains: “Over the past few months, our team has seen a great increase for enquiries and bookings travelling in what we’d consider a more traditional departure lead time for the cruise sector, with an average of 70 per cent of bookings now departing six months to a year out from time of booking.
“We’ve also seen departures more than 365 days out increase by over 18 per cent. This is following a period of time where ‘lates’ were strong for Cruise Plus.”
To meet the ever-changing market requirements for today’s discerning travellers, Cruise Plus has split its carefully crafted itineraries into three departure periods. These include offers departing before April 2025, ideal for those still seeking last-minute winter sun; summer 2025, which includes family-friendly options – a holiday type that has grown by more than 20 per cent year on year; and autumn winter 2025/26, supported by out-of-date-range flights.
Agents who look out for the ‘plus’ icon on each of the website’s bespoke itineraries can read more about the incredible experiences that make each holiday unique. There, they can find stays in captivating cities or hidden gem locations, iconic rail journeys, escorted tours from trusted partners and attraction tickets for added excitement.
Luxury on the up
Since the start of April 2023, Cruise Plus has seen its luxury sales grow by 338 per cent, outpacing all other sectors of the market. This has led to the growth of its high-end travel venture, Luxury by Cruise Plus, with Regent Seven Seas recently being added to its portfolio of high-end operators. The line joins Seabourn, Silversea, Explora Journeys, Azamara, Oceania Cruises and Ponant in its portfolio.
“The launch of new luxury cruise ships throughout 2023 and 2024 has helped increase travellers’ awareness and excitement for luxury cruising,” says Henderson.
“This sector of the market continues to attract those who may be new to cruise too, seeing guests transition from luxury land-based properties to small luxurious cruise ships that offer clients the highest levels of service and cuisine, along with excellent entertainment and relaxation options.
“These ships often focus on experiences in each destination, with more stops, longer stays in port, or overnights in key locations across the world, meaning guests feel they are receiving even more from their holiday.”