We speak to Kelly Calver from Avalon Waterways about her daily routines and her never-to-be-forgotten moments in the cruise industry…

My alarm goes off at…
6am but since I’m an early bird, I’m always awake before that and looking forward to the day ahead. I don’t eat breakfast (yes, I know I should) or drink tea or coffee, so it’s get up, get ready and out on the road.

My job entails…
Supporting our agent partners and managing a portfolio of travel agent accounts and sales calls, delivering training, attending events/roadshows, hosting fam trips, and generally being on hand for any support needed.

I got my job…
Through a travel recruitment company who got in touch after seeing my LinkedIn profile. I applied, interviewed, and happily here I am two and a half years later. Before working for Avalon Waterways, I spent more than six years working in-house at a cruise line as a travel consultant and later as sales manager.

At lunchtime…
Usually it’s a bite to eat in between agent visits. I try to avoid service stations as I can’t resist a double cheeseburger. I do try to plan ahead and bring lunch with me at least a couple of days a week.

A typical day involves…
No day is the same, I could be waking up at home or anywhere across central England ready for in-store training, a day of agent visits or commercial meetings. Alternatively, I might be travelling to a day or evening event.

The most stressful part of my job is…
Traffic jams, road closures and not having any change for parking.

I love it when…
Travel agents get in touch to share their successes. This might be following a training session or event I’ve held and it could see them tell me about something they have shared on social media which has received a great response. This gives me great job satisfaction.

I’ll never forget…
My first river cruise. I had no idea what to expect but it was the most relaxing way I have ever travelled: enjoying a cocktail on the top deck, calmly sailing through major cities and picturesque villages. Docking right in the heart of the destination and being able to just step off and explore. I loved it.