Features

2 mins read

Virgin Voyages rolls out £50 Caribbean booking incentive

• The incentive is applicable on a selection of Brilliant Lady's 10-night autumn/winter 2026/27 itineraries from Miami
• Bookings must be during September 2026
• Agents must log all qualifying bookings on firstmateloot.com

Analysis 4 mins read

'How do I maximise the value of a cruise booking?'

• The cruise sector continues to defy trends as consumers prioritise spending on getting away from it all
• Agents must ask their client questions they can get exactly what their customers want from their sailing
• Encouraging customers to book while on board can add value to their sailing

4 mins read

From spectacle to slowness: the rising appeal of small-ship cruising

With research showing a rise in yacht-style cruising, Jack Carter asks why travellers are prioritising slowness over spectacle

Interviews 5 mins read

‘I was instantly wowed’: agents share their verdict on Valiant Lady

From culinary curiosity to '18 to 30s at sea' concern, Jack Carter catches up with four new-to-brand TUI agents during Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship visit to see whether their preconceptions changed having been on board

Cruise Reviews 5 mins read

Discovering the wild beauty of the Hebrides on a Scottish Isles cruise

Surrounded by subtropical flowers one day and shrouded in fog on a remote archipelago the next, Raphael Giacardi delights in the diversity of the Scottish Isles

2 mins read

Help guests escape to the Caribbean in 2027 with NCL

Sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Give your customers even more reason to escape to the white sands of the Caribbean next year by pairing them with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

4 mins read

How small-ship cruising is winning over a new generation of travellers

As cruisers seek out more immersive travel experiences, we examine how small-ship operators such as Windstar Cruises are rising to the challenge

Analysis 6 mins read

Private islands: Is cruise creating a tourism bubble?

Some of the world’s largest cruise lines are using private islands to bolster their itineraries and keep customers in their grasps.

Analysis 2 mins read

Are cruise booking habits finally returning to normal?

Consumer browsing behaviour is gradually returning to normal, but a continued appetite for last-minute cruise bookings shows old habits are hard to shake