Vicky Billing, head of trade & partnerships UK & Ireland for Riviera Travel, joins Cruise Corner to tell us more about the river line's latest solo offering and its plans to strengthen its agent support as we head into peak season
Cruise Corner: Riviera Travel's Vicky Billing
Related articles
AI vs travel agents: what does the future of cruise retail look like?
- The number of people using AI for holiday inspiration has doubled year-on-year, with 43 per cent now confident to some degree in letting AI plan their holiday
- Agents are increasingly acting as “curators and translators”, helping customers navigate a cruise market spanning ocean, river, expedition, ultra-luxury and yacht-style sailings
- Industry leaders believe AI will take on more research and administration, freeing the trade to spend more time building relationships
Wellness at Sea: Crystal helps guests unwind with new sailings
- The itineraries are curated by Dalila Roglieri, the line’s wellness ambassador and culinary nutritionist
- Each sailing is built around four core pillars designed to support a holistic approach to self-care
- Guests will enjoy yoga, functional fitness, Pilates-inspired movement, culinary nutrition workshops and one-on-one consultations
How Riviera Travel is leading the charge in solo holidays
- The river cruise line will debut the first-ever solos-only river ship in 2027
- The line's single traveller bookings have increased by 34 per cent year on year
- Nearly three quarters of MS George Eliot’s 2027 capacity has been sold via agents
Alaska calling: exploring the 49th US state with NCL
- NCL offers Alaska sailings from Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier and more
- For a classic introduction to Alaska, Norwegian Joy offers a seven-day round-trip sailing from Seattle
- Agents can upgrade customers to the line’s Free at Sea™ package from £249pp* on seven- to eight-day cruises
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
'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
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
‘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