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

Jo Eccleston, regional sales manager, TUI

Having worked for TUI for 34 years, Jo has sailed with almost every cruise line going, though she’s never stepped foot on a Virgin Voyages ship. Her perception of the line was that it was “party, party, party” and she was concerned the vessel would feel cold, industrial and lack personality.

“Stepping on board I was instantly wowed. I don’t like big ships, but I don’t feel like I’ve been on board one today. On traditional ocean ships you often get big 1,000-seater dining rooms with large crystal chandeliers and it can be quite overwhelming. Valiant Lady has lots of small spaces, and I loved its intimacy.

“That being said, the only thing I would want to be bigger and more open was the pool area.

“I’m huge on food and I like to eat different cuisines, so I was a big fan of the choice of restaurants. I knew the food was going to be good, but I didn’t anticipate how high the quality would be.

“Overall, it’s definitely impressed me. Two weeks ago I’d have said Virgin Voyages probably wasn’t for me but I absolutely think it is now.”

Who is the ideal Virgin Voyages guest?

“Normally when you’re on a cruise, the ship has a personality. However, different areas of this ship suit different personalities and I feel like guests will be able to find zones and areas that match their vibe.

“I think this is much more suited for older guests than I initially thought. I speak to customers who are 60+ and quite often they say they’ve been on a cruise and there wasn’t enough excitement on board. I was thinking late 30s early 40s but I would definitely push up to mid-sixties, easily.”

Luke Costim, TUI Bury St Edmunds

Virgin Voyages hasn’t historically been front of mind for Luke, though recently it has become more and more prevalent in his conversations with customers. Similarly to Jo, he also assumed the line was a bit of a party cruise, comparing it to an 18-30s holiday at sea.

“Coming on board today a lot of my preconceptions have been dispelled. Obviously, it has the nightclub venue [The Manor], but a lot of large cruise ships have those these days.

“When I first embarked, I thought the atrium was really warm and had a glowy feel, and I enjoyed the cosy spaces available on board.

“However, I felt the corridors were quite bare and I felt that let the ship down a little bit. Same with the back of the ship, which didn’t have the same feel as other areas on board.

“Overall, it definitely exceeded my expectations.”

Who is the ideal Virgin Voyages guest?

“Before coming on I’d have said travellers who are 35 and under, but I think there is something for everybody.

“That’s not to say that if an 80-year-old customer walked into our store I would recommend them a Virgin Voyages holiday, but I’d say this is a good option for someone who is middle aged and looking for a different vibe to P&O Cruises or Marella.

Katie Blackwell, TUI Westfield Stratford

Having never cruised before, Katie says she attended the ship visit not knowing an awful lot about Virgin Voyages. She was excited to experience the restaurants as dining is a key consideration for her customers, the majority of whom book high-end holidays with the Caribbean making up 80 per cent of her business.

“I always thought cruising was for older people and that maybe I’m too young for it, but I feel I would enjoy this cruise. It has the liveliness that I like but it has areas where I can have some quiet time as well, which my customers would also appreciate.

“Quality dining is very important for my customers. Most of the holidays we sell are all-inclusive, so they’re used to dining in nice hotels. The restaurants we’ve seen today are on par with that and I could quite comfortably sell this as an alternative to a Caribbean holiday.

“However, I agree with Luke when he says the corridor areas were disappointing. To get dressed up to enjoy the nice restaurants and live music venues to then walk into those hallways felt like a missed opportunity. It should have mirrors so you can see how glamourous you look!”

Who is the ideal Virgin Voyages guest?

“I was thinking about the dynamics of my family when I was exploring the ship – me and my partner are in our late 40s, my children are in their 20s and my parents are in their late 60s.

“I was in one area thinking my daughter would love this, then I was in a different are thinking this would be great for my mum and dad.

“If you’ve got a family that are going with their parents and older grandchildren, then I think it could work across the board. You have your own areas but then you can come together as well.”

Michelle Cave, TUI Peterborough

Like her colleagues, Michelle began the day thinking Valiant Lady was a party ship, saying that if a traditional cruise-goer walked into her store she wouldn’t immediately recommend a Virgin Voyages cruise.

“I expected it to feel vast and huge, but actually it felt very comforting. I saw lots of smiles and everyone looked very happy. I love that feeling of stepping on a ship that makes you feel as if you’ve left all your worries behind. The whole ship was very welcoming – you got a real sense that you were going to be well looked after and really enjoy your holiday.

“When you stay in a hotel it can be hard to predict what your experience is going to be like. On a cruise, you can confidently say you will be looked after and I feel reassured from what I’ve seen that this would be the case with Virgin Voyages.”

Who is the ideal Virgin Voyages guest?

“If you’ve got someone who’s been on quite a few cruises but feel they’re a bit samey, then you could easily suggest they switch it up and try Virgin Voyages.

“Similarly, young couples who have healthy budgets who are unsure where they want to go next could also be well suited to this cruise.

“Someone who’s looking for their ideal holiday but perhaps they haven’t travelled to many places. If they like good food and exploring different destinations, then a Virgin Voyages cruise could be idea.”