Norwegian Cruise Line recognises the importance of face-to-face interaction with agents, highlighting significant benefits.
- The trade team has recently undergone restructuring with new positions and plans for further expansion.
- Gary Anslow, regional vice-president, emphasises the value of personal contact in boosting trade sales.
- Trade sales account for the majority of NCL’s UK bookings, achieving a new record.
- Upcoming inaugural sailing event for UK agents to experience the latest cruise offerings.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is strategically enhancing its UK trade sales team, acknowledging the ‘huge’ advantages of maintaining face-to-face communication with travel agents. The recent restructuring saw the addition of two field-based roles alongside a training-focused position for Laura Croft, reflecting the company’s commitment to bolstering its trade engagement.
Gary Anslow, regional vice-president and head of UK and Ireland for NCL, has announced forthcoming plans to further strengthen the trade team. This approach underlines NCL’s view of the UK as a growth market, buoyed by both organic growth and increased ship capacity.
Anslow highlighted the significance of personal contact, stating, “We know there’s nothing that beats the level of personal contact you can have with a travel agent at the frontline.” This strategy is pivotal for NCL as trade sales compose two-thirds of its bookings in the UK, aiding the company in achieving record-breaking sales this year.
Entering 2025, NCL is positioned to be at its strongest in terms of pre-sold cruises, thanks largely to a forward-shifted booking curve. “Our booked lead time has continued to increase,” Anslow noted, emphasising the importance of early product launches which align with the tendency of early bookers to choose premium ship accommodations and spend more on board.
NCL plans to host 1,550 UK agents for a three-day cruise from Southampton on Norwegian Aqua in 2025. This initiative, described by Anslow as “a great three days,” aims to offer agents a firsthand experience of NCL’s latest Prima Plus class ship, fostering deeper trade relationships.
Current market trends in the UK indicate a rise in solo and multigenerational travellers, with NCL targeting the nascent cruise market. Anslow asserted, “The opportunity for cruise in general is to bring people from land-based holidays onto cruise.” NCL prides itself on offering flexible dining options, positing itself as a prime candidate for those transitioning from land to sea vacations.
By expanding its trade team and enhancing agent engagement, NCL is set to solidify its presence in the UK cruise market.
