Mandy Semper and Adaline Nicholson book Cunard holidays following insightful ship visits.
- Mandy Semper joined a four-night familiarisation trip on Cunard’s Queen Anne in August.
- Adaline Nicholson visited Queen Mary 2, leading to her own Norwegian Fjords cruise booking.
- Cunard’s trip programme has effectively showcased its diverse and inclusive offerings.
- Over 250 agents to be reached in Cunard’s extensive sales initiative during Cruise Week.
In a testament to the influence of hands-on experience, travel agents Mandy Semper and Adaline Nicholson have planned their personal voyages with Cunard after participating in the line’s engaging familiarisation and ship visit programmes. Following her visit, Semper booked a seven-night cruise exploring the Norwegian Fjords, and she was particularly enthralled by the relaxed ambiance and the diverse age range aboard Queen Anne. She commented on the exceptional quality of the food and the broad array of dining options available, alongside her appreciation for the informative Cunard Insight speakers, noting that she found the line to be more accessible and diverse than she’d previously assumed.
Similarly, Nicholson’s experience aboard the Queen Mary 2 in Liverpool during September was instrumental in her decision to reserve her own Norwegian Fjords expedition. She expressed admiration for the ship’s timeless elegance and highlighted her enhanced confidence in promoting and booking Cunard cruises, corroborating the perception that Cunard can appeal to a broad demographic.
Cunard’s strategy this year, which included two agent familiarisation trips, further underlines its commitment to effectively communicating the breadth of its offerings. The upcoming ship visits planned for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in Hamburg and Amsterdam respectively are part of Cunard’s ambitious 2024 itinerary which features ten events in major UK cities, designed to engage more than 250 travel agents from across 70 stores.
Tom Mahoney, Cunard’s UK sales director, underscored the importance of these initiatives, celebrating the fact that both Semper and Nicholson were inspired to book their holidays, showing clear evidence of the benefits of providing agents with first-hand experience of the Cunard cruise experience.
Agents participating in such programmes are afforded the opportunity to apply points to their bookings, a scheme embraced by Jane Chadwick, a cruise specialist who marked her 20th wedding anniversary on a Queen Victoria voyage. This innovative points system allows agents to make incremental payments, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to agent engagement.
Cunard’s interactive experiences strongly influence travel agents’ personal endorsements, highlighting the line’s appeal and effectiveness.
