VIVA Cruises has partnered with Cruise Plus, enhancing booking options for UK travel agents.
- The collaboration allows agents to book Rhine, Danube, or Seine itineraries, marking a milestone.
- Announced at Amsterdam’s CLIA RiverView Conference, it showcases VIVA’s new ship, VIVA One.
- VIVA’s CEO, Andrea Kruse, highlights the expansion as a premium river cruise experience.
- Cruise Plus aims to streamline the booking process, supporting travel agents.
In a strategic move set to expand booking opportunities within the cruise industry, VIVA Cruises has entered into a noteworthy partnership with Cruise Plus. This collaboration is designed to provide UK travel agents with enhanced capabilities to book European river itineraries. The initiative marks a significant milestone for both companies, enabling agents to offer their clients exquisite journeys on the Rhine, Danube, and Seine rivers.
The announcement, made at the CLIA RiverView Conference in Amsterdam, coincided with the debut of VIVA’s latest vessel, VIVA One. This event served as a backdrop to underline the importance of the partnership. Andrea Kruse, CEO of VIVA Cruises, expressed enthusiasm about this development. She stated, “This collaboration with Cruise Plus marks an exciting chapter for VIVA Cruises. By integrating our itineraries into the Cruise Plus platform, [the line] is expanding its reach and providing travel agents with a new premium river cruise experience for their customers.”
The sentiment expressed by Mark Henderson, head of specialist product at Cruise Plus, reiterates the alliance’s strategic alignment. He remarked, “Our commitment to enhancing the travel agent experience aligns perfectly with VIVA Cruises’ mission of delivering exceptional journeys to its guests. With this agreement, we are streamlining the booking process, allowing agents to focus on what they do best: creating unforgettable memories for travellers.” This streamlined process is expected to allow travel agents to dedicate more time to designing memorable journeys, stressing the importance of efficiency in the current market landscape.
VIVA Cruises, renowned for its fleet of eight ships navigating major European waterways, is on the precipice of introducing a ninth ship, VIVA Enjoy, by year-end. Additionally, it has been disclosed that the cruise line will initiate Douro itineraries starting May 2025. Such expansions denote VIVA’s proactive steps toward growth and diversification in the river cruise sector.
Furthermore, Ellen Bettridge, CEO of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, during the same conference, shared insights into the prosperity within the river cruise market, noting a positive trajectory in guest demand. This outlook is reflective of a broader industry trend, with expectations of substantial growth in luxury ocean markets.
The partnership between VIVA Cruises and Cruise Plus significantly enhances agent booking capabilities, promising a refined customer experience.
