Each issue, cruise expert Jane Archer shares her tips on selling a specific area of cruise. This time, she looks at how to sell cruises in Europe
Have you ever stopped to marvel at how lucky we Brits are when it comes to the varied cruise destinations on our doorstep? On the other side of the Channel, France, Spain and Portugal; further south, the Canary Islands; across the North Sea, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. OK, these places might not have the laid-back allure of the Caribbean or the Med’s promise of scorching summers, but between them they have much to offer. History, culture, fine cities, great food, spectacular wines, fabulous beaches. So that’s sold the idea to you, the agent; now you need to sell it to your clients. Rest assured there is a cruise to suit them all, whether they want the ease of sailing from the UK or prefer to save time by flying in and out. If they like to go large on a resort-style vessel or prefer a small ship, want to take the family or are tight on time, no problem; you can find a cruise to match. We look at options for ex-UK sailings and flycruises in Western and Northern Europe and the Atlantic Isles.
WESTERN EUROPE
This is the designation given to the western shorelines of France, Spain and Portugal that face the Bay of Biscay or Atlantic Ocean. Between them, they are a gift for cruise lines and passengers, offering world-class museums and wineries (think Bilbao and Bordeaux), and spectacular towns and cities such as Lisbon and Santiago de Compostela. Clients can cruise with the family, fly or sail from the UK, have a week away or take their time and see more.
Go large
Who? Royal Caribbean International
Where? France and Spain
When? May 22, 2022
How long? Seven nights
How much? From £609pp
Royal Caribbean’s 4,190-passenger Anthem of the Seas will be ticking off just two ports in France and two in Spain on this voyage across the Bay of Biscay next spring so there’s plenty of time back on board for families to enjoy the numerous restaurants, fun kids’ facilities and exciting activities this ship offers. The cruise is round-trip from Southampton.
Go small
Who? Azamara
Where? Spain
When? September 17, 2022
How long? 13 nights
How much? From £2,438pp
Castanets at the ready, because we’re off on a Spain Intensive cruise on the 702-passenger Azamara Pursuit. Sailing from Bordeaux to Barcelona, it visits seven Spanish ports, Seville – Vigo, Malaga and Cartagena among them – as well as spending time in Lisbon and Gibraltar. Price includes selected drinks and tips. An extra £943pp adds flights and transfers.
Go all-inclusive
Who? Silversea
Where? France, Spain and Portugal
When? September 22, 2022
How long? 12 days
How much? From £5,850pp including flights
Francophiles and art lovers are in for a treat as this cruise calls into Honfleur, St Malo and St Jean de Luz, stays two days in Bordeaux and overnights in Bilbao, home of the Guggenheim Museum. The cruise is from Southampton to Lisbon on Silversea’s 596-passenger Silver Moon. La Coruna and Porto round out the calls. Price includes drinks, one shore excursion per port, tips and Wi-Fi.
A no-fly cruise to the near continent is just the thing for clients nervous of travelling too far from home.
CANARY ISLANDS
The Canary Islands are part of Spain but sit in the Atlantic not far off the coast of North Africa so are blessed with year-round sunshine. Cruise lines mostly visit outside the summer months, seeking out winter sun when the Med has turned chilly. Several offer no-fly cruises from the UK; others base ships in the islands, catering for time-strapped travellers in a hurry to get to the sun. Itineraries vary but most visit three or four islands and include a day in Funchal in Madeira.
Flycruise debut
Who? P&O Cruises
Where? Canary Islands
When? October 21, 2022
How long? 14 nights
How much? From £1,049pp including flights
P&O is making its flycruise debut in the Canary Islands starting October 2022, offering two alternating seven-night cruises on the 3,100-passenger Azura that can be bolted into a longer voyage that gives passengers two days mid-cruise in Tenerife, as well as Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Palma. Two calls into Madeira round out the itinerary. Price includes tips.
Ex-UK
Who? Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Where? Canary Islands
When? March 4, 2022
How long? 12 nights
How much? From £999pp
Fred. Olsen’s 1,338-Bolette is going in search of sun, sand, colonial architecture and volcanic landscapes on this voyage round-trip from Southampton that blends big and small with calls into the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera. The cruise includes six days at sea, so there’s plenty of time to relax, and port calls into Funchal and La Coruna in Spain.
Family-friendly
Who? Marella Cruises
Where? Canary Islands
When? April 19 2022
How long? Seven nights
How much? From £957pp including flights
The 1,924-passenger Marella Explorer is calling into La Palma, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria and overnighting in Funchal on its Canary Island cruises, which run weekly this winter and pick up again in November 2022. This sailing, over the Easter holidays, is round-trip from Tenerife (embarkation also offered in Gran Canaria). Price includes transfers, selected drinks and tips.
A Canary Islands’ cruise offers a sunny escape from the winter blues for a fraction of the cost of the Caribbean.
NORTHERN EUROPE
A cruise to the Low Countries (the Netherlands and Belgium), Germany and Northern France is the easy way to tick off several cities all in one go. Hamburg, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Ghent, Paris. Clients can visit several in just seven nights, enjoying everything from canal and river boat rides to Beatles tours, beer, chocolate and quirky architecture. There’s a good choice of ships and itineraries, most of them round-trip from the UK.
European style
Who? MSC Cruises
Where? Germany, Holland, France and Belgium
When? April 8, 2022
How long? Seven nights
How much? From £519pp
This is one for clients ticking off a city bucket list as in just seven days they’ll visit Hamburg, Le Havre (Paris), Zeebrugge (Bruges and Brussels) and even have a day in Southampton. The cruise is round-trip from Amsterdam (but clients can alternatively sail from Southampton, departing April 5, price from £599pp). It’s on MSC Magnifica, which hosts 3,013 passengers when full. Price includes tips.
A Northern European cruise calling into Germany, Holland and France means you can visit lots of cities but only unpack once.
American style
Who? Crystal Cruises
Where? Holland, Belgium and France
When? August 31, 2022
How long? Eight nights
How much? From £2,646pp
An overnight in Amsterdam, the Floriade horticultural show, beer tasting in Bruges, a cruise along the Seine River in France and two nights in Rouen are among highlights as Crystal’s 848-passenger Crystal Symphony goes exploring across the North Sea and Channel next summer. The cruise is round-trip from Dover. Price includes drinks, Wi-Fi and tips.
British style
Who? Cunard
Where? Holland, Belgium and Germany
When? August 12, 2022
How long? Nine nights
How much? From £899pp
The 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2 is taking a break from her transatlantic duties next summer and instead going in search of medieval history, chocolate shops and Great Masters on this North Sea sojourn from Southampton that calls into Hamburg, Zeebrugge and Rotterdam, before circling back to Hamburg and ending back in the UK.