CRUISEWATCH, a platform designating itself as the “first cruise metasearcher”, has gone live in Australia. The service informs consumers of the best time to book a cruise, with Cruisewatch saying it plans to cooperate with business partners to optimise and implement its platform in more countries. However, GlobeNet Travel owner...
CRUISEWATCH, a platform designating itself as the “first cruise metasearcher”, has gone live in Australia.
The service informs consumers of the best time to book a cruise, with Cruisewatch saying it plans to cooperate with business partners to optimise and implement its platform in more countries.
However, GlobeNet Travel owner Dan Russell questioned how consumers would react to Cruiewatch’s lack of human element.
“Australian consumers would have to decide if they’re comfortable booking their cruise holiday with someone on the other side of the planet, rather than a local accredited cruise agency with local consultants who care,” Russell told CW.
“I’m not familiar with any other operators that have succeeded in Australia without a strong local presence with experienced cruise consultants.”
Based in Germany, the platform has been in the United States market for more than four years, and recently raised $1 million to enhance its AI-based prediction engine (CW 30 Sep 2019).
The website claims to offer over 10,000 trips on more than 25 cruise lines, providing a “new form of market transparency” by comparing various price sources and staying up-to-date in the market.
Pictured, founders Titus Keuler and Markus Stumpe.
