THE pending closure of Cruise Office at the end of the year (CW breaking news Fri) will see Cruise Traveller take over representation for American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) and Victory Cruise Lines (VCL), while Cruise Office’s other key supplier, Voyages to Antiquity, will not offer a 2020 program. Cruise...
THE pending closure of Cruise Office at the end of the year (CW breaking news Fri) will see Cruise Traveller take over representation for American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) and Victory Cruise Lines (VCL), while Cruise Office’s other key supplier, Voyages to Antiquity, will not offer a 2020 program.
Cruise Office has been in operation for many years, with former GSAs also including Oceania Cruises and Swan Hellenic parent company All Leisure Holidays Group.
More recently the portfolio had been reduced to the three current clients, and now Voyages to Antiquity’s Aegean Odyssey has been chartered for three years to US educational tour specialist Road Scholar.
Cruise Office MD David Bunn said as a result of the change the company had decided “to wind down its business over the next eight months”.
He said Cruise Traveller would look after AQSC and VCL’s 2020 seasons effective immediately, while Cruise Office would continue to process all deposited and fully-paid FIT or group 2019 departure bookings.
Booking terms and commissions remain unchanged, and all current promotional support for agents and wholesalers will continue without change.
“I sincerely thank all agents and agencies for their enthusiastic support over the years, in making it possible to introduce and successfully grow those cruise lines we have represented in Australia,” Bunn said.
Cruise Traveller MD, Craig Bowen, said he looked forward to working with all trade partners to “grow both these wonderful brands moving forward.
“Both of these boutique products perfectly fit the style and expertise of our company that we have developed over the last 16 years,” Bowen added.
MEANWHILE the changes also apply to Cruise Holidays, Cruise Office’s sister company in NZ.
Across the Tasman AQSC and VCL will switch representation to Cruise World, which has some of the same directors as Cruise Traveller including Joseph and Donal O’Sullivan.
Bunn said “we know AQSC/VCL will now enjoy the next phase of their growth in this market with Cruise World, whose cruise experience and knowledge spans 25 years in New Zealand”.
