SMALL ship specialist Cruise Traveller has reported a jump of 27% in 2021 bookings for small ship expeditions, over the same time last year. Managing Director of the Gold-Coast-based wholesaler, Craig Bowen (pictured), said he was buoyed by robust bookings for future departures and resilient confidence amongst loyal cruisers, adding...
SMALL ship specialist Cruise Traveller has reported a jump of 27% in 2021 bookings for small ship expeditions, over the same time last year.
Managing Director of the Gold-Coast-based wholesaler, Craig Bowen (pictured), said he was buoyed by robust bookings for future departures and resilient confidence amongst loyal cruisers, adding he is hopeful the trend will continue over the coming months.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he enthused.
“This is a combination of new 2021 bookings and all the re-bookings from cancelled 2020 sailings, and I am confident that this pattern will continue over coming months.
“Clearly, then, pent-up demand will constrict availability in 2021, particularly for small ships – we had one guest wanting to make a sizeable booking for a Kimberley expedition but a lack of availability next year pushed the booking to 2022.
“I am confident that the resilience and passion for adventure that Australian small ship lovers have shown in the past will make for a strong 2021.
“We have written off 2020, but we can work on tapping obvious demand for 2021 which is what we are doing for our 48 boutique cruise line partners.
“Much of the product we are selling is for mid-2021, with the best-selling product being Riviera Travel River Cruises, Ponant, Adventure Canada, Victory Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat Company.
“We remain extremely confident about the future of the small ship cruise industry.”
In a recent opinion piece supplied to Cruise Weekly, Bowen affirmed his belief in good planning and encouragement as the key to surviving the COVID-19 crisis.
“We have kept our entire team engaged – they worked with me to create the great business we have,” he said.
Cruise Traveller took on the GSA role for several cruise brands following the closure of Cruise Office last year (CW 01 Apr 2019).
