Australian and New Zealand travel agents have a responsibility to meet the challenge and potential presented by this summer’s wave season. TERRI Bettany, cruise product specialist for Infinity Cruise, Flight Centre’s flagship cruise holiday supplier, believes 2012-13 will be “an incredibly exciting time” for local agents, who need to rise...
Australian and New Zealand travel
agents have a responsibility to
meet the challenge and
potential presented by this
summer’s wave season.
TERRI Bettany, cruise product specialist for
Infinity Cruise, Flight Centre’s flagship cruise
holiday supplier, believes 2012-13 will be “an
incredibly exciting time” for local agents, who
need to rise to the occasion.
“I think this impending cruise season will be
an important test for the industry in Australia
as we have some of the newest ships headed
down this way for the first time and it’s a great
vote of confidence in our growing market,” she
told Cruise Weekly.
“There’s still so much potential for growth
here that it’s up to us as travel agents to
ensure our passengers get the chance to
cruise,” she added.
Until she left her job at Clean Cruising last
month, Bettany was the number-three most
qualified cruise consultant in Australia, based
on the amount of training and practical
shipboard experience that she had undertaken
with the International Cruise Council Australasia.
“I have been fortunate enough to experience
the US market by working onboard with
Princess in future cruise sales and I would
definitely say that we are moving closer to the
US market than ever before,” Bettany said.
“I think the cruise lines are showing confidence
in our market but they do need to realise that
Australian passengers are now getting more
cruise-savvy and have been educated by US
and UK passengers on how to get the best
deals, so we do need competitive deals.”
Martine Hero, who replaces Bettany as
Australia’s number-three ICCA Master Cruise
Consultant, and who also works at Clean
Cruising, said it was unbelievable how rapidly
the local cruise industry had grown.
“I am sure there is enough interest here in
the new ships,” Hero said.
“People who are new to cruising are now
wanting more and love trying new ships, so I
think we will get fantastic repeat cruise
business in the years to come,” she added.
For families, Hero recommends Carnival
Spirit as best value for money with “great
family cruise experiences on board”, and
Holland America ships for older clients who
would prefer a more traditional style of
cruising.
Bettany’s pick of the local options this season
is Royal Caribbean, and internationally, she
believes MSC is the best deal for families.
For older couples, Bettany advises clients take
advantage of the earlybird options with free or
reduced airfares for European river cruises.
