| SeaDream Australian sales up 40%

The Australian market
continues to account for a
disproportionate percentage of
the luxury yacht company’s
business.
BOB Lepisto, president of SeaDream Yacht
Club, visited Melbourne and Sydney this week
to build on the increasing success of the local
market.
Reporting a record-breaking year, Lepisto
said the company had seen its greatest rise in
Australian clientele, including several charters.
“Year in, year out, we increase our business
in this marketplace,” he said at a media lunch
on Tuesday.
“2012 is up 40% on 2011; last year was up
30% and the year before was up 20%.”
Australians comprise 10% of SeaDream
passengers in the Mediterranean as well as its
new itineraries in the Amazon, and about 10%
book back-to-back voyages, Lepisto said.
“I’m really pleased with the response from
the Australian market to the new places we go.
“The percentage of Australians on our
Amazon voyages is extremely impressive, and I
think it’s because they tend to be very
adventurous.”
He said there was “a good complement” of
Australian guests on the 13-day 2013
circumnavigation of the Black Sea and the
2013 Gallipoli voyage.
“We are finding a lot of Australians are
wanting to pay 100% upfront now because
we’re priced in US dollars,” he said.
Charter business is also booming, with a
significant number of Australian bookings.
“Business from Australia isn’t only individuals
and small groups but also incentive groups and
full charters,” Lepisto said.
“We’ve had five car companies from Australia
in the Med and a private charter for an
Australian businessman’s 60th birthday.”
Charters account for 25% of SeaDream’s total
business, with pricing starting from
US$650,000 per week.
SeaDream will return to the Med, Caribbean,
Black Sea and the Amazon in 2013, including
some Upper Amazon roundtrips from Peru
with extension options to Machu Picchu.
Cabins are still available for 2012 Med
itineraries, Lepisto confirmed.
“We’ve sold out Black Sea, and the Caribbean
is such a big air ticket from here, but we have
good quality space left in the Med, which we
are looking to fill in a positive way.”
For details, see www.seadream.com.