| Vandekreeke: we’re with you, agents

CARNIVAL Cruise Line (CCL) Australia Vice President & General Manager Jennifer Vandekreeke has reinforced to Cruise Weekly how proud she and CCL are of being a part of the Australian cruise market’s growth over the past decade.

As Carnival prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary in Australia next year, as well as its 50th as a cruise line, Vandekreeke spoke of CCL’s unflinching commitment to the Aussie cruise market and the country’s travel advisors, with both facing an uncertain future.

“We fully support the efforts by the Tourism & Transport Forum to try to get support to the trade so they can make it through, because we don’t see the borders opening any time soon, and our travel agents are such a critical and crucial part of this entire industry,” Vandekreeke said.

“It’s heartbreaking to watch the impact to the trade…we need them back… we are doing everything we can to help the travel agents keep some cash in their pockets.

“It’s pretty obvious with all the work we did on Splendor before she came down, we plan on having that ship here for a while.”

Travel advisors have not gone unattended to by Carnival during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Vandekreeke explaining her sales team is now back full-time, and out on the road meeting agents.

Other efforts to support advisors include the development of a future cruise credit toolkit, designed to help convert FCCs into bookings.

Having been tasked with leading Carnival’s first international homeport in Australia in 2012, Vandekreeke has been at the forefront of the country’s cruise industry the past decade, which has been spurred on by its similarity to the American market.

“I knew it was going to be a slam dunk to get Australians to sail with us,” she enthused.

“Intention to cruise is really high…it’s a really great value proposition any way you look at it.

“One of our secrets to our success in the United States is we spread homeports all around the US…there’s so much of the American population that can drive to a Carnival homeport.

“When you look at where we source our guests from in the US, it’s very much along the coast, and when you look at where Australians live, it’s very much along the coast.”

A plethora of celebrations are planned for next year’s milestone, including a range of ‘Sailabrations” – CLICK HERE.