Vacation.com now guarantees private cocktail receptions
and exclusive shore events for its Distinctive Voyages hosted cruise program.
Stephen McGillivray, chief marketing
officer for Travel Leaders Group, told agents attending the Vacation.com 17th
International Conference & Trade Show that the guarantee goes into effect
May 1. Agents applauded the announcement.
Most group cruises include one free tour conductor (TC)
cabin once a certain number of cabins have been sold. In some instances, some
Distinctive Voyages did not sell enough cabins to qualify for the TC benefit.
No TC cabin meant no host to set up private cocktail parties and exclusive
short events, so those clients did not get the expected perks.
To prevent that in the future,
Vacation.com has negotiated agreements with eight cruise lines, whose onboard
guest services staff will meet groups and organize the cocktail receptions and
shore excursions in the absence of a host. The cruise lines are Cunard Line,
Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Holland America Line, Silversea Cruises,
Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.
Kevin Weisner, senior vice
president of sales for Vacation.com, said that the guarantee would make agents
more confident about recommending the hosted cruises.