Global sales at Regent Seven Seas cruise line have eclipsed last year
Australians are a driving force behind the Regent Seven Seas cruise line eclipsing last year’s global sales for the same period.
Global sales at Regent Seven Seas cruise line have eclipsed last year, as Australians in particular favour booking longer Mediterranean and northern European cruises.
Regent Seven Seas global chief sales officer Steve Odell said the combination of itineraries which offer longer time in ports coupled with a strong events and marketing program had resonated with Australians.
“More than half of our customers are first-time cruisers, our marketing is working,” Mr Odell said. He said January and February 2024 bookings had broken last year’s record for the same months.
Regent Seven Seas, which was set up 31 years ago, is owned by the Nasdaq-listed Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings – the world’s third largest cruise line – based in Miami.
Despite the strong sales in the luxury cruising category Sydney-based Mr Odell, who is soon to relocate to Miami, said he was saddened by the recent decision by Virgin Voyages to quit Australia early after its first season.
The US-based all-adults cruise line blamed heightened tensions in the Red Sea for its recent announcement that it would cancel all of its cruises into Australia.
Virgin Voyages announced it was cancelling all cruises by Resilient Lady to Australia starting later 2024 and early 2025.
In a statement Virgin Voyages said “we remain very concerned about potential escalations in the Red Sea over the next 12 months.
“This significant and ongoing conflict puts unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region for our sailors, crew and vessel (Resilient Lady). As a result, we have been left with no choice but to cancel our 2024/25 voyage season plans for Resilient Lady, impacting the late 2024 and early 2025 repositioning voyages between Europe and Australia and a second sailing season in Australian waters.”
Mr Odell said another new entrant to Australia, Disney Cruise Lines, had made it work.
“It’s been great to have the addition of new capacity this year … it’s been great for consumers. (But) it’s disappointing when a new brand in season one chooses to give it up.”
Mr Odell said a Regent Seven Seas new itinerary offering several ports, with longer overnight stays in each, including the cities of Shanghai with a two-night stay, Osaka with an overnighter and Tokyo with an overnighter was popular because guests could get more out of a destination.
“Regent has a great following for food and wine loving guests. If we do overnight stays we take our guests to the city’s best restaurants,” he said.
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