Tag Archives: Travel agents

Virgin Voyages Introduces Golden Ink Awards For Agents

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Virgin Voyages has confirmed its first-ever First Mate Spectacular Soire and Golden Ink Awards, in a get-together cruise for its travel agents, according to a press release.

The cruise line will invite the top 100 North American “First Mates” with the most bookings between November 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022, to come aboard for a complimentary cruise in January, according to Virgin Voyages.

“Our First Mates have always been in our corner, so we wanted to find a way to celebrate their commitment to this incredible brand. The Golden Ink Awards are one of the only advisor-focused awards in the cruising industry. It’s so important that we take the time to show First Mates our appreciation and to treat them to the same incredible experience that their clients have loved,” said John Diorio, vice president of North American sales, Virgin Voyages.

The four-night cruise aboard the Valiant Lady will depart from Miami on January 4, 2023, and will take guests to Key West and Bimini, as well as a stop at Virgin Voyages’ Beach Club. Each First Mate participant will be invited to bring a guest to share the experience on a sea terrace cabin and will receive $200 in onboard credit. There will also be representatives from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) onboard.

The First Mate Spectacular Soiree will also include a cocktail party, exclusive cabin drops, educational opportunities, and the first-ever Golden Ink Awards, which will recognize the top agents in a variety of categories, ranging from sales manager-nominated categories to best creative marketing.

With a deadline of October 31, 2022, the company has not yet finalized its top 100 list, so agents still have time to book their clients and earn a spot on the coveted list. First Mates can increase bookings by reminding clients of any remaining Future Voyage Credits, booking reservations of 10 or more cabins, taking advantage of the line’s new Match and Sea More project, and using Virgin Voyages’ LetsGoBook platform.

Demand for Weddings at would be there, say Travel Agents

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Agents believe there would be demand for cruise ship weddings should the law be changed to broaden the range of venues where weddings can take place.

Couples in England and Wales could soon be free to tie the knot onboard cruise ships under new recommendations to reform wedding law put forward by the Law Commission.
The commission has branded the current legislation “confusing, out-of-date and restrictive”, and stressed it is preventing people from getting married in “more meaningful” settings.

Asked by the government to review the law, the commission on Tuesday (18 July) recommended focusing regulation on the officiant responsible for the wedding rather than the venue.

“This reform would open up a wider range of locations for couples to get married,” said the commission. “Permitted venues would include gardens, beaches, forests, parks, village halls and cruise ships.”

Bolsover Cruise Club sales manager Helen Moore told TTG that demand for weddings at sea was “definitely there”. “It offers an affordable alternative to land-based ceremonies, and all the stress of the planning and logistics is taken care of,” she said.

“Family and friends can embark on the ship together, but don’t need to be in each other’s pockets throughout the duration of the cruise. For the bride and groom, there is the option to book a suite on board to make their trip extra special.”

Moore added: “There’s no more romantic setting than being at sea, and the honeymoon is also taken care of at the same time.”

Travel Counsellor Emma Otter, who has already booked a couple to get married on Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess next year, described the possibility of being able to tie the knot at sea as an “exciting addition” to the cruise.

“Couples may have considered a wedding abroad but the flying or the addition of elderly relatives may have stopped them,” she said. “A cruise ship wedding would mean nobody is excluded, especially those that can’t or don’t want to fly.”

Otter added the reforms, should they go ahead, would likely introduce cruising to wedding guests who may never have cruised before, which she said would come as a “boost” to the industry.

Cruise lines will need agents “more than ever”

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Cruise lines will need agents “more than ever” as the sector emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic over the next year.

Martin Alcock, director at Travel Trade Consultancy, said that cruise “would take a bit longer to bounce back” from the crisis than other parts of the travel industry.

But he added there was significant growth potential as cruise still represents just a “small portion” of the overall holiday market.

“It’s always been a complicated product to sell and cruise lines will need agents more than ever,” said Alcock during Barclays’ Travel Industry State of the Nation online event. “There will be more commission and more in the way of overrides.”

Alcock said that one of the “upsides” to this year’s crisis was that it had “accelerated” the retirement of older vessels which would reduce worldwide cruise capacity by 8%-10% in 2021. Fleets will also be more efficient and sustainable as they comprise more modern ships.

“The 10% reduction in capacity will help from a price perspective,” he added. “There’s plenty of opportunities to grow.”

Alcock said that while the cruise industry’s core demographic had been “more affected” by the pandemic than other age groups, they were also likely to be “inoculated more quickly than other demographics”.


“Cruise has unfairly had a disproportionate share of bad press but I don’t think it’s terrible news. It’s not a total disaster,” he added.

Alistair Pritchard, travel and aviation lead partner at Deloitte, said the extra complexities created by a combination of Covid and Brexit would lead to more consumers looking to the trade for advice and support.

“They [agents] will need to help support customers across the whole journey – not just when booking,” he added. “They [customers] want advice just before travelling and whilst they are abroad. That’s where the consumer wants to support.”