{"id":3637,"date":"2011-10-06T00:31:00","date_gmt":"2011-10-06T00:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/?p=3637"},"modified":"2011-10-06T00:31:00","modified_gmt":"2011-10-06T00:31:00","slug":"icca-extols-small-ship-cruising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/2011\/10\/icca-extols-small-ship-cruising\/","title":{"rendered":"ICCA Extols Small Ship Cruising"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ICCA GM, Brett Jardine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Within the cruise industry we all know there are many different types of cruise holidays but are you getting this message through to your clients.<\/p>\n

Consumers thrive on making a purchase that offers great value. The words \u2018cruising\u2019 and \u2018great value\u2019 go hand in hand but it is important to note that value does not come down to price alone.<\/p>\n

For some, a large ship experience at a lower price point is good value, for others a small ship cruise experience at a higher price point is good value.<\/p>\n

How do you determine where your client fits \u2013 QUALIFY them! Small ship \u201ccruise passengers\u201d tend to dream of visiting more off the beaten track destinations and look for a fulfilling experience at such places.<\/p>\n

How many clients have you offered a cruise holiday to, only to be told \u201cno thanks, a cruise is not for me\u201d? I\u2019ll bet most of these people only consider a cruise to be a large ship with thousands of people and really have no idea of (a) what a large ship experience really can offer or (b) that there are other possibilities such as a small ship experience that will in fact meet their holiday expectations in every respect. In many areas small ship cruising provides a very different experience from what clients expect of a cruise holiday.<\/p>\n

A few of the following points may help you to define such an experience with clients in the future. Smaller more intimate ships; focus on the destination rather than the ship; potentially flexible itineraries; fewer but like-minded passengers; more personal experience (with other guests and crew); usually informal (more likely casual rather than glamour) and in most cases single open seat dining.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you can find plenty of clients that will see some value in an option like this! <\/p>\n