Your October 2024 Update from Michael Wilson

Hello and welcome to my October update!

October is traditionally an important and busy month, and this year is no exception with anticipated programme launches for two of the major UK cruise brands, P&O Cruises and Cunard. You will soon receive advance information about their new 2026/27 winter season itineraries, which, of course, include the incredible world voyages! I would recommend that you take a minute to ensure your email preferences are up to date to make sure you do not miss out on these brand-new collections of sailings as soon as they become available. We will be releasing details of these launches very soon, but pre-registration for the P&O Cruises collection will open on 14 October, before going on sale to Caribbean, Baltic and Ligurian tier members on 22 October. You can find all the important P&O Cruises dates you need for your diary on our website.

I’ll comment later on these new programmes but, as usual, we will be offering you the chance to pre-register for your chosen sailings before they go on sale. This will give you the opportunity to register your specific requirements with us, which we will book for you as soon as they go on sale. The pre-registration process is something we have perfected over the years and, together with our bespoke booking system connected to P&O Cruises and Cunard, I am confident in achieving close to 100% success for our clients. I firmly believe no other agent can match our pre-registration process and help you obtain the cruise and accommodation of your choice! Passengers with mobility issues that can impact negotiating stairs are particularly urged to book immediately, as space for evac chairs has reduced significantly with limited options on each sailing.

On the subject of limited availability, a recent industry update from Carnival Corporation – which includes cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard, Princess Cruises – revealed that its sailings are already around 50% occupied for 2025. Not only does this emphasise the growing popularity of cruising, but also stresses how important it is to secure your chosen sailing as early as possible. If there is a particular cruise line or itinerary you have your eye on, especially for next year, then I would recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment.

As I have mentioned, October is an especially busy month for new programme releases. Celebrity Cruises revealed its 2026/27 itineraries last week, which showed that Celebrity Apex would once again be returning to Southampton, offering a selection of Arctic Circle and Norwegian Fjords itineraries. Meanwhile, Ambassador, one of the newer cruise lines we partner with, has released its latest programme. This no-fly cruise line is unique in that it offers departures from a number of regional ports across the UK, including Dundee, Newcastle and Liverpool, as well as London Tilbury. The cruise line’s two ships, Ambience and Ambition, will visit various destinations across Europe and the Caribbean throughout the 2026/27 season, making this an ideal option if you would rather sail directly from the UK. We will publish details of all these new sailings on our website when they go on sale on 9 October, so please give us a call if there is anything we can help you with.

For a first-hand glimpse of what life is like on an Ambassador cruise, make sure you are following us on social media. Kleo, one of our Cruise Experts, recently enjoyed sailing on board Ambience to the Norwegian Fjords; she has returned with glowing feedback for Ambassador, which you will be able to see on Facebook and Instagram over the coming days.

We also currently have a couple of team members about to embark on Marella Cruises, which we began working with a few months ago. Demand for this all-inclusive cruise line has proved to be strong, so I was delighted that we were invited on board to experience Marella for ourselves. Maddy and Shauna are joining the Adriatic Delights sailing on Marella Explorer 2, where they will receive the all-inclusive treatment, including flights, transfers and an onboard drinks package. They will be sharing their thoughts on social media, and you will be able to read a full account in a future issue of Into the Blue.

Speaking of Into the Blue, our team are currently working on the next issue, which will be landing with you next month. This award-winning magazine is a firm favourite among our Cruise Club Members, who receive their complimentary bi-monthly copy directly through their door. If you are not already signed up for Into the Blue, please follow this link and add your details, and we will make sure you receive your free copy of future editions.

Many of you will have recently received a copy of our latest Cruise & Stay Collection, which is packed with inspiration for your next holiday. Our dedicated team have put together a wide range of getaways covering all corners of the globe, pairing wonderful cruises with memorable hotels, tours and even rail journeys! You can view the brochure online and, as always, if there is anything that catches your eye, then be sure to give us a call. Bear in mind that we can create any Cruise & Stay holiday you have in mind, so don’t hesitate to speak to our team on 01246 819819 to discuss your exact requirements.

As planned, the new phone system went live on Tuesday, 24 September. Thankfully, we experienced just a short period of downtime as BT switched our lines over – apologies if you were one of the few customers affected by this transition. Over the following couple of days, we had a few minor issues, but everything is now running as anticipated. Going forward, the new cloud-based technology will provide us with superior levels of resilience and uninterrupted service. Our Management Team now has advanced reporting capabilities to better understand call volumes, which means that staff planning will be more efficient with the intelligence available from the new system. While this aspect of the business is very much behind the scenes from a customer perspective, it is an important upgrade that will help us continue to deliver the level of service we aspire to achieve.

We are fast approaching the first anniversary of our new website, which has gone from strength to strength since launching late last year. In fact, we have just experienced a record-breaking month for reservations made via our website, and we are working hard to ensure even more cruise lines are available to book online. We are just a matter of weeks away from adding Fred. Olsen to our website, and I will update you as soon as this happens.

We recently attended the TTG Travel Industry Awards 2024 where Jess, one of our Cruise Experts, was a finalist in the Cruise Travel Agent of the Year category. This is a remarkable achievement as she faced tough competition, and although she wasn’t named the overall winner, it was certainly something to celebrate! Some of our cruise line partners came away victorious on the night, including P&O Cruises, which was crowned Ocean Cruise Line of the Year. We would like to extend our congratulations to the entire team for this well-deserved recognition, and thank every one of you for your ongoing support at such awards ceremonies.

Once again, thank you for following my updates. I wish everyone travelling over the next month Bon Voyage and a great holiday!