Hapag-Lloyd plans ex-UK itineraries
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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has revealed plans to operate ex-UK cruises and visit more UK ports in 2016.
Speaking in London yesterday the cruise line’s director of product management for Europa 2 Julian Pfitzner said cruises from the UK could start in 2016 as part of a strategy to grow the number of non-German speaking passengers on its ships.
More ports of call in the UK could also be possible with Pfitzner already seeing development in the likes of Liverpool and the Outer Hebrides.
Hapag-Lloyd’s CEO Karl Pojer said the cruise line has a target of having 15% international passengers on the Europa 2 and Hanseatic ships, while the Europa and Bremen will remain targeted at German speaking markets.
“We have four ships now, with one side focused on luxury with two ships (Europa and Europa 2), while the other is expedition (Hanseatic and Bremen). Our third English brochure has just been released and the UK plays an important role in us reaching our international goals,” Pojer said. “One of our Europa 2 cruises in August has 130 British passengers onboard making a third of all guests on the ship, and we are really happy about that as it shows potential in the market.”
To encourage bookings the cruise line yesterday announced a new EUR200 onboard credit offer, in response to feedback that often asked if cruises were all-inclusive.
“Our feedback brings up the all-inclusive element a lot in the UK market so to match the needs we’ve created an onboard credit offer for international passengers to use on our ships,” Pfitzner explained. “This will enable clients to choose what they want to do with their money and we like to give them freedom, but it is not in our philosophy to include everything.”
The offer will be implemented as soon as possible but is likely to be available from the autumn.
“With this offering it means there is no barrier to booking, and it’s great for first-time cruisers,” said Pfitzner. “We want to enable travel agents to have the answer to the predominant question they are asked, about all-inclusive, and to offer a solution.”
If Hapag-Lloyd’s plans take off Pojer hinted more ships could be built, but only if it was in a “favoured position”.
In the UK the cruise line is looking to grow its agent partners from the current 25 it already has, and is looking at teaming up with agents more often on joint promotions. Pfitzner told Travel Daily the line has plans to ‘intensify’ its relationships with the trade and also develop its B2B website.
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