How Important are Ocean Cruises for Travel Advisor Success?
by Travel Market Report /
Well over 90% of the travel agencies in North America sell some form of ocean cruises, making it one of the most important segments of the travel trade, according to a new survey from Travel Market Report.
Travel Market Report’s “2019 Outlook on Ocean Cruises,” which is sponsored by MSC Cruises and is set to be released next week here, found that 96% of the 1,256 travel advisors surveyed have sold ocean cruises in the past six month and 99% expect to sell at least one ocean cruise in the next year.
The survey looks at which cruise lines advisors are selling and which itineraries are the most popular. It also, for the first time, takes a deep dive into which factors are key to finalizing cruise bookings, from food quality to fitness facilities, connecting rooms, itinerary length, as well as brand and ship preference.
The survey also revealed client behavior. Among other things, it found that most (67%) of advisors booking clients on shore excursions do so through the cruise line — and it includes information about why people are reluctant to book an ocean cruise.
Come back on Tuesday, Dec. 10 to read the report in full on the Travel Market Report homepage. Advisors can also read the most recent Outlook, TMR's "2019 Outlook on River Cruises," here.
Travel Market Report is readying one more Outlook for 2019 to help advisors boost their 2020 business: the “2019 Outlook on Sustainable and Meaningful Travel” will be released on Dec. 12.