World Cruises: Long Voyages Add up to Big Commissions

Booking world cruises can be a lucrative niche for retailers who have a roster of upmarket clients; with the closing of just one sale, they can earn thousands in commission.

Several cruise lines market world cruises of 100-plus days, and the lion’s share of guests are loyal repeaters or familiar with the line they choose for an around-the-world trip.

“It’s very rare that someone new to cruising will decide to book a world cruise,” said Stefan Bischiglia, owner of Specialty Cruises and Villas, in Gig Harbor, WA. “It does happen, but not often. You’re spending up to 150 days on a ship. There usually will be some level of familiarity with the line. And, of course, you have to have both the time and money to go ahead and do a cruise like this.”

Bischiglia said that some of his clients do a world cruise every year. “It’s just what they do for the first few months of the year.” He said his agency sells “a good number” of world cruises because his clients are interested only in high-end cruising.

Typically he books upward of 30 such voyages a year, he said.

Silversea Cruises is gearing up for its world cruise, a 115-day sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Venice, Italy, departing Jan. 5. Sailing aboard the Silver Whisper, passengers will visit 51 destinations in 31 countries. Special events are planned to keep guests entertained, including a masked ball in Venice, lunch on a private island in Sydney Harbor, and a chartered jet flight to India’s Taj Mahal.

A Silversea spokesman said a few veranda suites are still available on the 2016 World Cruise, priced from $75,000 per person, air included.

Kristian Anderson, the line’s senior vice president of sales and general manager for the Americas, said world cruises are “all about cultural immersion.”

“[Guests want] to experience new discoveries, and have time to get to know fellow travelers. Our intimate Silver Whisper accommodates just 382 guests, providing the perfect club-like ambience where cosmopolitan guests can mingle and form lasting friendships as they journey to experience some of the most fascinating and secluded places on Earth.”

With Silversea, multi-day on-shore activities can be part of the experience for clients willing to pay extra. New overland adventures the line is offering in 2016 include In Search of Tigers, a four-night trip that begins in Mumbai. Clients travel to India’s Ranthambore National Park, a wildlife sanctuary that’s home to Bengal tigers. Twice-daily game drives provide chances to see tigers and other wildlife before the group rejoins the ship in Dubai.

Other luxury cruise lines offering world voyages in 2016 include Cunard and Crystal Cruises.

The world on a budget
But not all clients have pockets deep enough to travel with the top luxury lines. There are options out there for these customers.

Contemporary line Costa Cruises’ 2,260-guest Costa Luminosa will sail a 108-day world cruise roundtrip from Savona, Italy, and offers fares from about $16,000 for an inside cabin and to $27,000 for a suite.

The ship departs Jan. 6 and will visit 38 ports and four continents, with overnights in Rio de Janeiro, Papeete, Auckland, Sydney, and Dubai.

A world cruise is currently under way aboard Costa Luminosa, where most passengers are Swiss, German, and French, followed by Italian and Spanish.

But even though the journey started in Savona, Italy, there are a number of Americans onboard as well, said Costa vice president of sales and marketing for North America Scott Knutson. “Our oldest guest onboard is 95 and the youngest is 1, with an average age in the low 60s. Over 60% are repeaters and supporters of the Costa brand, which, because it is the only contemporary brand to sail around the world, are drawn to the value of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

With Costa, clients receive 15 free shore excursions, and wine and beer are free throughout the cruise.

Premium line Holland America also is gearing up for a 114-night world cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, departing Jan. 5.

The 1,380-guest Amsterdam will transit the Panama Canal, visit ports in South America, and make its way to French Polynesia and other South Pacific destinations. The ship will call at Australia and New Zealand, and various ports in Asia and the Middle East before making rounds in the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Europe. It will return to Fort Lauderdale on April 30.

Priced a bit higher than Costa, Holland America’s world cruise starts at $17,000 for an interior cabin, $42,000 for a Vista suite, and $78,000 for a Neptune suite.

Pic: Roger W