It’s been two and half months since I have taken over the helm and adorned the title of Cruise Captain, and boy what a journey this has been!
I saw industry leaders like Royal Caribbean stunned by the situation we are in. I saw scared travel agents and clients and I think it is safe to say that I have never been this inundated with phone calls and emails! We are all affected by this pandemic.
Whether you are a supplier servicing the agents or an agent servicing the end-consumer, your customers, we are all in the same ship.
But what I have also witnessed is an industry coming together with camaraderie, tenacity and resilience.
We are an industry that cares, we are an industry that will go the extra mile, we are the industry that makes people’s dreams come true. People rely on us and that is what sets us apart!
As with any crisis, there is the during and after, and whilst the cancellations and queries seem never-ending, do not lose sight of the planning for the day after the storm.
Each cruise line within our portfolio has flexible cancellation policies giving your clients peace of mind but also the opportunity to take advantage of future cruises at competitive rates.
Encourage your guests to postpone their cruise. You can book a cruise up to 12 months in advance.
Now is the time to take advantage of the tremendous deals that are available on our most popular sailings for 2020, 2021, and beyond.
My team and I are here to assist you every step of the way. We thank you for your understanding, your support and for weathering this storm with us.
I want us to work as one team, with one objective in mind. To give our customers comfort and reassurance and to successfully navigate our ship together safely and successfully through this storm. Cruising will bounce back rapidly and we will be there together to take full advantage of the opportunity!
Marco Cristofoli, ceo, Cruises International
