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Marella MD: Early 2020 programme launch has paid off
Marella Cruises managing director Chris Hackney has said the decision to bring out next year’s summer programme early has paid off, with bookings ‘in a strong position’.
The cruise line launched its 2020 programme in November, six months earlier than usual.
Hackney said: "This is the first time we have launched six months early and we are very pleased with how bookings are going. We are in a strong position for the summer and winter season.
"Naturally the cruise market does tend to book early, with customers keen to do so in order to book exactly what they want.
"We are pleased with the bookings that we have seen for summer 2020."
Marella’s sixth ship, Marella Explorer 2, is due to launch on March 30 and will begin its inaugural season in April.
It’s the first adult-only ship in the fleet.
Hackney added: "The ship has been received really well. The bookings we are seeing are ahead of where we thought we would be, so we are pleased.
"We’ve previously done some adult-only itineraries on other ships and this has always had some really positive feedback from our customers.
"But we are not looking at becoming an adult-only fleet."
The sister ship to Marella Explorer will include golf simulators in an area Hackney describes as a ‘club house environment’. New food outlets include a pizzeria and a barbecue grill.
Hackney said the average age of passengers is now 56 and the cruise line is attracting new customers and multi-generational bookings.
Asia, which was introduced last year, is proving popular for 2019, as is a cruise-and-stay option in Italy.
"We’re gearing up for the Explorer 2 launch. The product that we are able to offer our customers compliments our programme and takes us forward," added Hackney.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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