Cruise & Maritime Voyages includes all port charges and taxes in both its ocean and river fares, so there are no NCFs. Plus, says John Dennis, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cruise & Maritime Voyages North America, “we are possibly the best value in European river cruises.”
1. Cruise & Maritime Voyages offers ocean and river cruises. For Canadian travel agents unfamiliar with the company, where is Cruise & Maritime Voyages based and can you briefly outline your product lineup?
Dennis: Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ North American office is based in Ft. Lauderdale. Our Ocean Cruise main office is in Purfleet, UK (just outside of London) and our River Cruise main operations office is in Frankfurt, Germany. We offer distinct Northern European ocean cruises from London (Tilbury), Newcastle, Liverpool and three other regional UK ports. Our contemporary fleet of river ships sails on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Saone rivers.
2. Is Canada a growing market for you?
Dennis: Canada is not only a growing market, but a very strategic market for us. There is a natural affinity with our Britain-based Northern Europe voyages and the European River cruises.
3. What’s new for Cruise & Maritime Voyages in 2015 and 2016?
Dennis: I am extremely excited to share the great news for 2015. First, in the ocean fleet, we welcome our new flagship, the MV Magellan. The Magellan will be our largest vessel with over 700 cabins and will enhance our itinerary options for our guests as well as a contemporary selection of staterooms including premium suites with balconies.
In addition we are in our first full season of marketing our three European river ships, on the Danube, Rhine and Rhone and Saone from Lyon, France. In 2016 we will be announcing a new selection of both ocean and river voyages.
4. What are the benefits of sailing with Cruise & Maritime Voyages?
Dennis: The CMV Ocean and River benefit is primarily value for both agent and consumer. We include all port charges and taxes in both ocean and river fares so there are no Non-Commissionable Fares (NCFs). Agents are paid commission on the total cruise. On river cruises we include not only port charges, but is a very inclusive program with shipboard gratuities, city tours and excursions, and an all-day all-inclusive beverage program (limited wine and beer at lunch and dinner). I am proud to say we are possibly the best value in European river cruises.
5. What sort of commission do you offer for travel agents in Canada and also what sort of travel agent outreach do you do for Canadian travel agents?
Dennis: Our commission programs (ocean and river) begin at 10% and accelerate to 16%. We value our agent partners and are ready to develop a fast-track commission program to assist in accelerating commission levels.
We have separate ocean and river brochures available. Agent rates are available on many of our most popular voyages to expose our trade partners to our unique product. Training modules for both ocean and river cruises are currently in development and I hope to share launch dates very soon. CMV loves its trade partners and feel very at home with our Canadian guests and partners.
