Chief executive Kyriakos Anastassiadis, who is also the new chairman of Clia Europe, told TTG the Greece specialist currently attracted only around 1,000 passengers from the UK, with North America comprising its largest market.
However, he said the focus was now on attracting more European passengers, and said his sights were set on the UK.
“Over the last three years we’ve been growing our business in Europe – so much so that although the number of North American passengers on our ships have remained the same, they have gone down [from comprising] 60% of our passengers to just over 25%.
“The UK business for Celestyal is quite small, but we expect to grow this to around 10,000 over the next four to five years – it will be a slow growth.”
Anastassiadis said UK agents would be integral to this growth. “It can only be achieved through travel agents – we have very little direct business. Travel agents are of huge importance to us,” he said.
The line, which comprises five ships and one chartered vessel, is planning a series of fam trips in 2017 to continue growing its awareness among the trade, while Anastassiadis also revealed plans to look at recruiting a UK-based general sales agent and an on the road sales rep “within the next two to three years”.
Celestyal will also be altering its offering in 2017 – rolling out all-inclusive packages across all itineraries after trialling it on its Cuba voyages this year. The move means that all sailings will include gratuities, a drinks package (including labelled alcoholic drinks), as well as basic excursions in each port.
Anastassiadis said: “We wanted to differentiate ourselves from other lines, and provide hassle-free travel. It’s also better for the agents, because they’re selling complete packages, meaning they can make commission on all of it.”
Three of Celestyal’s ships are based in the eastern Mediterranean, while another will offer year-round sailings from Cuba next year, where the line is operating its fourth season. Its two other ships are chartered by Thomson Cruises.
Anastassiadis insisted its eastern Med sailings would continue, despite other lines pulling out of Turkey for 2017. “We will continue to go to Turkey – we never stopped. Turkey is no less safe than the US,” he said.
He admitted the line had cancelled calls to Istanbul during last year’s coup, but said ports of call were decided on a “sailing by sailing basis”.
