Media representatives were invited to Pier 88 in Manhattan to board the newest ship in the Regent Cruises fleet, the Seven Seas Grandeur for a tour of the ship and a cocktail dinner 24 hours before the ship departs for its crossing to the Mediterranean.
TravelPulse Canada was at the event and took the opportunity to speak with Shawn Tubman, senior vice president of marketing – partner relations, about the role of travel agents in the cruise industry and the evolution of the luxury cruise segment.
“For us, having the media on board is a fantastic opportunity to show what our product is like,” Tubman told us straight away. “The Seven Seas Grandeur was delivered last November and is our newest ship, the 3rd in the Explorer series.”
À bord du Seven Seas Grandeur
The ship offers the largest space/customer ratio at sea, amenities and a unique design, but above all “higher ceilings, larger common areas, and also, 1,600 works of art on board including the famous Fabergé egg, the first and only collaboration of its kind on a cruise ship.
“Fabergé and Regent Cruises have similar audiences,” says Tubman, “so the partnership was a natural fit and we are proud to welcome the first Fabergé egg at sea aboard Grandeur.”
Mr. Tubman points out to us that the industry has evolved enormously since the return of the pandemic, and a large part of the luxury clientele who liked to visit Europe and travel 2-3 countries are increasingly turning to cruises, due to the massive increase in hotel room prices. This pivot in the industry has therefore brought back a clientele that was not inclined towards cruising to become interested in it.
Shawn Tubman, Regent Cruises
“When you think about it, it’s a win-win for everyone. For the travel agent, it’s a lot less work, since there’s only one reservation to make, and also more money in commissions It’s also simpler for customers, no need to book several hotels, transfers and plane tickets,” he philosophizes.
Regent Cruises recently launched an “immersive overnights” program on certain itineraries which allows for more time in certain destinations, something which is increasingly requested by customers.
“The customer base is evolving and so are their needs and desires, and the upside is that as demand for the luxury cruise segment grows, we are able to respond to it by launching new itineraries, ships and offerings, It’s a nice wheel turning, concludes the senior vice-president.”
Regent Cruises will deliver a new ship in 2026, and also in 2027.
