There’s so much more to a river cruise than meets the eye so together with APT we’ve listed the top six selling tips to assist you to get your clients over the line.
To mark the launch of its latest luxury river cruise ship the MS AmaStella, APT shares some ‘Stella’ secrets – lesser known facts about its river cruises that, if you’re a travel agent, might just prove helpful when you’re trying to persuade a client to book.
1. Sun smart sailing
Bridges are a focal point on Europe’s waterways. There are 115 on the Main-Danube Canal alone. What clients might not realise is that many river cruise operators have to close their sundecks when passing under lower bridges as there’s no standing room on the top of the ship.
But thanks to APT’s specially designed lower sunken sundeck you can always sit outside, soaking up the sunshine as you sail through some of the continent’s finest scenery.
2. Dine with the best
APT is the only river cruise line to be a member of Chaîne de Rôtisseurs.
If that’s not enough to impress a gourmet-savvy client then you might want to drop into conversation that the head Chef onboard AmaStella has also worked in the restaurants of several of Germany’s top five star hotels, including Munich’s majestic Hotel Bayerischer Hof.
3. Fitness for all
There’s no escaping the fact that if you set sail on an all inclusive river cruise you’re highly likely to overindulge on the amazing onboard cuisine.
To help counteract the calories, APT has designed fitness options for all. Choose from the high-tech gym; the walking track on the sundeck; a riverside ride on one of the ship’s own fleet of bicycles; or for those who are prefer a more sedate pace then why not take a gentle dip in the pool – just a few strokes should get you to the swim up bar for a cocktail and catch up!
4. Celebration sailing
Booking river cruises for anniversaries and milestone birthdays is becoming more common. If you’ve got a group looking to book then remember AmaStella’s interconnecting suites are great for those travelling with friends or family.
Plus they enjoy butler service so your clients can enjoy pre dinner aperitif together before heading off to dine. APT’s latest ships also feature wine rooms which are perfect for special event private dining occasions.
5. Eco engineering
For many clients, travelling with an environmentally conscious travel operator really matters, especially when you are sailing through such natural finery.
APT’s ships are designed to be environmentally friendly. For example they have their own onboard water and sewage treatment systems to ensure that the rivers are treated kindly.
The ship’s engines are also the cleanest and most environmentally friendly and onboard engineers are tasked with keeping them fuel efficient.
Finally, two crew members are tasked with ensuring waste is handled in an environmentally friendly manner – that includes ensuring everything is separated and recycled.
6. The crew for you
Captain Sjaak van der Weide
While your clients will be well looked after on their cruise by the APT Cruise Director, there is a small army of people also working behind the scenes to deliver your clients’ perfect cruise.
The AmaStella, for example, is propelled by an expert team of 49 staff. The Captain is the most senior team member on board and is supported by a six-strong team of nautical crew including sailors and engineers; 42 hotel staff, including 12 chefs and kitchen staff; and onshore, APT’s European-based team of 11 operations staff.
That’s a staff to guest ratio of around 3:1 so you can rest easy knowing that your clients will be well looked after at all times.
So there you have it. Now you’re in the know, you’ll be converting those clients before you can say ‘booking’.
For further information about APT’s European River Cruises call 1300 196 420, visit aptouring.com.au or see your local business development manager.