Fort Myers, FL (April 2, 2014)—Several distinct cruising trends among Ft. Myers and Southwest Florida travelers emerged during All Aboard Travel’s recent travel open houses. Primarily, local travelers are enthralled by European river cruises – and those wishing to explore Europe’s most historic and alluring destinations via a river cruise in 2014 will need to act extremely quickly – and Southwest Florida travelers are flocking to the world’s largest cruise ships, viewing them as “floating resorts” and, in some cases, not leaving the ship during the entire course of a 7-day cruise. All Aboard Travel, Southwest Florida’s premier cruise and tour package agency, hosted 16 informative small group sessions led by representatives from eight different cruise lines during the month of March.
“Our river cruise bookings have increased substantially; they are up 14% compared to sales at this point last year. There are many travelers who wish to visit Europe but who may not be interested in a packaged tour or the rigors of unpacking in each destination,” said Jody Ryland, Vice President, All Aboard Travel. “The beauty of a river cruise is that the ships docks in the heart of these charming, historic European cities, and travelers enjoy a tour – which is included in the cost of the trip – and then return to the ship for delectable, local cuisine, entertainment, and a restful night’s sleep. Waking up in a new city each day of the journey while enjoying deluxe accommodations is an incredible treat, as well as one of the reasons why river cruising is the number one trend we are seeing at All Aboard Travel for 2014 and 2015.”
Due to Southwest Florida’s proximity to the Caribbean, bookings for cruises to this region continue to be quite strong. However, Ryland emphasized that brief, inexpensive Caribbean sojourns are not top of mind for most clients. “We can divide our Caribbean cruise clients into two general categories. One group is attracted to the stunning new mega-ships such as Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas as well as Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway. These ships have become destinations unto themselves by offering many exciting features, dozens of dining venues, and even Broadway shows enticing many passengers to skip the ports of call and remain on the ship for the duration of the cruise to fully enjoy all of the amenities. The second group of clients is attracted to the slightly smaller ships that explore more unique Caribbean destinations that the larger ships cannot get to.”
Based on client feedback from the recent open houses, Ryland also noted that many clients have their eye on even more exotic destinations, with a high level of interest in not only the Mediterranean, but other European highlights such as Iceland and The Netherlands. The open houses enabled area travelers to speak with cruise line representatives about the latest ships entering the market in 2014 and 2015. They also had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with All Aboard Travel’s cruise travel agents, who have first-hand experience with innumerable ships and destinations.
“It’s really a joy for the clients to come into our agency because they can sense our excitement for them. We tell them about the places they can’t miss when they visit Aruba or Australia, or any place in between,” said Laurie Mulligan, Support Specialist, All Aboard Travel. “While we are always accessible via phone or email, we encourage our customers to pay us a visit, anytime of year, for valuable face-to-face insights. It really helps us build even stronger relationships with our clients who view us as their trusted vacation advisors.”
All Aboard Travel also announced Frederick and Michela Corelli of Cape Coral, FL, as the winners of a certificate for a Carnival Cruise Lines cruise for two. “I’m thrilled about winning the free cruise – I couldn’t believe it! But more importantly, I’m so impressed with everyone at All Aboard Travel and how they handle themselves so professionally,” said Frederick Corelli. “The personal touch they provide makes me feel good about the next cruise I’ll be planning with them. I know that if I have any questions about an upcoming trip, or encounter any problems when I’m traveling, they will help us take care of it.”
For more information about All Aboard Travel, the agency can be visited in person at 12530 World Plaza Lane #1 in Fort Myers. By phone, call 866-329-8944, or contact@allaboardtravel.com.
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All Aboard Travel is a premier cruise and tour package agency dedicated to providing clients with the best value when cruising to destinations all over the world. All Aboard Travel offers exclusive valued cruise packages that typically include reduced airfare with pre- and post- land programs that may consist of hotels, tours and ground transportation. All Aboard Travel has been in business for more than 20 years and is based in Fort Myers, Florida. It is part of Travel Leaders Group, which is the largest traditional travel agency company in North America with approximately $19 billion in annual sales volume through over 6,000 locations.