As the industry started to come out of its COVID coma in late 2021, veteran travel advisors Pat Probert and Mary de Almeida placed a bet on their belief that travel demand would roar back once restrictions were ended. They blocked group space on a South Pacific luxury cruise for February 2024, more than two years out.
“We looked at multiple destinations that are commonly on people’s bucket-list, chose Tahiti, and put a deal together with the cruise line (Regent Seven Seas). I was thinking 15-25 suites, but in the end we filled almost 100, including some of the very top Master Suites, Grand Suites, Navigator Suites and many Penthouse Suites,” said Probert.
The clear waters of French Polynesia show off many shades of blue. (Photo Credit: Pat Probert)
“Booking when cruise ship schedules first come out it gives you the best deals, especially when you book large groups and lock in benefits and pricing. Our group paid 30-50% less than what the cruise was selling for in the last month before departure,” Probert added.
De Almeida and Probert and didn’t do it alone. As 25-year cruise-selling veterans and 15-year TravelOnly members, they invited trusted colleagues to sell into the group. Not only did they do that, but an amazing 15 TravelOnly agents came along on the journey with their clients.
Joining Probert and de Almeida were Marcia and Craig White, Nicola and Joerg Radde, Terry and Sandy Declare, Wendy Sedore, Maria Plouffe, Shellie Sedore and Kevin Wain, David Wiebe and Sonja Hollingworth, and Kimberly Toth.
The Bob Family group leaders took long time clients on a private island tour while enjoying swimming and snorkeling. (Photo Credit: Pat Probert)
Probert says working together with suppliers and fellow agents on a group of this size requires trust, close cooperation and attention to detail
“It must always be a win-win-win -- for our clients, the cruise or tour operators and TravelOnly agents, because if one breaks down it is not good for anyone. It is not just about price; it is about the entire package, and we get that from our cruise lines, hotels and suppliers. We could not negotiate some of these deals without our past track record and our strong relationships.”
The beautiful Intercontinental Tahiti Resort and Spa where TravelOnly agents and guests spent up to 6 days pre- and post-cruise. (Photo Credit: Pat Probert)
As well as the huge cruise booking, the group delivered 340 room nights at what Probert calls “the amazing” Intercontinental Tahiti Resort & Spa in Papeete.
Probert made the bookings while de Almeida kept track of the entire group on spreadsheets, detailing more than 900 seat selections on flights and many different room categories both on and off the ship. There were room changes throughout the process -- including right up to the end when a number of clients and agents bought upgrades to a higher class of suite.
The spreadsheets were also a great help for the local operator to know who was coming in on what flights and what days. “Everything went without a hitch due to the organization and support of all agents,” Probert says.
With TravelOnly an Ensemble member, the group was able to access many benefits, from extra on-board credits to special parties including a Tahitian dance show at the Intercontinental provided by Ensemble as an included benefit offered on many escorted cruises.
Ensemble in lights. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
“Our partnership with Ensemble is amazing and we were blessed to be the hosts of the cruise on behalf of Ensemble as we represented Ensemble and TravelOnly on the ship,” Probert says.
This is not the first time Probert and de Almeida we have worked with TravelOnly agents on groups, co-hosting many times over the past 15 years on Celebrity, Uniworld, Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines, as well as on bucket-list land tours.
“Agents should band together, whether they are in Halifax, Toronto, Calgary or Victoria and all points in between, because with technology now it is like you are next door to each other,” Probert says. “If agents come together they can do well for everybody.”
Probert says the water everywhere in French Polynesia is so clear you can see fish everywhere. (Photo Credit: Pat Probert)
For cruise-sellers interested in working on a group in tandem with other agents, he offers this advice:
“You need to spell out what is expected of the agents, and you need to have agents you can trust. Sharing of groups can be scary when agents are sharing their client info with the group leaders. Group leaders need to make sure the clients that belong to other agents will always belong to those agents and the leaders should delete any emails and contact info after the trip.”
Group leaders Pat Probert and Mary de Almeida treating long time friends and clients Paul, Kathy, Bob and Laura to a picnic in the water under the Tahitian sun. (Photo Credit: Pat Probert)
Probert says the South Pacific sojourn was described by all participants as “over the top.” His and de Almeida’s next big project is to fill 100 or more Celebrity Cruises cabins for a 2026 cherry blossom cruise in Japan.
“We’re more than two years out and more than half the cabins are sold,” Probert says.
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