Luxury cruise line Ponant didn't stop running during the pandemic; they continued to operate 65 cruises in 2020 and when those needed to cease in 2021, they switched to operate transportation for local populations. When travel restrictions were lifted, they were fully ready to return to where they were; and add new ships.
That increase in capacity from 5 to 12 ships, is allowing them to expand services which is why last week Frédéric Jansen, Global Sales Ambassador, held events in Toronto and Montreal for agents to help build those relationships and increase awareness of their offerings.
"The extra ships have really made a big difference, we have a lot more capacity now," explains Jansen. "It's not only for Canada, but all the countries around the world. If we had this conversation six years ago, I would have said 80% of our guests were French speaking, whether from Quebec, Belgium, France, or Switzerland. But now, with some new itineraries, we have 70% or more English speaking on board. Our company is really becoming global."
Regardless of their origin, guests onboard a Ponant cruise are going because they're after a smaller, luxury cruise experience, which Jansen says is a big advantage for them; they can go into areas that larger ships can't which makes for a once in a lifetime experience.
Itineraries and ships vary, but Ponant offers trips ranging from one week or three-month sailings with just 32 guests on board, to four sister ships that can go anywhere around the world, including the Arctic and Antarctica and are 240 guests maximum. There are also six explorer ships that are more for the tropical areas, with a 180 guest maximum and an icebreaker with 240 guests maximum.
"I think that the pandemic made people realize that somehow you just have one life, and you need to enjoy the moments and there are a lot of dream cruises or dream voyages they were hoping to do in four or five years or maybe later. Now they don't want to wait, they want to do it now and we have the right product for that."
"The luxury is not just about what we have on board, of course we have excellent food, great state rooms, great ships, new ships, and so on. But it's more than that. It's more that we are the expedition leader and because of our captain who guests see every day himself and ensures guests enjoy every moment. He will make an announcement in the middle of the night to wake up and see the Northern Lights."
Jansen says with only five ships before, they were always filled quite easily, so now with 12 there is room to host travel agents.
"We are going to try to offer many voyages by 50% discount for travel agents because travel agents need to be on board. It's only when they experience it that they can talk about it much better."
Jansen wants travel agents to be in touch with their representative at Cruise Strategies, who represents Ponant in Canada to discuss their strategy and which sailings are offered at 50% for them. There is also currently a November agent appreciation offer for up to $500 e gift card per stateroom.
"Agents have to experience the many things about Ponant that are not possible to describe on a brochure or a website.
The ship brings people together and this is what we are good at."
For details on the agent appreciation offer, contact Olga Sebestova at 1.877.768.9797 or [email protected].
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