28 July 2022 – Local female-owned and lead boutique cruise travel agency Cruise Vacations – based in the Northern suburbs of Gauteng – has been nominated for Africa’s Best Cruise Travel Agency in the 2nd Annual world Cruise Awards.
Emerging from the devastation the travel and tourism industry has experienced since the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, this comes as a great accomplishment for this cruise representation agency that has successfully come through to the other side, not to say it was smooth sailing.
The impact of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 was exceptional, bringing the cruise market to its knees with the suspension of all services globally. Despite the many challenges the pandemic brought, thanks to the incredible support of the luxury cruise lines which they represent, Cruise Vacations remained fully operational and were lauded for ensuring that all displaced passengers had been re-booked or refunded within three months of cancellation, as well as protecting travel agent’s commission.
Cruise Vacations also immediately implemented a “Travel Agency Nomination Scheme”, this allowed them to handle future bookings on behalf of clients for travel agencies whose consultants were temporarily unemployed. Ensuring that the clients could work through their regular travel consultant once they returned to work.
Now with cruise lines resuming services around the world and travel restrictions being lifted, it is ‘business as usual’ much to everyone’s relief. Cruise Vacations is the officially appointed representative in South Africa for a range of award-winning ocean and river cruise lines including Silversea Cruises, Scenic Cruises, Emerald Cruises, Star Clippers and more.
Having successfully negotiated the chaos caused by the Pandemic, this cruise agency along with their local travel industry colleagues rely on the continued support of their communities. You can play your role in re-building our travel and tourism industry by using the services of travel agencies for all of your travel requirements – in fact it his highly recommended to put your travel plans in the hands of professionals.
Many travel agents now work their travel businesses from home. This means travellers may not see a storefront to remind them about the services travel agents provide. But they are very much still around and an important part of the small business community!
If you aren’t in the position to directly support your local travel agent, voting for this local cruise travel agency is one way you can support the industry giving them a boost as they find their footing (or sea legs) post-covid. If you are in a position and in need of booking your next vacation after the recent years struggling with the pandemic, there are benefits of booking your voyage locally with Cruise Vacations and via your travel agent.
To attain a luxurious experience in booking your luxury cruise, this should begin the moment your enquiry is made and there is still nothing like person-to-person contact, which technology just doesn’t supply. The benefits of having access to locally pertinent information and protocols through professionals are essential. Each booking made through a travel agent is a personalised and bespoke experience handled by highly trained and experienced experts ensuring that every travel need and desire of yours are met.
- Your travel agent will advise you of all promotions and specials exclusively available to them.
- A consultation is available for advice and recommendations to your your travel needs.
- Travel agents make payment easier and convenient, with providing multiple payment methods in your currency of choice ZAR/USD/GBP/EUR
- Advice and assistance with Visa applications
- Your agent can assist in completing your itinerary arrangements
- A direct contact to advise of any updates or protocol information.
- Playing your part in supporting the South African outbound tourism industry.
To play your role in reviving the tourism industry, vote for this boutique travel agency here for Africa’s Best Cruise Travel Agency in the World Cruise Awards here: https://www.cruise-vacations.co.za. Voting closes 8 August 2022.
