Selling Travel September 19

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70 how to sell Northern Lights cruises A Northern Hemisphere cruise is a cost-effective option for clients who have seeing the Northern Lights on their bucket list, says Laura Gelder Why sell it Aurora Borealis – better known as the Northern Lights – is nature’s own light show and one of the most sought after experiences that Mother Nature can offer. Often as elusive as it is spectacular, this phenomenon of green, purple, blue and pink lights dancing across night skies is caused when charged particles from the sun strike atoms in earth's atmosphere. The lights are only seen in the upper reaches of the Northern Hemisphere, and the further north the better – which makes the Arctic Circle the top location for Aurora gazing. These remote and often frozen places are hard to access and accommodation isn't ubiquitous and can be expensive, which is why a cruise is a popular way to package the experience. A Northern Lights cruise means agents can guarantee their clients a consistant standard of service, while a curated programme of shore excursions helps them access the reigon's wild places. Who to sell to Target those who have enjoyed the rugged landscapes of New Zealand's South Island or North America's Rockies, and clients who have expressed an interest in Scandinavian city breaks or enjoy excorted tours or cruises with a nature focus. This could be a break-through sell for cruise sceptics too because, depending on the cruise line, the all-inclusive nature of a WINTER SHORE EXCURSION GODAFOSS WATERFALL, ICELAND cruise means it can offer the best-value way to see the Northern Lights. Scandinavia, in particular, is generally expensive so keeping costs down can be crucial to making a sale. When to sell it Darkness is required to actually see the Northern Lights. They are observed at high latitudes, where the midnight sun means there is no darkness at all for many months, so the lights are not a year-round attraction. They are visible from late August to early April (anytime during dark hours) but from late September to March it gets dark as early as 18.00, increasing that window of opportunity. Note that December isn’t always an ideal month because popular viewing destinations like Tromsø in Norway can see 70% probability of precipitation, meaning cloud cover. What to sell Activities and excursions are hugely varied. There are wildlife watching trips to see whales, birds like puffins and eagles and even polar bears. Active excursions include hiking mountains and glaciers, kaying and boat trips, as well as winter sports such as husky or reindeer sledding, snow-mobiling, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing. Cultural tours include meeting indigenous people such as the Sami reindeer herders of Scandinavia or the Innuit of North America. Excursions also explore towns and cities, giving an insight into their culture and architecture – like Alta's futuristic Cathedral of the Northen Lights in Norway. Cultural experiences range from eating reindeer to listening to a Sami Yoik choir. Onboard, ships have lecturers on hand BOOK IT WITH...CRUISE & MARITIME Departing London Tilbury on October 12 2019, the 12-night round-trip Iceland and Land of the Northern Lights cruise visits the Faroe Islands, Akureyri and Reykjavík in Iceland and the Orkney Islands. Excursions include whale watching, Iceland's Blue Lagoon, Orkney's Standing Stones of Stenness and the Faroes' Vestmanna Sea Cliffs. cruiseandmaritime.com – 0844 414 6140 sellingtravel.co.uk
how to sell 71 “The all-inclusive nature of a cruise means it can offer the best-value way to see the Northern Lights. Scandinavia, in particular, is expensive” FJORD VIEWS, NORWAY to give talks on subjects such as wildlife, astronomy, geology and others. Where to sell There are several destinations which can yield spectacular Aurora viewings, but perhaps the best-known route is up Norway's coastline from the fjords to the Arctic circle. Many cruises start and end in the UK but the most popular stops on this route are Bergen, with its picturesque waterfront fronted by multi-coloured buildings, and Tromsø, considered the gateway to the Norwegian Arctic and home to the northernmost botanic garden. Iceland is often combined with the Faroe Islands and Scottish islands for a Northern Lights cruise, with ports of call including the Faroese capital Tórshavn, with its turf-covered roofs and viking history, and Reykjavik for trips to the Blue Lagoon and Golden Circle Tours which take in Gullfoss Waterfall, many geysers and geothermal features and Thingvellir National Park. Alaska cruises offer a good chance to ARCTIC CIRCLE see the Northern Lights at the right time of year. Many are round-trip from Seattle through the Inside Passage and calling at ports like Ketchikan, with its Native American and pioneer history; the gold rush town of Skagway; state capital Juneau; and Fairbanks, a top Aurora-viewing destination. If your clients are keen on an expeditionstyle cruise, and have the budget to accommodate, Greeland can offer spectacular viewing opportunities as well as the chance to see glaciers, fjords and bucket list wildlife like musk ox and polar bears. Britain’s leading independent cruise line presents Worldwide Winter Cruises 2020/21 Our biggest ever winter cruise collection On sale now! BUY ONE GET ONE FREE PLUS ADDED VALUE BENEFITS ON SELECTED CRUISES* Grand Round the World Cruise 120 nights - 6th Jan 2021 1st Adult from £17999 2nd Adult FREE - £8999pp Marco Polo’s Grand Oriental Odyssey 110 nights - 5th Jan 2021 1st Adult from £16599 2nd Adult FREE - £8299pp South America & Amazon Discovery 84 nights - 7th Jan 2021 1st Adult from £12599 2nd Adult FREE - £6299pp Voyage to Australia & New Zealand 52 nights - 9th Oct 2020 1st Adult from £7779 2nd Adult FREE - £3889pp Grand Northbound Voyage to UK 74 nights - 1st Feb 2021 1st Adult from £9999 2nd Adult FREE - £4999pp Book online at: www.cruiseandmaritime.com Call: 0844 414 6161 Agency Sales: 0844 414 6140 Brochures: www.trade-gate.co.uk Subject to availability. *Book by 30th September 2019. Terms & conditions apply. Offered for sale in the UK by South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd trading as Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone comany’s access charge. ABTA V9945. ATOL 4619. C106/P103/G105/V001/V160TL. 5378 WINNER AWARDS 2018 Best Cruise Line Untitled-10 1 sellingtravel.co.uk 21/08/2019 12:57
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8 peru heady Heights Peru’s touri
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12 six of the best DUBAI superlativ
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Talking Shop INSPIRED BY YOU The in
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17 • Amazing prizes • The 2019
Page 19 and 20: 19 #TLV The Perfect Winter Holiday
Page 21 and 22: 21 Cruising Ocean Cruising - Short
Page 23 and 24: 23 Best of the Rest Ticket Provider
Page 25 and 26: Smile all the stay. All our hotels
Page 27 and 28: Golf ggat Meet... STEVE FREWIN Dire
Page 29 and 30: FOUR-SIGHT 29 Our columnists Having
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Page 33 and 34: IN THE OFFICE 33 with Matt Pattinso
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Page 37 and 38: Training courses to help travel age
Page 40 and 41: 40 destination profile Top Spots Ko
Page 42 and 43: 42 south florida international gate
Page 44 and 45: 44 how to sell Myanmar It’s gone
Page 46 and 47: Visit USA News THIS MONTH'S TOP STO
Page 48 and 49: 48 my trip to... Islands of Bounty
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Page 52 and 53: 52 destination profile Top experien
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Page 56 and 57: 56 the review First training progra
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Page 62 and 63: FOCUS ON CALIFORNIA Keep up to date
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Selling Travel September 19

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