Best Marketing Tools To Sell River Cruises
The high client satisfaction of River Cruises and the
popularity of their destinations make Word of Mouth
(69%) by far the most popular way agents promote
them. One agent said, “100% of my river cruise business
comes from referrals.”
It also means repeat business. “I just had a group of
10 couples come back from an Avalon River Cruise…
They are ready to book for 2021. As a travel agent, this
is what makes me happy,” she said.
Agency Websites (58%), My Email List (54%), My
Social Media (45%), My Agency’s Social Media (42%),
Marketing Programs from My Consortia (38%), Direct
Mail (36%), An Email List from My Agency (33%),
Events I Host for Potential Clients (32%), and Consortia
Websites (31%) were also frequently mentioned.
“We are a new agency less than two years and affected
by the Paradise Fire in California. Despite set backs,
we have hosted two river cruise nights for consumers
and as a result had sales. This is a great way to raise
consumer awareness and our own knowledge,” one
respondent told us.
Another said, “After a River Cruise Night with
AmaWaterways I was able to book seven cabins off
of the interest that it generated for my clients that
attended.”
And while Incentive and Affinity organizations were
only mentioned by 11% of respondents, the payoff can
be big. One agent told us, “My church’s travel ministry
has used me to book two European river cruises. I have
32 people going on the Castles Along the Rhine cruise
with Uniworld.”
Agents also shared how creativity sells. “I partnered
with a local wine shop to promote a wine themed river
cruise with AmaWaterways and was successful in selling
Which of the following do you use to promote River Cruises?
(check all that apply)
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CHART 13
38%
32%
45%
58%
36%
42%
33%
54%
69%
Referrals from existing clients
My agency website
My email list
My social media
My agency’s social media
Marketing programs from my consortia
Direct Mail
An email list from my agency
Events I host for potential clients
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
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