北美河流和水道上的住宿:大湖地区
经过Lynn Elmhirst/
大湖区是世界上最大的淡水系统,几个世纪以来,加拿大与美国之间的天然边界一直是一条主要的运输路线,将货物从非洲大陆的心脏地运送到大西洋和超越点。而现在,通过小船巡游探索主要的文化中心,迷人的历史城镇,甚至像尼亚加拉大瀑布这样的自然奇观,这引起了新的兴趣。
This is a boon for travel advisors wanting to introduce clients to cruising close to home. Half the population of Canada, and even a greater number of Americans, live within driving distance of popular North American Great Lakes ports like Chicago, Toronto, Detroit and Montreal.
这是旅行供应商及其产品,在大湖巡游预订客户时要考虑。
塔克
Most travel advisors know Tauck for ultra-luxury land tours and safaris, as well as exquisite European river cruises. But in addition to land tours in North America, the travel company also provides a one-of-a-kind Great Lakes small ship itinerary that is tailor-made for travel advisors' American and Canadian clients with the highest requirements for luxury.
塔克's autumn cruise between the dynamic Canadian and U.S. cities of Toronto and Chicago bookends the voyage with included pre- and post-stays in Fairmont or (with an upgrade fee) Four Seasons hotels and programming in both cities. The seven-night voyage between those world-class cities highlights seasonal foliage along the coasts; and includes Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake, as well as Detroit and charming towns along both countries' coasts. Shore excursions feature nature, sports, culture, and history along the way.
For the seasonal itinerary, Tauck is using one of luxury French line Ponant's elegant and eco-friendly, 160-guest, 5-star ships. Included are private balconies, iPod docks, minibars, wine and spirits in several lounges, and dining at two venues.
旅行顾问提示:塔克国际销售董事总经理杰基·库尔森(Jackie Coulson)指出,大湖行程是顾问在附近度假的豪华小型船上客户的理想机会。
Furthermore, she adds, the itinerary is a great opportunity for travel advisors themselves to become familiar with Tauck's Small Ship program without having to fly internationally.
Coulson reveals that 75% of guests booked are American, with the remaining guests made up of Canadian and international visitors. So, there are a lot of opportunities for Canadian advisors to introduce this product to their clients. And, she says, “The bonus for Canadian agents is that now we also have Canadian Dollar pricing,” which makes quoting and booking clients even easier.
对于边境两边的顾问,库尔森建议成为塔克专家,并注册代理商奖励,以取得最大的成功,以出售这辆塔克小型船舶住宿巡游。
胜利巡航线
这条邮轮公司于今年早些时候被美国皇后汽船公司(America Queen Steamboat Company)收购,有两艘新升级的,相同的,200圈的船舶 - M/V胜利I和II-沿北美海岸沿线航行全包行程。除了大湖区,一些行程还跨越了圣劳伦斯海道,甚至加拿大和新英格兰行程。即将在2021年即将到来的新船将航行不列颠哥伦比亚省和阿拉斯加行程。
The lines' Great Lakes and St. Lawrence journeys transport guests from Chicago or Detroit as far east as Quebec City on the St. Lawrence Seaway; or embark farther east from Toronto or even Montreal, and sail out the Great Lakes, through the Seaway, to Canada's Maritime provinces and New England ports.
Guests travel the Great Lakes in the company of historians and naturalists, and enjoy inclusive shore excursions for expert immersion into destinations in North America's backyard; and both marquee ports as well as coastal gems in Ontario, Quebec and the U.S.
布朗特小船冒险
创始人路德·布朗特(Luther Blount)专门为一个非常特殊的行程建造了他的第一艘船。芝加哥和纽约之间的16天巡游的“大美国水道”包括四个大湖区,以及独特的纽约州伊利运河和哈德逊河。这些船的制造是为了适合历史悠久的伊利运河,布朗特是唯一能够在前往布法罗和尼亚加拉瀑布的途中航行的过夜巡航线。
也许比休闲,没有打扮的氛围和餐点免费的葡萄酒和啤酒,一个相关的津贴在Blount的客人中非常受欢迎。经验丰富的邮轮顾问及其客户将惊讶地了解Blount不受限制的BYOB政策。客人不仅可以提供自己的葡萄酒和烈酒(并在当地的手工艺品酿酒厂和呼叫港为他们购物成为巡游体验的一部分),而且Blount甚至很乐意为客人提供搅拌机,装饰品和酒吧,以充分利益享受他们个人选择饮料的乐趣,并与其他乘客中的新朋友一起在船上聚会。
The “Great American Waterways” itinerary remains the family-owned and -operated company's most popular voyage. But Blount considers the entire Atlantic Coast part of its cruising territory, with itineraries sailing coastal New England and the Canadian Maritimes into the St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as winter itineraries in the Bahamas.
旅行顾问提示:Blount的客人是65岁以上,富裕且经过良好旅行,正在寻找不需要飞行的小型船只体验。90%的美国人是美国人,他们有不需要护照的额外便利性,因为行程拥抱了大湖的美国海岸,只有美国的电话港口。
Canadian, British, and Australian passengers make up the remaining guests, leaving a lot of opportunity for Canadian advisors to introduce their clients to this distinctive small ship cruise.
Kayla Setters, marketing manager, for Blount, adds: “Clients who are aging out of wanting to fly, they walk into their travel agent's office saying, 'I’ve done everything, now I want to do something different.’ That’s when a trip like ‘Great American Waterways’ becomes a conversation. The sell is simple once you can explain to the client Blount is the only cruise line who can do this itinerary.”
Leboat
Leboat在欧洲运河和水道上一直在经营“自动驾驶”半个世纪,并于2018年推出了他们的第一个北美行程。这是安大略省的联合国教科文组织世界遗产Rideau运河的独一无二的巡游,这是该大陆上最古老的连续运营运河系统。
Rideau运河的历史可追溯到1826年,距加拿大早期首都金斯敦(Kingston)在安大略湖的金斯敦(Kingston)向北125英里处,北部到了今天的国家首都渥太华。今天,它仍然是北美最美丽的航行水道之一,有47个锁,其中许多锁具有原始的砌体和金属制品,这些砌体和金属工厂由有用的锁人员手动操作;和古朴的乡村,小镇,历史遗址和每个迷人的终点站之间的建筑。
顾问不应将Leboat与船屋租赁混淆。根据董事总经理谢丽尔·布朗(Cheryl Brown)的说法,Leboat Cruises更像是宠物友好的“浮动别墅”或私人游艇租赁。该公司的加拿大舰队包括专为较大团体设计的新型欧洲型号(甚至有五杯/五浴室模型,可睡12人)厨房。客人设定自己的步伐;选择自己的行程;在游泳,鱼,骑自行车,购物和沿运河漫步时,提供自己的食物,饮料,燃料和乐趣。
To fully dispel any comparison to houseboat rentals, Sales Manager Laurie Hudson-Craig reveals 60% of LeBoat's bookings are done through travel advisors, and adds that U.S. and Canadian advisors are provided quotes in their own currency.
旅行顾问提示:Leboat票价用于船只,而不是每人。对于拥有家庭,企业和其他团体(包括独奏旅客)的客户来说,这使得这种独特的运河巡航选项成为高度成本效益的选择。哈德森·克雷格(Hudson-Craig)说,顾问的当地游艇/帆船俱乐部为销售机会提供了很大的销售机会,因为许多船员都喜欢看到北美其他地区像习惯一样乘船旅行。非船员也欢迎在Leboat;不需要经验或许可证,教程使新客户的信心驾驶船,而票价则包括锁和对接费用。
Advisors who register with LeBoat benefit from monthly newsletters, webinars, fam trips, and discounts, as well as sales and marketing support. New advisors are provided with a presentation of LeBoat features and benefits, and advice about how to sell LeBoat.
Part 1 of this 3-part series covered蛇和哥伦比亚河在西方和第2部分访问The Mississippi。