Uncruise Adventures的上尉Dan Blanchard谈论“正确”客户,船舶翻新和新的新事物
经过多里·萨尔茨曼(Dori Saltzman)/
在COVID-19关闭之后,首批重返服务的巡航线之一 - 去年夏天,唯一允许在夏威夷航行的线路 - Uncruise Adventures吹嘘很多。但是,尽管在经常出售探险队的旅行顾问中闻名,但并非所有顾问都熟悉该品牌。
Travel Market Report caught up with CEO Captain Dan Blanchard to talk about what’s new with the cruise line, who the “right” client is, and what they should understand about UnCruise.
了解车队和裁判客户
Uncruise Adventures包括两个前探险巡游品牌,Innersea Disclies和American Safari Cruises。以前的品牌的遗迹以船只的名义生活。那些具有“野生动物园”名称的人来自后一个品牌。那些名字“荒野”的人来自前者(除了荒野遗产,前S.S.遗产外)。
(One vestige that’s going away are the blue hulls of the “Safari” ships. They’re all being painted green to match the “Wilderness” ships.”)
While the line’s eight-ship fleet is geared towards adventure, the Safari ships are less bare-bones.
“Our Safari vessels have more space, a few more updated improvements, and have small differences such as all plated meals versus some wedding-style buffet options,” Blanchard explained. “Cabins are larger with higher-level public spaces and finishes, including cabins that offer two-room suites with step-out balconies and king-size bedding.”
他补充说,另一方面,荒野船往往有较小的小屋,更基本的公共场所和较低的入口价格。
All offer the same level of adventure activities, as well as an all-inclusive onboard experience including shore excursions, drinks (alcoholic and not), meals, and shoreside transfers.
至于合适的客户是谁,布兰查德告诉TMR,旅行顾问似乎不需要与REI合作社的长期合作伙伴关系。
“The REI client is so much the UnCruise client… If travel advisors can envision who the REI client is, that helps them choose the client for us too.”
但是布兰查德补充说,自从他们去年回到航行以来,他们就看到了一种新型的裁员客户。
“ Covid的宿醉是这种更具体验性的愿望。这并不一定意味着冒险旅行,而是整体上他们真正感动,感觉和体验文化的体验式旅行。体验野生动植物并获得知识……许多过去没有和我们一起旅行的人现在正在预订,因为他们真的想触摸自然并更多地参与其中。”
布兰查德(Blanchard)说,他认为将会暂时存在。
翻新
It’s hard to find time to refurbish your ships when they’re sailing. But during the COVID-19 cruise pause, several of UnCruise Adventures’ ships weren’t in the water during their normal sailing season. Which made it a perfect time for the cruise line to spruce up some of its vessels, including Safari Endeavor, Safari Voyager, and Safari Explorer. (Wilderness Legacy is going through a similar renovation this winter.)
“We did take the opportunity to start working on some of the boats last year,” Blanchard told TMR.
这三艘船的大部分变化与延长船只的寿命并使它们更加环保。
例如,66个乘客的野生动物园旅行者经历了发电机和推进系统的现代化。
But that doesn’t mean guests won’t notice any changes. One of the main guest-facing changes on Safari Voyager is a modernization of the onboard communications system. Cabins and select public rooms have monitors that feature need-to-know information including the latest weather and which activities are up next.
The ships also got minor indoor renewals, with all-new carpeting, window dressings, and other soft goods in public spaces. The 36-passenger Safari Explorer also received all new wood flooring in public rooms, as well as an exterior paint job to bring it in line with the rest of the fleet.
增强冒险
UnCruise is best known for its adventurous signature itineraries in Alaska and Hawaii. This year the line is taking adventure to an entirely new level with an all-new REI-inspired Alaska itinerary. Open to all, the itinerary was custom created for REI Co-op members in partnership with REI.
亮点包括访问冰川湾国家公园的“内陆”,奇卡戈夫岛上的远足和骑自行车(Uncruise是唯一一条有许可证的巡航线),全天的皮划艇机会,上岸的夜间篝火,并停在Lighter-visited中。冰川在内,包括Leconte和Baird冰川。
朱诺(Juneau)的七晚野外,羊毛和哇冒险冒险在86个乘客的荒野遗产上航行。他们构成了荒野遗产的2022年和2023年夏季航行的大部分。REI合作社成员可以获得每人250美元的节省。
仅成人航行
Uncruise还正在尝试仅成人航行,这对一些旅行顾问来说似乎很奇怪。过去,这条线提供了特定的家庭航行,以便人们可以将孩子或孙子带到船上。但是据布兰查德(Blanchard)称,过去几年来,对多代家庭一起旅行的需求大幅增加。如今,任何个人航行的机会都有很大的可能性(8岁及8岁)。
“但是我们发现的是,社会的某个部门确实不希望孩子在船上。我们选择了一些我们没有孩子的行程。您必须年满18岁才能参加这些航行。”
布兰查德(Blanchard)承认,看看是否需要这样的航行是有点实验。2022年仅成人航行包括3月23日,4月23日以及5月28日的鲸鱼鲨鱼,鲸鱼和摩托车海的航行巴拿马和哥斯达黎加。额外的日期将于2023年提供。
健康与安全协议
UnCruise Adventures operates fully vaccinated sailings. And, as of February 5, became one of a handful of cruise lines that defines “fully vaccinated” as having received a booster shot.
Passengers must also provide proof of a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of sailing.