Explora Journeys launches two group programmes

Explora Journeys has launched two group programmes targeting bookings of at least 10 or 20 people and also improved its ‘By Appointment’ service.

Travel agents can now invite customers on a ‘By Appointment +’ call to allow Explora Journeys’ ambassadors to answer questions and finalise bookings.

The service, which launched in December 2021, “removes any hold time and is exclusively available to travel agents”, said MSC Cruises’ new luxury brand when it launched in June last year.

More: Keel laid for second Explora Journeys ship

The ‘Journey Together’ programme is designed to cater for small groups or extended multi-generational bookings. Bookings must be for five suites and a minimum of 10 passengers.

The ‘Journey Together +’ programme must be for a minimum of 10 suites and 20 guests and offers agents a free host suite, “rewarding commissions” and lower-priced “value” fares to “significantly increase their profit potential”.

Full ship charter requests can also be submitted by travel agents and are negotiated independently of the Journey Together programmes based on the length of the customised voyage length and time of year.

Chief sales officer Chris Austin said: “Designing our Journey Together group programmes and developing our By Appointment + service has been a highly collaborative process with the travel advisor community.

“We are enormously proud to launch these industry-leading programmes to protect the health and longevity of the travel advisor community.”

Bookings are now open for the maiden Inaugural Collection for Explora I (pictured) from May 2023.

Chief executive Michael Ungerer said: “We are firmly on track for our maiden journey from Barcelona to Athens in May 2023.

“We remain absolutely committed to providing our travel advisor community the resources and customised solutions to ensure mutual success for the long term.”