All Leisure Holidays offers cruising with choices

In a manner and setting that was decidedly appropriate for its host, UK-based All Leisure Holidays recently spent an afternoon with select travel advisors for an intimate high tea, as well as a presentation on the company’s collection of cruise lines, which includes Voyages of Discovery, Swan Hellenic, and Hebridean Island Cruises.

Colin Wilson, group sales director for All Leisure Holidays, held the tea as part of a quick visit to Canada in the hopes of promoting the cruise products for the coming summer season.

“We’re here because we want [the Canadian market] to be more significant to us,” he told PAX in a one-on-one interview following the event. “As with any business, the challenge is getting new customers to experience the brand, and the travel agent community is a key part of that.”

The three cruise lines Wilson presented are similar in that they all carry less than 550 passengers, offer understated, personalized experiences and are designed to meet the needs of their clients. Where they differ, Wilson maintained, is all according to what experience a client is looking for.

Voyages of Discovery

“Voyages of Discovery is about flexibility and choice,” Wilson said of the line. “You can buy your own excursions, and create your own itinerary.”

A niche cruise line that operates on Voyager, a small, 540-person ship, the goal for Voyages of Discovery is to create itineraries and provide experiences to its guests that will invoke a sense of adventure with destinations that are off the beaten track, such as Britain’s remote Shetland Isles or the isolated Faroe Islands near Norway.

Although excursions are optional for guests of the Voyager, the cruise itself is an all-inclusive product, with flights, overseas transfers, open-seated dining, onboard activities and award-winning guest speaker programmes (which provide insight on the destinations being visited) all included in the rate. The ship’s lounges, bars, extensive library and creative classes are also available for guests, with flexibility in their own itinerary remaining the most important service on offer.

Voyages of Discovery 2015-16 itineraries include voyages to the Adriatic & Aegean Seas, Iberia, and its new Dalmation, Venetian & Greek Wonders itinerary. Voyager will feature new entertainment, such as deck parties, classical recitals and dancing to the tune of local musicians, as well as two new restaurants.

Swan Hellenic Discovery Cruising

“A Swan Hellenic cruise is more for customers who want to be led,” Wilson said, referring to the cruise line’s masthead, ‘the manner in which everything is arranged,' which encompasses meticulous planning in the development of its itineraries.

Minerva, the ship which carries no more than 350 Swan Hellenic passengers, was designed in the style of an English country home. Fare for a Swan Hellenic cruise includes flights to and from port, port of call itineraries and applicable overnight stays, shore excursions, meals, guest speaker programmes and all gratuities both on board and ashore.

The Minerva’s Swan Restaurant and the Veranda, both offer different dining experiences (fine and casual, respectively) for the same menu, to offer flexibility for guests. Entertainment onboard includes after-dinner speakers, painting, yoga or writing workshops and celebrity guests. The ship’s Orpheus lounge allows for panoramic views, and its Card Room plays host to Bridge tournaments. Minerva also has a library

Itineraries for Swan Hellenic’s 2015-16 season include Beauty of Chilean Fjords, Natural Wonders of Latin America, and Trois Riviere de France.

Hebridean Island Cruises

“I think the term ‘luxury’ tends to be overused,” Wilson told PAX, “…but Hebridean is unabashedly luxurious."

The cruise line’s ship, Hebridean Princess, carries only 50 passengers, offers a crew to guest ratio of 1:1, and has been twice chartered privately by her Majesty the Queen. A converted car ferry-turned first-class cruise ship, Hebridean is an all-inclusive product with romantic décor and single-sitting dining.

Operating on the North Coast of Scotland, Hebridean takes guests for all-expenses paid outings to local pubs, ‘footloose’ cruise expeditions and fishing trips, while onboard guides act as destination experts to provide insight and colour to itinerary points.

The ship’s Skye Deck hosts evening BBQs, while the Conservatory offers a place for scotch and stargazing.

Should a client be feeling particularly queenly, Hebridean Princess is also available for private charter, with 10 of its thirty cabins designed for single travellers, making it ideal for family reunions.

Itineraries for Hebridean Island Cruises’ 2015-16 season include St. Kilde and Scotland in Colour.

For more information, visit www.allleisuregroup.com.