02 Aug 2022by Will Payne
It’s been simply over a 12 months since cruise blogger Robbie O’Grady and his journey agent accomplice Jonathan Howitt opened their first excessive road retailer specialising in holidays at sea, a 12 months they fondly describe as “nothing wanting a rollercoaster”.
The Cruise Room opened its doorways in Hoylake in Merseyside final June. On the time, cruise was nonetheless largely at a standstill. “There have been nice days – and there have been robust days,” O’Grady displays. “However to make it to our first birthday appears like an actual landmark, an actual achievement.”
O’Grady tells TTG how, one 12 months on from its inception, the enterprise has surpassed £1 million in gross sales, gained “quite a few” awards and was named prime company within the UK and Eire for bookings on Royal Caribbean’s 274-night Final World Cruise.
This momentum continued final month when the duo expanded their crew, taking over cruise planners Jacquie Jenke and Carol McGanity. “It’s a bit daunting making the step to recruit,” O’Grady admits. “Jon and I’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this dream for fairly a while, and it’s exhausting while you let others in. Nevertheless, the demand is there, we’re getting so many referrals now and we all know it’s time to develop.
“It has, in fact, been a rollercoaster – we’re no totally different to anybody else within the commerce proper now, and our hearts are with everybody throughout the business.”
As a result of company’s rising reputation among the many area people, O’Grady and Howitt at the moment are looking for a further member of workers to assist the model develop – and doubtlessly a second retailer. O’Grady says the enterprise has seen a rise in late bookings because of purchasers’ ongoing “uncertainty as to which method the world goes to show”.
“It leads so many to depart it late after which attempt to get one thing booked final minute as they really feel it’s secure to take action,” he explains. “Ex-UK sailings had been clearly massive final 12 months for us. Movie star Cruises has been notably fashionable, and suggestions has been glorious with a number of onboard bookings too. P&O Cruises’ Caribbean programme was robust final winter too, and we count on comparable this 12 months.”
As a part of Clia’s river cruise mentoring scheme, the company has additionally labored with A-Rosa to boost the profile of river cruising domestically by means of spots on BBC Radio, in native publications and through social media – and it’s working. “River cruise enquiries at the moment are actually beginning to construct,” O’Grady reveals.
The Cruise Room opened its doorways final 12 months
When the company opened its doorways, O’Grady and Howitt primarily fielded questions on Covid protocols. “That is not the case,” says O’Grady. “We’re seeing an enormous variety of first-time cruisers, as they lastly have someplace to go and somebody to speak to about cruise holidays.
“Over the summer season, UK enquiries have elevated, because the information about airports has brought about numerous concern for company. A few of our largest points have been much less with the airport issues and extra with the shortage of direct flight choices.”
O’Grady now needs cruise traces to shift their focus in direction of 2023 after reporting an uptick in clients trying to e-book for subsequent 12 months. “Having made it to our first birthday – and survived – we at the moment are very enthusiastic about what we will obtain sooner or later,” he provides warmly.
