Dover Cruise Port is to host a national cruise trade fair in May in association with the Passenger Shipping Association's travel agents division.
The two-day event will include the opportunity to visit up to four cruise ships as well as take part in a varied training and seminar programme with guest speakers. Leading cruise lines will also be promoting their products.
The Passenger Shipping Association is also taking the opportunity to announce its 2006 "state of the cruise industry" review and will be re-launching its retail agents division with a new name.
The event, which will be by invitation for members of the travel trade from all over the country, will also include a cocktail reception and a gala dinner. In port during the event on 17th and 18th May will be Princess Cruises Star Princess, Norwegian Dream of the NCL fleet, Peter Deilmann's Deutschland and Costa Magica from Costa Cruises.
"This is a unique opportunity for the travel trade to visit a range of cruise ships and take part in a full programme of educational events whilst networking with key contacts from the industry," said Kate O'Hara, Head of Commercial and Marketing, Port of Dover.
The port has put in place a strategy to support the travel trade in terms of the cruise and ferry products. Clare Williams is the dedicated contact for travel agents providing training and information as well as hosting opportunities for itinerary planning including educational visits to Kent's tourist attractions.
Clare is also responsible for developing and maintaining the port's new trade website which provides a quick and easy reference to cruise operators' training and ship visit dates scheduled for 2007. Brochure downloads feature on the site plus details of all travel agent car parking rates and links to cruise operators' on-line training sites. Go to www.doverport.co.uk/traveltrade to register.
