Jack Carter
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Articles by Jack Carter
Traveltek names Cressida Sergeant as new CEO
Cressida Sergeant has been named as the new CEO for global technology company Traveltek, effective from 1 October 2026 Formerly chief commercial officer for the firm, Sergeant will succeed Mal Barritt who is set to step down in November after more than seven years leading the business.
From spectacle to slowness: the rising appeal of small-ship cruising
With research showing a rise in yacht-style cruising, Jack Carter asks why travellers are prioritising slowness over spectacle Something curious is happening in the cruise industry right now. As Europe’s shipyards put hammer to nail on the next generation of mega ships, interest in more intimate sailing experiences is growing, with a cohort of small-ship operators out to prove that bigger isn’t necessarily better. The benefits are hard to argue with.
‘I was instantly wowed’: agents share their verdict on Valiant Lady
From culinary curiosity to ’18 to 30s at sea’ concern, Jack Carter catches up with four new-to-brand TUI agents during Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady ship visit to see whether their preconceptions changed having been on board Having worked for TUI for 34 years, Jo has sailed with almost every cruise line going, though she’s never stepped foot on a Virgin Voyages ship.
RIA M&A Update: Q2 2026
Key Takeaways RIA M&A activity remains historically strong, but the market has become increasingly segmented. While transaction volume has held steady, a relatively small number of platform-scale acquisitions account for a disproportionate share of assets changing hands. Premium valuations are becoming more selective.
HX to launch three new mega fams in 2027/28
HX Expeditions has announced plans to triple its ‘mega fam’ programme for 2027/28 following the success of its inaugural education sailing last May A duo of two-day sailings will take place in Europe in 2027 on board the 150-guest MS Spitsbergen and 200-guest MS Fram. This will be followed by a four-day sailing aboard the 530-guest MS Fridtjof Nansen from a yet-to-be-announced UK port in 2028.
How to sell: HX Expeditions
In the next instalment of the Cruise Corner Podcast’s new ‘How to sell’ series, Mark Walter, sales director UK & Northern Europe for HX Expeditions shares the three key selling tips all agents need to know to boost their business with the UK expedition line Is there a hotter ticket in travel right now than expedition cruise?
‘Mega fam’ sends clear message to trade, says HX Expeditions
This week HX Expeditions hosted more than 350 travel advisors aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen for what the line is calling the largest fam trip in expedition cruise history The ‘mega fam’ saw agents from the UK and Europe board MS Fridtjof Nansen in Hamburg before embarking on a two-day sailing to Helgoland in the North Sea, giving the trade a taste of the line’s polar expedition experience.
Bank Watch: April 2026
Community banks came into 2026 in better shape than many expected. Margins and earnings improved, deposits were growing again, loan growth held up, and unrealized losses on securities moved lower. On the surface, the story looks better than a year ago. But that does not mean the pressure is gone. For many community banks, the next big issue is not only rates or loan growth. It is whether the bank is big enough, focused enough, and efficient enough to carry the higher cost of being a modern bank.
Shane Lewis-Riley joins Scenic Group
Scenic has appointed Shane Lewis-Riley as director of trade sales and partnerships following his exit from Titan Travel Lewis-Riley announced last week that he would be stepping down as director of trade distribution for Titan Travel after 18 months in the post.
Celestyal and MSC Cruises safely transit ships through Strait of Hormuz
Celestyal has confirmed the successful and safe transit of both its vessels, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, through the Strait of Hormuz as it prepares to commence Mediterranean sailings MSC Cruises has also confirmed that MSCEuribia has also departed Dubai and safely transited the Strait of Hormuz. It is now en route to Northern Europe, with its itineraries departing on 16 May from Kiel (and 17 May from Copenhagen) operating as originally scheduled.
Trafalgar: “We plan to get a lot of agents on board”
Following the recent launch of Trafalgar’s first river cruise ships, TTC Tour Brands’ deputy CEO & chief sales officer Melissa DaSilva unveiled the tour operator’s 2026 UK trade engagement plans Last weekend (10-12 April) saw Trafalgar unveil its first two river ships, the 128-guest Trafalgar Verity and Trafalgar Reverie, both of which have been chartered from Uniworld. Speaking to Cruise Trade News onboard Verity, DaSilva emphasised the importance of engaging the UK travel agent community.
Trafalgar to target multi-gen families and solos, says the line’s VP
Damien O’Connor, vice president, Trafalgar River Cruise said the line will seek to crack the family market, while its new-build ships will be tailored toward solo travellers Speaking to Cruise Trade News at the launch of the line’s inaugural river ship, Trafalgar Verity, in Amsterdam on Friday (10 April), O’Connor laid out the company’s plans to establish itself in a crowded marketplace. He said: “There are two markets that are really important to us.
Trafalgar to target multi-gen families, says line’s VP
Trafalgar will seek to crack the family market when it launches its first wave of new-build river cruise ships in 2028 Speaking to Cruise Trade News at the launch of the line’s inaugural vessel, Trafalgar Verity, in Amsterdam on Friday (10 April), the company’s vice president, river cruise, Damien O’Connor laid out the firm’s plans to establish itself in a crowded marketplace. He said: “There are two markets that are really important to us.
Portfolio Valuation: Private Equity and Credit
Publicly traded BDC discounts are signaling a disconnect between private credit valuations and market-based pricing, raising questions about whether private NAV marks are overstated or simply lagging reality.
The Social Media Growth Explains How AI Becomes Central to Social Media Strategy in 2026
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, April 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Social Media Growth, a platform supporting businesses in developing competitive social media strategies, reports that artificial intelligence has shifted from an optional marketing tool to a core component of social media growth in 2026.
The cruise line turning the heads of Love Is Blind stars
Season 4 of World of Cruising TV is winding down, and if you haven't caught up yet, now's the moment. Along with the episodes themselves, you’ll find exclusive deals and competitions on the table, but not for much longer. March 2026 • 1 min read
The Hidden Cost of Waiting for “Perfect” Market Conditions
Every market cycle produces the same question: “Should I wait until conditions are better?” Sometimes “better” means lower rates. Other times it means lower home prices, more inventory, or a clear sign from the news that the risk is gone. The instinct is understandable. A home purchase is one of the biggest financial decisions most people make, and nobody wants to regret the timing. But the bigger risk often isn’t buying at an imperfect moment.
Titan Travel part 3: how to sell your first tour holiday
In this third and final instalment of our special Titan Travel podcast series, the operator’s director of trade distribution, Shane Lewis-Riley shares his top tips for selling escorted tour holidays while maximising earning potential There’s no doubt about it: touring holidays are having a moment.
Princess Cruises relaunches £99 deposits ahead of Wave season
Roll up, roll up! Princess Cruises’ £99 deposits are back as part of its limited-time VIP Sale this Wave season Guests can secure their voyage for just £99 while enjoying savings of up to £800 per stateroom as of today (9 December) until 2 March 2026. The line’s ‘Value is Princess’ VIP Sale applies to more than 1,800 itineraries worldwide, across seven continents, from the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, to Alaska, Asia and more.
5 things we loved about MSC World America
Sailing out of the Magic City of Miami, we stepped aboard MSC Cruises’ MSC World America to see exactly what your clients can expect from the line’s latest World class ship In April 2025, the USA said its first ‘ciao’ to MSC World America, a ship that has been designed to marry American comforts with the European design that speaks to the line’s Italian heritage. With capacity for 6,764 passengers across 2,614 cabins and 38,400 square metres of public space, it’s one of the largest ships at sea.
MSC confirms €3.5 billion order for two World class ships
MSC Cruises will add two further World class ships to its fleet at a cost of €3.5 billion, due to be delivered in 2030 and 2031 respectively The line will continue to work with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which is currently constructing two other World class ships. The new order takes its total spend with the company to €7 billion. Construction of both World Class 7 and 8 will begin in 2029, with both having LNG fuel capability.
COMMENT: F1 is compromising its quality with too many street-circuits - why an 18-race season is ideal instead of this bloated calendar
As the 2025 Formula 1 season draws to a close, we have the closest fight for the World Drivers’ Championship in years. However, the thrilling title fight we have on our hands doesn’t necessarily paint the full picture. To the majority of the fanbase, the bulk of the season has been uneventful to say the least. This isn’t a new issue either, think back to Verstappen’s dominance in 2023, or Hamilton cruising to his seventh world championship during Covid in 2020.
Viking celebrates 100th ship at historic naming ceremony
Viking became the first cruise line to reach a centenary of ships, following the launch of nine new river vessels in Basel, Switzerland yesterday (21 October) Cruise line staff, ship godparents and international press were in attendance for a special naming ceremony on board the new Viking Honir, which saw all nine vessels take part in a simultaneous virtual bottle smash.
Partnerships opening the door to new-to-cruise, say sector leaders
Leaders from Riviera Travel, Cunard and Princess Cruises have underlined their support for brand partnerships, saying the number of new-to-cruise travellers they attract is “quite incredible” The cruise industry’s affiliations with lifestyle brands, such as Aston Martin, BAFTA and Global Hotel Alliance, was one of several topics discussed during this year’s Advantage Latitude Cruise Conference, taking place aboard Sky Princess this week (14-16 October).
Advantage to strengthen cruise division after 10% sales growth
The Advantage Travel Partnership is set to reinvest in its cruise division after overall cruise sales leapt 10 per cent year-on-year during the first eight months of 2025 Revealed today (15 October) at the agency group’s annual Latitude Cruise Conference aboard Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess, Advantage said performance reflected growing consumer confidence in the sector and demonstrates the strength of the consortia’s member network.
Cruise Corner Podcast: CLIA Cruise Week special
Andy Harmer and Lynn Narraway join Cruise Corner co-host Jack Carter as they look ahead to CLIA Cruise Week, which launches this Monday (16 September) “The UK’s biggest cruise event” is back and bigger than ever (no, really). More than 3,000 agents have signed up for the CLIA Cruise Week campaign, which sees the industry come together for seven days of activations and events, all designed to champion cruise and drive post-summer bookings.
David Duff steps down from Azamara Cruises after 17 years
Azamara Cruises has announced that David Duff will step down from his role as managing director, UK & EMEA, with David Siewers, international chief sales officer, assuming responsibility for the line’s UK and EMEA activities Duff, who officially leaves his post tomorrow (12 September) said it was a privilege to work with talented colleagues and dedicated partners, adding: “I am proud of what we have achieved together at Azamara Cruises, from growing our presence across the UK and EMEA, to...
Cruise Corner Podcast: How to make the pitch for expedition less intimidating
In the final instalment of our three-part expedition focus, HX’s Nathaniel Sherborne shares tips on how to find ‘polar-ready’ travellers in your database and why a holiday to the final frontier needn’t be an intimidating sell From scoring in the FA Cup on national television to leading the line for HX’s global sales operation, Nathaniel Sherborne’s career has had more twists and turns than prime Lionel Messi.
The Best Way to Earn Passive Crypto
FAQs (for SEO enrichment) Is staking HKTT safe on StakingRewards? Ye s. The platform supports non-custodial staking, meaning your assets stay in your wallet. You retain control while earning rewards. What makes the APY Booster different? The APY Booster enhances your base yield by integrating with liquidity providers, cross-chain rewards, or bonus incentives from partners. Can I unstake my HKTT anytime? Th is depends on the network.
Exclusive: Queen Anne fam trips sparks 23% growth in trade sales
Cunard has revealed to Cruise Trade News that a fam trip onboard Queen Anne generated a 23 per cent increase in sales among the attending agents, while a ship visit in June saw a subsequent jump in bookings of 60 per cent The seven-night cruise, which sailed to the Norwegian Fjords onboard Queen Anne, was the latest trade activation from Cunard to result in significant spike in bookings, with two travel agents securing a Cunard booking worth £40,000 after taking part in a trade event onboard...
Hurtigruten UK revenue up 25% following HX split
Hurtigruten saw its UK summer trading grow by 25 per cent year-on-year, fuelled by a surge in Signature bookings The cruise line also reported a 10 per cent increase in the number of British guests between 1 June and 28 August, while its Signature Nordic coastal voyages saw a 75 per cent increase during the same period.
CLIA RiverView conference returns to Amsterdam for 2026 edition
Amsterdam will return as host city for the three-day CLIA RiverView conference, taking place from 8-10 March 2026 Nine cruise operators have signed up so far to take part in the 14th edition of CLIA’s annual river conference, which will see agents from UK and Ireland sample the operators’ products firsthand through hosted lunches and dinners, and overnight stays.
Have your say: Cruise Trade News launches reader survey
Cruise Trade News is checking the pulse of the industry via a new online reader survey, with the results to be revealed at the 2025 Cruise Summit on 22 September How are cruise bookings tracking compared to last year? Are new-to-cruise enquiries rising or falling? What would make cruise more appealing to on-the-fencers? These are the questions on the lips of every travel agent and cruise line employee in the country.
Virgin Voyages launches agent incentive following Brilliant Lady preview
Virgin Voyages’ director of sales, UK SJ Walker has revealed that agents can earn £25 for every Brilliant Lady booking until 28 August More than 1,000 travel agents boarded Brilliant Lady yesterday (19 August) for its premiere event, with attendees being treated to an exclusive preview of Virgin Voyage’s new Ladyship. Speaking on a panel in the ship’s Red Room theatre, Walker announced that agents will receive £25 of First Mate Loot for every Brilliant Lady booking made until Friday 28 August.
Cruise Corner Podcast: The secret to selling luxury expedition
In this latest episode of the Cruise Corner Podcast, Ponant’s UK & Ireland chief Anthony Daniels reveals how the line’s unique position makes it an appealing prospect to a growing consumer base When Anthony Daniels took the helm of Ponant’s UK & Ireland operations just over a year ago, he was tasked with making waves in the luxury expedition market.
Cruise Corner Podcast: How is AI impacting travel marketing?
As AI becomes more prevalent, companies are racing to understand how it can give them a strategic advantage over their competitors, but what ethical quandaries does it raise for marketers? In the third and final instalment of our interview series with Force24 CEO Adam Oldfield, we cast our gaze to the ever-evolving AI landscape, predicting how it will influence the ways cruise lines and travel agents communicate with consumers.
Cruise Corner Podcast: How to find your next new-to-river customer
It’s been four months since Michelle Daniels was unveiled as VIVA Cruises’ new UK country manager, a role that came with clear remit: to grow the river line’s market share in the market from 3 per cent to 10 per cent Daniels, who has previously held roles with A-Rosa River Cruises as sales director and Light Blue travel as commercial director, wasted no time in spearheading VIVA’s expansion.
Azamara celebrates largest-ever agent ship visit
Last week Azamara Cruises welcomed 52 agents from across the UK to Liverpool for a ship tour of Azamara Journey, the largest in the line’s history The trade activation, which saw double the attendance of Azamara’s previous ship visits, is one of 13 planned tours for agents set to take place this year, with 350 participants currently signed up.
Cruise Corner Podcast: how can I grow my customer database?
In part two of our interview with Force24 CEO and founder Adam Oldfield, we examine the best and worst marketing emails, and what they tell us about how consumers’ needs change as they move along the booking journey According to Adam Oldfield, the messaging and strategy within your marketing emails needs to evolve depending on where a customer is on their booking journey. It sounds obvious, yet few brands actually do it.
Wave Awards 2025 shortlist revealed
The shortlist for the Wave Awards 2025, taking place Wednesday 26 November, has been announced following a record number of entries, beating last year’s figure by 33 per cent The Wave Awards, hosted by Cruise Trade News and World of Cruising in partnership with Virgin Voyages, will take place The Dorchester on London’s Park Lane on 26 November, with 33 winners to be chosen on the night from the shortlist below.
Titan Travel appoints Virgin Voyages’ Chris Woodcock
Escorted tour specialist Titan Travel has strengthened its trade sales team with the appointment of former Virgin Voyages international trade support manager Chris Woodcock Reporting into director of trade distribution, Shane Lewis-Riley, Woodcock will lead Titan’s team of key account managers, while working closely with the company’s marketing, contact centre and operations team.
P&O’s Ruth Venn promoted to associate VP
P&O Cruises sales director Ruth Venn has been promoted to associate vice-president, sales & distribution, a move that will see her lead the line’s sales operations Meanwhile, vice-president brand & marketing strategy, Robert Scott, will take on a wider remit, with a greater focus on P&O Cruises’ long-term growth and brand strategy. Venn will report into the line’s chief commercial officer Stuart Allison.
What is personalisation and how could it transform your email marketing?
Force24’s Adam Oldfield and Real Response Media’s Richard Seal reveal the first step to truly personalised communication Did you know there are an estimated 4.4 billion active email addresses globally? Or how about that people spend as little as 10 seconds on average each day reading brand emails?
Is rising payroll pressure reshaping cruise recruitment strategies?
The government’s decision to increase National Insurance Contributions and the national living wage has cruise business owners fearing for their profit margins, while recruitment plans for many are having to be put on hold. Cruise Trade News speaks to industry heads to see what waits around the corner When Labour won the General Election by a landslide last July, it was the result many in the cruise industry were hoping for.
Luke Smith joins Crystal as VP sales UK & EMEA
Former Carnival Cruise Line director of international sales Luke Smith has joined Crystal in the newly created role of VP sales UK & EMEA The line says Smith will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, while enabling the company to “further support its trade partners and achieve strategic growth in the UK and across Europe.” Smith will be responsible for driving trade sales distribution across the UK and EMEA as well as overseeing the performance of agency sales, managing...
'We want to inspire the next generation of cruise professionals'
Can The Cruise Career Springboard solve the industry’s diversity issue? We speak to the programme’s founder to find out There are very few people in recent times who have done more to entice young people to join the cruise industry than Edwina Lonsdale and her husband Matthew. Having set up The Cruise Career Springboard (formerly The Compass Project) in late 2022 to teach sixth-form students about working in the cruise industry, the programme has gone from strength to strength.
How Atlas is using food and wine to tempt new cruisers
Food-loving cruise-goers have never had it so good, but Atlas Ocean Voyages’ Epicurean Expeditions takes things to a whole other level Whether it’s slurping freshly shucked oysters on a terrace overlooking the Amalfi coastline or embarking on a tour of Bordeaux’s verdant winelands, sometimes letting your appetite be your travel guide is the fastest (and most enjoyable) way of discovering a new destination.
P&O renews partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways and TUI Airways - Cruise Trade News
P&O Cruises has renewed its partnership with TUI Airways and Norse Atlantic Airways for the upcoming winter Caribbean season after admitting to getting its air programme wrong in the past Both airlines will offer direct charter flights to Barbados and Antigua between November 2025 and March 2026, operating weekly services from London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Royal Caribbean reveals new details about Perfect Day Mexico
Royal Caribbean says consumers want ‘experiences’ as the cruise line lays out plans for new private island destination in Mexico Following the success of Perfect Day at CocoCay – Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, which, this year, will welcomed over 3.5 million guests – the line is gearing up to launch Perfect Day Mexico.
Hurtigruten names Iain Powell as new chief commercial officer
Hurtigruten has promoted Iain Powell to the role of chief commercial officer where he will be responsible for overseeing the line’s global commercial strategy Powell, who has held senior commercial roles at TUI, Carnival UK and Saga Travel Group, joined Hurtigruten in March 2024 as vice president of sales & marketing, before being promoted to managing director for the Nordics, UK and emerging markets.
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