Holiday Bazaar, a destination management firm for cruise and travel planners in East Africa, has launched its first fully-fledged and flagship cruise shop in Kenya.
The tailored offering will provide cruise travel packages specifically targeting the Kenyan traveller, from some of the most renowned cruise liners globally.
Nishma Shah, of Holiday Bazaar, said: “We see a huge demand for cruise tourism domestically. Kenyan travellers cannot get enough of the experience. With a 99.9% satisfaction guaranteed, it makes for an attractive holiday package regardless of age. With our expertise in understanding the local market coupled with our unique partnerships with the likes of Royal Caribbean and Crystal Cruises, we are able to offer an unparalleled cruise booking service not currently available in Kenya.”
The launch was attended by Helen Beck Vice President, International Sales and Marketing from Crystal cruises and Thoyabah Ahmed Khan & Seymour Brugger, Sales & Marketing representatives from Royal Caribbean.
Holiday Bazaar says cruise holiday bookings have seen exponential growth in the last 4 years; with initial cruise bookings ranging from no more than 20 guests annually to now exceeding 1000 guests.
Some of the more popular destinations with Kenyans include the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and an increasing trend towards sailing around the Indian Ocean to exotic islands such as Seychelles and Mauritius.
“Cruises come in a host of packages and price points. From the affordable and value-for-money starting at US$150 per person per day for a 7-night cruise to a $500 per person per day luxurious option. Cruise And Travel Planners are able to accommodate all of these options,” said Seymour Brugges, of Royal Caribbean,” says Nishma Shah.
The trend in cruise tourism is on the rise in East Africa as Kenya is set to become the second major African destination for international cruise ships, after Egypt. This is in part due to the construction of Ksh350 million cruise terminal in Mombasa.
