AS cruise lines are constantly upping the ante for what they deliver on board, ground operators are also evolving their land-based touring options to meet the needs of international and domestic cruise passengers. “The cruiser of yesterday is not the cruiser of today,” says Tyler Wood of the Bob Wood...
AS cruise lines are constantly
upping the ante for what they
deliver on board, ground operators
are also evolving their land-based
touring options to meet the needs
of international and domestic
cruise passengers.
“The cruiser of yesterday is not
the cruiser of today,” says Tyler
Wood of the Bob Wood Cruise
Group. “With many different age
groups and interests to appeal to,
ground operators need to offer a
more diversified touring program.”
Wood cites cost effective city
tours as the most popular among
international clients but these are
now being tweaked to include
more interactive experiences,
meeting locals and highlighting
trending interests such as the
coffee culture.
A new tour that’s appealing for
multi-generational family groups
is a golf buggy scavenger hunt on
Hamilton Island. Wood says this is
a fantastic way for families to have
fun together.
At Akorn/Abercrombie and
Kent, Toby Biddick says luxury
clients prefer small group
touring offering intimate local
experiences to get to the heart of
a destination.
Biddick cites their Botanical Ark
tour as a good example. This small
group experience travels into
the Daintree Rainforest to visit a
private ethno-botanical garden.
Guests take an interpretive tour
where they learn about unique
plant species from endangered
rainforests throughout the world.
Biddick says “Community
integration has become critically
important to providing a
memorable experience at each
port of call.”
CONTRIBUTOR: Jill Abel, CEO, Australian Cruise Association
