| ACA Update – 28 April 16 : Creative packages

IT’S always exciting to see our
members coming up with creative
ways to work with cruise lines
resulting in a win for everyone.
Great Southern Rail (GSR) is a
terrific example of how land & sea
activities can successfully come
together as evidenced in their
recent announcement to package
a fly-cruise- rail-and- stay holiday
which offers the Ghan from Darwin
to Adelaide before a 12-night cruise
on Celebrity Solstice to New
Zealand.
Damien Wolff, from GSR said
“Journeys aboard The Ghan &
Indian Pacific, where dining,
beverages and touring are
all-inclusive, match seamlessly
with the “unpack-once” cruise
experience.”
This recent package fits into an
overall cruise partnership strategy
adopted previously by GSR seeing
the company actively pursuing
innovative opportunities with the
cruise lines which in turn provide
new itineraries.
“With our three trains either
beginning or ending their journeys
in Perth, Darwin, Adelaide,
Melbourne or Sydney, rail travel
offers a fun and convenient pre
or post cruise connector. And as
ACA advocates for the growth of
regional ports, so the opportunities
broaden,” Wolff added.
We are hoping this model will
inspire other companies to
follow suit. Destination/cruise
partnerships will be on the agenda
for the ACA conference this year
which will be held in Sydney in
September.
The theme is “Celebrating 20 years
of member contribution to the
cruise industry” with registrations
open late May.

CONTRIBUTOR: Jill Abel, CEO, Australian Cruise Association