On Air with Avanti Destinations
Welcome to On Air with Avanti Destinations! If you're a Travel Advisor who is looking to stay ahead of the game, you've tuned in to the right place. Get ready to have the lowdown on hot destinations, what's booking like crazy, and helpful tips that would turn curiosity into bookings. Ready to dive in? Let's go!
On Air with Avanti Destinations
Ep7: Pre & Post Cruise (Special Episode)
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Welcome to the seventh episode of the first season of Avanti's podcast: 'On Air with Avanti Destinations'! This is a special episode that delves into pre & post cruise options.
In Episode 7, we're exploring one of the most powerful ways Travel Advisors can elevate their clients' cruise experiences — thoughtfully designed pre and post cruise experiences. Gina Bang (Avanti's Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Katherine (Avanti's Director of Product and Yield) to uncover how adding days and travel components (transfers, hotels, tours) to your clients' cruise vacation can easily become trip highlights in their own right. From boutique hotels with genuine local charm in London and Santiago, to private transfers that weave in unforgettable sightseeing stops, Gina and Katherine paint a vivid picture of how Advisors can further elevate cruises. Whether your clients are embarking in Barcelona, disembarking in Rome, or sailing through South America, this episode will leave them eager to experience every moment — on the ship and off.
Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.
Welcome to On Air with Avanti Destinations. If you're a travel advisor who is looking to stay ahead of the game, you've tuned in to the right place. Get ready to have the lowdown on hot destinations, what's booking like crazy, and helpful tips that will turn curiosity into bookings. Ready to dive in? Let's go.
SPEAKER_01Hello and welcome to On Air with Avanti Destinations, the podcast bringing the world's most fascinating journeys directly to your ears. I'm your host, Gina Bang, Chief of Sales and Marketing here at Avanti Destinations. Today we're diving into a topic that's transforming the way travelers experience cruising, turning ocean voyages into complete immersive adventures with thoughtfully designed pre and post-cruise stays. Our special guest today is Catherine Avanti's Director of Product and Yield, and we're exploring how travel advisors can elevate their clients' cruise experiences from start to finish.
SPEAKER_02Hi Gina, thanks for having me. Pre- and post-cruise planning is one of the most exciting ways to transform a standard cruise into something truly extraordinary, giving travelers a chance to connect more deeply with destinations, unwind and carefully selected hotels, and experience authentic local culture beyond the ship.
SPEAKER_01So many travelers book cruises and think that's the complete experience, but there's so much more opportunity there. What exactly does Avanti offer when it comes to pre- and post-cruise enhancement? That's the beauty of Agena.
SPEAKER_02We help travel advisors turn those travel days, the time before embarkation and after disembarkation, into meaningful experiences, rather than just logistics. Instead of your clients rushing to the port or immediately flying home, we create opportunities for them to slow down, explore, and truly savor the destination. Our all-in-one platform, accessible through the Agent Portal or at cruise.avantidestinations.com, makes it simple for travel advisors to design personalized stays that align perfectly with their clients' interests. If they're starting a Mediterranean cruise and want to explore Barcelona for a few days first, we provide the hotels, transfers, excursions, and local experiences that transform those bookends into highlights of the entire trip.
SPEAKER_01And these aren't just basic hotels days. You're talking about curated experiences that feel seamless and special. Exactly.
SPEAKER_02Take our private personalized transfers, for example. Rather than just shuttling clients from point A to point B, we transform the journey itself into an experience. Imagine traveling from Southampton Pier to London after a cruise. Instead of a straight drive, your clients stop for two hours at Stonehenge or Windsor Castle. They're not just getting to their hotel, they're immersing themselves in history and culture along the route, creating memories before they've even checked in. Or picture this: your clients disembark in Valparaiso, Chile, and instead of heading straight to Santiago, they ride a historic funicular to a scenic viewpoint, stroll the Atkinson Promenade, and explore Plaza Sotomayor. Then they continue to Viña del Mar, Chile's garden city, for a coastal walk through parks and gardens. By the time they reach their hotel in Santiago, they've experienced the soul of the region.
SPEAKER_01What about the accommodations?
SPEAKER_02We work with travel advisors to match their clients with hotels that enhance the entire experience. Places with character, comfort, and that perfect sense of place. Let me give you two examples that really capture what we mean. In London, we feature the Other House South Kensington, a property that reimagines the traditional hotel as a residence club occupying 11 Victorian townhouses on Harrington Gardens. Every guest automatically becomes a member of the private club, gaining access to a cocktail bar, all-day dining kitchen, spa, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, gym, and a lively events calendar, including whiskey tastings and supper clubs. It's designed to feel like a stylish home away from home in one of London's most culturally rich neighborhoods.
SPEAKER_01That sounds like such a distinctly London experience, sophisticated but with personality.
SPEAKER_02Exactly. And then in Santiago Chile, we offer Le Rêve Hotel Boutique, this elegant French-inspired retreat in the Providencia district, is actually recognized as a national monument and sits along a beautiful tree-lined street. The refined rooms are designed for comfort, many with balconies overlooking the garden or neighborhood. During warmer months, they serve a leisurely breakfast in the garden. It's intimate, charming, and gives travelers that authentic local feel. These are the kinds of properties where your clients wake up feeling like they're truly in the destination, not just passing through.
SPEAKER_01I love that these hotels tell their own stories. Now, what makes Avanti's approach to pre- and post-cruise planning different from what travel advisors might find elsewhere?
SPEAKER_02There are four key things that set us apart, Gina. First, we're 100% business to business. That B2B approach means travel advisors stay fully in control of the vacation planning process. We never market or sell directly to their clients. Our pre and post-cruise tool is designed specifically for travel advisors. It's their resource to shine and deliver exceptional service. Second, we offer more options. Travel advisors can design fully personalized stays by choosing from our wide range of hand-selected hotels, excursions, and sightseeing that align with their clients' unique travel goals. Whether someone wants wellness and spa experiences, culinary adventures, cultural immersion, or active outdoor exploration, we have the building blocks to create it.
SPEAKER_01So it's not one size fits all, it's truly customizable. Completely.
SPEAKER_02And that leads to our third differentiator, flexible planning. We leverage our industry knowledge and trusted partnerships worldwide to thoughtfully accommodate special requests. Maybe a client has mobility considerations, dietary restrictions, or wants to celebrate an anniversary with something extra special. We work with travel advisors to make it happen. Our platform simplifies the planning process while still delivering those exceptional personalized journeys. And finally, and this is something I'm particularly passionate about, we create truly unique experiences. Those private, tailored transfers I mentioned, aren't just transportation. They're carefully designed to let clients immerse themselves in local culture along the way. It's the difference between seeing a destination and experiencing it.
SPEAKER_01Walk me through how a travel advisor would actually use Avanti's platform to plan a pre or post-cruise day. How simple is the process?
SPEAKER_02It's incredibly streamlined, Gina. Our pre and post-cruise website is specifically designed to make this easy. Travel advisors simply input their clients' cruise details, the ship, embarkation, or disembarkation port, dates, and our platform generates a customized itinerary. From there, they can browse hotels in the region, add sightseeing and transfers, and build out the perfect pre-or post-cruise experience. Everything is integrated, so they're not jumping between multiple suppliers or systems. They can see pricing, availability, and details in one place, then book it seamlessly. It gives travel advisors the power to create sophisticated multi-day LAN programs without the complexity of coordinating with dozens of different vendors.
SPEAKER_01And because Avanti handles all the logistics and coordination, travel advisors can focus on the client relationship and the creative design of the trip. Precisely.
SPEAKER_02We handle the operational heavy lifting, the supplier relationships, the quality control, and the on-the-ground coordination. Travel advisors get to do what they do best, understand their clients' dreams, and translate them into reality. And when clients experience that seamless transition between their land adventure and their cruise, or between their cruise and their post-voyage exploration, they recognize the value of working with a knowledgeable travel advisor.
SPEAKER_01Let's paint a picture for our listeners. Can you describe what an enhanced cruise experience might look like from start to finish? Happily.
SPEAKER_02Let's imagine a couple booking a Mediterranean cruise that departs from Barcelona. Instead of flying in the morning of embarkation and rushing to the ship, they arrive three days early. They check into a boutique hotel in the Gothic quarter where they can wander medieval streets, savor tapas at local markets, and experience Gaudi's architectural masterpieces at a leisurely pace. On embarkation day, a private transfer picks them up with plenty of time, perhaps with a scenic route that showcases Barcelona from new perspectives. They board the ship refreshed, already immersed in the culture, and having experienced the destination beyond what the cruise port can offer. Then, when the cruise ends in Rome, instead of heading straight to the airport, they extend their journey with two nights in the Eternal City. Their transfer from the port includes stops at the Appian Way or a vineyard in the Roman countryside. They stay at a charming hotel near Piazza Novona, dine at family-owned tritorias, and have time to truly soak in the art, history, and energy of Rome.
SPEAKER_01So they're arriving refreshed and departing fulfilled. It bookends the cruise with depth and meaning. Exactly.
SPEAKER_02And here's what's remarkable. That couple returns home talking not just about the cruise, but about the complete journey. They tell friends about the boutique hotel in Barcelona, the private wine tasting and route to Rome, the sunset they watched from their hotel terrace. The cruise becomes part of a larger story, and that's when travel advisors get those referrals, those repeat bookings, and those clients who become advocates.
SPEAKER_01This really showcases how Avanti empowers travel advisors to be true travel designers, not just booking agents. You mentioned that Avanti's partnerships and on-the-ground relationships make a difference. Can you elaborate on that? Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02Because we've been operating since 1981 and focus exclusively on independent travel, we've built deep trusted relationships with hotels, destination management companies, and local guides around the world. These aren't transactional vendor relationships, they're partnerships built on mutual respect and shared commitment to exceptional guest experiences. That means when something special is needed, we'll do our best to make it happen. When a client has a last-minute request or something unexpected occurs, we have people on the ground who know us, trust us, and will go the extra mile. Travel advisors get the peace of mind that comes from working with a company that has genuine destination expertise and real partnerships, not just contracts with the lowest bidder.
SPEAKER_01That human element, that relationship-driven approach, really aligns with Avanti's overall philosophy.
SPEAKER_02It does, Gina. We use innovative technology to make the booking process smooth and efficient, but we never lose the human touch. Behind every itinerary is a team of people who care about getting the details right, who understand that these trips represent important moments in people's lives: anniversaries, retirements, family reunions, dream vacations.
SPEAKER_01For travel advisors listening who want to start incorporating pre- and post-cruise planning into their business, what advice would you give them?
SPEAKER_02Start by shifting your mindset from seeing the cruise as the complete product to seeing it as the centerpiece of a larger journey. When clients mention they're considering a cruise, ask questions. What destination are you most excited about? Would you like time to explore it more deeply? What if you could arrive a few days early and really get oriented before boarding? Then leverage Avanti's platform to show them what's possible. Our pre and post-cruise website makes it easy to generate visual, compelling itineraries that clients can imagine themselves in. Show them that boutique hotel in Santiago with the garden breakfast. Describe that transfer with sightseeing stops. Paint the picture of arriving relaxed versus arriving rushed.
SPEAKER_01And when they see the value, they're happy to invest in those extra days. Exactly.
SPEAKER_02Most travelers don't even realize these options exist because no one's presented them. Travel advisors who proactively design these enhanced experiences differentiate themselves in the market. They become trusted advisors who think holistically about the journey, and that builds loyalty and referrals.
SPEAKER_01This has been such an illuminating conversation, from seamless transitions between land and sea, to boutique hotels that capture the essence of a destination, to private transfers that transform logistics into experiences. It's clear that pre- and post-cruise planning is where travel advisors can really showcase their expertise and create unforgettable value for their clients. It truly is, Gina.
SPEAKER_02Every cruise offers the opportunity to create something more, a richer story, deeper connections, and memories that extend far beyond the ship. With Avanti's platform, partnerships, and passion for authentic travel, we make it simple for travel advisors to deliver those extraordinary experiences.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so much, Catherine, for sharing your insights and showing us how pre and post-cruise enhancements elevate the entire travel experience. And thank you to our listeners for joining us.
SPEAKER_02To learn more about Avanti's pre and post cruise planning tools and start creating enhanced cruise experiences for your clients, visit the Avanti Agent Portal or cruise.com.
SPEAKER_01Until next time, happy travels.