Fred. Olsen と Saga の提携？

とんでもないニュースが飛び込んできました。

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Fred. Olsen and Saga Sign Deal to Work Together

on 30 May 2014. by Cruise Industry NEWS

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced that it has signed a significant new partnership agreement with Saga Holidays, to promote and sell its cruises. Saga will have allocations on a range of 2014/15 Fred. Olsen cruises across its fleet of four ships ? Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch ? focusing on products that do not compete directly with Saga cruises, from a number of regional ports around the UK. Saga will provide Fred. Olsen with an important sales distribution channel for early-to-mid-term business, thereby helping to reduce the volume of last-minute bookings, which can have a negative impact on yields. Fred. Olsen and Saga previously enjoyed many years as trading partners, and Fred. Olsen is looking forward to working with Saga again. Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “This new agreement between Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Saga Holidays will help to improve our yields significantly, and our financial position overall. Both companies are keen for the venture to be successful; with Saga concentrating on selling regional departures early, we will be able to maintain sensible prices and maximise yields, which will benefit Saga, Fred. Olsen and our travel trade partners alike. “Saga will be marketing Fred. Olsen’s cruises to its extensive database, which already recognises the value of buying travel and holidays through Saga; with this new agreement, Saga customers can now take advantage of Fred. Olsen’s competitively-priced cruise holidays, backed up by the expertise of our two trusted brands, from their convenient local port.” Robin Shaw, Chief Executive of Saga Cruises, commented: “This is an exciting time for Saga cruising and this venture allows us to reach out to more people. We will now be able to offer even greater choice to today’s over-50s. Customers will get all the added extras that those who book with Saga directly enjoy ? and the security that we will offer a great experience at excellent value.”

Fred. Olsenの代表的な船、"Black Watch"。
知る人ぞ知る、元"ROYAL VIKING STAR"です。

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さて、どう解釈しますか...
優良な顧客を抱えているSAGAグループが、自前のクルーズ船一隻（実質的にですけどね。実際は二隻）では需要を賄いきれず、その販路をフレッドオルセンに拡大したと見るのが妥当ですかね...

なかなか乗るのが難しかったフレッドオルセンへの思わぬ経路（SAGA経由）が出来たといえるのかもしれません。まぁ、日本のGSAさんがどういう対応をするのか解らないですけどね。

フレッドオルセンって、結構、面白い船が多いですから。

・Balmoral 元"Crown Odyssey" 1988年就航

Crown Odyssey時代の写真です。 ・Braemar 元"Crown Dynasty" 1993年就航

姉妹船、Crown Jewelのスタークルーズ時代（"Superstar Gemini"）の写真です。 ・Boudicca 元"Royal Viking Sky" 1973年就航 ・Black Watch 元"Royal Viking Star" 1972年就航

特に注目は元"Royal Viking"の2隻でしょうね。
私は"Braemar"も大好きなので...
みんな乗りたい船です。