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| Pradeep
Saboo |
Following
suit with other international cruise liners, Star Cruises
has recently announced their apex fares which are valid from
April 01 - September 30, 2003. These fares also called the
‘Super Star Saver’ fares float special fares for
sailings on the Super Star Virgo, which sails from Singapore.
According
to Pradeep Saboo, director, Guideline Holidays, this inevitable
decission which was in the offing since a few months was crystalised
on the recommendation and request of a team of PSAs that recently
visited Singapore. “The idea was devised because apex
fares in the airlnes were doing well and the Indian market,
be it travel agents, tour operators or the end consumers were
growing up to the practice of planning and booking in advance
to enjoy better deals.” Reiterating this perspective,
Anju Tandon, director, Ark Travels Pvt Ltd says, “These
fares have essentially induced people to plan holidays in
advance preceeding a win-win situation for both the buyers
and the supplier. Buyers can now enjoy the benefits of an
early booking while the supplier can confirm his inventory
way before the date of departure avoiding situations of totally
losing out on the sale of cabins, which are a perishable commodity,
that are cancelled at the last minute.”
The fact that the industry has taken to these fares like a
fish to water comes as no surprise. The Super Star Saver fares
that need to be booked 60 days prior to departure will be
open for booking from January 01, 2003. These new fares costs
10 to 20 per cent lesser than the regular fares effecting
substantial savings, depending on the category of room. Besides
this the agent can still avail of the comission due to him.
Like all Apex fares this one also comes with its set of rules
which include no ammendment of change in name or date where
normal cancellation policy will apply.
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