Agents going Crazy for Caribbean!

Jo Mckenna, Regional Sales Manager for Complete Cruise Solution, went Caribbean crazy with 1st 4 Cruising on Wednesday 21st July. "We took over the call centre in true CCS fashion and put a fantastic incentive in place! For every Caribbean booking that was made on the day the staff member received a prize anything from Pizza Express vouchers to high street shopping vouchers (Gok would be so jealous!). Sarah and Sheryl the two call centre managers loved it so much they wanted to keep the incentive rolling for the rest of the week!"

HOLD ON TO YOUR COCONUTS AS COMPLETE CRUISE SOLUTION GO CRAZY FOR CARIBBEAN

Wednesday 1st July saw Complete Cruise Solution go bonkers for Barbados, Crazy for Cozumel and Mad for Mayreau! Launching free holiday spending money on selected Caribbean cruises for every brand for the whole month of July and even double on board spend for selected Ventura Caribbean cruises booked on either the 1st or 2nd July!

Leading the way for Complete Cruise Solutions Caribbean push was Victoria Simmons, Laura Crowley, Anna Baxter, Lucy Guy and Alyshia Bartlett. The ladies at CCS certainly made the 1st day of the Caribbean Free Holiday Spending Money plain sailing celebrating with a cocktail or two (non-alcoholic of course...)

Mark Pilkington was last seen under the limbo...

Carnival UK doing something funny for money!!

The Carnival UK call centre opened it's telephone lines on the evening of Friday 13th March between 7pm and midnight to take donations on behalf of Comic Relief.

We had an amazing response with over 100 volunteers giving up their Friday evening to help. We also welcomed Atul Kochhar (celebrity chef who will feature onboard Azura cooking in his retaurant Sindhu), Mayor of Southampton and Editor of the Daily Echo to help on the phones. Paddington Bear and Noddy also made an appearance!

As the evening started the excitement built, who was going to take the first donation, who would take the largest donation and who would eat the most Pizza! During the evening the call centre took over £100k in public donations.

In addition to taking public donations, Carnival UK raised an incredible £3177.51 for Comic Relief, with funds collected from a dress down day, silent auction, raffle and sponsored head shave!

Marco Pierre White Cruises into Thomas Cook

On Wednesday 11th February Complete Cruise Solution's Regional Sales Executive, Jonathan Davies escorted Marco Pierre White to Cruise Thomas Cook's call centre in Accrington.

Marco walked the call centre floor speaking to staff and posed for a few photos with the team. He then took the top sellers in January out for lunch at Traders Brasserie in Accrington.

The team made the most of their time with the famous chef, discussing P&O Cruises Ventura, his restaurant onboard, The White Room and his culinary experiences and skills to date.

Complete Cruise Solution Attend the British Travel Awards

Fiona Snow, Sian Crossey, Zoe Scott and Dink Ganatra from Complete Cruise Solution all attended the British Travel Awards. They were joined by Sarah Bolton, Maria Wade, Keren Bleich, Kerry Hannington, Dave Mills and Sarah Hall who had all won the opportunity to attend through Waves of Wisdom.

On Thursday 6th November at 4pm the team made their way, in all their finery, to Battersea Evolution.

Here is their account of the evening....

After getting lost in the taxi on the way, we arrived at the pre awards cocktail party with music of a Caribbean steel band playing. With over 900 guests attending, all looking forward to hearing the awards results, there was a brilliant atmosphere.

With the live band playing and presenter, Frankie Boyle, coming on stage, the evening got off to a great start. After the awards ceremony our dinner arrived during which the entertainment was a tribute band to the Supremes. Then, the highlight of the evening, Signature, the second place act in Britain's Got Talent, performed. After dinner we had more awards and then the Supremes tribute band continued to play as we danced the night away. The VIP area had a fantastic chocolate fountain which was drawing huge crowds and the hot dogs at the end of the night were also well received.

We would like to say a big thank you to all the WOW winners who joined us at the table. A fantastic evening was had by all and we are now eagerly looking forward to next years event.

Complete Cruise Solution attend Travel Counsellors 2008 Annual Conference in Marbella.....

Gill Smeal, Jo Cook and Caroline Moody from Complete Cruise Solution headed off to sunny Spain on Friday 21st November. After an early start (3am!) we arrived into Malaga along with 1200 others which included 800 Travel Counsellors, partners and other suppliers. On arrival at the top conference hotel the Gran Melia Don Pepe, we checked in and started making up 800 goody bags with flyers with all our Wave collateral and other goodies to give out at the Pow Wow!

At 8pm the Welcome Party started at Olivia Valere in Marbella, an amazing typically Andalusian venue opening its drawbridge to a magical world where our generous hosts from the Costa Del Sol showed us a little of what Spain has to offer with fantastic food, exciting entertainment and an amazing opening to Conference 2008!

After attending the welcome party we carried on with the CCS goody bags eventually finishing stuffing them at 1am! It was definitely time to get some rest....
The next day feeling somewhat refreshed after a good nights sleep, the main conference started at the Marbella Conference Centre including a welcome from David Speakman and our 8 minute CCS video which was shown to over 1000 people! WOW WOW WOW WOW.

The afternoon's main event was the Pow Wow where we had prime position at the front of the venue with a large stand and 800 bags to give out! This was a fantastic networking opportunity for us and we were delighted to see so many of our Travel Counsellors colleagues visiting us on our stand.

That evening was a free evening so we headed down to nearby Puerto Banus where all 1200 delegates had descended into Linekars bar as they were offering a discount for the conference, the evening turned into a typical travel Industry party and even Hugh Grant showed up! (need we say more!)

On Sunday the conference ended with a fantastic motivational speech from Annabelle Bond who climbed Mount Everest and then went onto scale all seven summits. That night we hosted 2 tables at the Gala dinner and awards where we were delighted that Caroline Howden who won the best Cruise Travel Counsellor 2008 was on our table - well done Caroline from all at CCS.
Finally on Monday after a busy but successful few days we bid a tearful farewell to our colleagues at Travel Counsellors as we headed back to Malaga airport for our return to the cold in the UK.

Thank you for a fantastic weekend Travel Counsellors - mucho gracias
We look forward to working with you in 2009.

Cumbria Cruises Get Raising for Children in Need

On Friday 14th November 2008 Cumbria Cruises joined in with the Charity fun in raising money for Children In Need.

The whole office dressed up in their Pyjamas for Children in Need, brought in their teddys and sold cakes to raise money for charity.

They raised a total of £56.54. Well Done!!

FIRST EVER CUNARD QUEEN VICTORIA CRUISE EXPERIENCE

Complete Cruise Solution Account Manager, Gillian Smeal led the first ever Cruise Experience onboard Cunard's Queen Victoria ship.

The cruise experience took place between 24th and 28th October and after the group flew out to Barcelona they cruised on to Monte Carlo, Livorno for Florence and Naples where they flew back to the UK. The group spent 4 nights on the ship and were wow'd with dinner in the main Brittania restaurant and Todd English Restaurant, visits to the exquisite Princess and Queens Grill, tours of the galley and bridge, afternoon tea in the elegant Queens room, shows in the spectacular Royal Court Theatre.

CCS set the agents a group task and the winning group of 4 were awarded with one of the west end style private Royal Boxes where they enjoyed a champagne reception prior to the show in their own exclusive lounge followed by champage and chocolates served in the box!

The positive comments below from the agents who were on the cruise experience show just how successful the trip was:

• Thank you so much for such an amazing trip. It was the best I had ever been on. And I am sure we have all made some friends for life. Amanda Bryan, Travel Counsellors
  I can't believe its all over, looking out of my window at the snow, not quite the same as Monte Carlo!!
  
• We all had a fantastic time and have some amazing memories that will stay with us forever, I just wanted to say a personal Thank you it was brilliant and I am truly converted !! Ann Spencer, Travel Counsellors


• Thank you so much for such a wonderful educational, I am not very good at saying too much but believe me this was one of the best trips that I have been on with some brilliant people.


• I can go on and on but I just want to say a very big thank you for being such wonderful hosts. Gina Embleton, Travel Counsellors


• Thank you! I had the best weekend of my life it was so much fun thank you so much. Rachel Varndall, Travel Counsellors

  

  

Noddy and Paddington Pay a Visit to the Complete Cruise Solution Team!

On Friday 24th October the Complete Cruise Solution team had some surprise visitors come to the office.
Noddy and Paddington Bear were in the area and wanted to pop in to see their favourite Cruise Sales team.
Noddy filled us in with all the news from the P&O Cruises ship Ventura and all the friends he has made onboard. He has been busy keeping all the guests entertained onboard!!

Watch out for more news from our cuddly friends!!

Complete Cruise Solution Win Big at the Travel Bulletin Awards

The Travel Bulletin awards were held on 15th September at the Landmark Hotel in London. Fiona Snow, Events and Training Coordinator, attended on behalf of Complete Cruise Solution and was pleased to be called up to the stage twice to accept awards.

P&O Cruises won the Star Mainstream Cruise Company and Waves of Wisdom won Star Online Training Course.

A great evening was had by all and a big thankyou to everyone who voted for us.

Baby Boom at Complete Cruise Solution!!

Emily Williams Gives Birth
Chaos was caused at Complete Cruise Solution's Sales Conference on 24th and 25th September when text messages were delivered to members of the team during Pieter Van Der Schee's Commercial Presentation, stating that Account Manager of the year Emily Williams was in labour.

At lunch the topic of conversation was will it be a boy or girl & how was poor Pete coping?
We did not have long to wait as messages were soon sent just before the end of the first day's presentations announcing the birth of Baby Ruby Jessica Williams.

Her CCS family are looking forward to having another Princess amongst them.

Lucy Holliday Gives Birth
Lucy Holliday Account Manager in the East Team gave birth to a gorgeous baby boy on Saturday 13th September . 12 days late Archie Jake McNeil was a whooping 9lbs 4oz.

Everyone at CCS is looking forward to meeting the new arrival.

Giles Hawke's baby girl no 3

Giles - Baby Number 3 !

Gile Hawke - Director of Sales is now the proud father of baby girl no 3. At 14:28 on Tuesday 2nd September Giles's wife Abi gave birth to a baby girl weighing in at 8lb 7oz whom has now been named as Madeline Amelie Hawke.

Many congratulations to all the proud parents.

Breaking News ........... Top East Lancs Cruise Agent Receives Tumultuous Homecoming!

Martin Hay of Go Cruise displays his support for the CCS Olympics Competition!!

Wii are Going For Gold

Whilst Britain have been winning Gold in Bejiing 1st 4 Cruising have been getting into the olympic spirit in the office too!!

Loving their chocolate medals and fortune cookies they have been working hard towards securing all the bookings they can for the Complete Cruise Solution Olympics Competition.

GOOD LUCK!!

It's a FAB Friday in the office!!

With the Bank Holiday weekend to look forward to spirits were running high in the Sales Team Office. Unfortunately though not long into the day the air-conditioning broke sending the office into high temperatures!

With no hope of it being fixed until Tuesday next week enthusiasm and energy was running low with concentration becoming a bit of a struggle!

In a bid to try and cool everyone down Sales Director, Giles Hawke kindly bought the whole office FAB Lollies!!

With energies restored everything was back on track!!

Lorraine Reveals All in Her Drawer!!

For everyone that has ever meet the fitness queen of CCS, you would know that all she lives off is salad, carrots and the occasional vodka!!

But what a suprise when someone caught Lorraine going in to her drawers to find that they were filled with crisps!!!

MEET YOUR NAVY EVENT - 25th - 27th July 2008

CCS & Ocean World Travel were riding high on the crest of a wave at the weekend, with the Royal Navy at Portsmouth’s ‘Meet Your Navy Event ‘at The Historical Dock Yard. 30,000 visitors flocked to the event to see what the modern Navy has to offer and visit aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious along with foreign navy vessels from Japan, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, and France. The event was a chance for the public to see the Royal Navy past, present and future and CCS & Ocean World Travel provided the public, who were interested in all things nautical a chance to see what travelling on a cruise ship is all about. The stand proved popular with families and couples alike and was a chance to talk to people who had never cruised before.

During the weekend of festivities that included a dramatic air show from the Red Arrows and the Royal Marines Beat The Retreat CCS & Ocean World Travel dealt with various enquiries and bookings including a couple on a cruise of a lifetime on Oriana Round The World Voyage. There was a lot of family interest in Ventura The Superliner built for Britain alongside Ocean Village, Princess Cruises and Cunard.

Travel Weekly Agent Excellence Awards

Last week, Polly Lyons, National Regional Sales Executive for Complete Cruise Solution attended the Travel Weekly Agent Excellence Awards for the Southwest & Wales. Looking as gorgeous as ever, Polly was actually shortlisted for an award herself; Best Dressed!

There is also a video of the night available to watch by following the link below...

http://http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1676042928/bctid1676042590

Anna Baxter from the WEST region is simply the Best

Anna Baxter from the WEST region is simply the Best, as she communicated the Princess Caribbean 09/10 Special Departures to the rest of the Sales Team. Donning her Tina Turner wig and claxon she made sure the rest of the team did not forget what day it was.



Don't forget Princess Caribbean 09/10 goes on sale on Monday 28th July

Success At The Three Peaks Challenge!

On Saturday 5th July, Giles Hawke, Haydon Williams and Bob Dixon from Carnival UK together with Simon Robinson, Marc Bennett and Steve Vaughn from Thomas Cook took on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mt. Snowdon within 24 hours. The day was to present us with many challenges, some natural and others quite unnatural. One of the unnatural challenges was transport between the peaks. Even at the height of his record-breaking powers, Roy Castle wouldn't have attempted to cram 6 large fellas and all their mountaineering clobber into a Vauxhall Zafira. Poked in the ribs by each others walking poles and taking it in turns to inhale, it was as cosy as an iron maiden.


But of the five climbers four were ex-holiday reps, men toughened by seasons of flight delays and hotel overbookings. Heroes of this calibre laugh in the face of hardship and chortle at the prospect of discomfort. (Marc had never been a rep but he used to play rugby for Harlequins which is nearly as tough!)

Our first peak was Ben Nevis, which was a delight. A very pleasant tab (Paratrooper word for 'walk') up a beautiful mountain with some well marked paths. The recommended time was 6 hours and we polished it off in 4.31. Scafell Pike on the other hand is a piece of hell that has burst through the earth's crust and just kept on growing. Every one of nature's best ankle-snapping devices thrives in great abundance on this accursed peak and we were very happy to be off it but still managed to chip a half hour off the recommended climb time. We started our ascent of Snowdon at 11.30pm, wearing head torches. Looking like a delegation from the NUM, it was a solid yomp (Royal Marine word for 'walk') to the summit, part of which was along the track of the railway, the head beams reaching eerily into the foggy gloom. At the summit we established that we had two hours remaining in which to reach the foot of the mountain.

Exhausted after nearly 22 hours of climbing everyone knew that it would take a supreme effort to make the deadline. At this point, the weeks of training kicked in as we unsheathed our muesli bars and popped our dextrose tablets with practised ease. Charging off the mountain everyone closed their minds to the complaints issuing from respective feet, knee, calf and thigh departments, arriving at the finish post more or less on our chin straps but crucially in time to complete the challenge in 23 hours and 46 minutes. We felt that there was a certain cavalier panache in cutting it so fine!

Standing: Steve Vaughn, Marc Bennett, Giles Hawke, Bob Dixon
Crouching: Simon Robinson

Our success was in no small part down to the navigational skills and nerve of the driver, Haydon Williams who navigated unerringly (well almost) between the peaks as speedily as possible. Bearing in mind that Haydon is normally a Porsche driver, he extracted a level of performance from the Zafira (kindly donated by AVIS) which you won't ordinarily find in the owner's manual.

In all it was an amazing experience and the muscle aches were soon replaced with the warm glow of achievement. Most importantly, thanks to the generosity of those people who sponsored us, we have managed to raise a substantial sum for Action Medical Research and know that this will be spent wisely in funding further advances in medicine. If you would like to sponsor us 'after the event', you can make a donation at www.action.org.uk/~gileshawke

This coming weekend, Giles Hawke, Haydon Williams and Bob Dixon join a team from Thomas Cook (together we're the 'Carnival Cooks' - we spent hours dreaming that one up!) to take on the challenge of the Three Peaks. Starting at 4am, the team will climb Ben Nevis before navigating unerringly to tackle Scafell in the Lake District and then proceeding to Mt. Snowdon in Wales, which we aim to ascend at about 11 pm that night. The Three Peaks Challenge is a supreme test of physical endurance and team work, undertaken only by the supremely fit or the hopelessly insane. (We're still not sure in which camp we belong.) Every year, many people who attempt the feat never return and the shrieks and wails of the lost souls can often be heard echoing off the valley walls. Even some of those who do make it are never quite the same again, adopting the thousand yard stare of the terminally bewildered and often given to bouts of speaking complete gibberish (e.g. Peter Shanks, Michael Whales, Rachel Noel and Katy Rabjohn who have all done this before!)
This year, we will be walking in aid of Action Medical Research. This is a charity which has been making medical breakthroughs for over 50 years improving the health and quality of life for millions of people. Among the advances Action Medical Research has been wholly or partly responsible for:
The first British Polio vaccine
Artificial hip replacement surgery
New treatments for epilepsy
Specialised treatment of burns injuries in children
New tests to improve the chances of successful bone marrow transplants
Utrasound scanning in pregnancy
Action Medical Research continues to make important discoveries and advances. The Charity is currently looking for answers to premature birth, sickle cell disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, epilepsy and osteoporosis.
Any one of these medical challenges puts climbing three peaks in 24 hours into perspective. But with your support and a little bit of sweat and foot odour on our behalf, we hope to make a significant contribution to advances in these areas.
We would be really grateful if you could sponsor us on our quest. To make an on-line donation, please click on the link below, it's perfectly safe. Because Giles occasionally errs on the side of egocentricity, he has created the donation site in his own name. However, I can guarantee that any donation made on that site is in support of the whole team!