Cruise Traveller launches ‘Getting Back to Business’ project with new BDM

Australia’s largest small ship cruise company, Cruise Traveller, has appointed its first Business Development Manager .
The appoinment is aimed at spearheading its post-Covid ‘Getting Back to Business’ strategy aimed at bolstering its leadership role in the industry and helping more travel agents benefit from rising, post-pandemic interest in small ship cruising.
Experienced cruise professional, Alex Stragalinos, took the reigns as Cruise Traveller’s National BDM on January 11, 2022, focusing on building group business on small ships and amplifying Cruise Traveller’s new, major custom web solution – The Small Ship Collective – which is designed to make any travel agent a specialist in the rapidly growing small ship market.
Announcing the appointment, Cruise Traveller Managing Director, Craig Bowen, said Alex Stragalinos boasted extensive cruise industry experience and a “very broad and powerful skill set” which would help the wholesaler and retailer navigate an ambitious course out of the pandemic and into its most successful phase yet.
“Through Covid, we remained resilient, kept our staff and grew our small ship product portfolio with the aim of being in even better shape on the other side so our new ‘Getting Back to Business’ strategy is all about making us bigger, stronger and more beneficial to agents than ever and Alex will play a pivotal role in that growth,” Mr Bowen said.
“There are significant opportunities for us to develop group space business aboard small ships and Alex will steer that endeavour but his other major focus will be the expansion of our biggest-ever initiative, The Small Ship Collective, which is Australia’s only travel advisory program dedicated to small ship cruising.
“The Small Ship Collective is a program that has been designed to maximise the growth of our trade partners post-pandemic and enhance their clients’ travel experience.” Mr Bowen said. “More travellers are now seeking the space, freedom, accessibility, eco-sustainability and personal service that smaller ships offer and The Small Ship Collective offers immediate access to this lucrative market
“Emerging from the pandemic, our mission at Cruise Traveller is to be positive and proactive and to steer and lead  Australia’s growing small ship cruise industry to bigger horizons and Alex will be at the helm as we do that so we warmly welcome him onboard.”
An entertainer aboard cruise ships before working for Norwegian Cruise Lines in reservations and with Ponant in reservations, sales and as a business development executive, Alex said he was excited to become Cruise Traveller’s first Business Development Manager.
“Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Cruise Traveller in many areas,” Alex said. “The whole team shares a compelling love for small ship cruising and delivers unparalleled service to guests and trade partners.
“At a time when demand for small ships is greater than ever, I aim to help more travel agents build their business out of Covid with the support of The Small Ship Collective which helps trade partners work smarter – not harder – to tap into the unique and significant benefits and profits that small ship bookings offer.
“Small ships have opened up the world of exploration to pristine, untouched places. Seeing the sparkle in guests’ eyes as they enjoy a nature or cultural experience at a remote destination is the reason I love this industry so much.”
Becoming a member of The Small Ship Collective offers agents a free personalised website branded with their own logo. The cruise content platform can be tailored by the agent to feature the cruise lines and destinations they choose and can also include auto price feeds direct from large ship cruise lines, creating a complete cruise solution for independent agents. Including extensive support and training from Cruise Traveller, The Small Ship Collective offers a complete marketing toolkit for agents to sell small ships to their clients, including customisable flyers, banners, and social media assets.
Agents in the Small Ship Collective group will also enjoy preferred commissions on Cruise Traveller-provided products, specialist training for their teams, famil opportunities, preferred cancellation and amendment conditions, a dedicated Key Partnership Manager, and a priority, toll-free reservations number to Cruise Traveller.
The Small Ship Collective is offered at a low monthly membership fee with a once-off joining fee of and there is a rebate structure on offer to potentially reduce these fees to zero based on easily achievable targets. There are also no hidden costs.
Edited by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor