Crystal announces new GSA for GCC

The Luxury Cruise Portfolio will represent the cruise line in the growing Middle East market

Luxury cruise line Crystal has appointed The Luxury Cruise Portfolio, part of the Century Travel Group, as its exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, spanning Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

The Luxury Cruise Portfolio aims to strengthen the cruise line’s presence in the Middle East following its return to service earlier in 2023 under the new guardianship of the Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group after an extensive multi-million-dollar refurbishment of both ships in the fleet, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.

Led by industry veteran, Century Travel Group founder Dan Essex, The Luxury Cruise Portfolio will handle all trade inquiries and bookings for Crystal.

Essex, a specialist in high-end cruising, says he’s looking forward to working with partners in the region. He said: “I’m incredibly proud to once again represent Crystal in the GCC. This brand holds a special place in my heart, and I’m eager to showcase the unrivalled service and extraordinary experiences Crystal offers. I’m committed to working hand-in-hand with our agent partners to create unforgettable cruise journeys for their discerning clients.”

Vice president of Sales for the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Andrew Magowan added: “Century Travel has decades of experience in the region. Alongside their experience representing the former Crystal, they are a natural choice to represent us in the region moving forward. We look forward to relaunching our exceptional product in the GCC and Cyprus.”

Century Travel Group was founded in Cyprus in 2008 by Essex and Victoria Lewis. Each came from the travel industry in the UK with more than three decades of experience in travel retail, tour operation and representation. The focus of Century Travel Group is cruise and today the representation division of the company, Luxury Cruise Portfolio, is exclusively responsible for multiple brands across markets in the GCC, Cyprus and the Levant.

For more information, follow @crystalcruisesgcc on Instagram; email sales@luxurycruiseportfolio.com, or visit www.crystalcruises.com

BUILD YOUR OWN TRAVEL BUSINESS. JOIN TRAVEL COUNSELLORS' NEXT EVENT TO FIND OUT HOW