Designed to go beyond the typical short ship tour, these overnight stays offered agents the opportunity to experience the ship as their clients would. The programme included full access to the vessel’s public areas, time to explore the onboard amenities, and the chance to attend an expedition lecture hosted by AE’s expert team, and a taste of the food and drink guests enjoy during an expedition voyage.

Becky Walker of Club Voyages joined the Aberdeen stay: “This was no ordinary ship visit. Being able to enjoy the facilities, attend a lecture, and ask questions throughout made a real difference. It gave me a much clearer understanding of what clients can expect.”

The initiative is part of AE Expeditions’ wider trade engagement strategy, which aims to build stronger relationships with agents through hands-on experience and product immersion.

Andrew Turner, Head of Sales UK at AE Expeditions said: “We know how valuable it is for agents to truly understand our offering. These visits allowed them to see the expedition product in context and we’ve been really encouraged by the feedback.”

AE Expeditions plans to build on the success of the Troon and Aberdeen visits with further trade-focussed events throughout the year.