MEDIA RELEASE

Katarina Line’s Educational Videos and Webinars Help Travel Advisors Sell Croatia’s Small Ship Cruises in Age of COVID-19

For Croatia’s premier small ship cruise company, Katarina Line, “every challenge is an opportunity to educate industry partners and help them grow their business,” says Daniel Hauptfeld, the company’s marketing director. For many years, the company maintained a demanding trade show schedule that allowed them to meet one-on-one with travel advisors in Europe and throughout the United States and Canada. COVID-19 changed the travel landscape in 2020, forcing the cancellation of most industry trade shows and creating unique new challenges to client-partner relationships that are at the heart of Katarina Line’s success. Travel Advisors account for more than 98% of all their bookings worldwide.

Webinars and Videos

To meet the new challenges in the age of COVID-19, Katarina Line launched an aggressive outreach program to their travel partners that includes increasing use of virtual meetings and email updates that highlight new product launches and ongoing booking incentives. Among the company’s latest sales tools is a new video designed to educate travel advisors about the company’s diverse categories of small ships – from traditional wooden gullets to sleek, state-of-the-art luxury vessels composed of glass, marble and steel. As a leading destination management company in Croatia, Katarina Line also highlights its department that is fully dedicated to land tours to meet the needs of special interest groups for schools, associations and business. The video is available by contacting Katarina Line or on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEM-pCp5KEg&feature=youtu.be.

“Croatia is ‘open for business’ to much of the world, including American travelers, with few restrictions,” Hauptfeld noted. “Our unique way of exploring the beautiful Adriatic Sea in utmost comfort aboard a modern small ship while visiting picturesque coastal towns and islands is one of the best ways to experience the true Croatia,” said Hauptfeld. “You’re never too far from shore, but if the sea is not your ‘thing,’ we also offer numerous land programs that are fully customizable for groups and individuals.”

Welcome to Paradise

One of the company’s most popular routes, Katarina Line’s Dalmatian Paradise is a 7-day round-trip cruise from Split that traces the stunning Croatian coastline and islands on the company’s new and lavishly designed, air-conditioned vessels that feature en-suite cabins, a spacious sun deck with hot tub and sun beds to enjoy the Adriatic scenery. Guests can swim in secluded coves and beaches during the day, such as Golden Horn Beach on Brač island, and enjoy afternoons and evenings of carefully planned tours of coastal towns and inland natural attractions, such as Mljet National Park.

In addition to a guided tour of Split, Croatia’s second-largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dalmation Paradise visits the islands of Hvar and Brač, as well as the fortified town of Korčula, the Pelješac Peninsula, and the historic city of Dubrovnik, known for its Old Town that is encircled by massive 16th century stone walls. On the Pelješac Peninsula, guests will visit a local farm and experience a traditional village feast that includes Croatian delicacies and an all-inclusive dinner with local dishes. Other cruise highlights include a visit to the small Island of Šćedro, followed by a swim at the Pakleni Islands.

“We look forward to meeting our travel partners in person next year,” said Hauptfeld. “Until then, we will continue to hold virtual meetings and webinars, while keeping our partners fully informed about opportunities to sell our small ship cruises and inland tours.”

Katarina Line cruises feature guaranteed weekly departures, with convenient and seamless transfers to all of its customizable land tours. Its fleet ranges from luxury Deluxe Superior cruisers with a capacity of up to 36 passengers to intimate gullets that cater to as few as seven passengers.

About Katarina Line

Katarina is the premier small ship cruise company with a fleet of 60 ship and weekly guaranteed departures from the end of April to mid-October. It operates out of the major tourist centers of Opatija, Split and Dubrovnik. With a growing fleet in six different categories, the company serves more than 110,000 clients that include 30,000 cruise guests of all ages and budgets. Katarina Line itineraries give travelers the opportunity to explore the stunning natural environment and picturesque Mediterranean towns of Croatia while hopping from one island to another, offering guests unique opportunity to experience the true Croatia. The company enjoys an exceptional relationship with travel advisors, which account for more than 98% of all bookings worldwide. Katarina line is a member of many different travel associations, including USTOA, ASTA, NTA, ACTA, RDA, STAN and ETOA. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-485-3121 or visit www.katarina-line.com.