Cruise1st at Forefront of Interactive Travel Technology with New MediaCity Store Launch

We’re proud to announce that our first ever physical store is now open! The 5,000 sq. ft. store in Salford’s Lowry Outlet will help first-time cruisers identify the lines, ships and itineraries that best suit their tastes and give them a cruise holiday experience they’ll never forget.

Packed with unique, interactive elements, our new store provides the perfect platform for those new to the world of cruising to take those initial steps towards a holiday experience of a lifetime. The dedicated, hugely experienced staff manning the store will be on hand to help introduce customers to an unbelievable selection of cruise experiences taking place all around the world.

Cruise1st Opens Interactive Store at Lowry Outlet in MediaCity

Not only is the Lowry Outlet close to Cruise1st’s headquarters, it’s also part of MediaCity’s thriving development; home to both the BBC and ITV Granada, along with a huge selection of bars, restaurants, cafés and its very own theatre, The Lowry. The significant footfall and diverse crowd that passes through the Lowry Outlet will give the Cruise1st team plenty of opportunity introducing new-to-cruise customers to the world of holidaying on the seas.

The new store features multiple touch screen monitors where consumers can research and plan their cruise adventures via various search options and virtual 3D tours. For a more immersive experience, customers can explore cruise lines and destinations via Virtual Reality Headsets, bolstered by cruise experts on hand with insights and expertise to assist the decision-making process and help make bookings. To celebrate the launch of the new store, cruise1st.co.uk is offering £100* off all cruise holidays booked in store before 31 January as well as a number of exclusive instore offers.

As first announced in November 2016, the physical presence afforded by our new store complements our thriving web presence and our popular television channel, too. It provides existing cruise fans with more ways to book, while offering a more comprehensive introduction to cruise holidays for the uninitiated, bringing our excellent deals to a much larger audience in the process.

Of the store’s opening, our CEO Daniel Townsley, had this to say:

“Cruise is a complex product. Our research shows that while cruise brands are changing the language and trying to make the cruise concept simpler and more logical to the consumer, researching and choosing the right cruise is often confusing and complicated, especially for those new to cruise, a vital market for our industry. Getting the attention of first-time cruisers is a difficult challenge and we feel that personal face-to-face service is the way to do it.

“Our aim of launching the UK’s first cruise concept store is to add new cruisers to our database and cultivate these relationships. Additionally, we want to provide expertise and support to those looking for a more extravagant cruise experience. Some cruise tours are difficult to sell via the internet; consumers feel more confident booking these high ticket, extended destination cruises in the presence of an expert where they’re able to ask any questions they may have before committing.

“We have worked hard to create a relaxed and informal surrounding, where customers can immerse themselves in an experience that nobody else in our industry can offer. We are not a bog-standard travel agency; we have nearly 18 years of knowledge behind us we can pass on to our customer, and we let that do the talking. We want to be different; we want to be known for miles around that we are the people to book your cruise with.

“The Lowry is a perfect choice for us. We want to reach out to the North West and say ‘We’re here – this is a place you can go to where no question is a silly question. Where we are at the front of people’s minds, we are who you come to.’

What’s next after the success of Salford? In the long term, the Cruise1st team are hoping to replicate the store in other locations, giving more people the chance to chat with cruise experts and find the package that will set them adrift on a holiday like never before.

*  £100 discount is applicable on all bookings over £500.

Our Store Address:

Cruise1st Store
Unit F1A, Lowry Outlet
The Quays
Salford
M50 3AH

Our Opening Hours:

Monday to Wednesday – 10am-6pm
Thursday – 10am-8pm
Friday – 10am-6pm
Saturday –10am-7pm
Sunday – 11am-5pm

Don’t forget, you can still access all of our fantastic deals on our online shop. Simply head over to our homepage for the full selection, or call our friendly sales team on 0808 2746 777.