TravelManagers’ Donna Occhipinti was among a group of eight personal travel managers (PTMs) and their partners who recently took part in an eight-day famil cruise of the Western Mediterranean, hosted by Viking’s Nathalie Fagan and Singapore Airlines’ Sarah Lathwell.
“Many of my clients have booked holidays with Viking in the past,” Occhipinti explains, “and although I already knew it as a fantastic product, until now I had never experienced it for myself. The whole trip was wonderful, sharing it with a great group made it even more special.”
“As agents, we can do all the training, but it’s only by experiencing places and products for ourselves that we develop a true understanding of what’s on offer for our clients,” adds her colleague, PTM Kim Mason.
Occhipinti and her husband were accompanied on the famil by fellow PTMs, Bridget Frost, Emma Hill, Erryn Morris, Julianne Gazal-Rizk, Kim Mason, Penny Meallin and Samantha Temple. She says the Rome-to-Barcelona itinerary called at many of the Western Mediterranean’s most popular ports, including Livorno, Monte Carlo and Marseille, where they were free to choose from a variety of shore excursions.
Although not surprised by the calibre of Viking’s smiling, gracious crew and incredible onboard facilities, Meallin says she relished the opportunity to experience it for herself: “this first-hand experience only enhanced all that I already thought Viking to be.”
“Our most memorable moment was a thrilling ‘Motorcycle Ride Through Provence’ guided tour, however, all of the shore excursions that we experienced were real highlights,” Donna shares. “I am so grateful to have been given this famil opportunity – and to have shared it with my husband and such a fabulous group of travel professionals.”
“My expectations were not only met but well and truly exceeded,” Donna notes. “This was a pretty fabulous famil – one that I am so thankful for the opportunity to experience.”
