Travel journeys exclusive to you
Travel experiences, including city breaks, cruises, tailor-made holidays and tours continue to excite Cyprus residents, with the island being the ideal starting point for global exploration. Century Travel Group’s CEO Dan Essex has been at the forefront of making his travel businesses cater to the needs of the latest travel demands and trends for travellers from Cyprus, the UK and beyond for over 30 years.
Since its inception in 2008, Century Travel Group has redefined the travel landscape in Cyprus, offering bespoke holidays that cater to a diverse range of preferences, from ultra-luxury travel, cruise and short breaks to unique, one-of-a-kind travel adventures.
In a conversation with Cyprus Mail, Essex shared insights into Century Travel’s evolution, emphasising the company’s commitment to tailoring each holiday experience to match each customer’s individual travel desires rather than following traditional group departures offered by their competition. “At Century Travel, we craft tailor-made packages designed exclusively for you,” Essex remarked, highlighting their dedication to creating unforgettable journeys for every traveller.
Through its partnerships, the group offers a unique blend of travel options for Cyprus residents to create their dream holiday, whether it be an ultra-luxury cruise aboard 6* Star ‘Crystal’, going on escorted adventures across almost 100 countries accompanied by expert tour managers throughout, expeditions where you experience unique moments in the most remote parts of the world, or exquisite culinary travel experiences aboard the world’s leading cruise ships.
Essex explained Century Travel’s expertise, the latest synergies the company has undertaken that are leading to an even more holistic customer experience and the company’s organic and strategic growth within Cyprus, Greece and the GCC.
“When we started Century Travel, it was very important to have specialist areas within the organisation. There is the retail aspect, which is the travel agency, concentrating on that direct sell, tailor-made style tour operating,” he said.
He added that they have always worked on providing customers with the holiday package they dream of, meaning that holidays are tailored to match the customers’ requirements – a different experience to what you get from the traditional packages offered in Cyprus.
“A tailor-made package is made for you,” he said, adding that the experiences Century Travel provides are all about creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for each traveller.
Essex said the company offers all the aspects of traditional package holidays, with the added benefit of being able to choose personalised itineraries and experiences.
Century Travel, he said, is Cyprus’ representative of all the top global cruise lines.
“We have representation agreements with over 20 cruise lines for Cyprus,” he said. Century Travel covers all the six-star and five-star cruise lines as well as many of the three and four-star, making the company the go-to for travellers living in Cyprus to find their perfect cruise holiday.
“That’s based on our knowledge and expertise,” said Essex, adding that over the last 16 years the company has grown, as its business model is to keep evolving and innovating.
Century Travel has embraced the needs of younger customers to use technology when choosing their cruise holiday, launching the first cruise-only booking website cruise.com.cy in Cyprus last year.
“If you take the lead and make the investment and believe in yourself and in your vision, when the market is ready for it, you are already there,” he said.
Essex said launching the website put the company ahead of the game in Cyprus. The website (cruise.com.cy) offers thousands of cruise options and is geared to attract Millennial travellers and provide them with their dream cruise holiday.
Travellers can book unique, extraordinary experiences sailing in Arctic waters, swimming in the Mediterranean, sampling tradition and culture in the Pacific, and much more.
Here people can book to explore any corner of the world to their liking.
Essex said it was also important for this website not to be impersonal. This is why all contact information is immediately available, with a knowledgeable Century Travel cruise expert always on hand to pick up the phone and better explain all the options.
Its travel consultants have been on over 80 per cent of the world’s cruise ships and visited most of the world’s ports, making Century Travel ‘The Only Cruise Specialist in Cyprus’ and the only company in Cyprus to be a member of CLIA (Cruise Line International Association).
Commenting on the increasing trend for customers to opt for luxury cruise experiences, Essex said that Century Travel represents all the ultra-luxury cruise lines.
“Ultra-luxury is very different, because of the smaller ships, carrying fewer guests,” he said, which offer a more personalised experience as the focus is on exceptional service catered to every individual guest on the ship.
Everything is included in the ultra-luxury cruise market, from drinks, food in exclusive restaurants, and gratuities. Ultra-luxury provides travellers with the opportunity to explore and also have all their needs met with personalised service.
“There is nobody else in Cyprus that has the knowledge we have in the ultra-luxury sector,” he said.
Century Travel’s expertise focuses on staff personally experiencing the products they are selling. Their travel consultants are sent on cruises themselves, so they have first-hand experience of the product and better serve clients.
A key highlight in Century Travel’s offerings is their exclusive representation of Marella Cruises by TUI UK, in Cyprus. Marella Cruises is the only cruise line offering weekly all-inclusive roundtrip sailings from Limassol aboard Marella Discovery 2 to the Greek islands and Turkey in 2025. This partnership demonstrates Century Travel’s commitment to offering distinctive and unmatched travel experiences. Marella Cruises promises both experienced and first-time cruisers an extraordinary journey with comfortable accommodation, excellent dining, captivating onboard entertainment and a fantastic warm service – all included in the cruise fare.
“We’re delighted to re-introduce Marella Cruises sailings from Limassol port, after a five-year break” Essex said. “Our British expat customers love the British way of cruising and the great value cruise packages that Marella Cruises offers.”
Other new partnerships are with Titan Travel and with Wendy Wu.
With the new Titan Travel partnership, Century Travel offers escorted tours around the world, as well as private jet holidays for customers that opt for personalised experiences to unique destinations. Wendy Wu is recognised as the leader in private and escorted tours to Asia, providing itineraries that immerse clients into the culture of fascinating destinations such as China and Japan.
There is also Atlas Ocean Voyages, which offers year-round yachting expeditions, exploring the furthest reaches of the Earth that are intimate yacht-style cruises with the once-in-a lifetime expedition element. Century Travel Group became its exclusive representatives in 2024.
These cruises carry 200 guests that visit the polar regions, and in the summer their Mediterranean voyages have immersive excursions focused on gastronomy, walking tours and cultural experiences.
Ten years ago, Century Travel expanded its operations to the GCC market (Gulf countries), through its exclusive partnership with 6 Star Crystal Cruises as exclusive GSA (General Sales Agent) for the GCC, which Essex said he is “always excited about” as it is a growing market.
Looking towards 2025, Century Travel is set to embrace the latest trends in ultra-luxury travel to better serve the rising number of travellers and establish new exclusive partnerships. The future is promising for Century Travel as it continues to lead the way in creating unforgettable travel experiences. Stay tuned for what’s next as it leads the way in redefining the travel industry.
Century Travel Group was founded in Cyprus in 2008 by Daniel Essex and Victoria Lewis. Each came from the Travel industry in the UK with over 3 decades of experience in retail, tour operating and representation. Today, Century Travel Group is the leader in the cruising industry in Cyprus, having partnered with the best world cruise lines to offer exceptional cruising experiences for travellers living in Cyprus, sailing from Limassol as well as from ports all around the world.
Century Travel Group represents most of the leading cruise lines and most recognisable cruise ships for travellers living in Cyprus, including Royal Caribbean International, Marella Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Costa Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, P&O Cruises, Azamara, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, Atlas Voyages and Explora Journeys.
For the latest updates, breathtaking destinations, and remarkable voyages, call a Century Travel consultant on 70 000 970, or visit https://centurycyprus.com