Luxury cruise retailer celebrates ‘more than doubled’ turnover of £20m in 2023

North West based Panache Cruises, which was founded by James Cole in 2020 during the pandemic, has more than doubled last year’s revenue of £8.2m.

Earlier this year the company topped the UBS Fast Growth 50 Index in the North of England after reporting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR), of 404 per cent. Since the start of 2023, Panache Cruises has also grown its workforce from 31 to 55 and is looking to reach 100 by 2026.

James Cole commented: “2023 has been a landmark year but our success can’t be measured by numbers alone. We’ve invested £200k in our new headquarters at Strawberry Fields Digital Hub in Chorley and expanded our operations into the US with the opening of a new office in Texas.

“When I launched Panache Cruises three years ago our mission statement was simple: ‘Colleagues, customers, cruise lines, nothing is too much trouble’. I think that our customer and colleague-centric approach has underpinned our success as we strive to become the world’s biggest seller of luxury cruises.”

In the last year the company has more than doubled the number of bookings to more than 2,000, with the average booking value surpassing £10k. The company’s top 40 customers have spent over £4m on nearly 300 cruises in three years but James said every client gets their own cruise connoisseur to help them with all aspects of their holiday.

Panache Cruises has also introduced a number of employee benefits, including free lunches made by celebrity chef Lashuan Pryce, and an extra employer contribution to staff pensions.

James said one of his proudest achievements has been to have at least 10 apprentices in the business by the end of 2023, with plans to invest in over 100 apprenticeships by 2030.

He added: “Since establishing Panache Cruises, it’s always been a personal passion of mine to invest in and develop young talent. Being able to take on young colleagues who have the aptitude to not only do a great job but also want to learn too, is a ‘win win’ for all.”

James has over 25 years of experience in cruising and was the driver behind some of the UK’s largest cruise brands, including Cruise118, Six Star Cruises and River Voyages. During his career he has retailed over £1bn of cruise holidays.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

• Add me on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date
• And follow Bdaily on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• Submit press releases to editor@bdaily.co.uk for consideration.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →