Why does Corsica Sud Croisières offer sea cruises in Corsica on Manawa?

Vincent Pinto is Manawa's Sales Director. Previously Regional Manager France for the booking website, he helped launch the venture in 2015. A keen skateboarder, splitboarder and snorkeller, he has tried out many of the sports offered on the website.

Interview with Christian from Corsica Sud Croisières, professional sea excursion operator in Porto Vecchio, Corsica

Christian Vacca is the manager of Corsica Sud Croisières, a company he set up in 2019. Corsica Sud Croisières offers day and half-day excursions at sea from Porto-Vecchio to discover the remarkable sites of southern Corsica: the Cerbicales Islands, the Lavezzi Islands, Piantarella, Bonifacio, Fazio, Porto-Novo, Santa Giulia, Palombaggia, and many others. Swimming stops are scheduled during the excursions, and masks and snorkels are available for passengers who wish to discover the seabed on their own.

Vincent : Hello Christian! Could you tell us a bit about who you are and what you offer with Corsica Sud Croisières?

Christian : I'm the manager of Corsica Sud Croisières, which I set up in 2019 and which is based in the port of Porto-Vecchio. I'm originally from Bonifacio and I've always been a sailor. I used to work on very large boats. However, at a certain point, I wanted to set up my own company so that I could work on a smaller scale and have much more personalised contact with customers. So I set up Corsica Sud Croisières. We have boats with a maximum capacity of 12 people and, during our outings, we try to make our customers aware of the need to respect the marine environment of southern Corsica. We have two departures: one from the port of Porto-Vecchio and another from the beach of Santa Giulia, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in southern Corsica.

Vincent : What's the make-up of your team today?

Christian: I work with my wife, Cécile, who does a lot of the administrative work. Then we have five captains and one person who looks after customer reception at the gatehouse in the harbour.

Vincent : What do you mean by sea outings, in the broadest sense?

Christian : For me, a trip out to sea is a way of finding yourself in a different environment, one that allows you to completely clear your head and your mind. It's a total escape from everyday life, which allows you to experience special sensations, above all freedom and well-being.

Vincent: I imagine that this is also the type of feedback you get from customers who come on their first trip with you! What impressions do they most often share with you about their experience aboard the boat?

Christian : I think what customers appreciate most about the experience is the fact that it's a small group excursion. We're very close to our customers because we're on 12-metre boats. We'll be in a friendly atmosphere, talking about everything and telling them a bit about the history of Corsica and all the places we visit. We're also trying to raise awareness of the importance of preserving underwater flora and fauna, and we'll be giving them precise explanations about the fragile ecosystems that inhabit the Mediterranean Sea. We tell them about the different species of birds and fish... We try to communicate our passion, which is a passion for the sea. And it's true that, in general, that's what it always comes back to, sharing and discovering.

Vincent : Great, thanks for sharing. Let's talk business now! Do you remember when you started working with Manawa?

Christian: I started working with Manawa two years ago and I'm very happy to have formed this partnership. I think it's great that we've had such good discussions. There's a closeness with your teams that you don't find elsewhere, and I think that's linked to the fact that you too are passionate about the activities you offer.

Vincent: Absolutely, it's something we get a lot of, but it's always a pleasure to hear! Talking about the early days of the partnership, do you remember how we started working together?

Christian: I think I came to you first. I was looking for someone who could represent my company in the best possible way, to raise its profile, and I came across Manawa. I found you via the Resamare booking software.

Vincent : Absolutely. Today, we are connected via API with the Resamare booking software, which means that our customers get immediate confirmation of their Corsica Sud Croisières bookings. This makes the booking experience much smoother for our customers. Do you feel that online booking has changed the way you work?

Christian : Yes, absolutely, online booking has enabled me to develop my company. Working with Resamare and Manawa, as an additional contributor, has made it much easier for me to develop Corsica Sud Croisières.

Vincent: With regard to the "setting up" part, did you find it complicated to create your pages on Manawa, for example?

Christian : No, not at all. You helped me a lot with that too! Your teams were always very responsive.

Vincent : When you started working with Manawa, what did you initially expect the result to be?

Christian : What made me want to start was that I knew very well that everything to do with online sales and representation would become increasingly important for my business sector. So I wanted to be proactive about it. And it was a good decision, because from the very first year we've had excellent results together.

Vincent: In terms of operations and your relationship with the Manawa teams, how does that work for you? Do you find it easy? Are there things you think could be improved?

Christian : It's more than easy, it's really very good. You couldn't ask for anything better! We have a contact that I can't find anywhere else, as I was saying... I work with other platforms, but it's nothing like that. We don't have the same contact at all. I find that with Manawa, we manage to be very responsive on both sides when we need to talk. And that's very important to me.

Vincent : Great, thank you very much. It's always a pleasure, once again! Do you have any anecdotes to share with us, or things that have particularly impressed you about your partnership with Manawa?

Christian : What really struck me was my first contact with you. It's not easy to explain, but when you meet someone who's so sincere and so natural, and professional at the same time, you don't hesitate!

Vincent : It's a good thing we're on the phone, I'm going to end up blushing [laughs]! Apart from the sales team, today your main contact for managing bookings is our customer service team... Is everything still going well on that front?

Christian : Yes, the customer service teams are top notch too! They've helped us manage specific customer requests during the high season and we've never had any problems. We have a real relationship of trust and that saves me an enormous amount of time.

Vincent : Great! I think I know the answer, but can we consider the collaboration between Corsica Sud Croisières and Manawa a success?

Christian: A great success, yes. Not only does it enable us to raise our profile with customers, but we also do everything we can to offer the best experiences on our excursions, so that our customers leave positive reviews on Manawa. It's also reassuring for our customers who are considering booking with us in the future, as well as other activities with you.

Vincent: Indeed, if we all do our jobs well, overall we'll get more people involved in all our activities. It's a win-win situation! So, I imagine you'd recommend Manawa to other professionals involved in sea excursions, but also in other sports?

Christian : Absolutely. And I've already done it!

Vincent : That's true! So, what are you expecting from Manawa in 2024?

Christian : I simply expect us to carry on working as we always have. That's all.

Vincent: Coming back to Corsica Sud Croisières, what are your new plans for 2024?

Christian : There are quite a few new features. First of all, this year we've added a 2 hour 'Discovery' excursion, which is our shortest outing. It works very well for the pre-season and the post-season. Then we have the 'Relaxation' excursion, which is a day trip, with meals included, on our new ship 'Santa Maria'. It's a boat that's been built in Brittany, with 70% recycled aluminium and new engines with a system for recovering microplastics while sailing. We're always trying to take the most responsible approach possible, in terms of the education we give our passengers, but also with regard to our own boats. So there's a lot of new stuff: new boats, new products.... And always with the aim of helping our customers discover the sea.

Vincent : Great! It's very important for us to work with more and more committed partners. As well as choosing your boats, you say that you educate your customers about more eco-responsible practices. Can you give us a few examples?

Christian : Of course. First of all, we give them lots of advice on how to act at sea. Of course, starting with not throwing anything into the sea. A single cigarette butt pollutes 500 litres of water. We don't use plastic bottles, either. And if we see any rubbish, like abandoned bags or cans, we turn around and pick it up. We also work to raise awareness of marine ecosystems. We explain, for example, that sea grass acts as the lungs of the sea, and that you have to be careful not to drop your boat's anchor on these beds. They represent 5% of the Mediterranean seabed, and can produce 14 to 20 litres of oxygen per square metre every day. People don't necessarily pay attention to this because they're not informed. It's up to us to get the message across. The sea sustains us. The least we can do is respect it, for ourselves and for future generations.

Vincent : Very clear, thank you Christian. In addition to your commitment to the environment, do you have any commitments regarding the accessibility of your activities for people with disabilities?

Christian : We do our best to adapt so that our excursions are accessible to as many people as possible. Accessibility depends on the type of boat, so the most important thing is that we are informed of the situation before the customer arrives, so that we can offer them the best possible experience. I remember a lady with a physical disability who absolutely wanted to visit the Lavezzi Islands, and we took her with us. We even managed to get her into the water. At the end of the excursion, she thanked me with tears in her eyes. I'll never forget her. You can't put a price on being able to share your expertise and enable people to experience things they'll remember for the rest of their lives.

Vincent : What's the best experience you've had at sea in your career?

Christian : The best experience, I'd say, is the look on people's faces, their smile at the end of the excursion. When I worked on big boats, I didn't have that kind of contact with the passengers. It's an extraordinary feeling to know that you've managed to please people. Sometimes people tell me they've had the time of their lives.

Like Christian, you too can join the first booking site dedicated to outdoor and adventure activities by proposing your activities on Manawa.com: Join us!