Customer success story

nicko cruises boosts its inbox visibility with BIMI

nicko cruises uses Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) to increase the visibility of its email campaigns. Recipients see the cruise company's brand logo in their inbox before they even open the email. This provides a visible signal of trust, strengthens brand recognition and reinforces the company's reputation as a legitimate sender.

Älteres Paar schaut gemeinsam auf ein Tablet, daneben eine E-Mail-Vorschau von nicko cruises mit sichtbarem Markenlogo.
Illustration eines Smartphone-Posteingangs mit hervorgehobener E-Mail und grafischen Elementen zur Markenidentifikation.
The challenge

Trust and visibility in the inbox

Fraudulent spam and phishing emails make it increasingly difficult for recipients to distinguish legitimate messages from fakes. A trustworthy sender identity is therefore becoming ever more important for businesses. During one of their regular meetings, Inxmail suggested BIMI as a way to further strengthen nicko cruises' brand presence in the inbox.

  • There was no urgent need to act; the aim was to proactively improve email communications.
  • The company wanted to further strengthen recipients' confidence in the authenticity of its messages.
  • Its existing sender reputation was to be protected and supported over the long term through better engagement in the form of opens and clicks.
Smartphone inbox mockup with 'DEIN LOGO' and highlighted email subject

What is BIMI?

Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) is a standard that allows companies to display their verified brand logo directly in the inbox. It builds on established authentication methods such as DMARC. If the email client supports BIMI, the logo appears next to the sender's address, making trustworthy messages recognisable before they are opened.

Learn more:

The solution

A brand logo as a visible signal of trust

BIMI builds on established authentication standards such as DMARC and enables supporting email clients to display the brand logo directly next to the sender's address.

  • The receiving mail server checks the sending domain's DMARC record. If the check is successful and the domain has a good reputation, the email client displays the nicko cruises logo next to the sender's address before the message is opened.
  • Only verified, certified senders can display their logo in the inbox in this way, giving them a head start in building trust compared with fraudulent messages.
  • Recipients can immediately recognise that the message really comes from nicko cruises.
  • Inxmail supported the introduction of BIMI through every verification step, helping to check the technical and organisational requirements and integrate the logo itself.
Smartphone mit E-Mail-Posteingang und Markenlogos, ergänzt durch die Logos verschiedener E-Mail-Anbieter.
“With BIMI, nicko cruises is instantly recognisable in the inbox. This strengthens our brand presence, increases recognition and builds additional trust among our newsletter recipients.” 
Smiling young woman with arms crossed in a black blazer against a dark background
Susann Kalsow Alonso
Online Marketing Manager, nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH
Smartphone und Laptop mit Newsletter-Ansichten von nicko cruises und Bildern verschiedener Kreuzfahrtreisen.
Results

Stronger brand visibility and reputation

With BIMI, the nicko cruises brand is visible in the inbox before an email is opened — a signal that only certified, verified senders can display.

  • A lasting signal of trust:
    The logo makes the brand visible right next to the sender in supporting email clients.
  • Stable metrics:
    The open rate remained stable year on year, while the industry average declined slightly over the same period (see the Email Marketing Benchmark 2026 (in German)). This provides a supporting indication that the measure is effective, although changes in tracking conditions, such as Apple Mail Privacy Protection (in German), need to be taken into account.
  • Reputation and brand visibility:
    BIMI offers strategic, long-term benefits for engagement and trustworthiness, regardless of short-term measurable metrics.

Why Inxmail?

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Technical expertise

Secure BIMI implementation based on established standards.

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Personal advice

Support through regular meetings, rather than leaving you to implement everything yourself.

Dark icon showing a target, dart and checkmark symbol

Deliverability

BIMI support strengthens visibility in the inbox.

About nicko cruises

nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH is one of Germany's most dynamic cruise operators. With more than 30 years of experience as a leading river cruise operator, the company has also become a well-known provider of destination-focused ocean cruises and round-the-world voyages. Its classic, elegant ocean-going ship VASCO DA GAMA sails the world's oceans throughout the year, carrying a maximum of 1,000 guests. With a river fleet that combines modern design with comfort and comprises 21 ships in the current season, nicko cruises sails all the popular inland waterways and coastal routes.

www.nicko-cruises.de

Flusskreuzfahrtschiff von nicko cruises auf einem Gewässer vor grüner Landschaft.
  • Industry:
    Tourism
  • Company size:
    Medium-sized business
  • Location:
    Stuttgart
  • Use case:
    BIMI / deliverability