Seeking to spur travel agents to use online tools, Carnival Cruise Lines introduced a rewards program for travel agents where they earn points to redeem iPads and gift cards after using various online tools.
The move comes as Carnival is trying to spur bookings and efficiencies during the all-important Wave Season and after a booking slump created by the Costa Concordia disaster.
Agents would earn points to redeem prizes if they carry out various activities on GoCCL.com or "GDSs," which are defined as Amadeus, Sabre Cruises, Revelex, Travelport Cruise and Tour, FocalPoint or LeisureShopper.
Carnival is looking to have agents use these products for:
- Servicing existing reservations, and
- Finishing Carnival Cruise Lines University training on GoCCL.com.
Agents would also earn points for attending fams, visiting ships and other offline activities.
Carnival Cruise Lines,
Princess Cruises and
Holland America Line since late 2010 have been pushing agents to conduct more of their business online and Carnival's new Travel Partner Rewards Program ups the ante.
In other cruise news, Spirit Airlines entered into a private label partnership with World Travel Holdings to create Spirit Cruises, which offers sailings from nearly 20 cruise lines.
Members of the airline's Free Spirit frequent flyer program would get an introductory offer of 15,000 award miles per cruise booking, Spirit and WTH say.