Home-Based Travel Agent - September 2007 - (Page 55)

St. Barts, one of many popular Caribbean cruise destinations Why Should You Join Virtuoso? Our Alliances Are Out of This World. ing. It’s where the line got its start and where it continues to thrive. This year, Carnival will deploy 18 ships (out of a 23-ship fleet) in the Caribbean, with 14 offering yearround service. Carnival will carry 2.9 million passengers to the region this year, the most in its 35-year history. Carnival’s numbers are backed up by the Cruise Lines International Association (www.cruising.org), which, according to its own statistics, states that the Caribbean is the most sought-after cruise destination by far. The problem with the Caribbean has had nothing to do with issues of overcrowding or a yearning for something different; it has had everything to do with economic issues such as a dismal housing market. Economic factors are reasons people don’t take Caribbean cruises, not because they are fed up with going there. Speaking of demand, Carnival’s bookings for the second half of 2007 and into 2008 show that demand is billowing, not bobbing. The same can be said for another Caribbean heavyweight, Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com), which for fall and winter will have 16 ships positioned in the region. Further helping the cruise lines’ cause, many forecasters, such as WSI Corp., a weather information service, are predicting a tamer hurricane season than in the past, although at press time, Hurricane Dean was in the headlines. Weather, although a less-discouraging factor than one might believe, can play into people’s plans for booking cruises. The news that some prognosticators are down on this hurricane season, in turn ups Caribbean bookings. Discounts in the region are harder to find because space is filling up, and the lines haven’t had the need to cut fares. — DE Photo: Jim Koepnick “VIRTUOSO CONSULTANTS POSSESS THE KEY ASSETS THAT MAKE THEM THE IDEAL AMBASSADORS FOR VIRGIN GALACTIC.” — CAROLYN WINCER, VIRGIN GALACTIC When Virgin Galactic wanted to promote its pioneering space tourism to the North American market, it immediately turned to Virtuoso. Always at the forefront of exciting trends in travel, Virtuoso member consultants will be the ﬁrst and only in North America to become “Accredited Space Agents,” able to make the dream of space travel a reality for their afﬂuent clientele when Virgin Galactic spaceﬂights launch in late 2008. To learn how Virtuoso and Virgin Galactic can help boost your sales out of this world, call 817-870-0300 or visit www.virtuoso.com/us/company/becomeagent. SEPTEMBER 2007 Home-BasedTravelAgent 55 http://www.virtuoso.com/us/Company/BecomeaVirtuoso/ http://www.cruising.org http://www.royalcaribbean.com http://www.virtuoso.com/us/Company/BecomeaVirtuoso/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home-Based Travel Agent - September 2007

Contents Editor's Note - Last-Minute Travel Publisher's Note - Communication is Key Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight Your Technology Industry News Hot Deals Home-Based Networking Preventing Legal Woes Destinations: Turkey Cover Story: Walking Ireland Destinations: Caribbean Destinations: Boston Cruises: Forecast Hotels Tours New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - September 2007

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