Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - (Page 36) CRUISES ABOVE: Holland America Line (the Noordam is shown here in Gibraltar) is adding Exploration Teams onboard its ships to educate and entertain guests LEFT: Enrichment often means a chance to meet local people, as Celebrity Cruises’ guests did with this Peruvian woman on a South America shore trip or more, a book club leader will join the team. Whatever program the lines offer, use your database. Match enrichment opportunities with your clients’ interests, then let clients know how they may tap into these experiences, many of which offer an emotional connection or a sense of adventure. Clients might take a private MIG flight in Russia with Crystal Cruises (www.crystalcruises.com) or book a Bob Marley-focused, reggae-immersion shore trip in Jamaica with Carnival Cruise Lines (www. bookccl.com). Encourage Clients Share the experience and the passion for such programs with your clients. Use photos and information about a past program to add authenticity and color, but showcase the upcoming dates that deliver a similar experience. Offer an enrichment evening at your agency, detailing all the options. For example, do you have maritime or space buffs as clients? “Our transatlantic sailings often feature multiple speakers with expertise in nautical-themed topics, such as maritime history,” notes Ritzenthaler. “We’ve also had some incredibly interesting astronauts on our ships, most recently Walt Cunningham on Celebrity Solstice; he was part of the Apollo launch and talked about that experience. He also shared photos of the view from space.” Lectures and cooking programs onboard are a huge draw with today’s culinary-minded guests. For example, Oceania Cruises (www. oceaniacruises.com) will host a guest celebrity lecture by Jacques Pépin, best-selling author and renowned master chef, on the April 9 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 For example, in Alaska, Celebrity tries to have a naturalist on every sailing, so adults and kids alike learn about the flora, fauna, geography and history of the region. Kids who participate in Celebrity’s youth program, presented in partnership with LeapFrog School, not only learn about the region, but do so in fun ways. Holland America Line is now adding new Exploration Teams onboard its ships. Comprised of event staff with niche expertise ranging from technology to travel, party planning to dancing, the new program will offer guests a menu of “edu-tainment” programs; on cruises of 12 days 36 | TravelAgent January 5, 2009 sailing of Regatta from Barcelona to Istanbul. Create a calendar of lectures by experts in a wide range of interests and from multiple lines. Include this calendar in a promotional e-mail or client newsletter. Many premium and luxury lines field cultural, art, wine and cuisine programs. Silversea Cruises (www.silversea.com) offers onboard wine programs, as well as wine tours ashore with lunch at top-of-the-line restaurants in such wine regions as Tuscany and Bordeaux. Silversea is also adding a new series of cooking tours in France featuring guest chefs. Help clients focus their attention on shore options that complete the overall experience. Cruise lines are constantly enhancing the quality of guests’ time ashore with such options as more overnights in port, exclusive tours and razzle-dazzle technology. For example, Regent Seven Seas (www.rssc.com) is adding personal wireless headsets for guest use on more than 200 shore tours worldwide. If clients are enriched and come back raving, you’ll likely get them to book again on another trip. So encourage guests on South American cruise itineraries, for example, to book such add-ons as an Amazon lodge eco-adventure; an immersion into Chile’s wine culture; or a side trip to explore Antarctica. “I believe travel agents can use enrichment to close more sales,” explains Stockert. “I hear industry leaders say that agents need to sell with passion. A chance to be enriched on a cruise will add a new way to sell with passion. A potential cruiser will come alive if the agent explains the enrichment opportunities on today’s cruises.” Stockert cruised on Eurodam last summer in Europe and observed how many guests enjoyed learning about the Vikings before a Scandinavian port call. Separately, Stockert says one guest couldn’t wait to text his grandson after learning how to do so during an onboard technology program. “I could see the cruise coming alive for passengers with activities that were more meaningful than just enjoying good food and shows,” says Stockert. “When you come home from a cruise where you had a chance to be enriched, you are a different person. This is something agents can sell.” I CONNECTING YOU For more information on cruise lines and their programs, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises http://www.silversea.com http://www.rssc.com http://www.crystalcruises.com http://www.bookccl.com http://www.bookccl.com http://www.oceaniacruises.com http://www.oceaniacruises.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 Reality Check Online Now Contents From the Editor Europe: Copenhagen is Replete with Designer-Savvy Digs Pacific Asia: Krabi, Thailand, is a Serene and Beautiful Province Along the Andaman Coast Canada: Great Slopes and Rooms in Western Canada Las Vegas: The Luxor Reinvents and Redefines Itself Central & South America Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda: St. Lucia Had an Exciting Year Anguilla Has Numerous Properties Awaiting Visitors Cruises: Increasing Cruise Sales with Enrichment Programs Cover Story: 2009 Survival Guide Agenda CLIA Puts a Keen Eye on Training and Education for 2009 Hawaii's Luxury Offerings Clients Continue Demanding Exotic and Experiential Trips News from the Caribbean and Mexico Classified Marketplace In the Spotlight Agent Access Editorial Index Advertising Index Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Reality Check (Page 1) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Online Now (Page 4) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Online Now (Page 5) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Contents (Page 8) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Contents (Page 9) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Europe: Copenhagen is Replete with Designer-Savvy Digs (Page 16) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Europe: Copenhagen is Replete with Designer-Savvy Digs (Page 17) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Europe: Copenhagen is Replete with Designer-Savvy Digs (Page 18) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Europe: Copenhagen is Replete with Designer-Savvy Digs (Page 19) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Pacific Asia: Krabi, Thailand, is a Serene and Beautiful Province Along the Andaman Coast (Page 20) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Pacific Asia: Krabi, Thailand, is a Serene and Beautiful Province Along the Andaman Coast (Page 21) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Canada: Great Slopes and Rooms in Western Canada (Page 22) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Canada: Great Slopes and Rooms in Western Canada (Page 23) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Canada: Great Slopes and Rooms in Western Canada (Page 24) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Canada: Great Slopes and Rooms in Western Canada (Page 25) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Las Vegas: The Luxor Reinvents and Redefines Itself (Page 26) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Las Vegas: The Luxor Reinvents and Redefines Itself (Page 27) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Central & South America (Page 28) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Central & South America (Page 29) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda: St. Lucia Had an Exciting Year (Page 30) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda: St. Lucia Had an Exciting Year (Page 31) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda: St. Lucia Had an Exciting Year (Page 32) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda: St. Lucia Had an Exciting Year (Page 33) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Anguilla Has Numerous Properties Awaiting Visitors (Page 34) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cruises: Increasing Cruise Sales with Enrichment Programs (Page 35) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cruises: Increasing Cruise Sales with Enrichment Programs (Page 36) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cruises: Increasing Cruise Sales with Enrichment Programs (Page 37) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cover Story: 2009 Survival Guide (Page 38) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cover Story: 2009 Survival Guide (Page 39) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cover Story: 2009 Survival Guide (Page 40) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cover Story: 2009 Survival Guide (Page 41) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cover Story: 2009 Survival Guide (Page 42) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Cover Story: 2009 Survival Guide (Page 43) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Agenda (Page 44) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - CLIA Puts a Keen Eye on Training and Education for 2009 (Page 45) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Hawaii's Luxury Offerings (Page 46) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Clients Continue Demanding Exotic and Experiential Trips (Page 47) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Classified Marketplace (Page 48) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - In the Spotlight (Page 49) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 50) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 51) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 52) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 53) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 54) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Editorial Index (Page 55) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page 56) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - January 5, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover4)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.