Travel Agent - September 24, 2007 - (Page 32)

A Tale of Two Lines A majestic way for travelers who have seen the world to explore their own country Cruises RiverBarge’s River Explorer sails through mid-America’s waterways C suites are furnished with luxurious pillow-top mattresses, high-thread count linens, and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. BY SUSAN J. YOUNG Delta Queen has limited upgrades because it’s lients 55 and older who have being retired after the traveled the globe for decades 2008 season. Mississippi are looking for new vacation Queen will receive enexperiences. Both Seattle-based hancements during an upcoming drydock. Majestic America Line and New Travel agent Charlene Corris, Custom Orleans-based RiverBarge Excursion Travel Concepts, Springfield, MA, has Lines have choices of the Mississippi, been booking groups on the paddlewheelOhio and other mid-America waterways. ers for 17 years; she cites the historical Patricia Noble, RiverBarge’s director of focus and Civil War voyages as a big sales, stresses that many of her clients draw. For 2008, the line offers 77 themed no longer want to deal with overseas air voyages, including a new “Rediscover travel hassles. Additionally, they seek New Orleans” itinerary. enrichment and are increasingly looking Mississippi Queen and American Queen for it within their own backyard. will continue to sail mid-America’s rivers for years. “We’re committed to agents,” Majestic Paddlewheelers stresses Brian Clement, Majestic America Majestic America Line, owned by AmbasLine’s vice president of retail sales. “We sadors Cruise Group LLC, has cruise know this is not a brand that can be sold operations in mid-America, the Pacific over the Internet,” he says. “It’s going to Northwest and Alaska. Along southern take agents to fill the boats.” and central U.S. rivers, Majestic operFor clients who book seven nights or ates 117 sailings onboard the 1926-era, longer on a Mississippi voyage sailing 174-passenger Delta Queen, the newer between March 1 and December 27, 2008, 412-passenger Mississippi Queen and the Majestic is offering free roundtrip airfare or flagship 436-passenger American Queen. a $300 per person roundtrip airfare credit, American Queen’s staterooms and if booked by October 31. Prices start at $1,999 per person double. The line is also offering two-for-one savings on seven holiday cruises this year aboard American Queen, free for children staying in the same stateroom as their parents (secondary staterooms can be purchased at $500 per person). Fares start at $895 per person double. The grand dame of the Call 800-434-1232 or visit Mississippi, Delta Queen, www.majesticamericaline. as it passes Oak Alley Plantation com. Barging Along RiverBarge’s 196-passenger River Explorer is essentially a floating hotel barge. Of 98 cabins, three are fully wheelchair accessible and feature a wheel-in shower. RiverBarge’s fare covers all soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea, snacks, scheduled shore activities, onboard entertainment, port charges, taxes and gratuities. Base commission is 10 percent. With the average eight-day trip at $2,300 or $2,400 per person, “that’s a nice amount of commission, plus we pay 15 percent on groups and they only need five rooms or 10 people sailing to make a group,” Noble says. Agents also earn 10 percent on airline tickets purchased through the line. A travel agent education rate is $75 per person per day for the agent and a guest; agents who come onboard and experience the product receive a bonus commission for that amount on their next booking. For 2008, nine voyages are classified as “Best Barging Buys” with pricing up to $200 per person less than similar voyages on other dates. This year, on November 27, December 4 and December 19, clients can get an additional $50 in Barge Bucks for onboard alcohol and gift purchases. The single occupancy supplement is also reduced from 50 percent to 25 percent on holiday voyages. For each individual stateroom booked on any holiday voyage this year, the agent receives $100 bonus commission and is entered into a contest to win a $500 grand prize. Call 888-GO-BARGE, ext. 1, or visit www. riverbarge.com. 32 TravelAgent September 24, 2007 http://www.riverbarge.com http://www.majesticamericaline.com http://www.riverbarge.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 24, 2007

Contents Editor's Letter News You Can Use Agenda: Fam Trips, Calendar of Events, Deal of the Week Cover Story - Down the Stretch: Ramping Up 2007 Sales Central & South America: Anthony’s Key Resort, Roatan, Honduras Florida: Hotel Packages for Cruise-Bound Travelers Cruises: A Tale of Two Lines Agent Exchange Classified Marketplace Luxury Travel Expo Update Advertisers’ Information People & Places

Travel Agent - September 24, 2007

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