Travel Agent - October 1, 2007 - (Page 66)

CRUISE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 builders for agents, as the themes are often transferred from ship to ship,” says Thornton. So if an agent has a successful five-day scrapbooking cruise on one ship, begin selling a similar cruise on another ship while onboard. A couple on board a Crystal Cruises ship Sailings for Everyone From Golfers to Theater Buffs For “down-home fun,” Carnival’s (www. bookccl.com) “Grand Ole Opry” Caribbean Cruise departs January 26 from Miami on Carnival Freedom. Country stars onboard include Charley Pride, Craig Morgan, Hal Ketchum and Jeannie Seeley. Included are private shows by the country music entertainers, an exclusive cocktail party and an Opry member question-and-answer session. Rates start at $1,209 per person double. If dining out and savoring fine wine and cuisine is your client’s absolute passion, the choices are prolific. Holland America’s (www. hollandamerica.com) multiple Celebrity Chef Sailings give clients a chance to interact with wine and culinary experts and to secure savory recipes and cooking techniques. For example, Michael Bloise, executive chef of Miami’s Wish, creates culinary delights that combine robust American flavors with haute Asian cuisine; he’ll sail on Statendam’s 14-day Australia and New Zealand journey on November 4. Prices start at $1,949 per person double. Another cultural offering is the Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ (www.regentexperience. com) “Theatre at Sea 2008,” a 12-night extravaganza of performing stars on Seven Seas Mariner from Manaus, Brazil to Fort Lauderdale for $5,295 per person, double occupancy. Participating are Ed Asner, Tovah Feldshuh, Patricia Neal, Eli Wallach and other greats. For sports fans, consider the December 14 voyage on MSC Cruises’ (www.msccruises. com) Lirica. This seven-night cruise, roundtrip from Port Everglades, is priced from $479 per person double. Clients will interact with baseball celebs, including former Yankees players Stan Bahnsen and Tom Tresh and former New York Mets star Ed Kranepool. Or, agents might design their own golf cruise around Celebrity Cruises’ (www.celebrity cruises.com) Golf Concierge program or Royal Caribbean International’s “Golf Ahoy” program (www.golfahoy.com), which includes courses such as Mahogany Run Golf Course in St. Thomas and Barbados Golf Club. For 66 | TravelAgent October 1, 2007 luxury-focused golfers, the December 8 voyage of Silversea Cruises’ Silver Shadow (www.silver sea.com) from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale is a Silver Links voyage hosted by Brian Williamson of Elite Golf Cruises. Guests play on such courses as Acapulco’s Fairmont Pierre Marques Golf Club and can opt for private instruction in custom-built golf cages during sea days. Special Promotions Another option is to tie into special promotions. Princess Cruises (www.princess.com) offers a “Mother-Daughter Memories” package at $495 (in addition to the cruise fare) for any sailing this year on Emerald Princess; included are a sterling silver charm bracelet, manicure, pedicure, half-day pass to the Sanctuary retreat, reserved seats for wine tastings and a photo. But you don’t have to fit a square peg into a round hole: Consider themed cruises as a starting point for your own creativity, says Corris. She designed a Widow of the South cruise with author Robert Hicks on the May 20 Delta Queen “Civil War” voyage from Nashville to Cincinnati for $2,250 per person double. Many other cruise lines also feature themed cruises—from food to nature, music to high technology. “Guests all share in a passion for certain activities on a themed cruise but, on a cruise vacation, guests also do what they want, when they want, any time,” says Sharak. “Themed cruises should continue to be featured in any growing business.” CONNECTING YOU For more cruise sales tips, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/cruisetips http://www.bookccl.com http://www.bookccl.com http://www.hollandamerica.com http://www.hollandamerica.com http://www.regentexperience.com http://www.regentexperience.com http://www.silversea.com http://www.silversea.com http://www.mscruises.com http://www.mscruises.com http://www.princess.com http://www.celebritycruises.com http://www.celebritycruises.com http://www.golfahoy.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruisetips

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

Online Now From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Caribbena: Porta Caribe, Puerto Rico, an Unspoiled Retreat Carribbean Deals Mexico: Insider Tips: Hotels, Dining and Shopping in Cancun Mexico Deals Las Vegas: Tell Clients About Day Trips Into the Great Outdoors Europe: Budapest: Off-Season Promotions Pacific/Asia: Korea Expands its Offerings Seoul Primer: All the Info You Need For a Smooth Trip Pacific/Asia Deals Hawaii: Captivating Kauai: Enhanced Resorts, Natural Beauty Cruises: Building Revenue with Themed Cruises Cruise Deals Hotels: London: The Lanesborough’s New Guest Rooms Tours: Gutsy Women Travel’s New Morocco Itinerary Tour Deals Spas: Escape to Tranquility: Three Spa Havens Spa Deals Cover Story: Donna Flora Agent Profile Podcasts Offer a New Way to Give Your Clients Added Value Car Rental Navigation 101: Shift Profits into High Gear with These Tips Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Cruise: Commission Cutting, Hurricanes Pitch Colombia, Impress Your Clients Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism New Alaska Products for Families In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

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