Celebrity Launches New Program to Encourage Groups

Celebrity Cruises has launched a three-month program to encourage agents to book groups. The “Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise?” promotion focuses on 2010 Caribbean, Bermuda and Panama Canal sailings this month, Europe itineraries in September and Alaska cruises in October.

Among the educational tools are online video presentations, an itinerary reference guide, a “Why Sell Celebrity?” document, and a list of frequently asked questions to assist travel partners in promoting the new offers.

For a full week at the end of each month, travel professionals can block group space with the pricing advantages –$25 per stateroom for three- to five-night cruises, $50 per stateroom for six- to nine-night itineraries and $100 per stateroom for sailings of 10 nights or longer.

Travel agents will receive the pricing advantages in addition to price protection. Berths in a qualifying group booked at a higher fare can receive the difference between that fare and a lower fare advertised or offered by Celebrity in the form of an onboard cruise credit or reduced fare.

The booking windows for “Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise?” run Aug. 24 to 31 for Celebrity’s 2010 Caribbean, Panama Canal and Bermuda sailings; Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 for 2010 Europe and trans-Atlantic voyages; and Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 for 2010 Alaska vacations.

Through http://www.cruisingpower.com/ , agents can access real-time group pricing and inventory of sailings and instantly create group bookings, allocate staterooms, make payments and manage individual bookings within a group through CruiseMatch.