In celebration of National Travel Advisor Day on May 5, 2021, cruise lines are ringing in the event with fresh perks and overall gratitude for their partners.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages is not only acknowledging a single day or week dedicated to travel agents, but a whole month. For the month of May, the new luxury line is launching its Master of Bucket-list Destinations professional development program on the company’s online portal, Atlas Advisor Central. After completion of the first course, advisors qualify for special fam fares. After both, they can earn up to $200 in bonus commission on their first new reservation.
“Atlas sincerely appreciates travel advisors and recommends all travelers work with a travel advisor,” said Carlos Garzon, senior vice president of business development. “Our new Master of Bucket-list Destinations program provides our valued travel advisor partners with important information and resources to help them market and sell Atlas’ once-in-a-lifetime experiences to clients who seek an extraordinary return to cruising. While we spotlight the importance of travel advisors throughout this month, Atlas appreciates travel advisors every day of the year.”
Agents will receive a Certificate of Expertise and $100 in bonus commission when they make a new deposited booking within 45 days of completing each Master of Bucket-list Destinations course.
During the month, Atlas will also emblazon an “Atlas Appreciates Travel Advisors, Today and Always” logo on all trade invoices, emails and social media posts.
Carnival Cruise Line
Recognizing that National Travel Advisor Day coincides with the U.S. Travel Association’s National Travel and Tourism Week (which runs through May 8), Carnival Cruise Line is going all out for the celebration. The company will release an exclusive rewards points offer, a new Travel Agents Rock toolkit and a special edition of its From Adolfo’s Desk live webinar.
At Carnival, we know that we couldn’t do what we do without the amazing work that travel advisors provide for their clients each and every day.
“At Carnival, we know that we couldn’t do what we do without the amazing work that travel advisors provide for their clients each and every day,” said Adolfo Perez, senior vie president of global sales and trade marketing, in a press release. “For nearly 50 years, travel advisors have been with us every step of the way, and now more than ever National Travel Advisor Day provides us with the opportunity to let our agency partners know how much they are valued and appreciated. They are true rock stars.”
The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5 with special guest John Heald, Carnival’s brand ambassador. Participants will be eligible to win prizes including Travel Agents Rock T-shirts and will also receive 50 bonus rewards points, which can be used toward gift cards, electronics and home goods.
Meanwhile, the new Travel Agents Rock toolkit features a virtual background that agents can utilize on social media or in front of their customers when promoting the cruise line via virtual sales calls.
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways is offering special advance fam rates on 25 sailings in Europe departing October through December 2021. Advisors can book their river cruise fam more than five months before embarkation, and the new “Sail With Me” incentive allows them to earn back the cost of their cabin by making three new FIT bookings on the same voyage. New client reservations under the “Sail With Me” promotion must be made by May 31, 2021
“This year’s Travel Advisor Appreciation Day comes at what we believe is the beginning of a strong rebound in international travel and our travel partners are ready to take advantage of this demand,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways, in a press release.
“By opening up advance fam rates and dates five months in advance, we hope to encourage new advisors to experience the AmaWaterways difference, as well as allow our loyal travel partners to reconnect with their AmaFamily onboard. There is no better way to build confidence and trust than for travel advisors to invite their valued clients to sail along with them, and we are thrilled to refund the FAM cost if they are able to bring along three full paying staterooms.”
Riviera River Cruises
Riviera River Cruises is also going the fam route to celebrate this special occasion. The line’s promotion includes both complimentary and paid ($499) fam cruises for advisors, plus up to €400 (about $480) in onboard credit for their clients. Throughout this month, agents who book a customer on a minimum eight-day 2021 or 2022 European river cruise will qualify for a fam rate of $499 per person for themselves and a travel companion. Each additional reservation made in the 90 days after the fam will go towards refunding that cost, first for the advisor and then for the companion.
“At Riviera, we’ve always been supportive of travel advisors and this is our way of saying thank you to them and their clients for making us their preferred river cruise line,” said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ executive vice president of sales and marketing North America, in a press release. “The fam promotion is an affordable – and possibly free – way for advisors to experience one of our European river cruises firsthand, while the onboard credit promotion will give their clients a little extra to spend on their own holiday. We appreciate all that advisors do for us and hope that they and their clients are able to take advantage of these offers.”
Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises has a contest for today titled "Send Your Travel Advisor on a Cruise Vacation.” As the name suggests, the contest allows clients and colleagues to nominate their favorite travel advisor to win a seven-day voyage onboard one of Windstar’s newly reimagined power yachts: Star Breeze, Star Legend, or Star Pride.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is celebrating alongside agents today with its own significant milestone: the 10-year anniversary of its Partners First program. Each month this year, the brand will continue the festivities with educational content, giveaways, tips from Katina Athanasiou, the company’s chief sales officer and more.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises is celebrating and incentivizing its Very Important Partners (V.I.P.) by rewarding the three agents with the highest volume of sales during the month of May. These top sellers will receive a complimentary Silversea cruise on one of the luxury line's new ships per category:
- Top Classic Sales Reward: European voyage on Silver Moon
- Top Expedition Sales Reward: Galapagos Islands expedition voyage on Silver Origin
- Top Combined Sales Reward: European voyage on Silver Dawn
Also, for every Silversea sailing reserved in May, advisors will get a $100 gift card.
"Travel advisors are not only our trusted partners, but they an extension of our Silversea family,” said Mark Conroy, Silversea's managing director for the Americas, in a press release. “They play an invaluable role in helping us to connect luxury travelers with the authentic beauty of the world. V.I.P. Celebration Month is our way of thanking our partners for their professionalism and support over the years, and at the same time, creating new incentives to help Travel Advisors boost their luxury travel sales and grow their businesses."
Star Clippers
Also onboard for today is Star Clippers, offering a Sell Three, Get One promo. For this month, agents who book three cabins (6 guests total) on any Star Flyer or Star Clipper voyage departing through March 2023 will receive a free cruise for two.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a year since the global pandemic began and caused the travel industry as we know it to be turned upside down. Through it all, our trusted Travel Advisors have stuck with us, and we could not have survived without them,” said Terri Haas, vice president of sales for Star Clippers Americas, in a press release. “Star Clippers trusts and relies on the expertise and professionalism of travel advisors to educate and promote the safe, small-ship, intimate Star Clippers authentic sailing experience, especially with the changing future of travel and cruising ahead. So, we want to enthusiastically say, ‘Thank you’ to our most valued partners.”
The Details
AmaWaterways
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Carnival Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Riviera River Cruises
Silversea Cruises
Star Clippers
Windstar Cruises
