Tag Archives: cruise planners

So close yet so far: Disappointment on the Norwegian Sun

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Lori Osgood’s clients were eager to visit Cuba for the first time this week when they were to cruise into Havana aboard the Norwegian Sun. The group had been planning their family cruise since last November.

It was not to be.

The Trump administration’s new regulations implemented on Tuesday forced cruise lines to immediately remove Cuba from all itineraries.

“They were excited to soak in all that Havana had to offer — the sights, sounds, people and culture,” said Osgood, a Cruise Planners travel advisor in Jacksonville, Fla. “They are disappointed that they missed their chance.”

Instead of Havana, the Norwegian Sun’s passengers headed to Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian informed passengers with an announcement on the ship.

“I sell a fair amount of Cuba and am saddened that many of my clients who were planning to travel there will not have the opportunity to do so, at least not in the foreseeable future,” she said.

As for cruise travellers already booked for Cuba, she will spend “a few extra hours to make sure our clients who were supposed to go to Cuba are well taken care of.”

Carnival makes higher commission levels easier to reach

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Carnival Cruise Line said it will lower the number of cruises agents have to sell to reach a higher tier in its commission structure.

The move will make it easier for agents to earn more selling Carnival and reverses a move the line made three years ago in the opposite direction.

Adolfo Perez, vice president of trade sales and marketing, said the move was his top priority since being promoted to his new job in June.

“Essentially what we’re doing is reducing each of the thresholds for each of the commission levels, so anywhere from the 11% to the 15% commission level we’ve reduced the number of sailed cabins required to hit that tier,” Perez said.

For example, agents who previously had to sell 400 cabins to earn the 15% level will now have to sell 250. To earn 14%, the threshold goes from 300 to 175.

The 13% level is now reached at 125 cabins, down from 200, while the 12% level is reached at 50 cabins, down from 100.

Small or beginning agents will need to sell 40 cabins, down from 50, to boost their commission rate to 11% from the starting rate of 10%.

Agencies already earning the top rate of 16% are unaffected. Perez said he feels the structure for those commission levels is already adequate.

In a statement, Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer of Cruise Planners of Coral Springs, Fla., said Carnival’s moves to recognize the value agents bring to the bottom line is a step in the right direction for the competitive landscape.

“It is obvious the company has reprioritized travel agent relationships and this trend should continue to keep the brand top of mind for travel agents,” she said.

AmaWaterways christens AmaSerena in Germany

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From left: AmaWaterways’ Kristin Karst and Rudi Schreiner; Cruise Planners’ Michelle Fee; Vilshofen Mayor Florian Gams; and 2nd County Commissioner Rainmund Kneidinger.

Michelle Fee, co-founder and CEO of Cruise Planners, served as the godmother for the christening of AmaWaterways’ newest 164-passenger vessel AmaSerena, which took place this week in Vilshofen, Germany.

Fee was joined by Ama co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst.

The launch of AmaSerena brings the company’s 2015 fleet size to 16 vessels, with two additional launches planned for next year — the 158-passenger sister ships AmaViola and AmaStella.

The AmaSerena features the line’s first-ever connecting staterooms, designed to better accommodate families and groups traveling together. The majority of the staterooms on the vessel’s upper two decks have been outfitted with Ama’s signature twin balcony concept (an adjoining indoor and outdoor balcony). The AmaSerena also features salon and spa services; a sun deck; multiple dining venues, including The Chef’s Table restaurant; an intimate wine room; a fitness room; and a heated swimming pool with swim-up bar on the sun deck.

Future itineraries for the AmaSerena include the Enchanting Rhine, Magnificent Europe and the Romantic Danube.