Cruise operator unveils plans to take 600 UK agents to see new ship in Barcelona next year. Natasha Salmon reports from Ibiza on the line’s first Loyalty Rocks Club agent fam trip
More than 600 UK travel agents will experience Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship Horizon next year in Barcelona.
Head of sales Luke Smith confirmed the line would host 800 agents on the ship, with three out of four of them from the UK.
Smith revealed the plans while hosting Carnival’s first fam trip since launching its agent loyalty scheme, Travel Agents Rock.
He said: “We cannot wait to have agents experience Horizon. It is going to be a fantastic sister ship to Vista, which did so well last year.
“We are a very trade-friendly company in the UK and since launching Travel Agents Rock we have proven our dedication to the trade.”
The cruise line took 11 agents to Ibiza for four days with members of its sales team in partnership with Ibiza Rocks.
“Carnival works extremely well with Ibiza Rocks; there is a lot of synergy between the two brands. Ibiza Rocks is fun and informal so fits with the way our customers experience our ships,” added Smith.
The agents who visited Ibiza were the first of the 600 UK agents to receive invites to see Horizon in April next year.
Carnival’s Loyalty Rocks Club and CCL University training programme have gained more than 2,000 members in seven months.
Smith said: “The agents on this fam trip were chosen because of their engagement with Travel Agents Rock online and also through their use of our training modules on CCLU.”
Smith urged agents to “sign up and get involved”. He added: “Just make sure you register all your bookings and you will get the rewards we have.”
Loyalty Rocks Club offers £15 rewards for every booking
Carnival Cruise Line is offering £15 worth of reward points per booking throughout June to members of its Loyalty Rocks Club.
Travel Agents Rock members can earn 15 points per booking until June 30. All points will be doubled if three or more bookings are made.
Carnival’s Loyalty Rocks Club was set up last November to demonstrate the cruise line’s commitment to working with the UK trade and not seeking direct bookings. Agents can sign up to the club to receive rewards from high street vouchers to holidays, gifts, experiences and more.
Luke Smith, head of sales, said agents had plenty of bookings they could take advantage of with the arrival of Carnival Horizon next spring and the popularity of Carnival Vista.
“It is so easy to sign up to Loyalty Rocks Club and we ask our members to make sure they claim rewards for their bookings the same month they make them,” he said. “The more agents that engage with us, the more we will work with and reward them.”
To register for the Loyalty Rocks Club, agents should visit loyaltyrocksclub.redpoints.co.uk