Amadeus, the technology provider, has signed a three-year distribution agreement with easyCruise.
The deal will allow easyCruise to use the travel agency distribution channel, reducing its dependency on direct-consumer bookings.
EasyCruise sales and marketing director for the UK and USA Paul Ellerby said: “We are excited to be extending our content to Amadeus Cruise and Cruise API users.
“Amadeus is providing us with access to a large network of UK cruise specialists and travel agents, which is key to our growth strategy. In the current economic climate, it is important for cruiselines to reduce costs whilst improving distribution and achieving market share growth.
“We are confident that Amadeus’ proven cruise booking solutions will help easyCruise reach its ambitious goals.”
EasyCruise will be launched and distributed on the browser-based Amadeus Cruise desktop sales solution for travel professionals, as well as the Cruise Application Programming Interface (API) for online sales, in early 2009.
Amadeus director of marketing for the UK & Ireland Una Bennett said: “Cruise holidays are gaining popularity with UK travellers, and by placing itself among the well established brands already benefiting from distribution via Amadeus, easyCruise will be a welcome addition to the Amadeus Cruise portfolio.”