A DATABASE containing up-to-date itineraries of all the major cruiselines has been relaunched following an upgrade by the Passenger Shipping Association.
The system, called Cruise Assist, was originally launched in the UK marketplace in October last year by database supplier Billian IT Solutions, which runs the Fares Assist airline database for consolidators.
But Billian found it difficult to keep up with itinerary changes and handed the project over to the PSA.
PSA assistant director Bryony Coulson said:”It is a good product, but the people at Billian found they didn’t have the contacts with the cruiselines. However, it is the kind of thing that we can handle relatively easily in-house.”
Cruise Assist features information from all the main cruiselines loaded on disks which are sent to agents. The system allows agents to access the same amount of information they would get from a cruiseline’s brochure, but helps save them time having to wade through each individual brochure.
For example, if the customer is looking for a cruise in September in the Caribbean, the agent enters those details and all available cruises will then appear. If a customer wants to view information about a specific cruise, they can obtain a full breakdown of costs and details about the ship.
Agents pay £30 a month for the service, and get updated disks every three months.
Coulson said:”Cruise Assist includes virtually the same information that would be found in a cruise guide. Agents can print off any information customers want, and they can also add details of other facilities such as a post-cruise tour or car hire.
“If cruiselines have a special offer, they are able to add those details. If the agencies have special override commissions they are highlighted so the agency can select them.”