Royal Caribbean International is set to introduce the first viewdata system for cruise bookings in the autumn.
The technology, developed by system supplier Chauntry, will be piloted in September and rolled out for full use in October.
Currently agents either use Royal Caribbean’s reservation technology Cruisematch, via global distribution systems, to book, or use the phone. But the company now wants 50% of its reservations made via automation by 2000.
Only 75 UK agents currently use Cruisematch.
Chauntry’s managing director Theresa Hughes said: “This is the first cruising viewdata system in the market and is a lot more user friendly.
“For Royal Caribbean it works because it will bring in more bookings from agents who don’t have access to a GDS and it is just a lot simpler and quicker to use for them.”
Agents accessing the system will be given prompts on booking extras like pre and post-cruise tours and the ability to book dining seats and upgrade cabins. The viewdata front end that agents see will interface with Royal Caribbean’s main-frame reservation system which is housed in Miami.