Carnival Cruise Line has hailed the importance of travel agents as bookings for 2024 have reached an all-time high, with booked deposits for 2025 also surpassing records.
Iain Baillie, international sales vice-president at Carnival Cruise Line, said: “We are having a record-breaking year for sales at Carnival Cruise Line – this includes destinations such as Europe, US and the Caribbean.
“Forward sales are stronger at this point than last year, and 2025 booked deposits are at an all-time high.”
He made his comments during an agents’ ship visit on Carnival Legend in Dover last week.
The visit is part of Carnival’s biggest ever ship visit programme, which sees seven events hosting 350 agents.
Baillie added: “We are excited and encouraged that more and more UK guests are experiencing Carnival Cruise Line, with travel agents continuing to be centric and integral to our overall business strategy.”
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Following Dover, the other agent visits are scheduled for Liverpool (July 9), Edinburgh (July 30), Liverpool (August 5), Greenock/Glasgow (August 7), Liverpool (August 14) and Belfast (August 17).
Carnival’s fleet now comprises 27 ships, with Carnival Firenze and Carnival Jubilee having launched this year.
Parent company Carnival Corporation recently announced plans to sunset its P&O Cruises Australia brand, which will add a further two ships to the fleet: Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.
Furthermore, Carnival’s exclusive private destination, Celebration Key, will open to visitors in July 2025. The $600 million island in Grand Bahama already features on about 500 bookable itineraries.
There will eventually be two piers with space for four Excel class ships, allowing for as many as 25,000 guests to visit the island at one time.
Carnival’s ‘Key to Fun’ agent incentive is offering 20 agents who make Celebration Key cruise bookings, including family cabins, the chance to visit the island in 2025.
Pictured: Agents onboard Carnival Legend in Dover and Carnival Cruise international sales director Luke Smith