Get Your Business Cruising

For decades, the cruise industry has grown at a faster pace than the rest of the travel industry. North America continues to produce more than 50% of the Cruise passengers worldwide, however other regions such as Europe and Australia have shown significant growth as well. Many agencies have capitalized on the growing consumer demand for cruising and have focused their travel agency business on selling cruises.

Years ago, researching and confirming a cruise reservation would require a series of visits or phone calls with a travel agent before knowing which cruise lines had which sailings available. Not to mention the diverse type of cruises available or the different numerous choices in ships and cabin categories. Advances in technology have changed this and today it is simple for anyone to research and book a cruise vacation online. Websites connected to a cruise booking engine can provide customers the ability to research and book their cruise vacations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But with so many options to choose from, how does a consumer decide which is the best cruise line, itinerary or ship is best for them? Travel Agents have always been a great resource to help cruisers sort through the different options and select the right cruise. And quite often, a travel agent will have access to special deals with cruise lines and they can often ensure V.I.P. treatment onboard. A travel agent's help and expertise can certainly can make a trip easier to plan as well as more enjoyable overall.

And while technology has made it easier for consumers to book directly with cruise lines, many consumers are somehow missing out on the benefits and perks that using a travel agent can bring. Savvy travel agents recognized the value of combining their expertise with the ease of internet bookings and many jumped into the world of online booking engines years ago.

Today's travel agent software makes adding a cruise booking engine to an agency's website easy. Many include a vast amount cruise line, cruise ship and cabin descriptions linked to media files & rich content such as cabin photos, ship images and deck plans to assist in the shopping process. Users can view pictures of a particular ship including sample guest cabins.

And for those looking to expand their business internationally, it is critically important to choose a partner familiar with the unique requirements and supplier constraints that many international markets bring. Some travel technology companies have successfully launched their cruise booking engine in many international markets by working closely with Customers and Suppliers to "localize" the product. This includes local market requirements for applications' display as well as the integration of local content sources such as direct connections with Regional General Sales Agents for several of the world's largest cruise lines.

Choosing a travel technology solution with the right combination of options for your business can be a critical decision. Finding a technology partner that will help you reach today's mobile consumer with the content they are looking for can be just as important.