Royal Caribbean adds home-based agent tool

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Is trying to make it easier for home-based agents, according to Lisa Bauer, the cruise lines senior vice president of sales. “We want to make it easier for them to do business with us, but they have different needs. They work at home and can’t go to one big call center for training, for example,” she said. The line has a new online tool for home-based agents called www.cruisingpower.com. Agents do not have to be affiliated with a larger agency to use the product. The cruise line has also redesigned its “Seminar at Seas” program with a new curriculum and lower price, Ms Bauer said. Such sales items as brochures that urge buyers to visit the agency are also being revamped to make them more applicable to home-based agents, she said. Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity cruises’ senior management plans to visit agencies in 20 major cities this year to share news and selling tips. The tour is a component of the company’s “Easier to Do Business With” campaign. Agents in general account for the mid to the high 90s percentage of its business, Ms Bauer said. “We view the home-based community as an important one for us, she added.