Travel agents complain to Royal Caribbean about free casino offers: "We need your help"

In:
15 Aug 2025

While you might be thrilled to receive a “free cruise” through Royal Caribbean’s Casino Royale program, it's not always good news for travel agents.

During a recent Q&A session aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Star of the Seas, multiple travel agents expressed their concern and frustration with the cruise line’s casino offers. While many gamblers are happy to accept a free (or "comped") cruise, travel agents are finding that Royal Caribbean’s current system is cutting into their business.

Essentially, some travel agents find that clients will first reserve their cruise at retail pricing, earning the agent a standard commission, but later receive a complimentary offer for the same sailing through Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale.

When this happens, most guests will cancel their original reservation with the travel agent and rebook under the casino offer to take advantage of the savings. For example, an agent might have a $5,000 booking lined up at full commission, but if the client switches to a comp casino offer, that income drops significantly - sometimes to just a small percentage of the original amount.

Travel agents are still able to book casino-comped sailings for clients, but their commission is virtually nonexistent. These reservations also don’t count toward an agency’s travel revenue or group booking totals, which can further impact benefits and perks. For many travel agents in the industry, this is especially frustrating because it directly cuts into their income and undermines the value of relationships they’ve built with loyal clients.

Several agents also noted that Royal Caribbean appears to be sending out more casino offers than before, meaning the issue is cropping up more frequently. As such, it became one of the most talked-about topics during the Q&A session aboard Star of the Seas.

Travel agents were quick to bring up the casino issue on Star of the Seas.

Star of the Seas front

Royal Caribbean is currently hosting travel agents aboard its newly-built Star of the Seas. In a Q&A session with some of the cruise line’s top travel partners, Royal Caribbean’s top leaders were present to answer questions from travel advisors in the audience. This included Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, Michael Bayley; Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support, and Service, Vicki Freed; and Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

At the beginning of the Q&A, Freed first praised the travel agents for their hard work and business collaboration with Royal Caribbean. 

She stated, “I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you. Your success is truly our success. You are the people that really guide the consumer into making the right buying decision. And we really depend on you to help us, bring us the best clients, the best guests. And we thank you for from the bottom of our hearts.”

Following these opening statements, the first question asked by travel agents involved the ongoing dilemma with casino comps.

The travel agent stated, “I've been a travel advisor specializing actually, in Royal Caribbean, 75% to 80% of my sales are with Royal Caribbean because I love it very much. My husband and I escort group [cruises] a couple times a year. A lot of our passengers are now casino comps, a lot of them, and they don't bother to come through me.”

The agent continued, “Their reason is, well, we don't want to bother you. We know you don't get much commission on it. We don't want to bother you. But, since we have group [cruises], I'm still doing the work. I have a pre-cruise party at my house, I pre-arranged excursions, I pre-arranged dining, I do all that stuff and now I feel like I've lost them.”

“And as travel advisors, I think we would really love to partner with you on this and so that everybody's happy. I don't want to continue to lose my passengers. I have passengers that [have] sailed with us for 30 years and now they're not. So again, we love everything that you do, but if you could help us partner with you on that, we would really appreciate it. Thank you,” concluded the travel agent.

The topic continued to surface throughout the discussion with multiple travel agents bringing their concerns to Royal Caribbean’s leadership team. While the cruise line was receptive to feedback provided by the travel agents, it’s an issue that’s clearly becoming more prevalent for advisors.

Royal Caribbean’s casino program is still an important revenue stream for onboard spending.

Casino

It’s no surprise that Royal Caribbean’s casino program is an important component of the company's income, as gambling is a massive source of revenue for the cruise line. During the Q&A, Freed noted, “Casino [spending] is an important revenue source for us. So, it's something that we do need.”

Royal Caribbean’s casino operates its own loyalty program that is separate from its Crown and Anchor Society. Unlike the traditional loyalty program, your Casino Royale tier is determined by the number of points you accrue within a single gaming year.

Gamblers who meet a certain spending threshold can earn annual cruise certificates, along with other perks and discounts. While onboard, higher-tier members may also enjoy perks such as free drinks in the casino, discounts on internet access, and complimentary casino play money. In addition, some players may receive targeted offers or promotional mailers for complimentary cruises.

For many cruisers, Royal Caribbean’s casino rewards can offer excellent value, allowing them to take advantage of enticing perks. However, gambling carries inherent risks and can be addictive, so it’s important to gamble responsibly. It’s also worth noting that there’s no guarantee your gambling will result in a complimentary cruise.

Why travel agents find casino comps frustrating.

Slot machines

Travel agents primarily earn their income through commissions, as most do not charge clients any fees for booking their cruise. For many travel agents, the commission compensates their hours spent working with clients, managing payments, answering questions, comparing itineraries, and troubleshooting when plans change.

Losing existing reservations to Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale is a direct hit to a travel agent's income. For instance, many cruisers sail multiple times throughout the year with numerous bookings under the same travel agent. Clients benefit from the services and perks that come with booking through a travel agency, while the agent earns commission as compensation for their time, expertise, and industry knowledge.

Unfortunately, if a loyal client starts receiving ongoing promotions for comped cruises through Casino Royale, it can have a long-term negative impact on a travel agent’s business. Each time the client books through one of these offers, the agent loses another commission opportunity.

Moreover, if the guest was originally part of a group booking, rebooking under a casino offer can also remove that cabin from the group’s total count. This not only creates logistical challenges for the agent when managing group arrangements, but it can also affect their ability to offer extra perks or amenities tied to group size. The casino reservation would also likely deduct from the agency’s revenue, as casino offers do not have an associated cruise fare.

Hot-Seat-Casino-Royale-Promotion

Not to mention, that travel agent might be the reason the client was introduced to Royal Caribbean in the first place. Advisors that work with Royal Caribbean are often the ones who introduce new clients to the brand. They may have spent years building trust with their client and recommending Royal Caribbean as their preferred cruise line.

As mentioned, travel agents earn only a minimal commission for booking comped cruises through Casino Royale, and many find the process frustrating. For example, agents must call Casino Royale directly to make the booking, and several have reported that Royal Caribbean makes this process cumbersome.

As a result, some travel agents choose not to handle casino-comped bookings at all, feeling the effort isn’t worth the low payout. However, other travel agents continue to book these offers as a way to maintain long-term relationships with their clients.

Multiple travel agents voiced their frustration with casino comps during the Q&A.

Star of the Seas arriving in Ponce

After the first travel agent raised the issue of comped casino bookings, others quickly spoke up. 

Another travel agent stated, “On a recent Allure of the Seas Mediterranean cruise, I had 300 people in my group, and about 30% of them, including my husband, received a casino certificate during the sailing. While I was promoting my next group cruise, I realized many of those same people might rebook through Casino Royale.”

“If there’s any way to flag guests who are part of a group or booked by a travel agent, that would help. And if that’s not possible, can you at least give us credit for those casino bookings? Right now, we can’t move them into the group, so they’re not recognized, and it would make a big difference if we could get that credit," the travel agent requested.

In other words, this travel agent is asking Royal Caribbean to either link casino-booked passengers back to their original group or at least give the travel agent credit for those cabins. Without this credit, the agent loses the group booking recognition, which can reduce perks for everyone in the group.

Another travel agent echoed this sentiment, commenting, “I won't belabor the point, but the casino comp issue, it's really, really important to us. We need your help with this, guys. And we're counting on you. You've been good to us since day one. Don't let us down with this. We need your help.”

Finally, another agent shared to the leadership team, "Now real quick, that casino thing is why I'm here. The team in the Casino Royale is horrible. They don't like agents. They put other people's names on your reservations and it takes forever to fix it. And I'm really sorry, but that's the truth."

“You have our commitment”

Casino on Royal Caribbean

Despite multiple travel agents expressing their frustration with casino comps, Royal Caribbean's leadership team was very receptive to their feedback. First, Freed assured travel agents that the casino program isn’t meant to pull business away from them.

She explained, “We are in no way trying to take your clients and bring them to us via the casino. If you run into a problem, please let me know, I’m always available to help you. I hear what you’re saying, and we’re looking at programs right now where we can partner with travel advisors to bring both of us clients, including casino players. We're not trying to take these clients away from you.”

She also noted that Royal Caribbean has acted on agent feedback in other areas, citing the recent change to make the Swim & Tonic bar an adults-only space.

“It was because of the feedback we received last year that we made the decision not to allow children in that pool. You asked if this policy would be in effect on Star of the Seas. Yes, it’s now 18 and older in our swim-up bars. You have our commitment.”

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley also addressed the concern, noting that adjustments to the casino program will take time but stressing that travel agents’ feedback is being taken seriously.

“As Vicki mentioned, it’s a journey and a learning process. We value your feedback, and we’ll work to refine this so we can find win-win solutions. It will take a little time, but we’ll work to find the right balance. We value you, and we don’t want to harm your business, so we’ll keep working on it and provide updates along the way," stated Bayley. 

As the Q&A session wrapped up, Freed reiterated Royal Caribbean’s commitment to addressing and improving the casino comp program. She stated, “You have our commitment. We are really going to take a hard look at the casino. We are going to start from scratch, I promise you. Your comments are very important to us. We will figure it out. And we promise you, you have our commitment."

Royal Caribbean’s top travel agents prove why you need one more than ever

In:
05 Feb 2024

It's not too late to start booking your future cruises with a travel agent. 

Freedom of the Seas aerial drone

Royal Caribbean recently announced their top-performing travel agencies of the year. The list includes both newcomers and repeat winners from previous years who proved their dedication, passion, and ability to book Royal Caribbean vacations. 

  • Chairman's Award for Overall Achievement: Travel Leaders Network
  • President's Award for Overall Achievement: World Travel Holdings
  • National Account Partner of the Year: Travel Planners International
  • Southeast Partner of the Year: Travelmation
  • Northeast Partner of the Year: Cruise Brothers
  • Central Partner of the Year: Magical Vacation Planner
Sundeck on Wonder
  • West Partner of the Year: MEI-Travel
  • Canada Partner of the Year: The Travel Agent Next Door
  • Franchise Partner of the Year: Cruise Planners
  • Corporate Incentive Partner of the Year: 3D Cruise Partners
  • Charter Partner of the Year: Entertainment Cruise Productions
  • Caribbean Partner of the Year: Travel Planners / Expedia Cruceros
  • Automation Partner of the Year: Travel Planners International
Ship docked in St. Thomas

“These are extremely exciting times for the entire cruise industry – cruise lines and travel partners alike. The sky’s the limit at Royal Caribbean, and the strong performance we’ve seen is thanks in large part to our valued travel professionals and their incredible knowledge when it comes to matching their clients with the right vacation experience,” said Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean International.

“I’m very proud to honor these experts who consistently work with us and continue to see success with their businesses. As we dive into 2024 with the exciting launch of Icon of the Seas and then Utopia of the Seas in July 2024, as well as the next Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, in 2025, we’re excited to reach new heights for the entire travel industry. Thanks for the support, and congratulations to the winners.”

If you don't utilize a travel agent, here are 6 reasons why you should consider making the switch when booking your next cruise vacation. 

Read more: 10 secrets Royal Caribbean travel agents wish you knew

Travel agents have a strong understanding of the cruise industry

top deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Travel agents will be able to help you understand all of the nuances of a cruise, as they're unlike traditional vacations. If you're debating between booking a suite or not, you might want expert advice on the benefits that you'd receive, especially if you're cruising on a ship with the Royal Suite Class, as some suites have perks that others do not. 

Perhaps you cannot decide between two itineraries and want a little insight into what the ports offer; a one-way cruise in Alaska, for instance, is different from a roundtrip one from Seattle. 

Travel agents can also advise you on cabin selections. If you aren't familiar with the ship, you could accidentally book a room in a location that you find undesirable, such as near the nightclub or with an obstructed view. 

Family surfside suite

In essence, an agent will help guide you through all of the decisions that you have to make. 

They will save you time

Clock

Planning a cruise can be time-consuming, so you should let a travel agent do the majority of the work! Rather than spending your own time pricing out different itineraries and cabins, you can request a quote for all the options you're considering. 

Once you're booked, they'll check to see if your rate has decreased before final payment, so you do not have to. If they notice that the price dropped, they'll contact the cruise line to get them to honor the lower rate. 

Additionally, if you don't know how you want to spend your day ashore, a good agent will give you some ideas based on your personal preferences. If there are multiple highlights that you don't want to miss, they can help arrange a private tour for you and your travel party, as cruise line shore excursions can be pretty limiting. 

Travel agents have access to better rates

Australian banknotes

The first time I booked a cruise with a travel agent, I was genuinely surprised by how much money I saved. When I booked a cruise onboard Freedom of the Seas, my agent had access to group rates, meaning that I was able to secure a balcony cabin for the same price as an interior! 

Additionally, when I was considering a cruise on the brand-new Celebrity Ascent for July 2024, Celebrity's website was advertising a Prime Edge Infinite Veranda cabin with drinks and Wi-Fi for $6,490.18. My travel agent booked the same stateroom category and perks for $5,440.32. 

While they may not always be able to offer jaw-dropping savings, they'll usually give you some onboard credit as an incentive to book with them. 

They'll provide peace of mind during emergencies 

flight-stock

While not super common, cruise lines will sometimes make changes to your sailing. Dry dock maintenance, for example, might require Royal Caribbean to change your ship. Once onboard the ship, the Captain might deem it unsafe to dock at a certain port of call due to weather. 

While unfortunate, a travel agent is advantageous in these instances, as they'll act as your advocate and liaison, meaning that you won't have to worry about communicating with the cruise line. Before any changes are made, they will ask how you'd like to proceed and then work with the cruise line to honor your specified wishes. 

If you book your flights when an agent, they'll also be able to assist in rebooking them in the event that your original flight was delayed or cancelled. 

Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise

Travel agents can help you book unique staterooms or get onboard special sailings 

When Icon of the Seas' bookings opened, the inaugural cruise sold out within 24 hours. Those who worked with travel agents didn't have to worry about logging on and securing a reservation themselves, as the agent was on the ball the second itineraries were released. 

Additionally, if you're hoping to book during a sale, cruise lines will often notify travel partners in advance, so your agent can alert you of when the best time to book is. 

Read more: Start here to plan your Royal Caribbean cruise

They'll work with you to create a payment plan

One of the best aspects of a cruise is that, unless you're booking a last-minute cruise, you have time to pay off the vacation; the full amount isn't due upfront. 

After placing your deposit, you'll have until a specified date to pay the remainder off. While it's unlikely that you'll forget the date, if you book with a travel agent, they will help you create a plan and make payments on your behalf. 

They will give you other friendly reminders, too, such as helping you remember when your check-in opens. If you want an earlier arrival time, it is imperative that you make your selection as soon as possible. 

Read more: Final payment change for long cruises

I’m a travel agent. Here are the 6 most popular Royal Caribbean ships my clients are booking for 2024

In:
04 Oct 2023

Which cruise ships are people booking the most right now?

Wonder of the Seas departing Fort Lauderdale

Among Royal Caribbean's fleet of ships, there's quite a few choices to consider, and plenty of attention given to Royal Caribbean's newest ships.

With 2024 on the horizon, I was curious which ships people are gravitating towards and booking the most.  So I reached out to Jenn Greene, who is a Travel Planner affiliated with MEI Travel.

I've known Jenn for years, and wanted to get a sense of among her clients, which Royal Caribbean cruise ships are the most popular in terms of bookings for the coming year.

Jenn

Here are which Royal Caribbean cruise ships her clients are going to sail on in 2024.

Big demand

It’s no secret that cruising has made a huge comeback. Gone are the days of last-minute bookings, and rock bottom pricing. Cruisers are planning their vacations up to a year or more in advance. By doing so this secures the best rates and stateroom locations for them. 

As a travel agent with MEI Travel, 80% of my business is with Royal Caribbean. I have been booking into 2024, and noticed that cruisers are gravitating toward the same ships and sometimes booking them multiples times.

I have also noticed that the top five ships are geared towards family fun and adventure, as opposed to the smaller ships that offer a more laid-back cruise. Which makes total sense as Royal Caribbean markets itself as a family brand.

Read more12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships
 
Here are the top six Royal Caribbean ships being booked for 2024 travel by my clients.

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas aerial aft

It comes as no surprise that the newest ship in the Oasis Class is number one.

Wonder of the Seas has all the bells and whistles that cruisers love along with some favorites specific to this ship. The Mason Jar is a popular onboard restaurant, while not included in your cruise fare, I think it is worth the extra cost to dine here. 

Read more: What a room on Wonder of the Seas looks like

Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas rendering at CocoCay

Coming in early 2024, Icon of the Seas will take cruising to a brand-new level.

Touted as the ship that will bring the World’s Best Family Vacation, Icon will be taking cruisers on 7 night Eastern and Western itineraries, with each including a stop at Perfect Day at CoCoCay.

Read moreIcon of the Seas sneak peek: Inside Royal Caribbean's next new ship

The demand for this ship from it’s initial launch has not slowed down. 

Harmony of the Seas

While not the newest ship in the fleet, Harmony of the Seas is a favorite among families and couples.

Many cruisers say “Harmony feels like home”, yet they can’t explain why. From ziplining across the Boardwalk, to catching Grease in the main theater, Harmony continues to be a fleetwide favorite. 

Read moreTrying out the free activities on Harmony of the Seas

Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas docked

Allure of the Seas will be cruising 3- and 4-night Bahamas itineraries from Port Canaveral. This will be the first time an Oasis class ship will be visiting Perfect Day at CoCoCay on short cruises, which has driven the demand for it even higher.

The fact that this ship has yet to be amplified also keeps pricing a little lower than other in it’s class. 

Freedom of the Seas

Freedom of the Seas aerial drone

Next on the list is Freedom of the Seas. This amplified Freedom class ship continues to be in high demand sailing 3- and 4- night itineraries from Miami. Waterslides, mini golf, a Flowrider and ice shows make this ship perfect for a weekend family getaway. 

Read moreGuide to weekend cruises

Ovation of the Seas

For the bucket list Alaska cruise, Ovation of the Seas is the ship of choice for cruisers. This ship offers the Northstar, which gives epic views of glaciers and beyond during your cruise. On sea days you can enjoy iFly skydiving, or enjoy bumper cars in the Sea Plex. 

Read more50 First Time Alaska cruise tips

No matter what ship you sail on, Royal Caribbean has something for everyone. From the more laid back Radiance Class ships that can sail to smaller and more unique ports of call, to the mega Oasis and Quantum class ships offering non stop thrills and fun you are sure to have an epic family vacation. 

Planning a cruise? Start here:

Top 5 things to look for in a good travel agent for your cruise vacation

In:
07 Aug 2020

One of my top pieces of advice for any cruiser is to use a good travel agent, and the key word there is "good".

A reader recently asked me how do you find a good travel agent, so here are the top five things to look for in a good travel agent.

Ultimately, you are looking for someone that works well with you.  There are a lot of travel agents out there, and the key is to find one that not only takes payments and other requests, but works in a manner that you are expecting.

No fees

The one deal-breaker for me with any travel agent is no service fees for their services.

Travel agencies are paid by Royal Caribbean (and all cruise lines) a commission, and that is baked into the cruise fare. There is no additional cost to you for using a travel agent.

Some agencies will charge change fees or service fees when you make changes to the reservation, and frankly, I do not believe that is warranted.

Be sure to ask any travel agent if they charge any fees for their services before working with them.

How responsive are they?

As I said, a good travel agent is one that jives with your expectations, and the key is knowing what to expect in their turnaround time.

No travel agent is available 24 hours a day to handle requests, but it is fair to ask an agent on average what kind of processing time is realistic to expect.

It is important to get a sense of on average of how quickly they will make changes after requesting. Whether that's 24 hours, 48 hours or a week, make sure you are on the same page with the agent in timing to avoid frustrations later.

Dedicated agent or round-robin?

A good question to ask is if you will be assigned a specific agent, or will be taken care of by the next available agent.

Each agency works differently and there are benefits to both approaches.

A dedicated agent allows for a more personal relationship where they can get to know your preferences and needs and that has the potential to make the booking process easier and simpler since they really know you.

A round-robin agency means you have the advantage of getting serviced without relying on just one person's schedule.

Experience working with Royal Caribbean

A good question to ask a travel agent before working with them is their background working with Royal Caribbean.

No travel agent can have expert-level experience with every cruise line or destination, but it is nice to hear how well they know "the system."

Royal Caribbean has many nuances, and the more experience an agent has, the more confidence you can have that they will take good care of you.

In addition to the agent side of things, it is also nice to hear if they like to cruise with Royal Caribbean on their own.  A good working knowledge of the guest and service side of the cruise line is a great asset with any agent.

These days with cruise cancellations, future cruise credit changes and a slew of other new policies, rules and changes, having a good agent that knows the ins and outs of Royal Caribbean is a tremendous asset.

Price changes

Perhaps one of the most useful and commonly used services provided by a travel agent is pricing and re-pricing cruise fares.

You should ask what to expect in terms of the repricing process when there is a price change.

Does the agent proactively check for price drops? Is it all up to you to find lower prices? If you do find a lower price, what is the best way to request a change?

There are no right or wrong answers to this, just a question of what works for you.

Top things you didn't know travel agents can do for your cruise vacation

In:
15 Jun 2020

For anyone new to a cruise vacation, there are plenty of options to consider, and not all of them are super obvious.  When it comes to travel agents, a lot of readers are surprised to hear that how important they can be for just about anyone.

The travel agent industry has changed a lot over the years, and while other sectors of travel have seen a fundamental shift in booking things on your own, the cruise industry leans heavily on travel agents because cruise vacations are not "a dime a dozen".

A good travel agent provides so much value and service, and they are an invaluable component to many seasoned cruisers.

You might be surprised to learn a few very important things about using a travel agent, and how they can greatly benefit your vacation.

They cost you nothing extra

Before I talk about any other benefit a travel agent provides, you should know any good travel agent charges you absolutely nothing extra for their services.

Travel agents are paid a commission by the cruise line, which comes out of the cruise line's bottom line, and not charged to you.

When you book a cruise, make changes, re-price and cancel a cruise, these are all activities that the agency provides for no charge.

If you run across an agency that does change fees, I would recommend challenging them on it or simply taking your business elsewhere.

Travel agents can get access to lower cruise prices

In addition to the prices of a cruise you see online, travel agents have access to a variety of other ways to save their clients money.

Many people mistakenly believe travel agents are just middle men and women, who take your information and book the same cruise for the same price you can see online.

It is not unusual for travel agents to discover special group rates that have lower pricing, lower pricing based on residency or occupation, or even special rates offered to a consortia of travel agencies .

Individual agencies may have groups set up for specific sailings, and there is no reason they cannot add you to that group and take advantage of lower prices.

In short, there are a lot of ways a travel agent can get you a lower price than you can find online.  While they cannot always get you a lower price, they have access to far more opportunities to save you money than booking on your own.

Travel agents can reprice when there is a price drop

One of my favorite things a good travel agent can do is take advantage of a price drop and save you money.

For residents of certain countries (United States, Canada, select Caribbean countries, et al), if you are before final payment date, you can re-price your cruise if the price goes down. This entails contacting Royal Caribbean to re-price the booking, and a travel agent can do it all for you.

Not only can they save you time by doing this, some agents will periodically check on their client's bookings if there is a new sale and see if they can get their clients a better rate.

Travel agents can book casino rates

If you gamble enough in Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale, you can might be eligible for significant cruise fare discounts through the Casino Royale program.  Travel agents can book most of these rates for you.

By booking with a travel agent, you can take advantage of the great service they provide, as well as the lower rates.  It is win-win.

Create a group for your friends and family

If a cruise vacation for your family, friends, high school reunion or any other group sounds like a great idea, your first step should be to work with a travel agent.

A travel agent can set up a group with Royal Caribbean that can possibly save money, or get you special perks back.  Moreover, the travel agent can handle the logistical issues of payments, price adjustments and answering common questions.

You love your family, and enjoy spending time with your friends, but reminding Aunt Kathy to make final payment or figuring out if your bestie's 7 year old son needs a passport is not something you need or should be worried about.  A travel agent can handle all of that for you, for no extra cost.

Provide help when there are issues

If I did not think it would be extremely gaudy, I would highlight and add red siren gifs to this point, because I think it is the most important thing a travel agent does that many cruisers are completely unaware of when deciding on using an agent or not.

In these days of policy changes, future cruise credits, and fear of what may come tomorrow, a travel agent is invaluable because they are the ones that will spend hours and hours with the cruise line to sort out these issues.

Even if there is not a global health crisis, things happen on a cruise. Errors in a reservation, mechanical issues in a stateroom, hurricanes and a great deal of other unforeseen situations can occur.  If they do, having a travel agent means you have someone in your corner fighting for you, and taking care of the details.

They are the person that goes back and forth with Royal Caribbean on your behalf, offers options to you, and more.

With the global cruise suspensions, travel agents can help make sense of the refunds you get back, make requests for refunds or future cruise credits, and more. It is not uncommon for the hold times with the cruise line to take a very long time, but a travel agent can be the one dealing with that.

During hurricane season, a travel agent can assist if you vacation is impacted by changing flight plans or excursions.

Set up payment plans

One of the most requested options from anyone booking a cruise is a way to pay off the cruise over time, and travel agents can take payments along the way leading up to your final payment date.

Not only does this save you from not having to call in to make a payment, but they can do it automatically for you.

Royal Caribbean offering travel agent community new support program to assist with COVID-19 impact

In:
31 Mar 2020

Royal Caribbean announced today it is creating RCL Cares to show support of the travel agent community that aims to assist thousands of travel professionals in the U.S., Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories dealing with the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis.  

RCL Cares will roll out in a few days, and offer variety of services to help educate travel partners as they navigate the myriad of government benefits, including those in the newly signed U.S. economic relief measure—the CARES Act.

These services will include one-on-one assistance and access to key resources and the latest information pertaining to recovery benefits available under the act.

Travel partners can find educational material about the new law beginning today, and they will soon have the opportunity to receive more assistance through a resource desk the company is setting up. The program will not provide legal advice.

The sales teams from Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea will guide travel advisors through the information about the CARES Act as they consider their options for economic relief. 

Travel professionals can get started with RCL Cares at CruisingPower.com, where they can access highlights of the CARES Act, FAQs, Small Business Association resources and tips. The support program will introduce new services and tools in the near future to continue helping travel partners during this difficult time.

Royal Caribbean promises to protect travel agent commissions on deferred cruises from coronavirus concerns

In:
10 Mar 2020

Royal Caribbean has told its travel agents any cruises that are canceled and converted to a future cruise credit will have their commission protected on both the canceled booking and the future reservation where the FCC is redeemed.

Royal Caribbean made headlines when it announced a "Cruise with Confidence" policy to ensure passengers worried about the Coronavirus outbreak will have far more flexibility in being able to cancel up to 48 hours before the cruise. However, this policy created a cash flow issue for travel agents, whom would have their commissions deferred until the passenger actually went on a sailing.

Traditionally, when someone books a Royal Caribbean (and most cruise lines) cruise with a travel agent, the agent receives the commission once the passenger actually goes on the cruise.  If the passengers would cancel and take a future cruise credit, the agent would not be paid by the cruise line until the subsequent cruise was taken.

After doing some rethinking, Royal Caribbean changed their policy so that guests who take advantage of the Cruise with Confidence program and are opting for a Future Cruise Credit in the full amount paid, will have earned commission to the travel agent protected on both the canceled booking and the future reservation where the FCC is redeemed. 

Royal Caribbean announces its 2018 travel partners of the year

In:
23 Jan 2019

Royal Caribbean announced today its 17 top-performing travel advisors for the 2018 Travel Partners of the Year Awards of North America and Puerto Rico. 

The winners for the coveted awards include 2017’s Chairman’s Award recipient, Cruise Planners – an American Express Travel Representative, securing the coveted spot once again; Expedia Group, chosen for the President’s Award, and first-time honorees throughout North America: Cruises & Tours Unlimited (Southeast Partner of the Year), Magical Vacation Planner (Central Partner of the Year), MEI Travel (West Partner of the Year) and The Travel Agent Next Door (Canada Partner of the Year).

“Each year it is an honor to recognize our partners who have consistently shined with their skills, tremendous knowledge and passion for Royal Caribbean,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Royal Caribbean International. “As we gear up for another memorable year with the May 2019 opening of our new Perfect Day at CocoCay private island in The Bahamas, it is exciting to see a mix of new and familiar faces in our lineup of winners. This not only shows the strength among our longtime advisors but also the great growth we continue to see in the industry overall. We thank the travel advisor community for their support, and many congratulations to our 2018 winners.”

The 2018 Royal Caribbean Travel Partners of the Year: (*First-time winner)

Chairman's Award for Overall Achievement: Cruise Planners – an American Express Travel Representative

President's Award for Overall Achievement: Expedia Group

New to Cruise Partner of the Year: World Travel Holdings

Southeast Partner of the Year: Cruises & Tours Unlimited*

Northeast Partner of the Year: Crown Cruise Vacations

Central Partner of the Year: Magical Vacation Planner*

West Partner of the Year: MEI Travel*

Canada Partner of the Year: The Travel Agent Next Door*

Home-Based Partner of the Year: CruiseOne/Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc.

Online Partner of the Year: WMPH

Consortia Partner of the Year: Ensemble Travel Group

Corporate Incentive Partner of the Year: Buy the Sea

Host Agency Partner of the Year: Nexion Travel Group

Marketing Partner of the Year: ICE Enterprise

Top Overall Producer – Puerto Rico: A & A Tours Network

Top Independent Producer – Puerto Rico: Travel Planners Inc/Expedia CentrodeCruceros

Automation Partner of the Year: Vacations To Go

Royal Caribbean announces policy to protect full value of Future Cruise Certificates for travel professionals

In:
13 Mar 2018

Royal Caribbean announced it has reevaluated its commissions structure for Future Cruise Certificates.

SVP Sales and Trade Support & Service Royal Caribbean International Vicki Freed announced to its travel partners that the cruise line is implementing a permanent policy to ensure travel professionals will receive the full value of the booking's commission when clients redeem their Future Cruise Certificates. 

Effective April 1st, 2018 and beyond, travel professionals that have a client redeem a Future Cruise Certificate will receive the full value of that booking’s commission.

According to Freed, the change came about as a result of last year's hurricanes that impacted so many reservations.  Because of this, Royal Caribbean protected the full value of commissions on bookings which included the redemption of a hurricane related Future Cruise Certificate.

Royal Caribbean honors travel partners of the year for 2017

In:
23 Jan 2018

Royal Caribbean celebrated its valued travel agent community with its annual Travel Partners of the Year Awards for North America.

The awards recognize travel agencies that do show a commitment to selling Royal Caribbean cruises, and this year's accolades recognized more than 10 top performers.

“These are extremely exciting times for the cruise industry – cruise lines and travel partners alike. The sky’s the limit at Royal Caribbean, and the strong performance we’ve seen is thanks in large part to our valued travel professionals and their incredible knowledge when it comes to planning inspiring vacations on our ships,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Royal Caribbean International. “I’m very proud to honor these experts who consistently work with us and continue to see success with their businesses. Congratulations to the returning and first-time Travel Partners of the Year award recipients.”

Royal Caribbean’s 2017 Travel Partners of the Year winners are as follows:

Chairman's Award for Overall Achievement     
Cruise Planners – an American Express Travel Representative

President's Award for Overall Achievement     
Expedia CruiseShipCenters

National Account Partner of the Year               
World Travel Holdings

Host Agency Partner of the Year                       
Travel Planners International

New-to-Cruise Partner of the Year                    
International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (ICE) *First-time winner

Home-Based Partner of the Year                       
CruiseOne, Dream Vacations & Cruises Inc. *First-time winner

Online Partner of the Year                                  
Cruise.com

Rising Star Partner of the Year                          
Cruises-N-More *First-time winner

Consortia Partner of the Year                            
Virtuoso

Corporate Incentive Partner of the Year          
Buy the Sea

Marketing Partner of the Year                           
Travel Leaders Network

Southeast Partner of the Year                           
Tourico Holidays *First-time winner

Northeast Partner of the Year                            
Autism on the Seas

Central Partner of the Year                                
KHM Travel Group

West Partner of the Year                                    
Morris Murdock

Canada Partner of the Year                                
Maritime Travel – LeGrow’s Travel *First-time winner

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