Norwegian Cruise Line Launches New On-Line
Internet Booking Capability For Travel Agents
Miami, Fla., December 15, 1999- Norwegian Cruise Line went
‘live’ this week with a new on-line booking engine
which allows travel agents to make real-time bookings through
NCL’s web site at www.ncl.com.
"We have developed a complete web-based booking system
which allows travel agents to make bookings directly into
our reservation system," said Michael Pawlus, NCL’s
vice president of strategic planning. "We are already
hearing from agents about how quick and easy this system is
to use."
In addition to being able to make new NCL cruise bookings,
travel agents may now make changes to existing bookings over
the web site, apply payments to bookings and add guests to
group space. The capabilities are the same as those available
through Leisure Shopper and SABRE Cruise Director®.
In addition to increased efficiency, the on-line system will
allow travel agents to make bookings at almost any time of
day or night. Apart from a brief late night/early morning
period when the system will be shut down for normal processing,
travel agents will now have complete booking availability
throughout the day.
Additionally, travel agents will no longer need a CRS or
to be physically in their office in order to make a cruise
booking. The only requirement is that they have access to
the web.
"We are very pleased to have the on-line booking engine
in place prior to the heavy booking months of January and
February," said Pawlus. "While traditionally agents
have used the phone or CRS to make bookings, they now have
a third option to check availability, pricing, itineraries
and make the booking."
NCL is rolling out the new booking system in two phases,
with its top-producing agent partners being the first to have
access to this new internet booking capability. Travel of
America, based in West Covina, California was the first travel
agency to make an internet booking with NCL, followed by Cruise
Connections of Vancouver.
Within the next two weeks this access will be open to any
of the approximately 25,000 US and Canadian agencies that
currently do business with NCL. Travel agents will be receiving
information and passwords during this period.
For more information about booking cruises on-line, visit
the travel agent section of www.ncl.com or on American Online
at Keyword: NCL; or call NCL’s Automation Support Desk
at 800-327-7030 and dial "1" for travel agents and
"5" for automation support.
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