Transportation Industry

Company Watch - Carnival Cruise Lines

AirGuide Business, May 5, 2008

May 5, 2008

Carnival Cruise Lines is enhancing its travel agent web portal with a new electronic tool aimed at easing the management of group bookings. Carnival's new group e-tool allows agents to perform functions quickly and efficiently online in lieu of using a phone. These include: selecting and modifying stateroom assignments, specifying type of room, entering and modifying passenger information, submitting cruise payment, selecting and modifying pre- and post-land packages and assigning pre-paid gratuities. The new e-function is available through www.bookccl.com beginning September 1, 2008 and agent tutorials are also available to understand the new functionality. Apr 30, 2008

Carnival Cruise Lines is suggesting families consider taking a cruise over Mother's Day on May 11. Although the holiday is less than two weeks away, Carnival says there is still room for a "Fun Ship" getaway. The company has six departures ranging from three to five days available over the Mother's Day holiday to Mexico, the Bahamas or the Caribbean. "An estimated 82 million mothers reside in the U.S., according to the latest U.S. Census numbers, and Carnival, as the number-one cruise line catering to families, is poised to provide mothers with a special and memorable day," said Lynn C. Torrent, Carnival's senior vice president of sales and guest services. Carnival's three- to five-day cruises departing over Mother's Day weekend include Carnival Fantasy departing on a four-day cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel on May 8; Carnival Paradise, three-day cruise from Long Beach, Calif., to Ensenada departing May 9; Carnival Fascination, three-day cruise from Miami to Nassau departing May 9; Carnival Imagination, five-day cruise from Miami to Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios departing May 10; Carnival Inspiration, five-day cruise from Tampa to Grand Cayman and Cozumel Saturday, May 10; and Carnival Sensation, four-day cruise from Port Canaveral to Freeport and Nassau, May 11. Cruise-only rates begin at $349 per person for three-day cruises, $399 per person for four-day cruises, and $449 per person for five-day cruises, based on double occupancy. Apr 30, 2008

Carnival Cruise Lines in honor of Memorial Day is offering discounted rates to retired and active military personnel on up to three booked staterooms. The "Carnival Salutes Our Troops" promotion is available on a variety of three- to 12-day sailings worldwide through December 31, 2009. Reservations must be made between May 1 and May 31, 2008. The following special rates are available for military personnel and their friends and families: $219 per person for three-day Bahamas and Baja Mexico cruises; $229 per person for four-day cruises and $279 per person for five-day cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico; $479 per person for seven-day cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska; and $829 per person for 12-day sailings to Hawaii and Europe. Apr 28, 2008

YTB International, the controversial provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independents, announced the appointment of former Carnival Cruise Lines' president and CEO Bob Dickinson and Florida State Senator Burt Saunders, Esq. to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dickinson, a highly regarded executive, remains a member of the Board of Carnival Corp. Commenting on the addition of Dickinson and Saunders to the YTB Board of Directors, J. Lloyd Tomer, chairman said: [sup.3]I believe that these additions will bring necessary and valuable resources to the company, while enhancing our efforts to further build the YTB brand and reputation.[sup.2] In related news, YTB announced its financial results for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2007. Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007 increased 177 percent to $141 million, compared to $51 million for the previous year. YTB said that while only the commissions arising from RTAs' (Referring Travel Agents) booking of travel services booked on the RTAs' websites are reflected as a component of the company's revenues, YTB also keeps track of the aggregate retail value of all travel services that are sold by its RTAs' websites (which directly impacts commission revenues). Apr 30, 2008

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