Articles tagged “cruise lines”

A surge of newcomers are setting up shop as travel advisors — with some of them unprepared for the realities of the job. Host agencies and consortiums are ramping up efforts to give them the education they need.

Everyone — even cruise line executives — agrees that the air pollution the industry generates needs to be reduced. But a closer look at how cruise ships are regulated leaves little confidence that a new global standard to reduce disease-causing sulfur emissions can be adequately enforced.

Shore excursions offered by third-party companies are growing in popularity among passengers and travel advisors alike. Independent options tend to offer more customization than ship-sponsored tours while also offering financial benefits for travel advisors.

Independent shore excursions are proliferating, enabling passengers to avoid the crowds and travel advisors to earn commissions. With competition more intense, some cruise lines are attempting to improve their excursion offerings as a result.

Travel advisors need to further diversify their revenue beyond commissions. That's for sure.

Carnival Corp. may now make a point of trumpeting its sustainability efforts, but it's worth remembering that it's on environmental probation for a reason.

The low base fares promoted by some budget and mid-level cruise lines rarely indicate what the actual cost of a sailing will be. Travel advisors are stepping in to advise clients about onboard charges and, in some cases, showing that a higher-end cruise with all-inclusive pricing is actually a better value.

The base fares advertised by many cruise lines rarely indicate the proliferation of onboard charges that can send the cost of the cruise soaring. Travel advisors are stepping in by counseling clients about the added costs and, in some cases, presenting all-inclusive cruises as a better value.

For increasing numbers of travelers, leaving home without a beloved pet (or pets) is unthinkable. While the travel industry has become more accommodating to this trend, the challenges are such that services from pet travel experts are in demand.

A little bit of cognitive dissonance going on here​?​ ​Carnival CEO Arnold Donald ​talked up the cruise line's obligation to its customers while explaining away a $20 million penalty it paid with the U.S. government for secret illegal pollution.