Published in Travel Weekly

February 22, 1999

Web Update: Expert compiles list of key cruise sites

EVANSTON, Ill -- The large and fast growing cruise market should be of interest to all leisure travel agents that are trying to improve their profitability.

Most cruise lines continue to be travel agent friendly and pay attractive commissions on a product that highlights an agency's ability to add value to a reservation.

However, the market for cruises is becoming increasingly segmented, with more specialty and small-ship operators entering the market on one end, and major cruise lines consolidating on the other end.

This broadens the appeal to consumers, but creates a challenge for agents to stay informed about the various cruise lines and products.

I have listed several general cruise resources and a few examples of the specialty cruises that are available.

Associations

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) web site is designed primarily for cruise customers, but it does include a trade resource section for agents selling cruises.

National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA) sponsors a web site that is minimal, but it does provide some tools for agents.

News groups

Cruise Newsgroup is an on-line newsgroup discussing cruise travel.

You can find interesting information here, but you may need to read through many messages to find something related to your area of interest.

General Resources

CruiseReviews is an agent-friendly cruise review site operated by the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents. You can refer clients to the site knowing it will not solicit your clients. Reviews are categorized by ship.

Cruise Calendar is a comprehensive and easy-to-use listing of more than 150 worldwide cruise line itineraries and dates by region.

Specialty Cruise Lines

Nubian Nile Cruises/Red Sea Cruises features cruises on the Nile River, Nubian Sea, and Red Sea.

Quark Expeditions' specialty is expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic.

Temptress Adventure Cruises sells adventure Cruises in the Caribbean and Pacific in Belize, Guatemala, Panama and Costa Rica.

This list was compiled by Greg Merkley, president of the Evanston, Ill.-based Travel Technology & Magic, which owns and operates the PositiveSpace Web site for travel agents at www.positivespace.com. All of these sites, along with complete contact information, are listed on PositiveSpace.