Carnival Chaging Agent Rate Requirerments

Carnival Cruise Lines is implementing new eligibility requirements for travel agents to qualify for reduced rate agent space on the line's 22 ships. Effective Jan. 9, travel professionals seeking to book a cruise at a discounted agent rate must have made a minimum of five bookings.

" It is becoming increasingly important to ensure that only professional travel agents who are actively promoting and selling cruises are receiving travel agent discounts," said Vicki Freed, Carnival's senior vice president of sales and guest services.

Reduced rate travel agent reservations will be handled through the promotions desk within Carnival's reservations department. The five qualifying bookings must have already sailed or be fully deposited within a 12-month period and booked by the agent requesting the travel professional discount.

Opportunities to visit Carnival ships will continue to be available to all travel agents attending industry trade conferences that feature Carnival ship inspections. Carnival also offers a Weekend Familiarization Program, which is available to travel agents at a nominal cost and typically features multiple ship visits along with educational training. That program is combined with a hotel stay in one of Carnival's homeport cities.

The line also offers Carnival University, web-based educational courses available to travel agents."We offer many different training opportunities for all travel agents, including those just entering the business, who want to learn more about the Carnival product and grow their sales," said Freed.

To make a booking under the reduced rate agent program, call 800-794-6225. For more information, call www.bookccl.com.