Travelocity Plan Sparks Agent Criticism

The announcement late last week that Travelocity plans to launch Travelocity Onboard, a new hospitality desk service for Travelocity cruisers onboard select Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Holland America sailings, has sparked an agent outpouring of criticism. Travel Agent has received a multitude of complaints about cruise lines allowing Travelocity to create any presence onboard. Cruise lines say the response is overblown; they believe that allowing Travelocity to host its own group desk with related services onboard is no different than their policy to allow other such hospitality desks by other agencies with groups onboard including AAA, Carlson Wagonlit and other big players. Agents, though, don't see it that way, believing Travelocity's presence is a detriment to future business.