Dwain Wall, GM and SVP of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., announced his departure from the two groups after more than five years of leadership. Wall has made a personal decision to leave the organization to pursue new opportunities, effective Nov. 22, 2013, according to parent company World Travel Holdings, which will begin the process of selecting new leadership for the brands. Brad Tolkin, co-chairman and CEO, World Travel Holdings, will directly manage Wall’s immediate leadership team until a new GM is in place.
“I have been honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization and to help shape CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. as powerhouses in the franchisor and host agency spaces,” Wall said. “I have full faith in the leadership team to carry my legacy forward in what I will know will be a very bright future for our travel agency divisions. While this decision was difficult, I am very excited about what the future holds for me personally and wish the organization much continued success.”
MORE ON THIS STORY: Dwain Wall Leaves CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.
Carnival Cruise Lines launched an enhanced version of its affinity group program, which will offer new group rates and complimentary amenities for top selling individual fares booked into groups. The program is effective for all sailings departing on or after Fab. 1, 2014, and is a result of travel agent feedback from recent Carnival Conversations events.
“Building strong affinity group business is one of the most lucrative earning opportunities for travel agents,” said Mike Julius, Carnival’s senior managing director of U.S. trade sales. “We’re excited to make it easier than ever for agents to book this valuable business by introducing very attractive group rates and adding more value through the inclusion of amenities for our top selling fares.”
The changes allow fun select, early saver and past guest fares to be added to groups with complimentary amenity points. Additional fares such as super saver, resident, senior and promotional fares remain eligible to book into groups with the option to buy amenity points at the price of one dollar per point per cruise day; these fares all receive tour conductor credits if booked into a group. Also as part of this launch, Carnival is offering complimentary amenity points on promotional fares through the end of February 2014.
MORE ON THIS STORY: Carnival Launches Affinity Group Program Based on Agent Feedback
Port Everglades and public officials welcomed Princess Cruises’ new Royal Princess to the South Florida cruise port. The new 3,600-passenger Royal Princess, the first of two new-generation ships for Princess built by Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard, will sail to the Eastern Caribbean every Sunday from Port Everglades through the end of April 2014.
Broward County vice mayor Barbara Sharief and Broward County commissioners Chip LaMarca and Stacy Ritter presented captain Tony Draper with a key to Broward County along with City of Fort Lauderdale mayor Jack Seiler and City of Hollywood vice mayor Richard Blattner who presented keys to the cities.
MORE ON THIS STORY: Princess Cruises Welcomes New Royal Princess to Port Everglades Florida