Royal Caribbean to launch agent incentive scheme

Royal Caribbean International has revealed plans to launch a special incentive scheme for the Middle East travel trade in a bid to encourage early bookings from the region for this year’s summer season.

The cruise line is targeting a 30% year-on-year growth in passenger numbers from the Middle East this year, which it wants to see against its Europe products.

“We have 18 ships sailing in Europe this summer and we know this market loves Europe,” said Helen Beck, Royal Caribbean International’s regional sales director, International Representatives, EMEA.

Agents will get the chance to win a top prize of a cruise for two, and other prizes will be on offer depending on volume of sales.

“With Ramadan falling in August this year it’s a shorter holiday season. We know that we need to get nationals to travel in July, so the idea is to encourage early bookings,” explained Beck.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas began her second Gulf sailing season last week. Cruise passengers from the region increased 60% last year, which Beck said was down to the presence of the ship in the Gulf.

"Cruising has moved from being a 'niche holiday' to becoming main stream," said Beck.