Carnival Announces Bonus Commission, Onboard With You Enhancements

Carnival Cruise Line is continuing its outreach to the travel advisors community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the travel industry, announcing on Monday that it was making some enhancements to its Onboard With You program, the line’s travel advisor outreach program.

Carnival’s program now includes a 1% bonus commission on new retail bookings made through its travel advisor portal, GoCCL.com, or other online booking tools through June 30, 2020.

And, just as airlines have carried over loyalty program levels for their guests, Carnival is doing the same for its travel advisor partners—all agencies’ current 2020 commission rates will be carried over for 2021 regardless of whether or not they meet the necessary criteria.

“Now more than ever is the message of ‘Onboard with You’ so important, as we all continue to navigate through these unprecedented times. We want our travel partners to know how much we value and appreciate them, and that they are not in this alone,” said Adolfo Perez, Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Trade Marketing said in a statement announcing the news.

“Travel advisors have always played a key role in Carnival’s success and we want to ensure that we are taking care of them and helping them to continue to grow and succeed now and in the future.”

Carnival, along with a number of other major ocean lines and tour operators, was applauded for its policies and trade-outreach when TMR asked travel advisors about which suppliers were supporting them during the COVID-19 pandemic last week.

The line has since added a video message from Perez, President Christine Duffy, CCO Ken Tate, and “Chief Fun Officer” Shaquille O’Neal, explaining the line’s support for the travel advisor community.