This month, Crystal Cruises will launch the third installment of its online training seminar on CrystalCruisesAcademy.com. Complimentary to agents, the latest course in the luxury line’s comprehensive online training program, Course III, Europe 2009 details the benefits of cruising Europe with Crystal in 2009, including:
. All ongoing Europe promotions including All Inclusive – As You Wish, Save Now, Save Later, European Celebration Fares and the Crystal Assurance Plan;
. Highlights of the 2009 Europe season by destination: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canary Islands and Trans-ocean crossings;
. Crystal Adventures, Extended Land Programs and Hotel Programs;
. Group sales incentives, including the Crystal Family Memories Program, and
. Sales and marketing tips
“In the current environment, the agents who are on top of their game and most knowledgeable will be the luxury travelers’ trusted advisors and best resources. It pays – literally – to invest the time in becoming an expert at selling the “World’s Best,” and consistently most highly-rated ships,” says Bill Smith, senior vice president, sales and marketing. “This course will equip agents with the tools they need to expertly sell Crystal European itineraries and, as with the first two courses, earn them greater return business and highly satisfied clients.”
In 2009, Crystal offers two dozen voyages from seven to 14 days in the Mediterranean, Baltic, North Cape, British Isles and trans-Atlantic aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Cruises departing Venice, Barcelona, Athens, Copenhagen, London, Stockholm and more feature at least one overnight call and countless Crystal Adventures appealing to most any interest.
“Europe naturally lends itself to great cruise itineraries, with so many spectacular destinations so close together and easily accessible by ship,” adds Smith. “This presents agents with numerous opportunities to sell their clients on the Crystal Experience.”
Originally launched in July 2006, CrystalCruisesAcademy.com was re-introduced earlier this year on a complimentary basis. In 2008, CruiseBuilder, the second phase of the web-based training program was launched specializing in Crystal’s online booking engine. The comprehensive courses are an ideal forum for home-based agents, allowing them to learn at their leisure, while providing traditional brick-and-mortar agencies with a cost-free option for training each travel agent in their office to be a Crystal specialist.
In addition to valuable sales insights, completion of just one of the courses qualifies agents for eligibility to win a free cruise, with one drawing entry per course completed. The most recent winner, Jane Hazelrig of All-Seasons Travel in Birmingham, AL, completed the first two courses. Four drawings are held per year, the next scheduled for March, 2009.
To register for this new advanced course, agents can visit crystalcruisesacademy.com or access the site through a link on the travel agent center at crystalcruises.com.
Agents completing Crystal’s online training beginning with the first installment course will also receive the line’s sales binder, which is filled with valuable brochures, insider information not available in regular brochures, sample menus from each restaurant, resources for more information and other comprehensive sales tools.
To arm Crystal specialists with the most compelling sales tools, agents completing the line’s online training courses receive E-Values, a weekly e-mail update highlighting the line’s current best values to promote to their clients. Agents who complete courses on CrystalCruisesAcademy.com will also earn CLIA accreditation towards ACC and MCC.
