As part of the line’s new "Celebrity Moments" campaign, starting on Wednesday (6 December), Celebrity will pay any agent a £50 bonus for every five new bookings they claim via the line’s trade loyalty programme, Celebrity Rewards, until 29 February.

The 100 top-selling agents will earn £500 each, while new-to-cruise agents will be paid a £25 bonus for the first three Celebrity bookings they make and claim on Celebrity Rewards. Agents will also continue to earn on every booking, with up to £20 being paid per booking depending on the cabin grade.

In addition, the line has launched a new selling guide for 2024 which includes everything clients need to know; from highlighting sailings in the school holidays to packaging advice. Agents can request a personalised printed copy or download a digital version on trade platform, Celebrity Central. 

Speaking onboard Celebrity Ascent’s shakedown cruise last week, UK and Ireland sales director Claire Stirrup said: “What concerns us is if we go out and attract lots of top-selling cruise specialists, we’re switching off large chunks of the trade [who don’t sell cruise]. We want Celebrity Moments to be accessible for all.

“Listening to agent feedback is paramount, and we are committed to prioritising agents’ needs during this busy booking period. This year’s Celebrity Moments campaign is tailored to our valued agents, and what means the most to them. We have made our rewards more accessible, allowing more agents the chance to earn unmissable rewards.

“Continuing to support all agents, regardless of their cruise experience, is vital to the growth of the industry, which is why we prioritise our training tools and support to give everyone the chance to improve their knowledge and maximise their earning potential and stay motivated to sell Celebrity Cruises.” 

Giles Hawke, Celebrity’s EMEA vice-president, said: “It’s a worthwhile investment. We only do Celebrity Moments twice a year.”

Hawke pointed out that while there was a lot of “focus” on Celebrity’s four Edge-series ships, the rest of the fleet was in “immaculate condition”. 

When asked how the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict was affecting the market, Hawke said: “Around 1.5% capacity is affected by the war in Israel-Gaza.

“There will be a slight softening of demand from North America [for European cruises], but we’re seeing demand for our Alaska and Caribbean cruises has gone up significantly.”