Royal Caribbean has launched a new loyalty scheme for agents , offering a faster way to earn rewards for bookings.
Labelling high street vouchers as “so last season”, the cruise line said it had responded “with a completely new way to incentivise its agents”, with a prepaid card “that can be spent on almost anything”.
The scheme, entitled Club Royal, enables agents to use their cards on shoes and handbags, meals out or gadgets.
Every booking will see £5 earned, which will be loaded directly onto the prepaid card for immediate use.
To qualify for the scheme, agents must have made at least four cruise bookings and have achieved “captain” level status on the line’s e-learning programme Cruising for Excellent.
Agents can sign up for the programme from today, on www.myclubroyal.co.uk. Once registered they will immediately receive a £20 balance on their card as a “thank you” for joining. They will then be able to earn £5 for every future booking made.
The cruise line said its dual branded Royal Caribbean/Mastercard cards would be available to agents from September 24 and include additional membership benefits such as access to Gourmet Membership and Red Letter Days, as well as bonuses for bookings and a number of exclusive “Loyalty Events” for members.
These Loyalty Events will include sailings onboard Quantum of the Seas with their partners; a first class trip to Paris; and a VIP night at The BRITS.
Ben Bouldin, director of sales UK and Ireland, Royal Caribbean International said the new scheme “demonstrated the line’s ongoing commitment to its trade partners”.
“We are so excited to be bringing this industry-first to our valued travel partners,” he added. “Club Royal offers easy enrolment, instant rewards and exclusive benefits for club members. It’s fast, simple and flexible and agents joining this new club will be in the enviable position of having complete freedom in how to spend their rewards.
The new club will give us a great opportunity to reward our loyal partners and also engage with agents who don’t yet work with us.”