New bonus commission opportunities for travel partners are running until February 17—and to make things easier to sell, Royal Caribbean on Wednesday announced details of the planned expansion of its popular private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and its newest ship, Icon of the Seas.
The bonus commissions for travel partners applies to eligible Alaska and Europe sailings departing in 2023 and 2024. Agents should enter the promo code PARTNERS at the time of booking, through February 17. Guests, meanwhile, can take advantage of a 30% off plus kids sale-free deal on Alaska, Europe, and Caribbean itineraries.
“We are experiencing a record-breaking WAVE season this year driven by strong demand and increased anticipation to cruise from both our loyal guests and travelers new to cruising,” said Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International senior vice president sales, trade support, and service. “What better way to celebrate this exciting time than to show extra appreciation to our loyal travel partners with a special booking incentive to put even more dollars in their pocket?
“Thank you for your dedication and entrusting us to deliver memorable vacations to your clients. Last year we set more than three all-time booking records in our 53-year history and the momentum continues into early 2023. From introducing Wonder of the Seas, to revealing Icon of the Seas, the first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation, and as we get ready to expand our private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the excitement to vacation with Royal Caribbean International has skyrocketed.”
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Group executives took the opportunity of their year-end and fourth quarter earnings call to offer up details of what’s coming on CocoCay. The opening of the new adults-only Hideaway Beach will increase the island’s capacity to 13,000 guests a day, said president and CEO Jason Liberty—just in time for the guests on Icon of the Seas, which will sail their weekly early next year.
Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley said the island will host 2.5 million and 3 million guests this year, and its popularity has the company considering thinking of ways to replicate it.
In addition to the growing numbers, spending on the island also is growing, he noted. “We’ve seen a great demand and a lot of resilience as the prices go up. So it’s a hit and it’s very successful.”
It already has announced “Perfect Day at Lelepa,” on the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. And “we have an appetite for other such ventures. As soon as we’re ready to make any other announcements, we will. Our intention is to continue to grow this piece of the experience for our guests,” Bayley said.
Icon of the Seas, due out in January, “literally has been the best-selling product in the history of our business and has been absolutely outstanding in terms of the demand and the pricing that we’re generating for the product,” Bayley said, and already is driving “a great ’24.”
At Vicki Freed’s “Coffee Talk” webinar for travel advisors in January, Bayley noted that Icon’s eight-person Ultimate Family Townhouse, which goes for $75,000 a week, already is more than 50% sold for its debut year. Freed noted that a strong Wave season leads to higher prices – and with them come higher commissions.
