Sabre Travel Network
has introduced its cruise booking product to its travel agency customers in the United Kingdom.  Sabre CruiseDirector is available immediately and connects to the reservation systems of nine cruise lines.To help promote the new product Sabre Travel Network has joined with Carnival Cruise Lines to run a series of roadshows for travel agents. These will show agents how to use the CruiseDirector booking tool and will familiarise them with Carnival’s ‘floating resort’ concept, combining exciting destinations and fine dining with a rich array of onboard activities.

This joint initiative follows a recent announcement by Carnival Corporation & plc that it would distribute all of its cruise line brands through Sabre Holdings businesses globally.

Jeffrey Weinstock, Carnival Cruise Line’s, director of international sales and marketing, said: “The UK travel market is highly important to us and the number of our British guests continues to grow rapidly.  We are excited to be able to offer the travel industry in the UK the ability to make Carnival reservations in an easy, automated fashion via the Sabre GDS, eliminating the need to telephone.”

The launch follows Sabre Travel Network’s recent announcement of plans to grow its share of leisure travel bookings here, by enhancing the range of leisure products that are bookable in the GDS.

“The introduction of Sabre CruiseDirector, as well as our agreement with Carnival Corporation & plc, demonstrates our commitment to involve strategic partnerships with high-profile leisure travel providers and make more in-depth leisure travel products available to our customers,” said David Brown, recently appointed vice president of Sabre Travel Network’s European leisure travel division.

Plans to introduce CruiseDirector to other European markets are under way, although Brown confirmed he was focusing initially on the UK cruise market.
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