Travelport, one of the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) providers operating both the Galileo and Worldspan platforms, has enhanced cruise offerings on its Travelport Cruise & Tour™ platform with the addition of Oceania Cruises and MSC Cruises. Travelport Cruise & Tour is a customized, web-based shopping and booking system based on the proven, industry leading technology of Revelex Inc. that is currently available to customers in the U.S. and Canada. It allows travel agents to efficiently search and book cruise and land-based travel package options from leading U.S. cruise and tour operators and integrates the booking and financial details to the GDS and a choice of back-office systems.

Dan Westbrook, vice president, Supplier Development, Travelport GDS, said: “We are always looking for ways to bring valuable new content to our GDS customers to help them earn new revenue. These agreements with Oceania Cruises and MSC Cruises will enable our subscribers to book cruises with these industry-leading lines while at the same time, it opens additional markets to the cruise lines.”

Oceania Cruises® is an upper-premium cruise line and offers an unrivalled combination of the finest cuisine at sea, elegant accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. Award-winning itineraries visit more than 200 ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Americas aboard three luxurious, 684-guest ships: Insignia, Nautica and Regatta. The 1,258-guest Marina, the first ship ever purpose-designed for epicureans, joins the fleet in winter 2010.

Jeff Drew, senior vice president, Sales, Oceania Cruises, said, “We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Travelport which enables us to distribute our premium, casually elegant cruises more widely to the travel trade.” 

MSC Cruises is among the fastest growing cruise lines in the world with the most modern fleet of ships. Currently, MSC Poesia sails seasonally in the U.S. for the 2009/10 Caribbean season through the spring. Guests can experience the line’s beautiful design and refined European elegance of its immaculately clean ships. The authentically Italian ambiance and cuisine guests enjoy and the wonderfully original and sophisticated entertainment offerings included in the extraordinary vacation experience.

Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO, MSC Cruises (USA), said, “Guests now have the opportunity to book MSC Cruises with Travelport Cruise & Tour on some of the newest fleet of ships sailing exotic and a variety of destinations throughout the world.”