Celebrity Cruises Edge-ucates Ontario travel agents

More than 100 travel agents assembled at Bayview Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, ON, yesterday (Oct 23) to take part in a highly-detailed training seminar hosted by Celebrity Cruises, which is on the cusp of a major transformation.

The four-hour course – a live version of Celebrity’s Five Star Academy – was about giving travel agents the tools, knowledge, resources and tips they need to maximize their business and sell Celebrity Cruises.

“The more you know about our product, the more comfortable you are with our product, the better your sales will be,” Kenneth Brooks, director of sales at Celebrity Cruises Canada, told PAX at the event, which gave agents face-to-face time with Celebrity's Canadian sales team in addition to reps from its Miami, Florida and Wichita, Kansas offices.

In a presentation led by Miami-based Alex Frady and Jessica Suchman, training and development specialists at Celebrity, the seminar tested the crowd’s knowledge of Celebrity’s products with an interactive quiz before explaining, in great detail, the cruise line's vast menu of products.

The training is “built on understanding the intricacies of the design of our ships, the accommodations, the destination offerings and how to match clients with that experience,” Suchman told PAX.

Becoming Five Star certified entitles one to an accredited logo for his or her signature line, the benefits of being listed on Celebrity’s website, a door sticker sign and on-board value coupons, such as free internet packages and discounts to speciality dining when sailing with Celebrity.

“We are investing in them as much as they are supporting us,” Maxine Gundermann, Celebrity Crusies’ market sales manager for Eastern Ontario, told PAX.

The seminar was part of a two-day event hosted by Celebrity Cruises – the first (which was on Oct 22^nd) being an advanced workshop for agents who are already Five Star certified. Yesterday morning’s event for new agents (or those who wanted a refresher) was followed by a consumer event at night.

“I want agents to come out with that feeling of excitement and drive,” Jennifer Barker, Celebrity’s national marketing manager for Canada, told PAX.

A $500 MILLION DOLLAR GAME-CHANGER

Yesterday’s event was timely as Celebrity enlists more than 500 architects, designers, and engineers to revitalize and reimagine its entire fleet of ships.

On top of a commitment to make cruising more environmentally friendly, the $500 million dollar “Celebrity Revolution” will also make suite life sweeter as designer Kelly Hoppen infuses Reflection Suite and Signature Suites (found today on Celebrity Reflection) to Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Silhouette. 

Design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates has also been hired to transform the staterooms across Celebrity’s fleet so that they reach a uniformed standard of modern luxury.

Celebrity’s culinary experience will also see noticeable upgrades as all on-board restaurants across the fleet will be redesigned with new details and finishes. Guest-favourite restaurant, Qsine, will also be added across the fleet and completely renovated.

The Celebrity revolution extends to its fleet of yachts, too. Last month, Celebrity Xpedition returned to the Galapagos Islands after a seven-day makeover in Panama that upgraded the 100-guest mega-yacht with redecorated staterooms, lounges and faster wi-fi service.

“This is the next wave,” Jessica Suchman told PAX. “It’s an important moment for the brand to say that we have a commitment to keeping the experience of modern luxury alive throughout all the ships.”

Celebrity’s ship revitalization begins in 2019, starting with the Celebrity Millennium, and will continue across the fleet through 2023.

TAKING CRUISES TO THE EDGE

Celebrity’s revolution began with the announcement of its new class of ship, Celebrity Edge, followed by its first ship designed specifically for the Galapagos Islands, Celebrity Flora.

As it nears competition at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, Celebrity Edge is garnering buzz for its fresh approach on changing the way people think about cruising.

Enlisting celebrity designer Nate Berkus to serve as a ship ambassador, Celebrity Edge blurs the lines of indoor-outdoor space with the reimagined Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda, which lets guests fill their stateroom with sea air and step effortlessly to the railing of their balcony.

In addition to reimagined rooftop gardens, pool decks, spas, and a new, futuristic restaurant venue, Eden, Celebrity Edge will also debut an industry first – The Magic Carpet – a moving platform on the side of the ship that travels 13 storeys high and rests on various decks, transforming each level into a different style of venue.

“It’s the future,” Brenda Yeomans, Celebrity Cruises' strategic sales and market manager in Canada, told PAX. “The Edge is taking us to the edge of what new ship builds can provide. It’s a whole new brand, coming to life.”

MAXIMIZING SALES

Celebrity Edge is expected to increase the cost of taking a cruise, a shift that will, in turn, give travel agents an opportunity to make more commission on sales.

“When you’re riding the crest of the wave of a new class of ship, take advantage of it,” Kenneth Brooks told PAX, advising travel agents to stay on top of the learning curve.

Celebrity Edge’s first sailing will depart this December 16th, 2018, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which will also serve as the ship’s homeport. Two different itineraries will be offered that  cover both the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

The 100-guest Celebrity Flora, which offers guests 360-degree views of the Galapagos islands while utilizing the latest in eco-conscious technology, will sail from Baltra year-round, making her first sailing on May 26th, 2019.

For more on Celebrity Cruises' training, latest openings, group and shore programs, click here.  For a comprehensive breakdown of the Celebrity Revolution, go to thecelebritycommitment.com.