Windstar Onboard Cruise Consultants helping guests & agents

Windstar Cruises will launch a new Onboard Cruise Consultant (OCC) program to help guests on cruise vacations plan future cruise experiences and drive recognition and benefits supporting travel professionals.

The first OCC will embark on Star Legend on its Feb. 3 itinerary from Bangkok to Hong Kong. Within the next few months, three more OCC’s will join Star Breeze, Star Pride, and Wind Surf. The remaining two ships (both with just 148 guests each) will be evaluated for the program in the near future.

The program, designed to help guests consider their next Windstar cruise while offering extra value for cruises booked onboard, also recognizes and supports travel agent bookings, by assigning the new onboard booking to the travel agent of record on the guests’ current booking.

When the initial booking of a guest is made by a travel professional, that agent will remain the “Agent of Record” for the new OCC booking, and the travel agent will receive full credit – and full commission - for the new booking. An email from Windstar to the travel professional will confirm the booking with invoice and itinerary information and remind the travel agent to follow up with the guests upon their return home.

“This is one more example of Windstar’s commitment to travel agents and our guests,” said Windstar Cruises President John Delaney. “In addition to the obvious benefits, our guests will be offered the extra value of our Yacht Club Membership, which provides additional value, savings, and special courtesies.”

Benefits of booking onboard with the OCC are:

• Reduced Deposit – The special reduced deposit is a real value and it is fully refundable based on the program’s guidelines. Reduced deposits start at just $200 per booking compared to the normal deposit of 15% of cruise fare.
• Five per cent savings – Onboard/Welcome Home – Guests who have sailed are eligible for the five per cent Onboard/Welcome Home new booking savings. This provides five per cent off the cruise fare.
• Five per cent Savings – Yacht Club Members – Current guests are automatically enrolled in Windstar Cruises’ “Yacht Club Member” program. Members are eligible for five per cent off the cruise fare after promotional adjustments.

All OCCs are highly qualified, seasoned cruise industry veterans, boasting impressive ship experience and tenure; knowledge of the ships and itineraries; and excellent guest interaction.