FEATURE TRAINING


environment online that is as close to being on a ship as they could make it. RCCL associate vice-president and general manager, Jo Rzymowska, said: “We do a great job with ship visits and our launches, but getting everyone on a ship is not easy so this is the next best thing.” The Cruising for Excellence


programme (www.cruisingpower.co. uk) comprises separate training for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, enabling agents to become specialists in one or all three brands according to their business needs. In each programme there are


'environments' for agents to explore, for instance, Central Park on Allure of the Seas and the Lawn Club on Celebrity’s Solstice-class ships, and pick up key selling information in bite-size, easy-to-remember chunks.


Agents start with essential training,


with up to 10 modules in each brand. Each module is followed by a test; by scoring eight out of 10, they unlock the next module, bonus training and a geography game so they can also brush up their knowledge of the location of ports. Once they complete all the training


in one or more brands, agents attain Captain status. If they complete the training in all three brands they reach Admiral status. Other training tools are added now


and again, for instance a Silhouette Sailaway game went live just before the ship was launched in July, to familiarise agents with key features on the ship.


Norwegian Cruise Line The NCLU (U is for university) training programme was launched in 2009 and is a mix of modules, short


training sessions, called electives, that focus on special subjects, and quick quizzes. The modules are on suites and villas, accessibility – helping agents understand facilities for clients with disabilities – family cruising and accommodation across the fleet. There is also a Where in the World module, recently updated to include 2012-13 itineraries. Electives are on Norwegian Epic,


NCL’s biggest ship launched last year, and on Alaska. There is also a PHD@Sea


programme, where top-ranking NCLU students who have made 10 bookings in six months are invited on a mini- cruise so they can see an NCL ship and take part in sales seminars to take their business further. NCLU is available at www.nclu.co.


uk, where students can also talk to each other, play games and access a


video library containing access to ship footage. Once signed up, agents receive monthly bulletins informing them of new courses and offers.


Complete Cruise Solution CCS has relaunched its online training programme with a selection of required and optional modules that allow agents to tailor their training to their individual needs. The programme, at www. completecruisesolution.com, is based on Princess Cruises’ US Academy, which has proved very successful in delivering increases in sales. It is still being developed but when complete at the end of the year, it will have 75 modules on P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Cunard. These focus on each cruise line, and also specialist subjects such as world cruises, dining, families, weddings at


www.sellinglonghaul.com • Autumn 2011 27


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