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Carnival's Fathom offers 15% pay for Founder's Circle agencies

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Activities and programs that enable travelers to make an impact in the communities they visit
Fathom, Carnival Corp. & plc's new social impact brand, is inviting travel professionals to become Fathom Founder agencies to immediately receive a 15% commission on all bookings made by Oct. 15.

In addition, the company unveiled a number of group rates and offers for Dominican Republic itineraries that are booked from now until Oct. 15.

Fathom is designing purpose-driven activities and programs that enable travelers to make an impact on the people in the communities they visit—starting with the Dominican Republic in April 2016 and with Cuban cultural exchange itineraries intended to begin May 2016.

Carnival Corp. is in discussions with Cuban authorities to obtain approval for Fathom's cruises on Adonia. US authorities have given their OK for these people-to-people travel programs.

The audience for social impact travel is 'big, growing and passionate, but opportunities to book impact travel experiences are limited, as well as hard to identify, piece together and schedule,' according to David Drier, vp sales for Fathom. He said Fathom makes the experience 'easy, safe, convenient and, most importantly, rewarding and meaningful for both the travelers and the communities they visit.'

Research indicates nearly 40% of the individuals who will book a social impact trip on Fathom might otherwise never have chosen to cruise. 'We believe Fathom may open up an entirely new potential revenue stream for travel professionals,' Drier said.

Highlights of offerings for travel professionals and group travel planners who book 2016 itineraries include a 15% commission on base fare for all bookings by Oct. 15, 2015.

To qualify for the 15% pay, retailers need to join the Fathom Founder’s Circle honorary member agencies by visiting www.Fathom.org and clicking 'Founder.'

Additional details about benefits of membership in the Fathom Founder’s Circle will be available in the fall. To qualify, at least one booking must be under deposit by Oct. 15.

Agents who book travelers on 14-night Dominican Republic and Cuba combination back-to-back departures will receive a 10% discount on the cruise fare for each departure. 

Special group booking incentives include a number of opportunities to enhance the value of the bookings as well as personalize the group offer. Group pricing and policies are available for both the Dominican Republic and Cuba departures and include a $25 bonus commission per traveler for the first and second traveler in the cabin for groups blocked by Oct. 15.

Also, there's a one for 15 tour escort offer, crediting groups with an average cruise fare (excluding NCF and TF & PE) for every 15 double or single occupancy paid travelers booked within a group (credit applied to the 16th traveler). A maximum of eight tour escort credits per group is allowed.

A $50 per traveler shipboard credit for first and second traveler in an interior or ocean-view stateroom and a $100 per traveler shipboard credit for first and second travelers in a balcony stateroom or a suite are provided.

For Dominican Republic itineraries only, an enhanced tour escort credit promotion is available, providing a one for nine tour escort ratio for groups blocked by Oct. 15 (credit applied to the 10th traveler).

Fathom said a simplified fare structure is designed to make it easier for travel professionals to market and sell. There are four core fare options: interior, ocean-view, balcony and suite. The company also has streamlined pricing for single, double and triple occupancy. Currently triple and quad pricing offers a 50% discount on per person double occupancy pricing in all categories.

The single supplement is 150% of per traveler double occupancy price for interior, ocean-view and balcony staterooms and 200% per traveler double occupancy price for suites.

Fathom’s Single Traveler Share Program makes the experience available to individual travelers who may be traveling alone and looking to share the cost of a double-occupancy stateroom. The company guarantees single travelers it will match individuals with other single travelers of the same gender who are interested in the same type of staterooms (interior and ocean view only).

If Fathom cannot find a suitable roommate, it will not charge the traveler the single supplement fare even if the passenger travels alone in the room. The single traveler is guaranteed the per traveler double occupancy fare of 100% of fare versus 150%.