Travel agents can book groups starting at $349 per person with up to $100 in on-board credit per stateroom and no deposit due until Dec. 31, 2014, when booked by Sept. 30, 2014.
Available on all MSC Divina sailings from Nov. 11, 2015, through April 16, 2016, with the exclusion of the Dec. 26 departure, the group promotion allows agents to earn one tour conductor for every 13 full-fare customers, plus two amenity points per group to use towards bonus commissions or on-board enhancements such as stateroom gifts, cocktail parties and shipboard credits. The promotion applies to group allotments of fewer than 100 cabins.
The itineraries were released earlier than ever with added incentives to give agents the time and resources needed to organize group bookings, said Ken Muskat, evp sales, public relations and guest services for MSC Cruises USA.
MSC Divina will begin its Caribbean program from Miami on Nov. 11 next year with a 10-night round-trip visiting Cartagena, Colombia; Cristóbal, Panama; and Puerto Limón, Costa Rica.
The season continues with alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises featuring new ports: La Romana, St. Thomas and Nassau.
Last spring, MSC Cruises unveiled agent incentives In the North American market. Most recently, the line announced it would pay 5% commission on all pre-paid services booked by agents on behalf of their clients. In addition to the already commissionable shore excursions, hotel packages, transfers and airfare, this includes spa treatments, specialty restaurants, beverage packages and stateroom celebration packages, among others.
The brand also continues to pay 10% commission on pre-paid cruise insurance coverage.