Not only is Encore Cruises a well-known name in the travel industry, it’s backed by its partnerships with some of the best-known brands in cruising. TravelBrands VP, FIT and Cruising Nathalie Tanious talks about the Encore advantage in this edition of Friday 5.

What are the advantages for agents making their cruise bookings through Encore, rather than directly with the cruise line?

“We offer the ultimate one-stop shop: cruise, air, pre- and post-hotels, tours and more, Loyalty points for the travel agent and one of the most comprehensive booking tools in the industry.”

What cruise lines do you offer these days?

“Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Disney, Fathom, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean.”

Encore offers two of the biggest names in river cruising, AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways. Are you aiming to add more river cruise lines?

“We also offer CroisiEurope and we have just added Vantage Cruises.”

How is Access making it easier than ever for agents to book with Encore?

“[Using Access] travel agents can make a booking, access their files, shop for shore excursions, reserve flights, add a hotel!”

How important are travel agents to Encore Cruises and what’s the latest agent incentive?

“Travel agents are the most important to us! We achieved our success because of them. We have a double Loyalty Points promotion for all online bookings made until Aug. 31.”