MSC Divina, image courtesy of MSC Cruises

Last year, when MSC Cruises launched their new booking tool MSC Book in the USA, execs announced that it was designed, in part, to allow the cruise line to have “smarter conversations with our travel partners.”

Less than a year later, that conversation is going global. Earlier this week, MSC Cruises announced that the tool is now live in Canada.

“As we’ve rolled out MSC Book to different markets around the world, we’ve received excellent feedback from travel agents who believe this is a real game changer in terms of making the booking process as quick and simple as possible,” said Ian Patterson, director of business development for MSC Cruises Canada. “In addition, we’ve listened closely to our valued travel agents’ comments and have continued to enhance the product to ensure we are delivering the best booking engine possible. We’re thrilled today to launch MSC Book in Canada and are confident that travel agents will enjoy the flexibility and ease of using the new system.”

MSC Book Highlights

* Travel agents can book a cruise in 4 simple steps, including selecting the cruise departure and the stateroom category. Agents can further select up to five rooms on one booking. They can also add pre-paid and commissionable special services like spa treatments, shore excursions, specialty dining and beverage packages. An option for finding flights and pre- and post-cruise hotels is also coming soon.

* The tool allows agents to save their client’s itineraries as favorites so they can quickly find them in later sessions. 

* Agents can use the tool to get a quick quote or quick option at any point during the booking process.

* The tool allows agents to find cruises based upon a search by price range, destination, departure date or embarkation port. Users can also search the tool for their client’s MSC Voyagers Club loyalty status.

* Up to three cruises can be viewed on a single page for an easy way to compare prices, dates, itineraries and other options.

* An interactive deck plan allows travel agents to browse by deck, stateroom position and to quickly view available staterooms in the preferred category.

* Stateroom photos and layouts as well as detailed descriptions and videos of all 14 MSC ships are also available.

* The tool can also be used to manage group bookings.

* Agents print or email customer booking confirmations and e-tickets directly from the tool.

* Accounting reports provide information on booking history and commissions, via an improved dashboard.

Travel Agent Launch Bonus

To celebrate the launch of the new booking engine in Canada, MSC Cruises is offering a bonus 2% commission on all FIT bookings, excluding Cuba, made through MSC Book through Aug. 31, 2016

Additionally, every time an agent makes a reservation on MSC Book through Aug. 31, they will be entered for a chance to win a 7-night Caribbean cruise for two in a balcony stateroom on MSC Divina.

Travel agents who previously registered on MSC’s former booking engine, MSC Online, can simply login to start booking on MSC Book.  All other travel agents can register for MSC Book at www.MSCCruisesAgent.com.

MSC Book Trainings

A training webinar on getting the best out of MSC Book is being aired on May 10, 2016 at 2:00 pm ET. To register, visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4048399988484775172. Or agents can watch an on-demand tutorial about MSC Book at https://vimeo.com/143293315.

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