According to an article on Travel Today, Princess Cruises will be introducing a new online booking tool for agents in Australia and New Zealand, which offers exclusive rates for the travel industry.

From May 28, agents will be able to search all available sailings, and then make a booking, receive confirmation and pay for the cruise all in the one program.  The new online booking tool features exclusive rates on selected voyages around the world.

The discounts are available to agents who have booked four cruises for clients in the past 12 months and can be accessed through Complete Cruise Solutions Australia and New Zealand.

On other Cruise News, Carnival Australia chief executive Ann Sherry says cruising has continued to flourish in 2009, with 1.7% of the population now cruising, up from 0.6% in 2002. Speaking at Carnival’s largest partnership summit over the weekend, Sherry said she was aiming to see one million Australians and New Zealanders on cruises by the year 2020, an increase of 650,000 on last years’ figures.

More than 130 agents from Australia and New Zealand took part in the summit, held on the Pacific Jewel, which also included Princess Cruises and Complete Cruise Solutions. Carnival Australia will deploy a total of nine ships in the region in 2011-12, including four Princess Cruises ships, four P&O Cruises ships and the Queen Mary 2, which will be based in Australia for an extended period of time.

Sherry said New Zealand was a key part of the Australian cruising industry growth, with 17 cruises to the southern neighbour in 2010, up from 11 last year. In 2011 the number will grow to 31 and 38 in 2012.  “In just three years we have more than tripled our New Zealand holiday offering and significantly increased the number of tourist we deliver to New Zealand.

New Zealand is becoming to Australia, what Alaska is to the US,” she said. Sherry said it was her ambition to one day have a ship solely for the Australian market, but in the meantime would be heavily investing in the refurbishment of its ships deployed in the market such as the Pacific Dawn.

Additions to the Pacific Dawn will include a Luke Mangan signature restaurant, Salt Grill, similar to that on the Pacific Jewel. “Every ship needs a wow factor, and the wow factor for the Pacific Dawn will be a new 14 metre barbecue on the deck, serving food all day long.” The refurbishment will also include the addition of a child-free oasis and a complete refurbishment of the spa.