“The Carnival Corner” Exclusively for RTAs of YTB Travel Network (3/10/06)

Ann Sedgwick ~ Business Development Director/Carnival Cruise Lines

Selling for Success ~ The most successful travel professionals I know are always thinking ahead! Isn’t that true with most business? With that in mind, let’s think ahead. What should we be focusing on this time of year? My one word answer is FALL! This week, I’d like to ask each of you to think ahead to Fall. FALL is a terrific time to sell groups. The best pricing- the most amenity points- and a terrific time to cruise! (Don’t let people scare you away from selling Fall cruises because of hurricane season. A cruise is the best vacation you can take because ships move! Ships can divert away from any storm unlike a land-locked beach resort. Just ask all of the people in Cancun/ Cozumel/ Grand Cayman hotels last year.) So, let’s focus on FALL! Know is the time to be talking to group leaders, churches, non-profit groups, etc. Find a group of 16 or more people (enough for 8 cabins) and sell a group! Here are some great group dates that we currently have available (subject to change- based on inventory) Require a minimum of 8 cabins to make a group booking. Ship Date Interior Ocean View Balcony Total Fun Points Celebration 12/11 $ 309 $ 359 N/A 8 (5 Day from Jacksonville- less than 4 day cruise in September!) Celebration 9/28 $ 319 $ 379 N/A 8 (4 Day from Jacksonville) Conquest 11/12 $ 529 $ 619 $ 749 6 (7 Day from Galveston) Destiny 10/1 $ 429 $ 549 $ 679 9 (7 Day from San Juan) Elation 10/28 $ 359 $ 429 N/A 7 (New 5 day from Pt Canaveral) Fantasy 10/19 $ 249 $ 279 N/A 7 (3 Day from Pt. Canaveral) Fascination 10/30 $ 239 $ 279 N/A 7 (4 Day from Miami- less than the 3 Day- GREAT VALUE!) Imagination 9/11 $ 339 $ 409 N/A 9 (5 Day from Miami) Legend 11/16 $ 589 $ 739 $ 889 6 (8 Days from Ft. Lauderdale- BEST VALUE!) Legend 9/9 $ 599 $ 749 $ 849 8 (8 Days from NEW YORK CITY- Terrific itinerary!) Miracle 9/25 $ 519 $ 649 $ 779 8 (7 Days from Tampa) Paradise 10/23 $ 279 $ 329 N/A 8 (4 Days from Long Beach, CA) Victory 10/21 $ 529 $ 649 $ 779 8 (7 Day from Miami) All rates quoted are based on 4A interior/ 6A ocean view/ 8A balcony staterooms. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include non-commissionable fees. Govt. taxes & fees are additional for all guests. Normal group deposits and penalty guidelines apply. Rates are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Subject to availability. See the Attached FUN POINTS for amenity selections.

How to Make a GROUP Reservation with Carnival

CALL GROUP RESERVATIONS: 1-800-327-5782

Carnival requires a MINIMUM of 8 (eight) cabins (on the same ship/ same sailing date) in order to book through the Group Department. Should you group fall below the required eight cabins, rates are subject to increase as well as loss of amenities. We do not offer price protection for less than eight cabins.

Checking prices? Inform the Carnival group reservation specialist that you would like to check pricing on a sailing. Provide the following information in order to obtain a quote:

• Identify yourself from YTB and provide Illinois HQ’s booking phone number: (618) 655-9520 YTB BOOKING PHONE NUMBER. EXAMPLE: “Hi, this is Ann from YTB in Illinois- My agency phone number is: (618) 655-9520. I am an outside agent for YTB. I’d like to check pricing please. Please ask the Carnival agent put your REP CODE, last name, or your local contact number in the booking record. That way we can reach you!

• Name of Ship & General Itinerary Example: (Carnival Miracle from Tampa- 7 Day Western Caribbean or, I am looking for a 7 day cruise from Tampa)

• Sailing Date- specific departure date with year. Example: 9/16/06. Please do not request more than 3 dates.

• Type of accommodation

Example : (I’d like to check pricing for interior/ ocean view and balcony staterooms). Only price out the type of cabins you need.

• Air City – (if airline tickets are needed & to be purchased from

Carnival. Some guests prefer to do their own arrangement. GROUP QUOTES will consist of the following: Cruise fare, NCF charge, govt. taxes & fees (sometimes the NCF, govt taxes & fees will be quoted as a total amount), optional insurance, optional air (if needed), gratuity amount and any amenity point levels that are offered.

Making a GROUP Reservation ~ Once you are ready to make your group reservations, you will need the following information in addition to the ship, sail date , stateroom category.

• # of Cabins in each “category.” (Please be realistic with your numbers and hold what you actually need). Categories simply refer to: Interior/ Ocean View/ Balcony, etc. There are different prices in each of those three categories depending on the deck that the cabin is located. So for example, some ships may have category 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D that are all interior rooms, but on different decks of the ship. Our reservation agent will ask you which category you would like. You may simply request them to block you the least expensive interior room that is available if you are not sure of which category that would be.

• Name of Group - What do you want to call your group?

(“Bob’s Family, St. Peter’s Church, etc.) • Type of Group- What type of group is this?

(Friends & Family, Church group, Company incentive, etc) • Dining Preference: What time do they want to have dinner?

(There are two choices: Main or Late) Approximate times are 6PM for “Main” and 8:15PM for “Late”. Please note, dining room reservations are on a request basis and are not confirmed at time of booking.

• If Amenity “Fun” Points are offered on the sailing, select now. See attached amenity sheet.

• VERIFY that the group has been booked under the YTB Headquarter phone number (618) 655-9520. You should provide the group agent your RTA ID # , last name or local contact phone number/ fax in the history of the reservation. Let them know that you are “outside sales” and do not work in the IL office. We need your contact information.

Completing the Reservation~ Carnival will provide you with a GROUP “Booking Number.” This booking number or confirmation number is your reference number for any questions/changes to the reservation. Please keep it in your file.

• Deposit/ Final Payment Schedule must be met or reservation will cancel. Deposits are required on all cabins being held.

• Verify all booking information with the group specialist including

itinerary, departure date, payment schedule and inventory being requested.

• Promote your group immediately. Secure deposits and send to

Carnival, ASAP. Do not wait or your will lose space for non-deposits.

• Documents should arrive within 2 weeks of departure. Please verify all information to be correct.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

How To Make A Carnival Reservation & Earn Commission! There are two ways to earn commission when selling Carnival. 1. Make the cruise reservation through your personal website/ YTB. (For group bookings, you must call Carnival to make the booking.) 2. Call Carnival directly on the travel agent lines, ONLY to make the reservation. TRAVEL AGENT PHONE NUMBERS ONLY: For Individual Reservations: (800) 327-9501 For Group Bookings: (800) 327-5782 Eight or more cabins/ same ship/ same sailing date. PLEASE NOTE: If you make a reservation via the Carnival Cruise Lines website, that is considered a direct booking by Carnival and does not qualify for a travel agent commission. If you visit the Carnival website and “connect to a vacation planner”/ or register online and have someone call you back, that does not qualify to earn commission. Carnival pays commission for bookings made via the YTB/ your website only OR by calling us directly at the numbers listed above. If calling on the telephone, you must provide Carnival with the YTB phone number of (618) 655-9520 when making a reservation. No other phone number is recognized in our system for commission purposes. Please contact me, prior to making your reservation if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks for your support of Carnival Cruise Lines. We appreciate the business! Ann Sedgwick

Your Business Development Director ~ Carnival Cruise Lines