Rockville Centre, New York – November 02, 2003 – Local Cruise Planner agent Sharon R. Viotto got the word from the top at the recent company convention in Ft. Lauderdale. Bob Dickenson, president of Carnival Cruise Lines, delivered the keynote address to the 150 Cruise Planner agents about the state of the industry and the future of cruising. Dickenson, whose company has a fleet of 18 ships that carry over 2.5 million passengers annually, is one of the most highly regarded names in the cruise business.
    "It was enormously valuable to be able to attend Dickenson's speech," said Viotto. "Now that the cruise industry has begun to grow rapidly again it's important to learn new ways to serve our customers. One of the real values of being part of Cruise Planners is that we get timely information from the major names in the industry."
    Viotto also attended sessions featuring a roster of high level representatives from all the major cruise lines. Those included Mitch Schlesinger, VP of national sales for Norwegian Cruise Line, who spoke to the group's Hawaii seminar as well as Bob Becker, VP of Consumer Research for Carnival Cruise Line, who provided expert sales advice to participants.
    Other cruise line speakers included Dave Stockert, VP of Sales and Marketing for Holland America, Ken Muskat, Director of Key Accounts for Royal Caribbean and Stuart Cohen, director of Key Accounts for Celebrity Cruises who offered the latest news for their respective cruise lines' ships and itineraries for 2004.
    At the Cruise Planners' 2003 convention, Viotto also met with representatives from over 30 different cruise lines and tour companies as part of an on-going effort to provide her customers with better and more complete information about the latest travel opportunities.
    Cruise Planners are experienced travel professionals who independently book cruises and other associated travel. Cruise Planners provides its members with preferential cruise pricing, superior booking opportunities, and advanced training. Licensed, bonded, and insured, Cruise Planners is a member of CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), NACOA (National Association of Cruise Only Agencies), and the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
    Anyone may contact Sharon Viotto for "The Best Prices Afloat" by calling Toll Free: 1-888-799-SHIP (7447) or logging onto: (www.DesignACruise.com).




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