From the support department:

On Wednesday, we reported in Cruise News Daily that the brands of Carnival Corp would cease paying commission to travel agents on air add-ons. In preparing the article, we checked with the two largest multi-brand cruise companies in the US, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, and neither could even muster a "no comment" during the afternoon. That probably meant they were caught totally by surprise and really needed to think out their positions.

MSC USA is obviously committed to the agency distribution system for their products because just a few minutes ago, they became the first competing brand in the US to speak out on the issue when they issued this statement:

“MSC Cruises is a proud supporter of the travel agent community. It is our intent to grow business together and share our success with our agent partners,” says Richard E. Sasso, President and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA).

“We have always supported travel agents with an unprecedented commission structure and will continue to do so. In addition to the already high-level commissions we offer on the cruise portion, MSC Cruises demonstrates our support by offering 10% commission on air, 10% on pre-booked shore excursions and 10% on pre-booked spa packages,” Sasso continues.

“When it comes to working with travel agents, you can be assured that MSC Cruises will continue to be an innovator. We will continue to offer a commission structure and programs designed to help you profit,” he adds.

CND Headlines - Queen Victoria Returns from Sea Trials

The front page of CND's website has a magnificent photo of Cunard's Queen Victoria. It turns out it was the first photo of the ship taken at sea and was snapped during the vessel's recent sea trials off the coast of Italy. (That makes it sound so easy. Run the ship at full speed. Hire the helicopter. Swoop down in front of the ship. Snap the picture. Nothing to it.)

The vessel just returned from its successful set of sea trials in the Adriatic (Sept 1-3). The first set, which it also completed successfully were Aug 24-26. All is on track for on on-time delivery and Queen Victoria's first arrival in Southampton on December 7 for its inaugural events.

CND Headlines - Build Your Own Boat

Tell your kids to get out their LEGO bricks. It's going to be a long night. They're going to build a cruise ship, and they're going to do it and do it and do it until they get it right. If they are the best doing it, you'll all go on a free NCL cruise.

After building the cruise ship of their dreams, you take a picture of it, and they write a 500-word essay describing their accomplishment. One winner of an NCL cruise will be selected from each of three age groups. (6 to 9, 10 to 14 and 15 and older).

Details were in today's issue of Cruise News Daily.

From the personnel department:

Holland America has promoted Brad Olsen to Director of Tactical Marketing Communications, which means he's responsible for development and expansion of the line's direct mail and e-mail marketing. In other words, he's the person responsible for making sure your snail mail box and e-mail inbox is filled.

Olsen joined HAL in 2001 as manager of direct marketing, and the company says that "direct mail volume increased more than three fold during his tenure." We'll just leave it at that. He comes from a marketing background at Society Expeditions, Cruise West and the banking industry.

CND Headlines - Royal Caribbean Creates New French Brand

Royal Caribbean will launch a new brand, CDF Croisieres de France, dedicated to the French market. It will initially operate with a 752-passenger (lower berths) vessel currently being sailed by their Pullmantur brand in Spain. Plans call for the first sailing to be in the spring of 2008.

The new line represents a new twist in RCCL's globalization strategy.

Details were in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.