Cruise Planners - American Express Recognized With Top Honors

Cruise Planners – American Express Travel Recognized with Top Honors
Awards from Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line
reflect strong sales partnerships and over-all customer satisfaction

Coral Springs, Fla. – March 25, 2013 – Cruise Planners-American Express Travel recently received top honors from two of leading cruise lines - Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) - confirming the home-based travel company’s position as a sales leader in the cruise industry.

RCI named Cruise Planners as a 2012 Loyal to Royal Travel Partner of Year, winning the coveted President’s Award for Overall Achievement.  RCI executives presented the award to Cruise Planners during a celebration at the company’s Home Office.

“Cruise Planners is a strong travel partner and we are so pleased to recognize the company and its amazing travel advisors for their significant contribution to our overall success,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president of Sales, Trade Support and Services, Royal Caribbean International.

RCI treated Cruise Planners Home Office to a celebration in their honor upon winning the President’s Award for Overall Achievement. From L to R: Theresa Scalzitti, national account manager, RCI; Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee and COO Vicky Garcia; Laura Hodges, director, national accounts, RCI.

Cruise Planners was also named the 2012 Franchise Partner of the Year for the second year in a row by NCL. NCL celebrated the announcement with a party at the company’s Home Office last month and the festivities will continue when more than 400 Cruise Planners travel advisors set sail on the brand new Norwegian Breakaway this May.

“These awards recognize the loyalty that Cruise Planners has for its travel partners and our commitment to selling both brands as top options for clients,” said CEO Michelle Fee. “We are honored to be recognized and these awards are a testament of the success and dedication of our travel advisors.”

NCL executives presented Cruise Planners ownership team with the 2012 Partner of the Year award at the company’s Home Office in Coral Springs. From L to R: Shanel Knight-Tarver, Program Manager, Home Based Accounts, NCL; Alex Pinelo, Director, National Accounts & Meetings, Incentives, Charters, and Events, NCL; Vicky Garcia, COO, Cruise Planners; Andy Stuart, EVP, Global Sales and Passenger Services, NCL; Michelle Fee, CEO, Cruise Planners, and Tom Kruszewski, CFO, Cruise Planners; Camille Olivere, SVP, Sales, NCL; Zach Caravetta, Director, Business Development, NCL; Todd Hamilton, Revenue Manager, Revenue Planning, NCL.

About Cruise Planners - American Express Travel
Named No.1 Cruise Tour / Travel Agency by Entrepreneur for the past ten years, Cruise Planners positions franchise owners for success by providing them with innovative marketing, booking and lead-generating tools as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives.

Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla., Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line. Accolades include  a record nine Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly in 2012, Special Needs Group Accessible Travel Advocate Power Partners™ for 2012, American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award for seven years in a row (2004 – 2011), American Express Agency of the Year (2010), Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year (2007 – 2012), Royal Caribbean International President’s Award for Overall Achievement for 2012, Norwegian Cruise Line Franchise Agency of the Year (2012-2013) and Home-Based Agency of the Year (2010), Celebrity Cruises Southeast Region Travel Agent Partner of the Year (2010), American Express Vacations Globe Award (2008 – 2012), Globus Family of Brands Premier Agency Partner (2009- 2012), Platinum Circle Member with Viking River Cruises (2009-2012), and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer. For information, visit www.cruiseplanners.com.

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Media Contact:
Holly Zawyer
Cheryl Andrews Marketing
P: 305-444-4033
holly@cam-pr.com