Note that unlike the normal search content module, you cannot choose which search fields to include. The Search box has different basic and advanced searches. Clicking the Advanced Search link shows the additional search options.  Clicking Basic Search takes you back to the regular view.

NexCite Cruise Search - Basic Search

NexCite Cruise Search - Advanced Search

 The search box allows your customers to use many of the more powerful features of the agent search, such as selecting a cruise line, ship, port, and more. 

Your customer can be as broad or as specific with date searches as desired.  They can select a month/year from the drop down, and then optionally choose a specific day.  If a specific day is selected, then a “Start Date Options” box appears that allows them to choose their flexibility options.  That way, they can say “I really want to leave on this day, but show me things that depart before or after that date by some number of days”.

To add the search box to one of your NexCite pages, simply complete the following steps:

• Edit the page you would like to place the Cruise Search Box on
• Click the sideways “Edit” button for the area of the page where you want to place the Cruise Search Box
• Click the “Insert Content Module” icon
• Choose “Cruise Search” from the Module Type dropdown list
• Enter your selections
• Click “Update“
• Save your page
• Publish your page

You’ll find “Share Today’s Top Vacation Values” on your main Agent SociaLink page.  From there you will see a frew deals and you’ll be able to click to see all of the options.

The links to these hotels and resorts are automatically created for you, and refer back to your VacationPort or NexCite.  If you are signed up for Agent SociaLink, but aren’t using VacationPort or NexCite, we have good news for you too, Agent SociaLink will still build these links, and they will simply take your customer to an unbranded VacationPort site.

Let us know what you think of this new feature, and look for more enhancements coming soon.

Please note:  These updates do not impact the consumer shopping and booking features, but will greatly enhance the agent’s experience and efficiency.

What is Fast Sell?

The Fast Sell feature is a way for agents to find and book a product when they already know specific details about that product.  You must know sailing date, number of nights, cruise line, ship, departure airport, and number of passengers to be able to start a Fast Sell.

There is some flexibility if you get the number of nights incorrect, or don’t get the departure date quite right. 

The Fast Sell Process

1.  Start by clicking the Tandem Fast Sell option in the left hand menu.

2.   The Fast Sell screen will appear

3.   Begin to enter the cruise details in order.  Note that you cannot select Ship and City at this point, because those depend on the cruise line you choose:

4.  Once you select a cruise line, the list of ships will be populated.

5.  Continue selecting the ship, departing airport, mode of transport (cruise only or cruise+air), and specify the number of passengers.  All fields in the Cruise Info box are mandatory.  You must select at least one passenger from the three different passenger type drop downs to continue:

6.  Once you have entered values, the system will search for matching sailings.

7.  Matching and similar sailings will be shown in a list:

8.  Click the sailing you want to book to continue to the next step.

9.  Once you have selected the desired sailing, additional options will appear.  Everything from this point on is optional.  If desired, you can select a fare code, category, and a cabin at this point.   You can also pre-fill in all of the passenger information.  The more information you enter, the fewer screens you will have to see during the booking process.

10.  At this point, you will continue working through the Tandem booking flow. 

11.  Fill out payment information as normal, then confirm the booking, and you’re done.

These enhancements are now live and can be seen in the Tandem agent portal. Training documents are being updated and will be available in AgentPort for review this week. Please let us know if you have any questions or need additional training at tandem@passportonlineinc.com, or call the Tandem Help Desk at 503-270-5859.

Here are a few of the changes to the quick search:

• Search by departure date. Enter the exact departure date you want to find, or use the calendar. You can also choose to find cruises that are departing up to 7 days before or after the departure date you choose.
• Search by departure port. Find cruises leaving form a specific departure port listed by country.
• Search for a specific cruise supplier. A drop down box listing your preferred cruise lines will display.
• Search by Cruise Ship. If you select a cruise line, the drop down will display that lines ships only. If you do not select a cruise line, all ship names will drop down.

New Search Results Page: we recognize that you, as agents, did not need all the “sales fluff” that we display for consumers. So we now will present the offer results in a Grid format for a quicker, easier review of all supplier results.

• “Grid” style display on search results page. Includes categories like date, ship name, port, specials, from price all of which can be sorted to meet your specific search criteria.
• More offers displayed per page. Previously each results page showed 10 offers, the new grid display shows 20 offers per page.
• Show all dates for an offer. Previously the results page showed the details for only the lowest priced departure that matched your criteria, now you can choose to show all departure dates for your result.
• Departure Port more prominently displayed. Now in the grid style results, the departure port is shown without having to click in to more details.
• Refine your search has been expanded. Now in the grid style results, you can refine your search by Departure Port, Destination, Supplier, or Ship.

These new search features will be “live” on Wednesday, May 26. Please go in and try it out. We’re anxious to hear what you think, please leave your comments below!

It isn’t just a good way of doing business. It’s the only way to deliver the products that continue to help travel professionals succeed at every turn.

You ask. We listen. Then, we work hard to create products that you ask for. The fruits of these labors are exciting because we know that, in the end, you are doing exactly what you need for your customers. You can give them all of the options they want and need to create unique travel experiences.

This is how Tandem came to be.

In development for over a year, Tandem is a new cruise booking engine. But, it’s more than just a booking engine. It’s the first travel agency-centric product to focus on the consumer shopping environment and bookings. It is designed with one thing in mind: maximizing the opportunity for travel agents to close the sale whether it’s done by the agent or the customer. It allows the agent to work in “tandem” with their customers.

The main force behind Tandem was you, the travel professional. The feedback we received during development was vital in its creation. Agents wanted a complete, integrated marketing and booking environment where real agent consulting and expertise could be included in the process.

Agents wanted it to be simple and also tie in to marketing — where an email offer could be mailed out and the customer could have the option of booking on their own in an agent’s site or done by the agent. Both ways allow for high levels of touch and gives the customer whatever option they want.

Agents placed a premium on the visual aspect of booking travel. That’s why Tandem is visually powerful with the right focus placed on giving the customer the opportunity to envision what their cruise experience will be. Text is kept to a minimum but clearly articulates the important details so that the customer can make an informed decision about their travel plans.

Agents also wanted to ensure that tracking the sale, at any point in the process, was seamless. Tandem allows the consumer and the agent to save a booking in progress and come back to it. It also allows the agent to better track activity and sales patterns so that they can better serve their customers.

We will continue to add enhancements of Tandem over time. But, we’re very proud of what we have created and believe that it will revolutionize the agent/client experience in booking cruises.

Most importantly, though, we are very proud that we worked so closely with travel professionals like you to make it a reality. We listened to your feedback. We listened to what you wanted and needed.

And we’re excited to deliver yet another powerful product to you and your agency.

To add:
The Cruise Supplier option uses the standard way of building the Quick Search options. Only now, you can add “Cruise Supplier” to the list of included options when creating a Quick Search Module.

After  that:
The Cruise Supplier option will show up as a pre-populated dropdown list in the Quick Search. The list of cruise suppliers is specific to your agency’s custom filters and preferences to not include any that are “excluded”, or filtered out.  The search results will then include only the selected cruise supplier’s offers.

If you need help adding this option to your search, just give us a call or send us an email.