BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Officials of ASTA and the Cruise Lines
International Association here indicated that they are in no hurry
to welcome Renaissance Cruises back into their organizations.
The groups stated their intentions at an annual cruise panel for
Florida agents, sponsored by ASTA's South Florida chapter and
several cruise lines.
In addition, two cruise line executives urged agents to continue
to avoid Renaissance.
The approximately 90 Florida agents in attendance also gave a
cold shoulder to Renaissance's recent attempts at conciliation. No
agent responded when asked for a show of hands on whether they
would promote Renaissance.
About one-third indicated they would book Renaissance if
requested to do so by clients, but about half indicated they would
not book the line under any circumstances.
Renaissance last month announced it was reversing its more than
2-year-old agent-bypass marketing strategy -- and pledged to donate
$1 million to ASTA if the cruise line failed to implement a list of
new agent-friendly policies.
In spite of ASTA's statement welcoming Renaissance's promises,
the Society's board is not inclined to lift its three-year
expulsion of the line until the ban expires next year, Nancy
Pennington, the Society's national director from Area 14, said. She
reported that Renaissance has asked for immediate
reinstatement.
Under ASTA's expulsion order, Renaissance would not be eligible
to rejoin ASTA until June 23, 2001.
Pennington told the Florida agents here that the board discussed
the issue at its recent meeting in Dublin, Ireland, but took no
action.
But Pennington, who was on the ASTA committee that recommended
Renaissance's expulsion, added: "I think it's the general consensus
of the board that Renaissance will not be back until their penalty
is served."
A new ASTA board is due to convene on Sept. 28 during this
year's ASTA congress in Las Vegas, with about half of the members
being new.
Pennington's replacement on the board, Doris Green, said she
agrees that Renaissance should not be readmitted before its
suspension expires.
Vicki Freed, CLIA's outgoing chairwoman and senior vice
president of Carnival Cruise Lines, said CLIA will not readmit
Renaissance until agents have accepted the line.
"If you [agents] feel that they're being a good corporate
citizen out there and being a friend to the travel agent, then
we'll probably let them into CLIA," she said.
"It's really going to be your call on how you receive them
before we at CLIA make any sort of decision." She said there was no
time limit on how long that process might take.