PHOTO: travAlliancemedia Founder and CEO Mark Murphy with Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. (Photo by Tim Wood)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Christine Duffy went back to her roots Wednesday, speaking to a room full of travel agents at the 2015 Agent@Home Travel Summit.

The Carnival Cruise Line president began her career 33 years ago as a travel agent for McGettigan Partners just down the road in Philadelphia. She rose to become president and COO of the company. And when McGettigan was bought by Maritz Travel, Duffy quickly showed the Maritz family that she was a keeper, becoming the first woman president and CEO in the company’s 110-year-old history.

“It’s been a long strange journey, but it’s amazing to be back in the Northeast,” said Duffy, who owns a home in nearby Cape May. “But that journey makes where I’m at and what I get to do with Carnival all the more fulfilling.”

Duffy spoke to a packed exhibition hall about the rise of cruising and why Carnival is positioned to be the perfect sale for agents.

The industry has grown 35 percent worldwide from 2009 to 2015 (17.8 million passengers in 2009, 24 million passengers projected in 2015). Ocean ships and river cruise ships are being built at a record pace, with 56 new ships coming across the world by 2022 thanks to a $25.65 billion investment from the industry.

Once a U.S.-dominated vacation market, cruising has become a worldwide phenomenon over the past 10 years. While her parent company is fueling that worldwide growth, Duffy said she’s focused on continuing Carnival’s position as America’s cruise line.

“We have ports within a six-hour drive of 50 percent of the country, so we’re trying to make it easier and even more affordable to experience the vacation of a lifetime,” Duffy said. “You as home-based agents are making it easier than ever for your clients to book, and we want to give you every tool you need to share the magic of cruising.”

Duffy was also especially excited to share the details of the Carnival Vista, coming online in 2016. She had recently been to the shipyards to see the Vista’s progress and said she felt like a kid on Christmas day.

Vista will have all the excitement of the company’s Fun Ship 2.0 buildout, including Dr. Seuss at Sea as part of the Camp Ocean kids program, Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint and the new Alchemy Bar.

“It’s going to be an amazing experience for both newcomers and for our first-time cruisers,” Duffy said. “Plus, we’re adding amazing features all her own.”

Vista will have the SkyRide, an elevated bike ride that is a perfect complement to the Sportsquare ropes course. Plus, the ship will have a Seafood Shack, featuring lobster roll sandwiches, and an ice cream parlor inside its Cherry on Top candy shop.

Duffy saved the best news for last for the roomful of travel counselors. As part of CLIA’s National Plan-a-Cruise Month, through the line’s group sales promotion, initial deposits are waived on select group cruises and agents can earn one free berth for every 10 full fare guests berthed (compared to the current policy of one free berth for every 15 full fare guests) on all voyages included in the promotion period. The offer is available on a wide variety of sailings between March 1, 2016 and April 30, 2017.

Carnival is also giving away 30 cruises to agents throughout October. Agents qualify simply by selling a Carnival trip.

“It’s truly an exciting time in the cruise world,” Duffy said. “We hope you’ll share the journey with us.”

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