5 minute read
As Chief Product Engineering Officer at Traveltek, I’m excited to share the powerful technology and innovative design behind CruiseConnect, our cutting-edge cruise booking platform. Built to revolutionize the way travel advisors search, book and manage cruise sales, CruiseConnect combines best of class modern technology, seamless integration, speed, and user-focused design to deliver an unparalleled booking experience.
Core Technology and Architecture
At the heart of CruiseConnect is a robust infrastructure powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS provides the scalability, security, and reliability necessary to support the complex operations of cruise booking and data management. By leveraging cloud infrastructure, CruiseConnect ensures high availability and fast performance, allowing travel advisors to access the platform from anywhere, at any time, without worrying about downtime.
CruiseConnect’s front end is developed using React, a popular JavaScript library known for creating dynamic and responsive user interfaces. We’ve enhanced this with TypeScript, which adds static typing to improve code quality and scalability. This combination ensures that the platform is both user-friendly and capable of handling the demands of a busy travel advisor.
On the backend, Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS) powers the infrastructure, delivering both flexibility and speed while dynamically scaling resources to meet demand. Python’s versatility adds to this capability by facilitating the handling of complex algorithms and ensuring seamless integration with multiple suppliers, which helps keep the platform reliable and responsive.
Integration with Cruise Lines
One of the standout features of CruiseConnect is its seamless integration with the leading cruise lines, providing access to the highest market share brands in North America. Using industry-standard protocols and APIs, including the latest from major players like Carnival and Disney Cruise Lines, CruiseConnect ensures that travel advisors have access to up-to-date pricing, availability, and other critical information.
To handle real-time pricing and availability, CruiseConnect employs a dynamic data-fetching approach. While the initial search results are optimally cached from APIs and flat files for speed, any detailed pricing or availability information is fetched live from the supplier. This ensures that travel advisors always have the most accurate data at their fingertips when interacting with customers.
User Interface and Experience
Creating a user-friendly interface was a top priority for us, and we followed key design principles to make CruiseConnect both functional and accessible. The platform strives to meet AIM AA accessibility standards, to make it usable by travel advisors with varying needs.
We also focused on clarity and ease of use, incorporating intuitive navigation, filters, and options that allow advisors to quickly find the information they need and communicate effectively with their customers. Additionally, we’ve included features like “copy to clipboard” buttons for easy data extraction, further streamlining the workflow.
Search and Booking Functionality
The search functionality within CruiseConnect is optimized for accuracy and speed. Whether searching by dates, ports, countries, regions, or cruise lines, the platform adapts to find the best fit for each customer. Our search algorithm delivers relevant cruise options quickly, and the platform’s filtering capabilities allow travel advisors to customize results to meet diverse client needs.
When it comes to booking, CruiseConnect is built for efficiency. The platform’s real-time data integration with cruise lines ensures that the booking process is seamless and error-free, from quote generation to final reservation. This significantly saves time for travel advisors, enabling them to focus on customer service rather than administrative tasks and reducing the risk of human error compared to manual processes. For instance, our quote feature automatically updates with the latest pricing when advisors revisit quotes, ensuring that customers receive accurate and current pricing at the time of sale.
Data Management and Security
We take data security very seriously and are PCI compliant. CruiseConnect employs robust security measures to protect user data, especially sensitive information such as payment details. AWS’s secure infrastructure further ensures that all data is stored safely and redundantly, with backup systems in place to prevent data loss.
Automation and Error Reduction
Automation is a key feature of CruiseConnect, designed to reduce manual tasks and minimize errors. From automatic data entry to real-time updates, the platform ensures that travel advisors can trust the accuracy of the information they are working with.
Integration and Onboarding
Getting new agencies started with CruiseConnect is efficient and straightforward. Although the platform is intuitive and requires minimal training, we provide online resources and webinars to help you make the most of CruiseConnect’s features.
CruiseConnect integrates smoothly with the existing systems and tools used by travel agencies, ensuring a hassle-free transition. For instance, our booking retrieval feature allows you to effortlessly import bookings made directly with suppliers, facilitating seamless management and handoff to supported third parties like Tres Technologies or Sion.
Achieve Real Results for Your Travel Business with CruiseConnect
With CruiseConnect, travel advisors can save time, reduce mistakes, and increase revenue. The platform’s advanced technology, combined with its user-friendly design and powerful features, makes it an essential tool for any agency looking to expand its cruise offerings. It’s easy to understand why hundreds of travel agencies across North America trust CruiseConnect for their cruise bookings.
To learn more about the powerful technology behind CruiseConnect and to book a demo with our product team, head to the Contact Page.
