EasyCruise will be bookable on Amadeus in "early 2009" after the cruise operator signed a three-year distribution agreement.

A pilot for the new booking technology is due to start in February.

Paul Ellerby, sales and marketing director UK and US at easyCruise, said: “In the current economic climate, it is important for cruise lines to reduce costs whilst improving distribution and achieving market share growth.

“We are confident that Amadeus’ proven Cruise booking solutions will help easyCruise reach its ambitious goals.”

This agreement makes Amadeus the only GDS distributing easyCruise content.

Alongside the Amadeus launch, easyCruise plans to actively target travel agent distribution in a bid to spread the balance between industry and direct-consumer bookings.

By Bev Fearis