Cruise Campus: Learn to Sell Cruises Better

Since agents continue to sell the majority of cruises in the U.S., it makes perfect sense for lines to help educate them. And it also makes sense for you to take advantage of this training—as it only helps you increase your sales.

Here is a sampling of training programs.

American Cruise Lines, which has 11 ships and over 35 itineraries to 25 states, launched a new travel agent portal and on-demand agent certification series available anytime on the line’s website. The agent certification series includes six online training sessions about American’s itinerary destinations and fleet details. Agents receive certification to sell all the line’s cruises once courses are completed. The portal also offers webinars and information on fam trips, group bookings, and commissions. Visit AmericanCruiseLines.com.

Avalon Waterways relaunched its training program in April 2018 with all-new content on the many new programs available for 2019, including Avalon Choice, Active Discovery, Suite Fleet, new exotic cruises and more. This training platform, as well as the new mobile app, is designed to help agents sell Avalon and maintain their expertise after completing the courses. The content is updated regularly, is easily sharable and includes access to complimentary marketing materials. For agents to keep their Avalon Waterways Specialist designation, they must complete the new course by Dec. 31, 2018. Upon completion, agents receive perks such as specialist logos and priority sorting on the Travel Agent Locator. Visit agents.globusfamily.com/gfob-university.

Azamara Club Cruises operates a travel partner tutorial called the Azamara World Academy. It features 35 short courses in a modular set-up that can be completed in about two to three hours. Upon completion, agents can download a certificate and gain access to content on selling to the affluent by Azamara President and CEO Larry Pimentel. They can earn a free double-occupancy Club Oceanview Stateroom when they book three cruises within 90 days of completing the academy. Visit AzamaraWorldAcademy.com.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Passport is a comprehensive training portal that houses all of Carnival’s educational activities in one easy-to-access area. With Carnival Passport, agents may select tutorials, podcasts, job aids or webinars that best suit their educational needs while earning credits along the way. Travel agents who complete all the training levels and reach a designated booking requirement are eligible for a complimentary Carnival cruise. Visit GoCCL.com.

Hurtigruten’s travel agent portal includes the Amundsen Explorer Club certification program. The site offers webinars, brochures, video and photo libraries, special offers for agents, group planning information, marketing tools, and contact information for sales reps. Graduates can use the Amundsen Club logo and receive e-newsletters, priority fam access, and exclusive offers and incentives. Visit hurtigrutenagents.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s NCLU offers online training on such topics as destinations, its fleet, how to sell to families, and more. Travel partners can customize their NCLU experience with more than 20 available electives. They also can become a destination expert with electives covering the many regions Norwegian sails to across the globe. With each degree achieved, travel partners can earn five CLIA certification credits, up to 20 total credits, by completing the entire program. Agents who register on NCLU also receive access to reduced fares, the private NCLU Student Union Facebook group, contests and invitations to functions. Visit norwegiancentral.com.

Royal Caribbean International’s Royal Caribbean University (RCU), which debuted in July 2017, features three curriculums—Campus Tour, Bachelor of Adventure and Master of Adventure. They include information on the fleet, global destinations, onboard amenities and services, and the line’s newest ship, Symphony of the Seas. The courses take less than 10 minutes to complete. RCU is accessible on all devices. There are earnable rewards for both the Bachelor and Master-level completion. The Master-level rewards program includes complimentary VOOM Internet on their next Royal Caribbean vacation, plus an onboard savings coupon book and $50 onboard credit. Continuing education courses are added throughout the year. Visit Cruisingpower.com.

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the PEARLS Program, which stands for Partners Earn Added Rewards and Learn to Sell. It was conceived to give travel professionals a deeper understanding of the company and its destinations. The self-paced specialist training program educates agents, who then receive access to resources including exclusive sales and marketing training, advance notice of promotions, shipboard credit offers, marketing tools and bonus commissions. Visit www.pgcruises.com/PEARLS.

Windstar Cruises’ online Star Specialist Program is a cornerstone of the boutique line’s Star Promise commitment to supporting travel agents. The program provides agents with brand selling-points, information on Windstar’s casual yet elegant small-ship cruising approach, onboard experiences, the line’s culinary program as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, global destinations and cultural opportunities, and information on the Star Advantage Group Program. Program graduates qualify for two CEU credits from The Travel Institute. They also are eligible for a $100 bonus commission on their first booking within 120 days of graduation, five CLIA elective credits and priority confirmation for agent-rate bookings. Visit agenthub.windstarcruises.com.