1. Selling and Pricing Cruises Who sells cruises?

2. Who buys cruises? 1.Restless Baby Boomers- The largest segment cruisers (33%).They are in their early 40s and early 50s.

3. Who buys cruises? 2. Enthusiastic Baby Boomers- the second largest category of current cruisers (20%). They are in their early 40’s.

4. Who buys cruises? 3. Consummate Shoppers- represent today’s cruisers (16%).They are age 55 and over, well- traveled and like fine dining available on board cruise ships.

5. Who buys cruises? 4. Luxury Cruisers- They are average 52 years old. They cultured, well educated, experienced and active. (14% of current cruisers.)

6. Who buys cruises? 5. Explorers- are small but influential segment of the cruise market. They see a cruise as a vehicle for discovering the world. (11%)

7. Who buys cruises? 6. Ship Buffs- The oldest and the smallest segment (6%). They like longer cruises and are flexible in their cruise choices.

8. THE CRUISE SALES PROCESS

9. SELLING SKILLS

10. 1.Evaluate your passion for cruising In order to become an agent for cruises and to be successful at it, you must really love cruises.

11. . 2. Get to know cruise destinations and different excursions, opportunities offered by the major cruise lines Study itineraries, cruise ship amenities and on board entertainment.

12. 3. Gain sales experience Successful cruise agents have experience selling other types of products and services.

13. 4. Demonstrate great customer service skills. Customers will need you to help them book their dream vacations. You will need to be able to communicate with and help many different types of people.

14. 5. Work in the travel business in other capacities. Experience working in hotels, resorts, travel agencies and other vacation destinations will help you become a good cruise agent.

15. 6. Take training classes. Check out websites advertising for cruise agents. Several travel agencies are looking for agents online who can work from home to sell cruises. CruiseMagic.com and others will train you on how to sell cruises, and then allow you to build your own business doing so.

16. 7. Become a certified cruise agent Take the required online classes, seminars and exams to complete the credits you need for certification.

17. 8. Use your certification and training to get a job with a travel agency, cruise line, or to work for yourself as an agent. Work for a cruise line in one of their call centers, or as a sales manager. Instead of generating your own leads as a cruise agent, you will take calls and inquiries from customers and help them book their cruises with the specific cruise line you support.

18. 9. Expect to work on commission. Cruise agents only make money when they sell cruises.