Image courtesy of Fora Advisor Kelsey Parry
If you’re passionate about Royal Caribbean cruises and love the idea of turning that passion into a rewarding career, you’re in the right place. This guide breaks down how to become a Royal Caribbean travel agent, including the steps, day-to-day duties and more.
“I'm very familiar with what they have to offer and I love booking Royal Caribbean for clients because I know firsthand they are going to have an amazing time!” Fora Advisor Amy LaGrow-Rodgers said
(Alternatively, if you want to learn how to become a travel agent in general, check out this guide first.)
Why become a Royal Caribbean travel agent?
Becoming a Royal Caribbean travel agent offers the opportunity to specialize in selling a leading cruise line with a diverse array of itineraries and ships. You’ll undergo niche training on Royal Caribbean offerings, gain access to exclusive promotions and help foster amazing memories and relationships with clients.
“There's so much to do that when I send my clients on a Royal Caribbean ship, they will never have a boring moment,” Fora Advisor Elena Ollick said. “When I put clients on Royal Caribbean ships, I am sure they will have a great experience regardless of the ship, coming back home with no complaints — which is not the case with some other cruise lines.”
If you love the brand, adding Royal Caribbean to your travel agent career portfolio allows you to share that passion. That said, if you’re curious about other travel agent jobs, our guide has details.
Why choose Royal Caribbean?
Royal Caribbean is one of the most recognizable brands in the cruise industry. Their cruises appeal to a wide audience: solo travelers, couples, families and other groups. This breadth facilitates a large potential customer base.
“The Oasis class, and some of the newer Royal Caribbean ships truly make family vacations easy, unforgettable and stress-free,” Elena said. “The entertainment on the ship is next level — it rivals Broadway or Cirque Du Soleil, which is great for both adults and kids.”
It’s also worth highlighting that Royal Caribbean is a reputable brand, so you can trust them to take care of your clients — meaning you’re more likely to earn repeat business.
“Royal Caribbean is a very popular cruise line that caters to a wide demographic of travelers,” Fora Advisor Sharon Iannone said. “Being able to offer perks and group rates to my clients has been very valuable to building my travel advisor business. Once my clients sail on a Royal Caribbean ship, they are hooked. Many of my clients even book their next sailing on board.”
What does Royal Caribbean offer travelers?
Sharon offered a comprehensive breakdown of Royal Caribbean’s offerings. She especially appreciates their modern ships, which come equipped with amenities like surf simulators, skydiving simulators and skating rinks.
“The destinations available are very diverse and appeal to a wide variety of clients,” Sharon added. “The entertainment on board is second-to-none in the cruising world, and all of my clients love the vast array of things to do.”
Fora Advisor Amy LaGrow-Rodgers agreed, adding, “From their expansive amenities for kids to the beautiful adults-only Solariums, there truly is something for everyone!”
What’s the difference between booking cruises and traditional trips or accommodations?
In many ways, selling cruises is similar to selling ordinary travel. At a glance, booking shipboard accommodations isn’t so different from booking hotel rooms or suites.
“I love that Royal Caribbean sails almost everywhere in the world,” Amy said. “Having such a diverse offering of itineraries allows me to offer them as an option to clients no matter what destination they are wanting to travel to.”
Amy added that cruises are becoming especially popular among families and multi-generational groups: “In my opinion, there isn't a better option than Royal Caribbean for these clients."
There are unique factors to consider, like a client’s susceptibility to sea sickness and whether a certain ship visits a certain destination. Also, cruise itineraries are almost always concrete, so Royal Caribbean travel agents spend more time helping their clients select cruises versus planning out entire trips.
What commission rate does Royal Caribbean offer travel agents?
If you’re unfamiliar with how travel agent commissions work, read this guide first. In general, cruises tend to offer travel advisors higher commissions than the average hotel. Cruises’ payout times also tend to be shorter.
How to become a Royal Caribbean travel agent: the steps
Learning how to become a Royal Caribbean travel agent isn’t that different from learning how to become a cruise travel agent in general. Here’s how it breaks down.
First, become a (general) travel agent
To sell Royal Caribbean cruises, you have to become a travel agent. That means joining a travel agent host agency to obtain an IATA number, an internationally recognized ID that allows you to earn commission for your travel sales. Don’t worry, though, this isn’t some grand process requiring years of travel agent school and a prior job in the travel industry. You can become a travel agent online through the right host agency, which brings us to our next point.
Related article: How to Become a Travel Agent Online: Fora's Full Guide
Next, partner with the right host agency
Several major factors go into picking the right host travel agency. You need to consider the cost of joining the agency and maintaining your partnership. At Fora, we don’t charge a startup fee, and our monthly subscription costs $49. (There’s also an annual plan that costs $299.)
You’ll want to find an agency that can equip you with the tools and travel agent training you need to be successful. Fora offers a clear path toward becoming a certified travel agent, with comprehensive courses that cover everything from the basics of booking a hotel room — or cabin, in this case — to more advanced concepts, such as destination-specific trainings and group travel. All of this training is included with your subscription.
Additionally, make sure your host agency you sign aligns with your lifestyle and business goals. For example, if you’re just starting out, having to maintain a strict schedule or meet monthly sales quotas might put unnecessary pressure on your career as a Royal Caribbean travel agent. Fora doesn’t have trip quotas or require a set schedule — you’re in charge of your business and time.
Finally, working as a remote travel agent can lonely. At Fora, we’ve fostered a cooperative community of travel agents from all over the world. Forum, our online community where travel advisors share knowledge and tips, allows you to connect with peers in a fun and constructive way. Plus, we’ve launched local Fora Chapters so our advisors can engage with one another in person. It’s a great way to network and strengthen your business.
Related article: Fora’s Travel Advisor Training Program: An Overview & What to Expect
Once you’re signed up, enroll in Royal Caribbean’s travel agent program
Once you’ve joined a host travel agency and obtained an IATA number, you’re ready to become a Royal Caribbean travel agent. From here, the process is straightforward: Royal Caribbean offers free supplemental training that familiarizes you with all of their offerings, including the ships in their fleet, and itineraries.
Technically, you can book Royal Caribbean cruises without this training. However, if you’re looking to specialize in the brand’s offerings, it’s wise to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible. The more you know, the more you can enhance your clients’ vacations and handle issues should they arise.
What does day-to-day life look like for Royal Caribbean travel agents?
The daily life of a Royal Caribbean travel agent isn’t dramatically different from that of a general travel agent. Every agent approaches their craft differently, but each will spend at least some time doing the following.
Marketing is critically important
You can’t run a successful travel business without clients, and to get clients you need to promote yourself. Starting with friends and family is a great way to get your foot in the door, but you can’t expect everyone you know to book a cruise. Eventually, you’ll need to put your name and services into the world.
Establishing a social media presence, building a website and running email campaigns are all available tools. A big part of Fora’s training program is teaching travel agents how to market themselves and their business. Plus, Fora provides a bevy of marketing resources to streamline the process and save agents time. These include social media and email templates, a dedicated landing page and unlimited opportunities for content creation, including writing travel guides for prospective clients (like this one). Ultimately, a good portion of your daily routine will include some form of self-promotion.
Related article: How to Get Clients as a Travel Agent: Fora's Top 3 Tips
When booking cruises, you’re helping clients find the right ship, destination and room types
Cruises can be tricky to book because you have to balance your clients’ desired shipboard amenities, vacation window and destinations. Generally, Royal Caribbean offers a broad set of amenities and attractions regardless of the destination and season. If your client is adamant about boarding the brand’s new flagship, Icon of the Seas, for example, you’ll have to help them navigate through the different itinerary options (the brand visits around 300 different destinations around the world).
Additionally, most Royal Caribbean cruise ships have around a dozen different cabin options, ranging from small, interior rooms to grand suites with ocean views and private balconies. The best Royal Caribbean travel agents matchmake their clients to the right room, ship, destination and dates.
“Royal Caribbean is the perfect cruise line for many cruisers — from multi-generational groups, families, solos and couples,” said Fora Advisor Sharon Iannone. “I have never had a client that didn't enjoy their vacation with Royal Caribbean.”
Some clients may prefer a bespoke experience in destinations they visit on a cruise
Sometimes clients forgo excursions offered by the cruise line in favor of a curated experience. Beyond arranging cruise packages, you may occasionally need to plan separate experiences.
You may need to book secondary travel accommodations, like hotels
Royal Caribbean cruises only launch from certain ports around the world. Your client likely doesn’t live right next door to the terminal, so you may find yourself booking secondary accommodations.
For example, if your client lives in Phoenix but is departing from New Orleans, they may rely on you to book a hotel before and after their cruise. Moreover, many cruise ports are fun destinations in themselves, so your clients may ask for recommendations for things to do.
Fora’s in-house booking platform streamlines this process and allows travel agents to book most hotels almost anywhere in the world, even via their phone.
Finally, check in with your clients and manage changes
Life sometimes gets in the way of vacations, and your clients will either need to change or cancel a reservation. It’s your job as their travel agent to manage this.
You should occasionally check in on your clients during their trip to ensure they’re both enjoying the experience and have the right accommodations. If something’s wrong, it’s up to you to help make it right. Royal Caribbean is a reputable brand, however, so these sorts of issues are rare and generally resolvable.
If you join Fora, you don’t have to worry about invoicing or chasing payments
One of the best perks of becoming a Fora travel advisor is not having to worry about invoicing or chasing down payments. Fora’s support team handles both aspects, freeing up a (frankly surprising) amount of time so you can focus on the more exciting aspects of your travel business.
Become a Fora Advisor and start planning Royal Caribbean cruises
“Royal Caribbean is the highest-requested cruise line by families,” Fora Advisor Elena Ollick said. “They have managed to create a cult following amongst multi-generational families, not only with their innovative lineup of ships, but with their onboard experiences.”
Learn how to become a Royal Caribbean travel agent when you become a Fora Advisor. By joining our program, you’ll gain access to Royal Caribbean’s dedicated training along with a wealth of tools, webinars and other benefits — all intended to help you create a successful travel business selling Royal Caribbean (or any) vacations.
More travel advisor resources
There’s a lot more to travel planning than learning how to become a Royal Caribbean travel agent. Check out these travel advisor resources, too:
