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How to Become a Travel Agent for Royal Caribbean Cruises
When you are a travel agent, you can maximize your sales by specializing in a certain type of travel or certain companies. If you decide to become a travel agent, you can carve out a niche selling Royal Caribbean voyages. You must align yourself with a legitimate host agency and obtain training in Royal Caribbean's ships and destinations. This will allow you to become a travel agent for Royal Caribbean cruises.
Find a host agency that will take you on as a travel agent. You don't need any specific degree or license, although most legitimate agencies will want you to have some knowledge of travel and cruising as well as past sales experience. However, many will let you learn on the job. Royal Caribbean cruise lines require a Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) or International Airline Travel Agent (IATA) number for bookings. Your host agency will provide you with the number.
Enroll in Royal Caribbean's online training program for travel agents. You must already be working as a travel agent to sign up for this program. The training covers Royal Caribbean's cruise ships, itineraries, and booking tools for agents. You can achieve various levels, such as a Cruise Apprentice, Cruise Specialist, or Cruise Expert. By the time you have completed it, you will have an excellent working knowledge of what Royal Caribbean can offer to clients.
Take a Royal Caribbean cruise. You cannot speak knowledgably to your clients unless you have firsthand experience with the product. You may have already taken Royal Caribbean cruises before you decided to become a travel agent. If that's the case, you can skip this step. If not, you may be able to get a discount on your cruise, if you have completed a Royal Caribbean training program.
Emphasize your special expertise in Royal Caribbean cruises when you advertise your services. The Internet allows clients from across the United States and international locations to use a travel agent located in any state. This means you will have a large potential customer base even if you specialize in one particular cruise line.
Tip
Contrary to what many people believe, becoming a travel agent doesn't require any special classes, degrees, or licensing. However, many host agencies offer classes and support for their agents. Take advantage of this training as it will help you to develop your skills.
Warning
There are some companies that claim to be legitimate host agencies, but they are really "card mills." This means that they sell travel agent credentials to people who simply use them to try to get discounted travel. Legitimate travel vendors such as Royal Caribbean will not accept bookings from these companies. Choose your host agency carefully.
Warnings
- There are some companies that claim to be legitimate host agencies, but they are really "card mills." This means that they sell travel agent credentials to people who simply use them to try to get discounted travel. Legitimate travel vendors such as Royal Caribbean will not accept bookings from these companies. Choose your host agency carefully.
Writer
Based in Kissimmee, Fla., Barb Nefer is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. She is a mental health counselor, finance coach and travel agency owner. Her work has appeared in such magazines as "The Writer" and "Grit" and she authored the book, "So You Want to Be a Counselor."
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