Learn More About Selling Cruise Groups

It’s no surprise that group travel continues to be on the rise. Whether it’s with friends and family or other like-minded travelers, people are interested in making travel memories together. Many advisors are tapping into this growing – and lucrative – niche and pairing it with a specialty: golf groups, wedding groups, wellness groups, etc.

There’s no need to go too far out of the box when it comes to specializing. Is there a type of travel you’re already selling? Pairing it with group travel might be your next step.

The Travel Institute knows many advisors specialize in groups, especially cruise groups, which is why they recently introduced Group Travel: A Niche Market Specialist Course. What’s even more helpful is there is a lesson that specifically covers cruising, as it’s important for advisors to fully understand cruise groups before they begin selling. Here’s a sneak peek of what advisors can learn from this course:

What Constitutes a Cruise Group?  

A cruise group often refers to a minimum number of passengers sailing together under the same booking.

Here are typical cruise group characteristics:

• Minimum Number of Passengers: Cruise lines often specify a minimum number of passengers — typically from eight to 16 — required to qualify as a group. The specific number may depend on factors like the cruise line, ship capacity and itinerary. For example, many luxury cruise lines have a lower booking requirement based on the capacity of the ship, whereas larger oceangoing vessels may require more passengers to constitute a group. There also are benefits — such as a free berth or additional commission — the cruise lines offer based on the number of cabins booked. 
• Shared Booking: Group members usually book their cruise travel as part of a single reservation or booking. This means the entire group’s reservations are linked, allowing them to be managed and coordinated together.
• Common Purpose or Connection: Groups can have a common interest or connection that brings them together for the cruise. This can include family reunions, corporate events, educational programs, wedding parties, social clubs, affinity groups or special interest groups. There also are speculative groups where agents take out group space and sell it to the general public. Host agencies and consortia regularly take out group space on behalf of the agency that any of their agents can book into. 
• Group Amenities and Benefits: Cruise lines offer various incentives that can include discounted rates, onboard credits, exclusive group activities, private events, dedicated meeting spaces, and customized itineraries. The amenities offered will depend on the length of the cruise, its price point, the type of cabins being booked and other factors defined by the cruise line. Some popular amenities include free beverage packages, prepaid gratuities, paid shore excursions and free wi-fi. 

Want to learn more about selling group cruises? Click here to enroll in Group Travel: A Niche Market Specialist Course.