If you’ve ever thought about becoming a travel agent, you need to know which niche works best for you. For some, cruises are the perfect option because they are always in demand and typically come with good commission rates. One of the best cruise lines in the world is Norwegian Cruise Lines, which operates ships worldwide, from Europe to Hawaii to Asia.
What does being a Norwegian Cruise Line travel agent entail, and how can you make the most of your position? Here’s everything you need to know.
A Brief Overview of Norwegian Cruise Lines
Norwegian Cruise Lines was founded in 1966 in Norway. The original ship only ran from Southampton, UK, to Gibraltar for a single season. Afterward, the company started focusing on Caribbean cruises. In fact, the company briefly changed its name to Norwegian Caribbean Lines to reflect this.
NCL was one of the first cruise companies to purchase a private island, which they did in 1986. The island is called Great Stirrup Cay, and the company has spent a lot of money developing it into a remarkable tourist destination. Other cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival have followed suit, each with a unique private island that is exclusively available to cruise guests.
Over the decades, NCL has added new ships and ports of call. Today, you can book a cruise to virtually any destination across all seven continents. However, the Caribbean remains one of the most popular locations for Norwegian cruises, especially for US tourists. The company is based in Miami and is the third-largest cruise line in the world, controlling about eight percent of the global market.
What Does a Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent Do?
As a travel agent, it’s your job to ensure that your clients have the best vacation possible. Fortunately, cruises are really easy because they handle everything from food to accommodations to entertainment. That said, there are still many tasks you’re responsible for as an agent, so let’s break them down in detail.
Help With Booking Rooms and Amenities
Booking a room on a cruise ship is much different than at a hotel or resort. First and foremost, you must consider whether your guests will want a view of the ocean or an interior room with no view. As you can imagine, views are pricier, as are larger suites. Most affordable accommodations are relatively small, and they may not have all the amenities that guests are used to with a hotel (e.g., a full bathroom with a shower).
Also, each cruise ship has its own set of room styles and layouts. The exact ship your guests will travel on depends on where in the world they want to go.
For example, the Norwegian Aqua travels throughout the Caribbean, hitting places like the Bahamas and Bermuda. It can hold up to 3,500 guests and is a brand-new ship, so guests can enjoy first-rate accommodations. By comparison, the Norwegian Dawn only travels through the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. The Dawn can hold 2,200 guests, and it was built in 2002 (refurbished in 2021).
While you don’t have to memorize each ship and its layout, as a Norwegian Cruise Line travel agent you want to be able to provide some details when working with your clients. You should know where on the ship they will be staying (approximately) and what they’ll have easy access to. You should also be aware of onboard amenities and entertainment like:
- Dining Options – How many restaurants are on the ship, and what meals are included with the cruise ticket? Most restaurant options charge for specialty courses and alcohol. Also, how many buffets are on the ship and when are the dining hours?
- Live Entertainment – Most cruises have some kind of live entertainment onboard, whether it’s a comedian, a band, or a magician. Some cruises are made for family-friendly entertainment, while others cater to adults and couples.
- Activities – How many swimming pools are on board, and what kind of fun activities are there for guests? Options can include corn hole, tennis, arts and crafts, and more. Many of these activities are available at certain times, so you should be able to help your clients plan accordingly.
- Shopping and Retail – Many cruise ships have retail outlets on board. What kind of stores are available, and what are their hours?
Overall, the more you know about each ship, the better prepared you are to help your clients plan their vacation to the smallest detail.
Assist With Pre- and Post-Cruise Travel
Realistically, most of your clients will not live in a port city, meaning they must travel to reach the cruise ship. While your clients can handle these details on their own, you can offer your services and help them plan pre- and post-cruise travel accommodations. One of the best things about being a travel agent is that you can earn commissions from different vendors, including booking sites and resorts.
Here is also where you can help your clients upgrade their vacation to make it even more memorable. For example, NCL operates out of Miami, Orlando, or Tampa. Since Florida is already a major travel destination, you could persuade your clients to take in some sights either before or after their cruise. If they’re departing from Orlando, maybe they want to visit Walt Disney World for a day or two and can get their park tickets through you!
Book Shore Excursions and Adventures
While cruise ships are built to be as entertaining as possible, most people take a cruise to explore different ports of call that they wouldn’t be able to travel to otherwise. However, just going into a new city or island is not enough: cruise lines like Norwegian also offer on-shore excursions.
These excursions are designed to help guests explore more of the sights and culture of each port of call, so they’re tailored to the destination. For example, if your clients are booked on a Hawaiian cruise, they can visit Pearl Harbor or explore historic Hilo on the Big Island. By comparison, if your clients are venturing to Northern Africa, they can visit Rick’s Cafe, made famous by the classic film Casablanca.
When booking on-shore excursions, you have to keep a few things in mind, such as:
- How many people will be going on the excursion? If not everyone from the travel party participates, what will the non-participants do during that time?
- Will your clients be staying overnight at a port city? For example, many Bahamas cruises have an overnight stay on an island, allowing guests to do more during their trip.
- Do these excursions have any restrictions or requirements, such as age minimums or weight limits? Do your clients have any medical issues that could prevent them from participating in the activity?
- What is the rest of their itinerary like? How much time will they have at a port destination? Also, how long will it take to travel to and from each excursion site?
You must consider all the variables and details to ensure nothing goes wrong during the trip. We find it helpful to write down a list of questions so you don’t forget anything when booking.
Unique Selling Points of Norwegian Cruise Lines
Although Norwegian Cruise Lines is the third-largest cruise company in the world, it has some incredible offerings that make it unique compared to brands like Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Knowing these unique benefits can help you sell more packages, particularly to guests who don’t know the difference between one cruise line and another.
- Freestyle Cruising – Most cruise lines have set itineraries, typically for a weekend or a week-long voyage. This system means guests must travel on certain days. Norwegian does things differently by not creating set itineraries for guests. This way, your clients can travel whenever is most convenient for them, and they can customize their trip as much (or as little) as they want.
- Commitment to Sustainability – Unfortunately, cruise ships can have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. Norwegian has a much more eco-friendly outlook, so guests can feel better about taking vacations with NCL. Ships don’t pollute the ocean as much, and the company makes sure to limit the environmental damage to local ports with better docking strategies.
- More Dining Options – Norwegian was one of the first companies to eliminate set dining schedules as part of freestyle cruising. Many guests also report that NCL ships have more diverse dining options than the competition. So, if your clients love to eat, they may prefer going on a Norwegian cruise.
Why Boardwalk Travel Agency?
These days, it’s never been easier to become an independent travel agent. While there are other ways to book Norwegian cruises for your clients, Boardwalk Travel Agency is the best host agency for travel agents. Here are some top reasons to consider Boardwalk:
- High Commission Rates – Most travel agents only earn about a 10 percent commission on most travel packages. Boardwalk pays up to 70 percent commissions, so more of that money goes into your pocket, allowing you to focus more attention on each guest, rather than trying to find more clients to fill in the gaps.
- Flexible Scheduling – As an independent agent with Boardwalk Travel, you can work as much or as little as you want. You can make this a side hustle or a full-time career. Once you start getting clients, you can decide how to run your business. We don’t constrain you with quotas or minimum working hours.
- Low Costs – Many other travel agencies charge a monthly or annual fee to use their provider network. Boardwalk Travel only charges a one-time membership fee; you’re a member for life.
- Ongoing Support – If you ever run into any issues when booking a Norwegian cruise, you can reach out to the support team or review training materials at your own pace. The best way to learn is to speak to people who’ve done it all, and support is always part of your membership.
Become a Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent With Boardwalk Travel
Are you ready to start booking cruise vacations for yourself, your friends, and your family? Are you ready to start making money as an independent travel agent? Boardwalk Travel empowers you to cash in on your passion for travel, so sign up today and start booking clients as soon as possible!
