How to Become a Costa Cruise Line Travel Agent

We've created a detailed guide below on how to become a travel agent for this Italian cruise line. But if you prefer quick answers, simply click vacationlab.io/join to chat live with our team and learn firsthand how to become a travel agent for Costa Cruises - plus gain access to all our other travel partners. Best of all, joining is completely free, no dues or fees from us, ever!

Costa Cruises isn’t one of the most well-known cruise lines in the North American market, but did you know they’re huge in Europe? In fact, next to MSC Cruises, they’re one of the biggest companies operating on the Old Continent, with a massive presence in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Costa Cruises is all about offering a wide variety of itineraries and cruises that are a bit different from what Americans are used to. They are, in essence, a (very) Italian cruise line. What I mean is that their ships don’t offer the mega-resort experience like the newer ships from Royal Caribbean or Carnival. Their buffet only operates during specific hours, they love late-night parties, and their restaurants focus on four- to five-course meals that are low in quantity but very high in quality.

As you can imagine, a lot of people need help when booking their vacation with Costa Cruises. Did you know you can handle everything from the comfort of your home, and with our help? Being a Costa Cruises travel agent is all about having the right mindset to assist those looking for an amazing time aboard ships like Costa Toscana or Costa Smeralda.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about becoming a Costa Cruises travel agent. We’ll cover:

• Benefits of Becoming a Costa Cruise Line Travel Agent
• Skills Required to Become a Costa Cruise Line Travel Agent
• Finding a Costa Cruise Line Host Agency
• The Best Host Agency for Costa Cruise Line
• Tips for Those Starting Out
• Training Courses for Costa Cruise Line
• Getting Paid
• Free Stock Library
• Costa Cruise Line Travel Agent FAQ

Now let’s get started!

Costa Cruises is very niche in the USA

A lot of guests in the United States don’t know much about Costa Cruises. They usually learn more about the line when researching cruises in Europe, South America, or Asia, and that’s when the questions start to arise. That’s also where you come in. There are hardly any guides or travel agents who specialize in Costa Cruises in the United States, which means this is an untapped market with tons of potential. So, get your cappuccino ready, grab a slice of pizza, and start studying this iconic Italian cruise line.

Costa Cruises embraces guests of all backgrounds

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact type of guest who books a Costa Cruise. Their newer ships, like Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, feature waterparks and fantastic kids’ clubs for families, while ships like Costa Deliziosa have a charming retro vibe that’s perfect for couples looking for a romantic cruise. Costa truly has something for every kind of traveler, and you can help guests from all over the world choose the most special vacation ever.

Costa Cruises is present all over the world

Yes, we mentioned that earlier… Costa is a global cruise line! While they have a strong presence in Europe, they also sail in Asia, Africa, South America, and North America. In fact, Costa is quite popular in places like Dubai and Rio de Janeiro. You know what that means, right? You could be booking a cruise for someone heading to Japan or helping a guest plan a 90-day world cruise departing from San Francisco. Costa Cruises is massive, and with such a wide variety of itineraries, your chances of building a steady client base are even greater.

Communication Skills

That’s the one skill you must master when working as a Costa Cruises travel agent, or really with any travel supplier. You need to communicate information in a way that is easy to understand. Keep in mind that Costa is a global cruise line, and you may be speaking with clients who are not based in the USA. Always try to understand your client's background and needs, and have patience above all else. Remember, Costa is a bit different from other cruise lines, so it is important to explain what sets them apart from companies like Royal Caribbean, Disney, or Norwegian.

Stay Up to Date with Everything Costa-Related

Costa Cruise Line has nine ships in total that operate all over the globe. While it is impossible to keep track of everything each ship has to offer, it is important to stay informed about the latest developments.

What are the newest Costa Cruise ships? Which ones have a waterpark? Which ships are best for families with children? What is the best restaurant onboard? Spoiler: while pizza is not free onboard Costa Cruises, it is definitely delicious, so you should tell guests to visit Pummid'Oro Pizzeria.

You need to research things like:

• What makes Costa Cruise Line different from other cruise lines
• Parties on Costa Cruise Line
• Itineraries and Stateroom Prices
• The best restaurants onboard Costa Cruise Line
• How Dining Works

Hey, you’re already browsing one of the best host agencies around! We have a lot of information about Costa Cruises on our sister website, Famvia, and plenty of travel agents who can help you with this fun cruise line. We’d love to have you here, of course, but here are some tips for choosing a host agency:

Look for host agencies that:

• Have a good track record
• Offer an interview process that listens to your questions
• Share commissions with you fairly (typically starting at 70% for the travel agent)
• Know about Costa Cruises and what makes them unique

VacationLab is the best host agency if you want to focus on Costa Cruise Line, other cruise lines, theme parks, and even beach resorts. Here’s why!

• You don’t have a lot of experience as a travel agent? No problem, we are here to lend you a hand and watch you grow!
• We have a fun interview process that is all about letting you feel relaxed and comfortable.
• We offer SORS - our very own Travel Dashboard to help you manage bookings and travel rewards.
• We provide exclusive courses, like Mastering Travel Social Media, to support travel advisors of all backgrounds.
• We offer a commission split starting at 70% and reaching up to 80%!
• We have hundreds of guides and reviews on our sister site, Famvia, covering major cruise lines, theme parks, and beach resorts. This includes Costa Cruise Line, where we have multiple guides talking about the dining options, staterooms, itineraries, ships, and more.
• We’re always ready to listen, chat, and lend a helping hand!

Become a Costa Cruise Line Expert

Well, if you are planning to become a Costa Cruise Line travel agent, you should at least know about the company, what they offer, and how much a vacation with them typically costs, right? No worries if you do not know much about Costa yet. They are very Italian and do a lot of things differently, which can be surprising for North American guests traveling with them. Take your time to get to know the brand so you can master the information and confidently help your clients.

VacationLab's sister site, Famvia, offers free guides and reviews about Costa Cruises, providing detailed information in a fun and easy-to-understand way. You can learn a lot there, and the guides and articles include:

• Planning a Cruise on Costa Cruise Line
• Room Options Onboard Costa Cruise Line
• Dining Options Onboard Costa Cruise Line
• Costa Cruise Line Ships & Destinations
• Costa Toscana Review
• Costa Diadema Review

There’s a lot of information there, with dozens of pages talking about Costa Cruise Line, all for the low price of… free!

Tell your guests that Costa is VERY Italian

Many guests traveling with Costa for the first time are surprised by how different the experience feels compared to major cruise lines based in the United States, like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian. 

Costa is very Italian, and that shows in several ways: the buffet is not open all day, portions in the main dining room are smaller (though meals are typically four to five courses, and you can order as much as you like), times are shown in 24-hour format, temperatures are in Celsius, and announcements are often made in multiple languages. 

Be sure to explain these differences to your guests before they set sail, so they know what to expect and can fully enjoy their Costa experience.

Prepare for your Interview

For any job application, you should take the time to prepare for your interview. The same goes for applying to a host agency where you want to specialize in Costa Cruises. You should research what Costa Cruises is all about, what sets them apart from the competition, how their dining works, some of their best restaurants, and more. Show in your interview that you already know a lot about Costa and are ready to keep learning and growing. Make sure to ask questions as well, not only about Costa, but about the host agency.

Commission Payout

Costa Cruises typically pays travel agents their commission after the booking is completed and the guest has boarded the ship, usually within a few weeks of the cruise's departure.

Costa Cruise Line Travel Agent Rates

While specific commission percentages are protected by NDA (“Non Disclosure Agreement”) between all travel partners/travel suppliers and the host agency, you can assume that commission percentages range from 10% up to 17% (depending on the type of booking).

Note: Commissions are always paid on the pre-tax amount!

• A 7-day Mediterranean cruise on Costa Fortuna for two guests in an Oceanview Stateroom averages $2,300.

Note: Cruise lines also deduct what are called “NCFs” or Non-Commission Fares and typically range from $100 - $250 per person. Let’s deduct $100 per guest, making the total cost $2,100.

• Gross commission amount: 11% $2,100 = $231 Gross Commission

Assuming you have a 70% Commission Split with you agency

70% = $161.70 to YOU

30% = $69.30 to the Agency

Not too shabby, considering this is a pretty common vacation for two guests, and you could book hundreds of them.

Costa Cruise Line Travel Agent Salary

It is not easy to determine exactly how much a Costa Cruises travel agent earns annually, as many factors influence income, including the number of bookings, trip prices, the size of your client base, and more.

Costa Cruise Line travel agents typically earn between $35,000 and $65,000 per year, depending on whether they work full-time as travel agents or not.

The Costa Extra Portal

Costa Extra is the main portal for travel agents based in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. It is where you will find training courses and everything else you need to get started as a travel agent for this Italian cruise line. Costa Extra also offers marketing resources, booking tools, and specialized support.

Costa Cruises Travel Agent Training Course

Within Costa Extra, you will find Costa Academy, the official training program for travel agents who want to specialize in Costa Cruise Line. As you complete courses and learn about the different ships and how Costa operates, you will also earn certificates that boost your credibility with future clients.

VacationLab gives you access to thousands of images and videos from major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line, theme parks like Disney World and Disneyland, and beach resorts like… Beaches Resorts!

By joining us, you'll also gain access to our exclusive database, making it easy to showcase images and videos to your clients based on what they’re looking for.