How to Become a Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent

Guess what, we have worked on an in-depth guide below on how to become a travel agent for this awesome cruise line. But if you’d prefer to get answers right away, just click vacationlab.io/join to chat live with our team and learn firsthand how to become a travel agent for Norwegian Cruise Line, and gain access to all our other travel partners as well. Best of all, clicking the link is completely free - no dues or fees from us, ever!

Some cruise lines are niche, while others seem to be for everyone. I’d definitely put Norwegian Cruise Line in that second category, as they appeal to those who love the mega-resort experience at sea. They are a massive cruise line, often seen as a mix between Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean. Norwegian Cruise Line is especially popular in North America, particularly in Alaska and Hawaii, but they also have a strong presence in Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, and just about anywhere you can think of.

You know what that means, right? A big cruise line + multiple destinations = a great opportunity to earn commissions as a travel agent. Norwegian is a fantastic cruise line to specialize in, but it requires mastering key elements, such as their freeform cruising style (no dress codes or set dining times!), a wide range of itineraries, the Free at Sea promotion, The Haven suites, and more.

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

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

Let’s get started!

Norwegian Cruise Line is huge!

Norwegian Cruise Line is a major player in the cruise industry, with a presence on nearly every continent. Their ships sail to destinations across North America, South America, the Panama Canal, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. In fact, Norwegian is the third-largest cruise line in the world, with around 30 ships in its fleet, and more set to debut in 2025 and beyond.

With so many travelers eager to learn about Norwegian Cruise Line and book their dream vacations, this is where you come in. As a travel agent, you can help guests navigate their options and create unforgettable cruise experiences.

Norwegian Cruise Line Appeals to All Types of Travelers

As a Norwegian Cruise Line travel agent, you'll work with a diverse range of clients, each with unique preferences and vacation goals. One day, you might be helping a couple book a luxurious Haven suite for a romantic getaway. The next, you could be planning the ultimate adventure for a family of four aboard a ship packed with exciting features like massive swimming pools and go-kart tracks.

This variety not only keeps your job exciting but also strengthens your communication skills. The experience you gain from working with such a wide range of travelers will be valuable when assisting clients with other cruise lines as well.

Of course, being a travel agent for any cruise line requires a certain set of skills, and if you want to specialize in Norwegian, there are some specific ones you'll need. Let’s take a look.

Communication Skills

Good communication is crucial in any job, but even more so as a travel agent. You’ll need to clearly and concisely explain prices, entertainment options, stateroom categories, and more.

When working with Norwegian Cruise Line, you’ll interact with a wide range of guests, from young adults looking for a lively party atmosphere to families seeking a relaxing and romantic getaway. Each traveler has different expectations, so the ability to adapt your approach is key. Some guests may only need a simple stateroom and be most interested in onboard entertainment, while others booking a luxurious Haven suite may require more personalized attention. Mastering these interactions will make you a more effective and successful travel agent.

Stay Up to Date with Everything Norwegian-Related

If you want to become a Norwegian Cruise Line travel agent, then you need to understand what makes this cruise line special. You need to research their best ships, the main destinations, the best restaurants, the unique entertainment options and so on.

What’s the newest Norwegian Cruise Line ship? Do all Norwegian Cruises have go-kart tracks? Is Norwegian a good cruise line to visit Alaska and Hawaii? Well, it’s a yes to that last question. What we mean is that you need to understand what you’re selling, so researching Norwegian is crucial.

You need to research things like:

• The main Norwegian Cruise Line ships
• The main destinations
• Taxes & Additional Fees
• The Free at Sea promotions
• The Haven
• Drink Packages
• Entertainment options like Go-kart racing tracks and Laser Tag

Hey, you’re already browsing one of the best host agencies around! We have a lot of information about Norwegian on our sister website, Famvia, and plenty of travel agents from all over the world who can help you with this awesome 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
• Share commissions with you fairly (typically starting at 70% for the travel agent)

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

• You don’t need previous experience as a travel agent, we're here to help you.
• We have a fun interview process that always aims to make you feel 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%.
• We have hundreds of guides and reviews on our sister site, Famvia, covering major cruise lines, theme parks, and beach resorts. Of course, this includes Norwegian Cruise Line, where we have multiple guides talking about dining options, stateroom options, itineraries, activities and more.
• We’re always ready to listen, chat, and lend a helping hand!

Become a Norwegian Cruise Line Expert

Remember when we said you need to research a lot of things about Norwegian Cruise Line, like entertainment options and the main destinations? Well, we have good news, since VacationLab's sister site, Famvia, offers free guides packed with valuable insights in a fun and easy-to-understand way. These guides cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Planning a Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line
• Room Options Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line
• Dining Options Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line
• Activities Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line
• Itineraries and Destinations for Norwegian Cruise Line
• Norwegian Joy Review
• Norwegian Luna Preview

You need to know about the main things that differentiate Norwegian from the competition, including things like the luxury area known as The Haven, the no dress code/fixed dinner time, gratuities, Wi-Fi options and so on. The guides above are a great starting point for you to become a Norwegian expert!

Prepare for your Interview

Before your interview, make sure to research both the host agency and Norwegian Cruise Line thoroughly. Show that you understand Norwegian by studying key aspects such as:

• Types of clients they attract
• Main destinations and ships
• The Haven Suites and luxury experience
• Free at Sea promotions and other perks
• Special entertainment options like Go-Karts and Laser Tag

Asking thoughtful questions during your interview demonstrates interest and preparation. Get ready to launch your career as a travel agent!

Commission Payout

Commissions are processed up to 14 business days after receipt and posting of the final payment.

Norwegian 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 20% (depending on the type of booking). For many cruise lines, a 16% commission is common, but this can vary based on factors like the supplier, package type, and agency agreements.

Let’s explore commission prices for a 7-Day Caribbean Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line.

• Total cruise fare: $3,000
• NCFs: $600
• Commissionable portion: $2,400
• Base commission (16%): $384
• Your share at 80% split: $307

Now for a The Haven Suite Booking:

• Total cruise fare: $7,000
• NCFs: $700
• Commissionable portion: $6,300
• Base commission (16%): $1,008
• Your share at 80% split: $806

Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent Salary

Although you won’t ever have a fixed salary working as a travel agent, you can expect to earn from $30,000 to $90,000 working as a Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent. According to the website Indeed, the average salary of a Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent is $55,000 per year. Keep in mind that you can also work as a travel agent for other cruise lines and increase how much you make by a significant margin!

Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent Course

Norwegian Cruise Line offers Norwegian Central, a dedicated portal for travel agents. Once registered, you can take advantage of Norwegian Cruise Line University (NCLU) to enhance your expertise and unlock perks.

NCLU has four levels of achievement:

• Associate Degree – 1 Core Course + 2 Electives
• Bachelor’s Degree – Associate Requirements + 4 Electives
• Master’s Degree – Bachelor’s Requirements + 2 Grad Courses + 3 Electives
• Ph.D. Degree – Master’s Requirements + 2 Grad Courses + 3 Electives + a booking requirement (5 sailings of 7+ days)

By completing these levels, you gain valuable knowledge and exclusive benefits as a Norwegian Cruise Line travel agent!

Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Agent Course Requirements

To apply to the Norwegian Cruise Line University Training Program, you must first be part of a host agency. Then, simply head to the link above, fill out the required fields, and select the courses you’re interested in. You can read more about NCLU by clicking here.

Norwergian Cruise Line Discounts for Travel Agents

You can get some awesome discounts and perks when you complete training courses within the Norwegian Cruise Line University.

Associate Degree

• Congratulatory email
• Certificate for Framing
• Email Signature Icon
• Badge
• 1st tier of reduced rate program (15% off fleetwide sailings)
• 3 CLIA credits

Bachelor’s Degree

• Congratulatory email
• Certificate for Framing
• Email Signature Icon
• Badge
• 2nd tier of reduced rate program (20% off fleetwide sailings)
• 3 CLIA credits

Master’s Degree

• Congratulatory email
• Certificate for Framing
• Email Signature Icon
• Badge
• 3rd tier of reduced rate program (25% off fleetwide sailings)
• 3 CLIA credits

Ph.D. Degree

• Congratulatory email
• Certificate for Framing
• Email Signature Icon
• Badge
• Press Release
• 4th tier of reduced rate program (30% off fleetwide sailings)
• 3 CLIA credits

The NCL Partners First Rewards Program

The NCL Partners First program recognizes your bookings and efforts with a range of exclusive benefits and rewards, including invitations to events, surprise and delight experiences, personalized marketing support, and access to NCL's annual famil, NCL Legends. You can apply by following this link.

CLIA Training

You might also want to look into CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) and complete specific courses there. CLIA certification brings numerous benefits, as you can see here.

VacationLab gives you access to thousands of images and videos from major cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, theme parks like Disney and Universal, 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.