How to Become a Princess Cruises Travel Agent

How to Become a Princess Cruises Travel Agent

We've created a detailed guide below on how to become a travel agent for this elegant and romantic 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 Princess Cruises - plus gain access to all our other travel partners. Best of all, joining is completely free, no dues or fees from us, ever!

Overview

Princess Cruises is one of the most elegant and romantic cruise lines out there. It primarily attracts guests in their 60s who seek a peaceful and relaxing voyage across the high seas. Unlike those who prefer action-packed entertainment, Princess guests tend to prioritize exceptional dining experiences and serene spaces over high-energy activities like crazy waterslides or waterparks.

Would you like to help guests plan their dream cruise on Princess Cruises? You can do it from the comfort of your home, a beach in Saint Lucia, or even amid the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. The choice is yours! Just keep in mind that Princess guests appreciate politeness and attentive service, as this is still a relatively niche cruise line focused on delivering a top-notch experience.

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

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

Let’s get started!

Benefits

Princess Cruises means good commissions

Princess Cruises is all about elegance, and aims to give guests in their 50s+ a great experience. This cruise line is also known for being more expensive than other companies, and you know what that means, right? You can definitely increase your client database and increase your commissions. 

Princess Guests are looking for top-notch Travel Advisors

Are you a top-notch travel advisor? Of course, you are!

Princess Cruises guests tend to be more discerning when it comes to their cruise experience, and that’s where you come in. Since Princess attracts an older audience, expect guests to ask plenty of questions about stateroom types, entertainment options, and dining experiences.

Be extra polite and patient when assisting them - your attentiveness can go a long way. Provide exceptional service, and there’s a good chance they’ll refer you to their friends, helping your client base grow effortlessly!

Skills

Communication Skills

You don’t need to sound like an English lord, but when speaking with Princess Cruises guests, it’s important to be extra polite and understanding. Many of your clients will be in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, and they’ll likely have a lot of questions about staterooms, payment options, dining, and more.

Patience is key! Always maintain a polite and professional tone when assisting them. And remember, this classy approach isn’t just for Princess Cruises, carry it over to other premium cruise lines, like Celebrity Cruises!

Stay Up to Date with Everything Princess-Related

Princess Cruises offers a diverse fleet and unique features exclusive to the brand, such as The Medallion technology available on select ships. It’s also a fantastic choice for special celebrations, whether it’s an anniversary or even a wedding at sea.

As a Princess Cruises Travel Agent, you need to master everything about this cruise line and present the information in a clear and accessible way. What are Princess Plus and Princess Premier? Is the Sun Princess a good ship? What are Princess Cruises’ main destinations? Well, here’s a freebie: Princess Cruises is one of the best options for trips to Alaska. As for the rest, it’s your job to find out!

You need to research things like:

  • Princess Cruises ships
  • Main Destinations
  • The Medallion
  • Princess Plus & Princess Premier
  • Celebrating special occasions onboard Princess Cruises
  • Dress Code

Finding a Host Agency

Hey, you’re already browsing one of the best host agencies around! We have a lot of information about Princess Cruises on our sister website, Famvia, and plenty of travel agents from across the world who can help you with this romantic 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 proven track record and strong reviews
  • Offer an engaging and transparent interview process
  • Provide a fair commission structure (typically starting at 70% for the travel agent)
  • Are as detail-oriented as Princess Cruises!

Best Host Agency

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

  • No experience? No problem! Whether you’re new or experienced, we’re here to support you.
  • We have a fun and engaging interview process!
  • Our exclusive SORS Travel Dashboard helps you manage bookings and travel rewards with ease.
  • We offer expert-led courses, like Mastering Travel Social Media, to support travel advisors of all backgrounds.
  • Enjoy a competitive commission split, starting at 70%.
  • Gain access to hundreds of guides and reviews on our sister site, Famvia, covering major cruise lines, theme parks, and beach resorts, including Princess Cruises! Our in-depth guides cover dining, staterooms, itineraries, activities, and more.
  • We’re always ready to listen, chat, and lend a helping hand!

Tips for those starting out

Become a Princess Cruises Expert

Hey, if you're planning to become a Princess Cruises Travel Agent, you should at least be familiar with the company, what they offer, and the typical costs of a vacation with them. Research the types of guests who choose Princess, trip pricing, features like The Medallion, Wi-Fi packages, and more.

VacationLab’s sister site, Famvia, offers free, detailed guides about Princess Cruises, presented in a fun and easy-to-understand way. You’ll learn a lot, and the guides and articles cover topics such as:

There’s so much included there, and all is free for you to browse and become a Princess Cruise expert!

Prepare for your Interview

Always prepare ahead of your big interview day. Not only should you research the host agency you’re applying to, but also take the time to learn about Princess Cruises. Familiarize yourself with their main ships, The Medallion, top destinations, and more. You need to demonstrate to your agency that you already have some knowledge of Princess Cruises, and that you’ll only improve with time (and support from your agency!). Ask questions during the interview, show genuine interest, and you’ll be ready to book vacations in no time.

Getting Paid

Commission Payout

According to Princess, commissions are typically disbursed to agencies within 16 days of final payment.

Princess Cruises 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).

CLIA Affiliate members can receive a $50 bonus commission per stateroom for bookings in an oceanview or higher category. Check out this link for more details.

Let’s take as an example a 7-Day Alaska Cruise with Princess Cruises.

  • Total cruise fare: $3,500
  • NCFs: -$600
  • Commissionable portion: $2,900
  • Base commission (16%): $464
  • Your share at 80% split: $371

Now the same cruise, but in a Suite.

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

Princess Cruises Travel Agent Salary

It’s challenging to pinpoint exactly how much a Princess travel agent earns per year, as various factors come into play, including the number of bookings, trip prices, and more. The estimated annual salary range for a Travel Agent at Princess Cruises is between $30,000 and $60,000. The average salary is $45,964 per year.

Training

Princess Cruises Training Program

Princess' online program is known as OneSource, and attends both Princess Cruises and Cunard. The online portal offers dozens of classes covering both cruise lines. The more courses agents complete, the better the academy rewards. Agents move up through four tiers of the academy. Agents who reach the highest level in the OneSource Academy online training program, Commodore, earn a free graduation cruise!

The OneSource Perks for Travel Agents

As we mentioned, travel advisors can expand their knowledge of Princess Cruises through the Princess Cruises Training Academy, also known as OneSource. What’s even better? You can earn perks as you complete courses and deepen your understanding of Princess Cruises!

As advisors progress through the Princess Academy, they earn new ranks based on the number of courses they complete. For instance, agents who complete five courses in the training program are designated as First Officers. Completing eleven courses earns the title of Staff Captain, eighteen courses qualifies them as Captains, and twenty five courses grants them the prestigious Commodore status. Each new milestone unlocks additional perks!

Advisors can also earn Continuing Education credits from The Travel Institute, the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), and CLIA as they advance through the program. Additional perks include Princess Captain’s Circle benefits (Gold for First Officers, Ruby for Staff Captains, Platinum for Captains, and Elite for Commodores), a Commodore Marketing Kit, priority listing in Princess’s Travel Advisor Locator, and more.

POLAR Online

POLAR Online is Princess Cruises' exclusive online tool for travel advisors. If you plan to become a Princess Cruises travel agent, understanding this tool is very important.

POLAR Online offers a range of features, including:

  • Powerful tools that make selling easier than ever
  • Instant access to promotions, fares, and more
  • Options to book groups, print boarding passes, and more
  • The ability to manage your business with 24/7 connectivity

Free Stock Library

VacationLab gives you access to thousands of images and videos from major cruise lines like Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, theme parks like Disney World and Disneyland, and beach 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.

Princess Cruises Travel Agent FAQs

How do I become a Princess Cruises travel agent?

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Start by joining VacationLab, complete POLAR training on OneSource, and begin your Princess Academy certification.

How long is the training process with Princess Cruises?

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Initial Princess training takes 2-3 weeks, with ongoing education throughout your career.

Can I sell other cruise lines even if I’m a Princess Cruises travel agent?

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Absolutely! While Princess is a great starting point, you can book any cruise line to serve your clients' needs.

How Much Commission Do Princess Cruises Travel Agents Get?

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Travel agents working with Princess Cruises typically earn between 10% and 20% in commission, depending on the number of bookings and their status with the cruise line.

How Much Do Princess Cruises Travel Agents Make Per Year?

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Princess Cruises travel agents typically earn around $45,000 per year.

What is the best part about being a Princess Cruises travel agent?

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Princess Cruises is an elegant cruise line that offers luxurious, often higher-priced trips. By building a client base focused on Princess, you have the potential to earn substantial commissions that can be very rewarding!

What is the worst part about being a Princess Cruises travel agent?

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Princess Cruises may not be as large as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, or Disney Cruise Line, so it could take some time to build a clientele that aligns with your needs.

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The Pros and Cons of Being a Travel Agent

Yin and Yang. Heads and Tails. Everything in life has its advantages and disadvantages... well, unless you’ve just won the lottery, but that’s not the case here. Unfortunately. What we’re saying is that being a travel agent comes with both perks and challenges. That’s true for almost any job, and today, we’ll focus on the best aspects of becoming a travel agent, as well as the biggest challenges.