Cruise Brothers

I chose Cruise Brothers as my first host agency when I was just starting out in 2011. They had zero fees, and it was a good way to get my feet wet without spending a lot of money. Now that I have moved on and spent the last 4 years with another host, I feel I can provide a good overview of what I liked and did not like about Cruise Brothers.

First, the good. My BDM was always a phone call or email away, and he was very prompt with his answers, though not very thorough. They provided a fair amount of training including webinars, which were impossible for me to participate in because I worked a second job. But I was able to watch the recorded versions, however, which was a help, and the supplier training was all there if you were willing and made the time to learn each one - independently with little help. The website provided was a cookie cutter site, and not very useful, but it at least gave my clients and prospective clients a landing spot. Combined with a site I built from scratch, it all worked out well. That's pretty much where the good ends.

Now, the not so great. Commission split was awful. After two years, I was only making 50%. I was gradually building up my client base and my business, and actively selling, but I felt I wasn't getting paid for the amount of work I was putting in. The other piece missing was fellow agent support. There was no agent forum to go to for answers to questions or problem-solving. Many times, I felt like I was alone out there, ready to sink or swim. Another odd thing was that while they encouraged agents to be independent, their back office wanted final payments to be called in directly to them so they could make them with directly with the vendor. I'm not sure why they wouldn't trust agents with making final payments.

Cruise Brothers is not only a host agency, but also a travel agency, and sometimes I got the feeling they are not fully committed to the outside-agent side of the business. In fact, you can see it, in the first two lines written on their home page, what their business model is all about: "If you just absolutely love to cruise, and you want to do it often, for little or no out of pocket expense, and even earn money while doing it, then our Cruising Free! program might just be what you are looking for! If your primary goal is to simply travel the world for Free! or at discounted rates...plus earn money while doing it, then our Cruising Free! opportunity is designed especially for you." Sounds pretty self-serving - sell cruises with us and cruise for free. Yes, it is possible to earn free cruises - but it takes a lot of hard work and time to get to that point. Besides, I always thought the goal was about service to the client and finding them the perfect vacation fit.

There are much better hosts out there. Fortunately I found one which pays a much higher commission split, has better support, a forum for agents, tons of training, CRM, booking, invoicing and payment tools, group tools, sales & commission reports, and a basic website for very low cost. We're encouraged to use preferred suppliers, but they have so many that it's no trouble finding a suitable one for the client.

I started with Cruise Brothers a few years ago but had to stop because I was relocating. I have began again with them about 3 weeks ago. My BDM is awesome and constantly sends me emails of all the promos the various cruise lines are running. With that said, I have to laugh at the posts that give low stars when the majority of the complaints are about not being able to make bookings. Well, guess what, in the last 3 weeks I have made two bookings! Why, because I network myself. I have a Facebook page, a Facebook Group and Cruise Brothers has just released their new agent web sites that are 90% customizable and allow you to enter pics or even videos. You don't have to live in a big town to sell cruises. You just have to invite your friends to your social pages and let them share your pages and deals. The online training at the different cruise line websites geared towards agents is excellent and gives you the knowledge to sell their brand. If you want to succeed you have to "put it out there". If you want to succeed you have to invest time for training and dedicate time but NO money! Don't expect CB to hold your hand every step of the way because YOU have to sell the product. Free to join, no monthly fees and consistent support from your BDM! What more do you want?

I have been working for them. One of the things that attracted me to the Cruise Brothers, is that they are a family owned business. I did not want to work for a big corporation or a franchise. Also their extensive training menu. I like to educate myself so, this was a big plus. I like that the sales managers and team leaders are always available by phone or email. You can make as much money as you want or as little as you want. I am in this to make a living and because i LOVE IT! i am not playing “travel agent”. So for me growing my sales every year is a most. If you by any reason have a team leader who is less than helpful, you need to contact Jim, He will help you and switch you to another team leader if need be. I would recommend this place. I would recommend that aside from their training you put in your time to learn everything about the cruise and vacation industry they can help you up to a point and the rest its on you. If you love travel and are great with people in person and the phone, then this might be for you. Sales is not everyone, in my opinion. But if you are selling to friends and family then you might be okay, this takes time, practice and building your clientele def takes patience. Signing up with Cruise Brothers is free, but for sure i can tell you that making money at this it is up to you 100%.

I havent had any problem with this agency since I signed up with them, my BDM is very helpful and always quick to respond. She even sent me some documents she made herself to help me when I am qualifying clients. I haven't got any bookings yet, but I have only been with them for about a month. It may take a little longer because I live in a rural area with only small towns around, and it could be the economy as well. But I am not giving up. The sales and marketing training was awesome and really helped me. I am still trying to get the word out and network, the best I can. I am moving shortly to a larger town with more people so there will be more opportunities to network, other than that, I am very pleased with this agency. You definitely have to work and put something in to your career to get something out. I try to do something for my business everyday.

I am happy with Cruise Brothers as a host agency. Like others have said the website is not the best but was not pushed on me either. Team leader actually told me he prefers that I learn the cruise line agent portals as the training is excellent and the group rates are published there. The Cruise Brothers site is more for an internet presence than anything. What I love about this company is 3 things.
It does not cost anything and they are actually a reputable company
There group rates are lower than anything I can find online
My team leader Mike is very knowledgeable and is prompt answering my emails and phone calls even after hours.
The service has surprised me the most since they are free. I would recommend this agency

I have been working very hard to book trips for several months now and nothing. It would be very helpful for a user-friendly booking site to provide to us as so many clients use the Internet to book their own trips. I have pretty much given up trying to find clients as they do it themselves.

I signed up with cruise brothers because it was free. I saw an ad on craigslist and answered it . Not knowing how far I could take it and go. I started to look at this as a career and was trying to build it up. Their training sucked. It was 45 minutes with mt team leader over the phone where he talked me through their little system. I had gotten my training form Cruise lines but their marketing was not good. All their marketing plans were basically the same 30 minute webinar. With them it is sink or swim. They do not put any marketing toward their agents. I didn't buy the website because after i talked to a couple other agents it really did nothing for them. When I went to cancel my contract with them i was contacted and asked why. I told him greener pastures and when he asked me if there were fees involved I said yes. He then told me to watch out for agencies like that and i am I am watching the money build in my bank account. To me Cruise Brothers is just a place to start off and learn.

I have been signed up with Cruise Brothers for almost a year. I signed up because it was free and I was not sure if I could make a living as a travel agent. I love to travel and now I get paid to travel.
Two minor annoyances:
1. I did purchase the website but honestly, I have found many errors on it so I don't really use it anymore.
2. I don't like the procedure of guiding people to my website and when they put their information in under the "Sign up for deal alerts!" that this request for information is not redirected to me, nor and I given any feedback that someone signed up off my website. I suspect it is because the website does not have that capability.
I have signed up with all the vendors and have completed most or some of all the training provided: for example, NCLU, Carnival & travel agent university. Best reward so far for completing training: The Princess Commodore training(I was able to utilize the reward for completion and sailed 10 days to the Panama Canal in October). I also got some cool pins from Disney--my husband wants to trade them but we are not allowed--nor do I want to--they are neat.
My team leader always gets me an answer when I have questions and has provided some useful tips. If I never sell anything to anyone but myself, it is still a good deal...it was free and I am having fun.
The commission is fair, commission rate is based on agency sales...so it is higher than It would be(% wise)if I was on my own.
I am registered and working towards my CILA certification and will be going to Cruise 3sixty in April to complete the rest of the classes and ship tours. Then all I have to do is sell some cabins..and poof...I have a card, lots of knowledge and this will make me a better travel agent.

I booked a cruise with Cruise Brother's back in November of 2012 with no intention of ever working for them or even in the travel industry, I was a retail woman, through and through. Well, shortly after booking my cruise I had questions about quite a few things, and after talking to my agent on the phone, he was so knowledgeable that I began asking him about his training, and how he knew so much about where we were going, he told me that since working there he had been on a cruise to the same destination and he went for nothing! That was when I first heard of the program but still hadn't actually considered participating in it. It wasn't until about 3 months after my cruise that my brother and his family were considering booking a cruise and asked my advice. I recommended using Cruise Brother's service and remembered what my agent told me. I was able to book my brother's cruise myself and even discounted it for him through my commission. It was the best feeling in the world telling him I could get him a deal! I have been working for Cruise Brother's ever since. I have made plenty of extra money and I've been on one free cruise already! I can't believe I almost passed up this opportunity!

I HIGHLY recommend Cruise Brother's for anything travel related. They were great before I worked for them, and extremely helpful. That same service only got better with time!

I don’t feel there is a huge support system at CB. Yes the person that is my mentor responds to my emails but I feel the information is somewhat lacking in the response. When I call him I always have to leave a message and he gets back within a few hours usually. (Again not real friendly and almost makes you feel dumb)

I have only been with them since Oct. And I feel already that they do not trust their home based agents. Everything has to go through them especially payments. The training is a 2 hour phone call and then all webinars. I was told you learn best by doing it. And the site they offer for info is way outdated and hard to manipulate!

I have also been told and read their website you pay for is not worth having. I am looking into finding another host agency. I am not experienced and need friendlier and more helpful information.