I started in the travel industry back in the 1990s with a storefront agency, when everything was done by hand—no internet, no smart phones, no automation. Travel was a very different business then. As the industry evolved, I moved on to other pursuits and honestly thought I would never return. Travel had changed so much that I didn’t believe I could (or wanted to) compete in the modern landscape.
Years later, while in the process of selling one of my other businesses, I came across Cruise Planners. I was skeptical. I had said for years that I would never get back into travel. But the more I learned, the more I realized something important: Cruise Planners had already built what it would have taken me decades—and millions of dollars—to build on my own.
Their connections, supplier contracts, technology, and industry clout were immediately available to me. Instead of starting over, I could step into a fully built ecosystem and focus on what I do best: serving clients and growing a business.
I decided to jump in, and I’m genuinely glad I did.
What stands out most to me is the combination of tools, support, culture, and momentum. Cruise Planners doesn’t just provide technology—they provide a proven framework, strong leadership, and a collaborative community that wants you to succeed. I evaluated other host agencies along the way, and for me, Cruise Planners was clearly the best fit.
If you’re a travel advisor looking for a host that allows you to leverage decades of industry strength without having to build everything yourself, Cruise Planners is absolutely worth a serious look. It’s been the right move for me, and I hope it might be the right fit for you as well.
If you’d like to learn more, here’s a short, fun video that explains what makes Cruise Planners different:
👉 https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/cruise-planners-difference

Coming from the travel industry before purchasing a franchise I already knew the importance of good technology... if you are considering joining the consortium then you should know that without their technology you would be facing so much organization, quoting, accounting, issues it would be practically impossible to hit the ground running. You would be bogged down in so many processes that are automated or harnessed to save you time.
At the same time, you need to learn and understand those processes, so not only is it part of the program but the training is too, and it's on going. Because being a travel agent means you are actively learning new information EVERY SINGLE DAY regardless of years in the business. With this in mind, CP makes it available to you.
Also, the money you spend in being in this franchise is not squandered... not only do we get higher commissions... but the company actively uses those funds for consistent investment in making sure as a whole, we are simply the best.
If you are new or someone with years of experience such as myself, please take my word that after 6 years of ownership, I feel like the return is vastly worth the investment.
If someone complains or has a negative experience, you can bet its 99% because they didn't utilize the technology and apply themself. Being a travel agent is not easy, but Cruise Planners does give your odds of success a much higher rate.

I have been with Cruise Planners for six years. I came to this industry from a long career in IT. Cruise Planners gave me the training, tools and support to be successful. Because our technology is completely proprietary, our Tech Team is able to respond quickly to agent request and suggestions. CP's Marketing is top notch and makes me look very professional. The best thing about being a part of Cruise Planners is that we are all a family that supports each other, rather than competing against one another.

After 25 years in various roles across the travel industry, I can confidently say that joining Cruise Planners has been a game-changer for my business.

The support, resources, and structure provided are truly unparalleled. From day one, I’ve had access to an incredible wealth of information, cutting-edge tools, and a knowledgeable team ready to help at every turn. Their innovative systems streamline my workflow, allowing me to focus on what matters most—creating exceptional travel experiences for my clients.

For the first time in my career, I feel I have both the freedom of running my own business and the full backing of a powerhouse organization behind me.

Since joining Cruise Planners, I have been nothing but impressed. What truly sets Cruise Planners apart is their commitment to giving franchisees the tools and support needed to succeed.

Technology that Works for Us: The systems are intuitive, streamlined, and continually improved. What I appreciate most is that the Home Office actually listens to advisors—our feedback is heard, and enhancements often come directly from our suggestions.

Outstanding Support: The Home Office team goes above and beyond. They’re always available when you need help, but they’re also proactive—providing ongoing training, webinars, and business growth resources that make a real difference in my day-to-day success.

Trusted Travel Partners: Cruise Planners carefully vets the suppliers we work with, ensuring we’re aligned with top industry leaders. This gives me confidence that I’m delivering high-quality experiences to my clients every time.

At the end of the day, Cruise Planners provides the perfect balance of independence and support. I feel empowered to run my business my way, while always knowing I have an incredible team behind me. I’m proud to be part of the Cruise Planners family and would recommend this host agency to any advisor serious about growing a thriving travel business.

Hello. I bought my franchise in April 2016 right before I retired. I wish I had done it 20 years earlier! Becoming part of Cruise Planners has transformed my life. Because I’m with Cruise Planners, the income I earn is among the highest in the industry. The support and training I receive have helped me to better run my business while allowing me to learn how to succeed. Cruise Planners is a family and you feel welcome from day 1. I can’t recommend getting a Cruise Planners franchise enough. Like me, you will never look back or regret the decision if you use the resources they provide and put in the time needed to learn the travel industry.

I am a retired military officer, and my wife and I have proudly been Cruise Planners franchise owners since 2004. We cannot praise Cruise Planners enough for all they have done for us personally and for the travel industry as a whole. But let me focus on our own experience.

1. From the very beginning, Cruise Planners took my wife, Deborah, and me under their wing and trained us to become exceptional travel advisors.
2. They instilled in us the belief that our clients’ interests must always come first—before commissions. Take care of your clients, and they will take care of you.
3. Cruise Planners leads by example. I believe that every dollar of profit they make is reinvested into the company to help franchisees succeed and grow.
4. Perhaps I am biased, but I believe we have not only the best leadership in the industry, but also the best software. As the MC Hammer song says, “You can’t touch this.”
5. When I was diagnosed with cancer, our CEO, Michelle Fee, personally called me and my wife to offer comfort and reassurance. That kind of compassion is something you cannot put a price on.

I could go on and on about the greatness of Cruise Planners. In my view, if there is a company out there that does it better, I don’t want to know. I will be with Cruise Planners for the rest of my life.

All the best,
Isaiah and Deborah

I bought my agency in 2013, and it's been an amazing ride. I felt supported right away, and the tools and infrastructure just keeps getting stronger. I'm always amazed at the new technology coming our way.
I've met the best people, have the most amazing job, and the Cruise Planners team is there to support and problem solve whenever I need it. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it's been absolutely wonderful. 10/10 recommend!

My husband and I started with Cruise Planners in May of 2019. We were very new to the industry. We had started with another home-based company approximately 8 months prior, but we received minimal support. In those 8 months, we only had a handful of bookings, and most of them were our own reservations.

While attending the CLIA conference in April of 2019, we saw alot of people wearing the "CP green" shirts. So, we started asking some of them about Cruise Planners. Every single person we spoke with said they absolutely LOVED Cruise Planners, and they were very happy with their decision to join the CP family.

After more research, we decided to make the switch, and we are extremely happy that we did!

The support that we've received from the Cruise Planners home office has been fantastic. The CP technology is state-of-the-art. The coaches are very responsive, and they are in place to help us build our businesses. In addition, having access to the Facebook page that is set up for CP advisors has allowed me to obtain a significant amount of super helpful information from my CP colleagues.

The CP home office staff truly cares, and they are very supportive, and we really feel that they want us to succeed. In addition to the cutting edge technology and the outstanding coaching, they also provide marketing, training, and more.

My husband and I set a goal for ourselves to make the company's Top 50 list within our first five years. We were able to accomplish our goal within our first year- even with the COVID situation in full swing. We have now built our business into a multi-million dollar company, and we could not be more happy with our Cruise Planners franchise.

I had a successful 35 year career in an industry I really enjoyed, however purchasing my Cruise Planners Franchise and building my own business from the ground up, was the best decision I made for a post retirement project.

Cruise Planners is mostly a business-in-a-box, with a 'just add clients' and 'build and mine your data base' with integrity, responsiveness and customer centric business practices as the active ingredients that the franchisee brings.

Cruise Planners makes available 1) the website management tools and processes, 2) the marketing strategies tools and amazing presentations, 3) the back of the house sales and booking tools, 4) limitless educational opportunities, 5) best-in-class Vendor Partnerships and 6) the compelling customer centric touch points and after purchase communications to make it look like you have this amazing in house team working for you 24 / 7.

The best testimony I can give to Cruise Planners for helping me build my successful business is "I wish I had found you ten years earlier.".

Would I do this again? Absolutely!