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Travel Agent FAQ
(Cruisers: see the Cruiser FAQ)
Why should my agency join this service?
CruiseCompete gives you the opportunity to provide quotes on specific cruises to thousands of experienced, sophisticated cruise passengers who have already done their homework: they know exactly what they wish to book. CruiseCompete allows you to reach these buyers with your pricing information while investing a minimal amount of staff time. The benefits include:
- More leads at a lower cost
- Delayed payments create better cash flow
- Higher quality leads (informed buyers, complete information)
- You decide which quote requests to respond to
- You control volume, costs, and timing
- Maximize use of agent time
- Improve your volume on key cruise lines
- Increased overall agency profitability
Don't let the Internet take your agency out of the picture. Use it to capture that portion of the market that is ready to buy right now--at the right price.
Will joining CruiseCompete hurt my agency's margins?
Joining CruiseCompete need have no effect on the deals your agency offers to
your existing customers.
According to our research, most cruise buyers already get quotes from
multiple agencies before booking a cruise. While CruiseCompete makes
shopping around easier, the overall dynamic isn't changed. As you're already
competing for business and winning, your current structure may be just fine
for success through the system. This is especially true if you respond to
requests quickly and add comments useful to the customer.
With the savings you get in agent time, cash flow, and advertising costs
through CruiseCompete, your margins may improve even though you have to
compete for the business. But even if you choose to offer special packages
to CruiseCompete customers, that doesn't mean you have to change how you
work with your regular customers.
Customers you quote through CruiseCompete are instructed that they must
contact the specific agent who submitted the quote and mention their
specific CruiseCompete Quote Request ID number to get the deal offered
through the system. This makes it easy to differentiate the lead source, and
allows you to vary what you offer to maximize revenue without compromising
existing margins.
As consumers using the CruiseCompete system can be confident that they have
been offered a great cruise deal, they are very likely to book with a
CruiseCompete agent. Join us, and that agency can be you.
What information is available about each quote request?
Each time a cruiser requests a quote you will be able to view:
- Requested line, ship, sail date, number of cabins, and cabin types; plus passenger age categories, past passenger status, and passenger home state
- Time and date of the request
- The number of quote requests submitted from other Agencies
In addition, if a sufficient amount of time has elapsed since the first response to the quote request, you will also be able to view the lowest rate previously submitted.
What does the service cost?
Joining CruiseCompete is free if you respond to at least 300 quote
requests in your first 90 days. (As we average more than 20,000 quote
requests per month, you'll have plenty to choose from). Otherwise, there
is a one-time $500 membership fee.
For each booking you make, you pay a revenue share equal to 2.6% of the
gross commissionable fare for the cruise. You report your bookings right
in the system itself.
The fees aren't due until after the sail date, so you keep more cash in
your pocket longer (especially vs. an advertising model, where you pay for
the advertising today to generate commission months from now).
Your up-to-the-minute account status data will be available online. This
will let you view and change the bookings you've entered, and see the
amount due at the end of the month. Revenue shares are billed on the first
day of the month on a credit card we keep on file for your agency.
How do I respond to quote requests?
To respond to a specific request, you simply enter pricing information for
the particular trip, including the total cruise fare with all port
charges, fuel surcharges, taxes, documentation and agency fees. You may
also make and include your own comments, suggestions and recommendations.
Then you simply click on "submit".
Can I post special offers?
Yes. You can post an unlimited number of specials to be promoted via our
web site and newsletter at no charge for posting. If a user requests
pricing on your special, only your agents from your agency will be able to
quote. The only cost is the same 2.6% revenue share on actual bookings.
How do cruisers respond?
Cruisers are notified via e-mail when new quotes are available. One click
takes them back to their account to view the latest quotes. It is then up
to the client to decide which agent or agents to contact. You can specify
whether you wish to be contacted via phone or e-mail. It is up the
individual cruiser to contact you directly.
How do I get started or learn more?
To join, please review our Seller Terms & Conditions
then complete and return the Seller Membership Agreement.
Travel agencies can Contact Us
with questions or to request a demo login to view the agent interface.
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