Own a Cruise Planners Franchise

Cruise Planners is the nation’s largest home-based travel agency franchise, with more than 3,000 franchise owners operating in all 50 states. Cruise Planners franchise owners own and operate their own independent travel agency business and earn income by helping clients plan and book memorable travel experiences, including cruises, land tours, and all-inclusive resort vacations.

Business Model

As a Cruise Planners franchise owner, you own and operate your own travel advisor business while leveraging the support, systems, and buying power of a nationally recognized franchise brand.

Franchise owners earn income through commissions paid by travel suppliers for booked travel services, including cruises, hotels, car rentals, travel insurance, and related services. Clients are not required to pay a planning fee. Franchise owners pay a royalty to Cruise Planners ranging from 0%–3% of gross commissionable sales, depending on volume.

The corporate office does not sell travel or compete with franchise owners, allowing franchisees to retain full ownership of their client relationships and sales activity.

Key Benefits

• Home-Based, Flexible Operation: Operate your business from home or anywhere with no storefront or previous business experience required.
• Low Overhead Model: Minimal fixed expenses compared to traditional retail businesses.
• Franchisee-First Structure: No corporate-owned locations and no competing corporate sales.
• Comprehensive Training and Support: Structured onboarding, ongoing education, and one-on-one coaching.
• Established Brand Recognition: Consistently recognized by Entrepreneur as the #1 home-based travel franchise for over 18 years.
• Scalable Business Opportunity: Build at your own pace, part time or full time, with long-term growth potential.

Marketing Support

Cruise Planners provides comprehensive, award-winning marketing support designed to help franchise owners stay connected with clients and generate repeat business.

Marketing resources include:

• Weekly client emails featuring travel offers and curated content, including a luxury-focused e-newsletter
• A professionally produced Travel Planner magazine mailed to clients twice per year and personalized with franchise owner branding
• A large library of print-on-demand postcards with variable text fields for personalized outreach
• Social media support, including regular posting to franchise owner Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business Profile pages
• Client segmentation data to support targeted marketing efforts
• Enrollment in the Full Sails direct mail program, which includes professionally designed, printed, and mailed campaigns on behalf of franchise owners

Training Programs

Cruise Planners provides a comprehensive training and support program designed to help franchise owners launch their business with confidence and continue developing over time.

According to the Franchise Disclosure Document, new franchise owners receive approximately 84 hours of initial training, which includes classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and guided onboarding. This training is delivered through STAR University, a structured six-day, in-person program held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and covers core business and travel industry fundamentals such as product knowledge, sales, marketing, operations, reservations, accounting, and proprietary technology systems.

Training continues well beyond initial onboarding. Franchise owners receive ongoing education through Cruisitude Academy, Cruise Planners’ learning management system that offers hundreds of on-demand courses, recorded training sessions, and educational resources. The home office team also hosts multiple live webinars each week focused on supplier updates, technology enhancements, sales strategies, marketing best practices, and industry trends.

In addition to formal training, each franchise owner is paired with a personal business development coach who provides ongoing, one-on-one coaching focused on business planning, performance improvement, accountability, and long-term growth.

Additional training opportunities include specialized workshops, technology training, quoting and booking classes, advisor events, and networking opportunities designed to support continued education throughout the life of the franchise.