Royal Caribbean is the one of the most-requested cruise lines among families and one of the most recognizable brands in travel. For agents who specialize in it, that demand translates into a steady, built-in client base. As a Royal Caribbean travel agent, you can earn commission helping clients book the cruises you already know and love, with the flexibility to work from home on your own schedule.
This guide covers everything you need to get started: how to become a licensed travel agent, how to choose the right host agency, how Royal Caribbean’s training and agent programs work, and what the day-to-day actually looks like.
What are the benefits of specializing in Royal Caribbean?
Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line by passenger capacity, operating a fleet of more than 30 ships across 300+ cruise ports worldwide. That scale translates directly into opportunity for travel agents: A broad itinerary offering means you can match almost any client to a Royal Caribbean cruise, regardless of where they want to go or when.
Which clients are a good fit for Royal Caribbean?
Best for: Families, multi-generational groups, first-time cruisers, and clients who want a high-activity, all-inclusive-style vacation.
Royal Caribbean's ships are engineered for variety. From surf simulators and skydiving simulators to Broadway-caliber entertainment and adults-only Solariums, the onboard experience is designed so that every traveler—regardless of age or travel style—has something to do.
“The Oasis class, and some of the newer Royal Caribbean ships truly make family vacations easy, unforgettable and stress-free,” said Fora Advisor Elena Ollick. “The entertainment on the ship is next level—it rivals Broadway or Cirque Du Soleil, which is great for both adults and kids.”
“From their expansive amenities for kids to the beautiful adults-only Solariums, there truly is something for everyone,” added Fora Advisor Amy LaGrow-Rodgers.
Why Royal Caribbean’s brand recognition helps you build a client base
When you specialize in a brand clients already trust and actively search for, the selling process is easier. Royal Caribbean’s name recognition does some of the work for you—especially with families and repeat cruisers who already know they want to sail with the brand.
“Royal Caribbean is the highest-requested cruise line by families,” said Elena. “They have managed to create a cult following amongst multi-generational families, not only with their innovative lineup of ships, but with their onboard experiences.”
That loyalty creates a natural referral engine. When clients have a great trip, they come back—and they bring people with them.
“Once my clients sail on a Royal Caribbean ship, they are hooked. Many of my clients even book their next sailing on board,” said Fora Advisor Sharon Iannone.
How to get started selling Royal Caribbean cruises
Becoming a Royal Caribbean travel agent is a straightforward process. Here’s how it breaks down.
Step 1: Join a host agency and get your IATA number
To earn commission on travel bookings, you need an IATA number—an internationally recognized identifier that legitimizes your sales. The fastest way to get one is by joining a host travel agency, which sponsors your number and handles the business infrastructure so you can focus on selling.
You don’t need years of travel industry experience or a travel agent degree to get started. The right host agency will train you.
Step 2: Choose a host agency built for cruise specialists
Not all host agencies are the same. A few things worth evaluating when you’re comparing options:
Support. Agencies often rely on the cruise line support personnel to assist with questions and complex bookings. Fora has a dedicated cruise support team available to help advisors.
Cost. Host agencies generally charge a monthly or annual membership fee. At Fora, there’s no startup fee. Membership is $299 per year (billed annually) or $99 per quarter (billed every three months).
Training. Some host agencies provide training, but many require new advisors to already have experience in booking cruises in order to join. Fora offers a comprehensive certification program covering everything from hotel bookings to destination-specific expertise and group travel—all included with your subscription.
Flexibility. If you’re building this business around your life (not the other way around), look for an agency with no booking quotas and no required schedule. Fora doesn’t have either.
Community. Most agencies allow working remotely, which can feel isolating. Fora has built a cooperative network of advisors worldwide through Forum—our online community where advisors share tips, ask questions, and support each other—plus in-person Fora Chapters for local connection.
Booking tools. Many agencies require booking directly with suppliers, then submitting a commission request. Fora’s in-house booking platform lets you book hotels and accommodations almost anywhere in the world, including from your phone, with commissions logged automatically.
Step 3: Enroll in CruisingPower and complete Royal Caribbean’s training
Once you’ve joined a host agency and have your IATA number, you can create a CruisingPower (Royal Caribbean’s official travel agent portal) account and access Royal Caribbean's agent training. Working through the program's certification modules will give you a strong foundation in the brand’s ships, itineraries, and onboard offerings—so you can confidently sell and genuinely help your clients.
What is CruisingPower?
CruisingPower is Royal Caribbean’s official travel agent portal. It’s where agents access training, booking tools, marketing resources, and certifications for Royal Caribbean and its sister brands, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.
Travel advisors use their host agency’s IATA to create a login, then they can dive into training on how to use the CruisingPower to book cruises, flights, and related excursions. The portal also has details about current promotions, ship layouts, and what to expect in each port.
If you’re already a travel agent researching Royal Caribbean, CruisingPower is your starting point. Creating an account is free, and access to the training modules is included.
Royal Caribbean’s Dedicated Trade Portal: Loyal to You Always (LTYA)
Royal Caribbean’s dedicated travel agent support and resource center is called Loyal to You Always, or LTYA. It’s designed to help agents sell Royal Caribbean Cruises by offering marketing tools, exclusive bonus offers, ongoing support, and training resources. If you are registered in Cruising Power you automatically have access to LTYA.
Completing Royal Caribbean University and utilizing LTYA isn’t strictly required to start booking cruises—but if you’re serious about specializing in the brand, it’s worth doing. The more you know about the ships, itineraries, and onboard experience, the better you can match clients and handle issues when they arise.
What commission do Royal Caribbean travel agents earn?
In general, cruise lines offer travel agents higher commission rates than the average hotel booking—and Royal Caribbean is no exception. Commissions are typically around 16%, with your rate increasing as your sales volume grows.
One practical advantage of cruise commissions over hotel commissions: Payout timelines are generally shorter. Because final payments are due before sailings, cruise lines generally pay at least part of the commission before the trip is completed. If you’re coming from a background of booking land-based travel, you’ll likely notice the difference because hotels initiate commission payments only after travel is completed.
Do travel agents get Royal Caribbean discounts?
Yes, Royal Caribbean offers travel agents access to reduced-rate sailings, commonly called familiarization (Fam) trips. These exist so agents can experience the product firsthand, which makes you a more credible and effective advocate for clients.
Advisors who complete Royal Caribbean University Training can be eligible for TA Rates, Fams, and Seminars at Sea. Availability is accessible in CruisingPower for the most up to date offerings. Additionally, if advisors are members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and complete Royal Caribbean University Training, they will be rewarded with CLIA Credits, which can help toward achieving CLIA Certification.
Beyond reduced rates, Royal Caribbean travel agents also gain access to exclusive promotions and group rates.
“Being able to offer perks and group rates to my clients has been very valuable to building my travel advisor business,” Sharon said.
What does a Royal Caribbean travel agent do day to day?
The daily life of a Royal Caribbean travel agent isn’t dramatically different from that of a general travel advisor—but cruise-specific booking has its own nuances worth understanding.
Matching clients to the right ship, cabin, and itinerary
This is the core of the job. Royal Caribbean operates ships across a wide range of sizes and styles, from smaller, destination-focused vessels to the brands flagship Icon of the Seas—one of the largest cruise ships ever built. Most ships offer around a dozen different cabin categories, ranging from interior rooms to grand suites with ocean views and private balconies.
Your job is matchmaking: pairing each client with the right ship, the right room, and the right itinerary for their travel style, group size, and budget.
“I love that Royal Caribbean sails almost everywhere in the world,” Amy said. “Having such a diverse offering of itineraries allows me to offer them as an option to clients no matter what destination they are wanting to travel to.”
Royal Caribbean is especially well-suited for multi-generational travel. “In my opinion, there isn’t a better option than Royal Caribbean for these clients,” Amy added.
Marketing your cruise travel business
You can’t run a travel business without clients, and getting clients means putting yourself out there. Most advisors start with friends and family, then expand through referrals and word of mouth, as well as marketing themselves with social media, email marketing, and content—like destination guides and cruise reviews.
Fora provides marketing resources purpose-built for travel advisors: social media and email templates, a dedicated booking landing page, and opportunities to publish guides for prospective clients. A meaningful portion of your day will involve some form of outreach or promotion, especially early on.
Booking add-ons: Excursions, port hotels & more
Cruise bookings don’t always end with the cruise. Royal Caribbean departs from ports around the world, and clients often need a hotel the night before or after their sailing. Some clients also prefer to skip the cruise line’s excursions in favor of a more curated, custom experience on shore—which means you may occasionally be planning land-based elements around the sailing.
Fora’s booking platform makes it easy to handle hotel bookings alongside cruise reservations, even on mobile.
Handling changes, cancellations & client check-ins
Life happens. Clients need to modify reservations, cancel plans, or troubleshoot something mid-trip. Being available and responsive—and knowing how to navigate Royal Caribbean’s policies—is part of the job. The good news: Royal Caribbean is a well-run operation, and these situations are generally manageable.
As a Fora Advisor, you don’t have to worry about invoicing or chasing payments. Fora’s support team handles both, which frees up more of your time to interact with existing clients and bring on new ones.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior experience to sell Royal Caribbean cruises?
No. You don’t need a background in travel or hospitality to become a Royal Caribbean travel agent. The right host agency will train you on the fundamentals, and Royal Caribbean’s own CruisingPower portal offers free supplemental training on the brand's ships, itineraries, and programs.
Can I become a Royal Caribbean travel agent from home?
Yes. Most travel agents today work entirely remotely. With a host agency like Fora, you can run your entire business from home—or anywhere—using Fora’s booking platform, training modules, and marketing tools.
How long does it take to get started?
You can become a travel agent and start booking cruises relatively quickly after joining a host agency—often within a few weeks, depending on how quickly you complete your onboarding and training. Royal Caribbean’s CruisingPower training is self-paced, so the timeline is largely up to you.
What’s the difference between booking cruises and booking regular travel?
In many ways, cruise booking is similar to booking hotels or resorts—you’re matching clients to accommodations and experiences. The key differences: cruise itineraries are largely fixed (you’re helping clients choose a voyage, not plan an itinerary from scratch), and you’ll need to account for cruise-specific factors like embarkation ports, sea sickness susceptibility, and cabin categories.
Is Royal Caribbean a good cruise line to specialize in as a new agent?
Royal Caribbean is one of the more accessible specializations for new agents. The cruise line's broad appeal—families, couples, solo travelers, multi-generational groups—gives you a large potential client base without having to pick a specific niche immediately. The brand’s training resources are also robust, which helps newer agents get up to speed faster.
Start selling Royal Caribbean cruises as a Fora Advisor
Becoming a Fora Advisor gives you access to Royal Caribbean’s CruisingPower training and LTYA program, plus Fora’s own certification curriculum, marketing tools, advisor community, and booking platform—everything you need to start selling cruises from home.
