To become a Virgin Voyages travel advisor—what Virgin calls a First Mate—most people start by joining a host agency. You need a professional accreditation from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) or International Air Transport Association (IATA) for Virgin to recognize you as a travel professional and pay you a commission on bookings, which a host agency provides.
To book Virgin Voyages sailings, you’ll join a host agency and book under their accreditation rather than working for Virgin Voyages directly. A host agency also provides the software, training, and industry relationships you need to become a successful advisor.
1. Join a host agency
A host agency gives you the credentials and foundation you need to operate as a travel advisor. Most cruise-focused advisors start here rather than opening their own agency or joining a cruise-focused franchise. Travel agencies are more complex and expensive to set up, and franchises come with licensing fees and royalties on commission that host agencies don’t.
When you’re choosing a host, weigh what you need now against where you want to go. Beyond the ability to book Virgin Voyages and basics like commission splits, consider:
Training: Does the host offer cruise-specific training, not just a general onboarding?
Supplier relationships: Does it hold CLIA membership and strong partnerships with Virgin Voyages and other cruise lines?
Restrictions: Are there booking minimums? Can you sell travel beyond cruise?
Your host’s CLIA membership or preferred partnerships with a cruise line can give you access to bonus commission that increases your earnings.
“Fora is a Premier Agency, which means we have a reduced annual fee for that CLIA membership,” says Fora advisor Randy Marsden, “You get bonus commissions from the cruise lines for being a CLIA member. You could book one or two cruises and make your [annual fee] back.”
Read our full guide to choosing a host agency
2. Complete advisor training
Your host agency provides your initial advisor onboarding and training on its systems. Depth varies a lot between hosts, and not every host will have dedicated cruise training. For example, Fora offers foundational training for new advisors plus standalone cruise training, so you learn how cruise booking works and how to match clients to the right ship before you take on your first booking. Advisors also get a Cruise Specialist Distinction to publicly show clients that they’ve completed comprehensive cruise training and met advanced sales goals.
Fora’s training is more than enough—more than most host agencies give you.
Randy Marsden
joined November 2022If your goal is to specialize in Virgin, learn its fleet, cabin types, and onboard experience in depth so you can match clients to the right ship and add-ons. Even if you’re already a Virgin enthusiast, you’ll get a detailed education from Virgin’s training and hosted events.
3. Register as a Virgin Voyages First Mate
Once you’re set up with your host, register as a First Mate at FirstMates.com. You’ll provide your host agency details and documentation, then follow your host agency’s instructions to ensure your bookings are logged correctly and stay commissionable.
Registration gives you access to the First Mates booking portal, where you’ll quote sailings and manage client bookings. All First Mates earn at least 16% commission on voyage fares. If you plan to sell to clients outside the United States, read Virgin’s policy on cross-border selling.
4. Complete Seacademy training
Once you have First Mate access, you can take Virgin’s own training program, Seacademy. Unlike general cruise training you might get from your host agency or a certification program, supplier training like Seacademy is a deep dive on selling that one line.
Seacademy is free and self-paced. The training covers the fleet, cabin categories, dining, Shore Things excursions, and how to use the First Mates booking portal. Training progresses through four tiers as you complete lessons, which give you access to advisor benefits:
Violet: Receive a certification after your first five lessons
Scarlet: Comes with a bonus commission voucher
Silver: Access First Mate personal sailing rates, starting around $100 per person per night
Gold: Comes with onboard credit (Sailor Loot) for your own cabin, priority event access, and early access to familiarization (Fam) trips
Completing each tier also earns elective credits toward CLIA certification for advisors in the U.S., plus marketing materials like an email signature showing your completion to show clients you’re fully trained on Virgin’s product.
5. Book your first Virgin Voyages client
Most travel advisors start by booking travel for people they already know. Book your own voyage or plan one for a friend or family member, and focus on giving that first client an excellent experience so they’re more likely to refer you to others. Word-of-mouth is one of the most effective ways to build a client base.
Use your knowledge to position the benefits of a Virgin voyage:
Every sailing is adults-only
The inclusive fare covers fitness classes and main dining
A boutique-style onboard experience with signature events
The fleet—Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady—and where each ship sails
You’ll use the First Mates portal to quote, hold cabins, and manage the booking. Virgin pays commission to your host agency once the voyage is paid in full, and your host splits it with you based on your contract.
Read our full guide to becoming a cruise travel advisor
How much do Virgin Voyages travel advisors make?
Virgin pays a 16% commission on the voyage fare to your host agency, and 10% on bookables like Shore Things and Bar Tab. Host agency splits vary widely, from 30%–95% in your favor. At Fora, new advisors keep 70%, 80% at $300,000 in annual bookings, and 90% at $2 million. So if you book a seven-night cruise with $3,500 in commissionable fare and $800 in shore activities and Bar Tabs, that’s: (($3,500 x 16%) + ($800 x 10%)) x 70% = $448 earnings.
Your income depends on several factors:
Volume: More voyages booked means more commission.
Booking value: A suite, a longer sailing, or a group all carry a higher fare and a higher commission.
Commission rates: Your agency split improves as you sell more, and your host’s CLIA status and supplier relationships can add bonus commission on top.
Non-cruise bookings: Clients often need hotels and airport transfers at the beginning or end of their cruise, which you can book at a commissionable rate. Cruise clients may also come back to you to plan future land journeys.
What makes a great Virgin Voyages travel advisor?
Great cruise advisors pair product knowledge with exceptional service skills. If you already know Virgin Voyages from the traveler side, you have a head start. The best advisors know the Virgin fleet well enough to match the right ship and cabin to each client, and ideally have sailed Virgin themselves so that they can give personalized recommendations clients can’t find themselves.
Beyond product knowledge, strong advisors share a few traits:
Attention to detail: Ask the right questions upfront to land on the right sailing, and stay on top of the booking through departure.
Excellent client service: Be accessible and responsive while planning and while your client is sailing. Personalized support is the main reason clients book with an advisor at all.
Full-trip planning: Add pre- and post-cruise hotels, flights, transfers, and travel insurance to build a complete trip and earn more commission.
Frequently asked questions
Do I work for Virgin Voyages directly?
No. You sell Virgin Voyages as an independent travel advisor through a host agency, like Fora. Virgin pays commission to your host on every booking, and your host pays you your share. You’re not a Virgin employee and you don’t need to be based near a Virgin office.
Is a Virgin Voyages travel agent the same as a First Mate?
Yes. A First Mate is an independent advisor, registered through a host agency or running an independent agency, who books Virgin Voyages sailings for clients. First Mate is Virgin’s in-house name for the travel advisors who sell its voyages.
Is Seacademy training free?
Yes. Seacademy is Virgin’s free, self-paced training program for First Mates. Completing lessons familiarizes you with the nuances of the fleet and travel options, and moves you up through tiers that offer bonus commission, discounted personal sailing rates, and other perks.
How long does it take to start booking?
You can book your first Virgin voyage once you’re onboarded with your host agency, registered as a First Mate, and have portal access. Most advisors at Fora make their first booking within 30 days of joining. Building a steady flow of clients takes longer—often a year or more of consistent work.
Can I sell other cruise lines too?
Yes, as long as your host allows it. As a Fora advisor you can book Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Viking, and other major cruise lines alongside Virgin. Selling across lines helps you match the right cruise to each client.
Do First Mates get discounts on Virgin Voyages cruises?
Yes, once you’re an active advisor. Virgin offers First Mate rates on personal sailings as well as Fam trip access. These rates are meant to build your product knowledge, so Virgin expects you to be actively booking clients to qualify.
