I want to become a TA to book my own cruises

[red904]

So I book 4 to 6 suites each cruise and I book 4-5 cruises a year for my company and I was wondering if I can become a TA so I can take advantage of the commission instead of not getting any benefit of booking directly through the cruise line. I have used TA's in the past and they do not give me any additional benefits and they make a percentage of what I spend. Can someone tell me the easiest way to become an agent for myself so I can start to take advantage of the cruises I'm booking?

Thank You. 

[mom says]

And your company would be fine with this? I'd clear that with either your boss or HR first. 

 

Every state has its own requirements that can be found by a Web search.

Edited April 19 by mom says

[crystalspin]

35 minutes ago, red904 said:

Can someone tell me the easiest way to become an agent for myself so I can start to take advantage of the cruises I'm booking?

Welcome to Cruise Critic! I'm not sure anyone here will be able to help with your question -- we are all just cruisers here. Keeping in mind what @mom says, perhaps your boss would be happy to have a credentialled travel agent on the payroll. There will be expenses to get to that position; you might work out sharing some of them!

[MBP&O2/O]

The first company I worked for was flying people all over the globe every week. At that time they has 100+ ships so crew members were changing all the time. 

They got fed up with using a third party so they bought out a small travel agent and installed them in head office next to the personnel offices.

So yes it could be done, in theory.

Present a good business plan to your boss and see what happens.

[MCC retired]

You really can't become a TA just for yourself.

You would have to become a independent contractor for 

an agency which will require fees and training ,to be able to book yourself  and others.

Production is the name of the game.

Booking just yourself you will not last long.

 

Just find a TA that will rebate some comm. to you for giving them your business. 

 

[Ferry_Watcher]

Guessing that is our once a week, or once every two week new member, asking a somewhat credible question with a fairly believable background story - only to be never heard from again. 

[mnocket]

Actually, many TAs who specialize in cruises are one-person franchisees.  I have no idea what the up-front cost is of buying a franchise, but I suspect it wouldn't make sense for someone in your situation.  

[CruiserBruce]

Many businesses have "travel departments", particularly very large companies. It definitely can work for them, particularly when they are dealing with one large airline at one large airport, like Apple and United at SFO.

 

It may not really be cost effective on a small scale.

[ldubs]

I don't know. In my old company any monetary gain would belong to the company and likely used to offset fares.  They would not belong to the employee making the arrangements.

On 4/18/2024 at 7:46 PM, red904 said:

So I book 4 to 6 suites each cruise and I book 4-5 cruises a year for my company and I was wondering if I can become a TA so I can take advantage of the commission instead of not getting any benefit of booking directly through the cruise line. I have used TA's in the past and they do not give me any additional benefits and they make a percentage of what I spend. Can someone tell me the easiest way to become an agent for myself so I can start to take advantage of the cruises I'm booking?

Thank You. 

 

Assuming you are an employee and you are booking on behalf of your company, any savings would belong to the company and not go into your pocket.  We had key travel coordinators who received some freebies from the TAs.  But getting paid on the side would have been a big no-no.  

[Toofarfromthesea]

On 4/18/2024 at 7:46 PM, red904 said:

So I book 4 to 6 suites each cruise and I book 4-5 cruises a year for my company and I was wondering if I can become a TA so I can take advantage of the commission instead of not getting any benefit of booking directly through the cruise line. I have used TA's in the past and they do not give me any additional benefits and they make a percentage of what I spend. Can someone tell me the easiest way to become an agent for myself so I can start to take advantage of the cruises I'm booking?

Thank You. 

 

Due respect but if you are booking this volume of business and can't get any benefits from a TA beyond what you get booking directly with the cruiseline you are doing something seriously wrong.

 

Now whether those benefits would inure to you or the company is an interesting point, but I don't for a minute believe that I can get 8-10% in price reductions and OBC booking a single cabin for myself while you can't get anything while booking 16-30 cabins.  It strains credulity.

Edited April 20 by Toofarfromthesea

[red904]

OK, so let me start off by saying I own the company so there is no conflict here. I am merely trying to find out if I could get credentialed easily to be a TA in order to book the cruises that I am booking every year anyway. I have had a Real Estate license for 25 years and an Insurance license and wanted to find out if getting credentialed to be a TA was similar. For years I have been booking directly with Royal Caribbean with the Casino Royale department since I am also Diamond and Prime for myself and my staff. I started using a TA last year and she has not really given me anything more that what I can get myself. In fact it takes a lot longer using her because I have to text her or email her and wait for a response and then for her to contact RC and back and forth. I can do all that myself in much less time. If any TA on here wants to give me a better deal then I am all ears. I just got back from the Allure of the Seas on Monday that I booked 3 suites and 3 balconies for my staff and we have already put a hold on another cruise in Aug. As well as I have booked the Utopia for 3 suites so far for Oct.

So basically my TA has not been making it worth my while to book through her and I don't see any reason to keep letting her get a commission on my travel for nothing.

 

[red904]

On 4/18/2024 at 11:07 PM, mom says said:

And your company would be fine with this? I'd clear that with either your boss or HR first. 

 

Every state has its own requirements that can be found by a Web search.

I asked myself and I said it was fine.

[red904]

On 4/18/2024 at 11:28 PM, crystalspin said:

Welcome to Cruise Critic! I'm not sure anyone here will be able to help with your question -- we are all just cruisers here. Keeping in mind what @mom says, perhaps your boss would be happy to have a credentialled travel agent on the payroll. There will be expenses to get to that position; you might work out sharing some of them!

Sorry, I guess I didn't make it clear enough that it is my company and I'm paying. But I think the best idea here is to find a new TA that will be more willing to share their commission towards my bookings than my current TA.

[red904]

14 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Guessing that is our once a week, or once every two week new member, asking a somewhat credible question with a fairly believable background story - only to be never heard from again. 

Hi

[red904]

16 hours ago, MCC retired said:

You really can't become a TA just for yourself.

You would have to become a independent contractor for 

an agency which will require fees and training ,to be able to book yourself  and others.

Production is the name of the game.

Booking just yourself you will not last long.

 

Just find a TA that will rebate some comm. to you for giving them your business. 

 

Not trying to make a living with it, just trying to take advantage of the amount of money I'm spending on cruises. My current TA is not giving me anything beyond what I could get myself and often I have to correct her mistakes on pricing. Won't be using her anymore.

[red904]

36 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

Due respect but if you are booking this volume of business and can't get any benefits from a TA beyond what you get booking directly with the cruiseline you are doing something seriously wrong.

 

Now whether those benefits would inure to you or the company is an interesting point, but I don't for a minute believe that I can get 8-10% in price reductions and OBC booking a single cabin for myself while you can't get anything while booking 16-30 cabins.  It strains credulity.

Put me in touch with your TA please 🙂

[ldubs]

45 minutes ago, red904 said:

Sorry, I guess I didn't make it clear enough that it is my company and I'm paying. But I think the best idea here is to find a new TA that will be more willing to share their commission towards my bookings than my current TA.

 

OK, I'm going to suggest you should be saving 10%+ compared to booking directly with the cruise line.  Cruise Critic does not allow the sharing of travel agent info.  All that can be suggested is keep looking for one that will give you a better deal.   Ask around on your next cruise.  Additionally, let you current TA know you want lower fares or OBCs in return for your business. 

[CDNPolar]

This was an interesting concept to me so I did some fast research yesterday.  I am also talking Canada requirements so they could be different in the USA.

 

1) I would have to pass an exam first

2) If I wanted to be completely independent, there would be huge upfront costs which would negate my commissions for years based on our cruising frequency.

3) An agency would probably not bring me in just to book my own cruises, and even if they did, a portion of the commission would go to them.

 

I am a few years - or less - from retirement and I thought what a great way to keep occupied.  Study, take the exam, and be my own TA.  The fact is that the cost to do so is not worth it and if this was so simple, then we would all do it.

[MacMadame]

12 hours ago, red904 said:

 I just got back from the Allure of the Seas on Monday that I booked 3 suites and 3 balconies for my staff and we have already put a hold on another cruise in Aug. As well as I have booked the Utopia for 3 suites so far for Oct.

Can I work for you? 🤣

 

Since you don't want to work for an agency or start your own, I would think passing the exam to get the license would be enough. In fact, that's what Google says. 😄 You need to get the cruise line(s) to recognize you as an agent though so contacting your favorite line and asking how to do that will tell you how feasible your idea is.

 

But it seems very feasible to me.

[Toofarfromthesea]

14 hours ago, red904 said:

Put me in touch with your TA please 🙂

 

We're not allowed to name TAs here.  But they aren't hard to find.

[Charles4515]

15 hours ago, red904 said:

Sorry, I guess I didn't make it clear enough that it is my company and I'm paying. But I think the best idea here is to find a new TA that will be more willing to share their commission towards my bookings than my current TA.

Find a TA who is willing to give you a better deal. If you bok 4-6 suites on 4-5 cruises a year that should be doable. I suggest finding a TA who is in a consortium that books a large amount a group space. 

[Mary229]

There are plenty of agency owners using independent contractors who focus on group cruises and groups can be amazingly small.  My TA’s agency is giving me the opportunity to try as I retired last year and am looking for a new retirement career.  I just started and so far all of the training is online.   
 

There are plenty of such agencies. Perhaps the agency you are currently using has a program in place.  Call the owner and ask

[Joebucks]

So basically, you think you're going to get a discount on cruises by booking your own? 

[Mary229]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

So basically, you think you're going to get a discount on cruises by booking your own? 

If an agency agrees to “contract” her and she gets credentialed and pays her fees she will get something. Of course anything that she gets will have to be split with the agency then pay income taxes.    She would do better to buy the AARP gift cards and get the 10% off along with any shareholder benefits she might get by purchasing shares 

[Charles4515]

11 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

If an agency agrees to “contract” her and she gets credentialed and pays her fees she will get something. Of course anything that she gets will have to be split with the agency then pay income taxes.    She would do better to buy the AARP gift cards and get the 10% off along with any shareholder benefits she might get by purchasing shares 

It might be worth their while to become a TA as they do 4 or 5 cruises a year for 4 or 5 people but what OP needs to consider is that there will be work and time involved and that taxes will have to be paid. OP should also research what commissions will be. My TA who I was good friends sent me a few invoices that showed her commission and it was pretty low. Possibly more than 20 cruises a year would be needed to make it a worthwhile proposition. What I would do is try to find a TA who would give them discounts for guaranteeing a certain number of bookings. If the TA knew that they would get a certain minimum number of bookings they might be willing to discount.