Opportunity to Sell Cruises Continues To Grow

As the cruise industry continues to grow, cruise lines are building newer, bigger ships and many have started to offer new destination focused itineraries. With an annual growth rate of approximately 7%, the cruise industry is booming and represents one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel industry. A recent survey found that more than 60 percent of cruisers were repeat customers and over 85% of those taking a luxury cruise have taken a cruise before. So what attracts so many to book a cruise and plan their vacation on the high seas? Well consider that the purpose of a vacation is to relax and recharge and that taking cruising is one of the easiest ways to travel.

For many, the appeal of taking a cruise is based on the fact that it offers multiple vacation destinations in one. You board the ship, head to your cabin, unpack your things and your vacation has begun. A cruise provides the opportunity to visit multiple destinations without the hassle of checking in and out of hotel rooms or taking away from precious relaxation time to travel to the next destination. With a cruise, you will be enjoying your vacation the minute you step onboard and well before the ship even departs for it's first destination.

And if you think being on a cruise ship will be boring, you should dismiss that idea right now! Today's cruise ships offer so many things to do onboard that spending a day on the ship can be as entertaining as a day of sightseeing. Start the day with a breakfast at one of the many venues on board, squeeze in a quick workout in the ships gym followed by an afternoon sitting by the pool. There are even options for those who wish to get a massage, go rock climbing or attend a dance class. Simply put, a cruise vacation has something for everyone.

With so many different cruise lines and itineraries to choose from, planning a cruise vacation can be overwhelming for many. All too often researching and planning a cruise can be confusing or frustrating for some, but a professional Travel Agent can help sort through the many options available. Today's travel agent software can help agents sort through the different options and travel agents often have access to special deals and promotions. Many cruise booking engines have even integrated cruise line, cruise ship and cabin descriptions along with media files & rich content such as cabin photos, ship images and deck plans to assist in selecting the right cruise package.

Travel agent software that includes a cruise booking engine is a great way for any travel agency to expand into the world of selling cruises. Some of today's cruise booking software even serves as a B2B, B2C and B2B2C web based application designed to automate processes, increase revenues and reduce time and effort required to complete a cruise booking.

With cruising this easy, no wonder the cruise industry is booming. And the easy to use cruise booking software available today makes it easy for any travel agency to expand their business and tap in on this prosperous industry.