Cruising – Staying Informed

Having just returned from a one-week stay in Ft. Lauderdale, I am so excited and enthusiastic about the information that I gained, the incite and visions that I was able to formulate and the very special relationships that I was fortunate enough to establish. The CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) Conference provided the opportunity to attend many workshops and classes regarding all aspects of the cruising industry. In addition, I was able to meet many of the top executives from several of the international cruise lines (both river and ocean) as well as to participate in several cruise inspections.

The cruise industry is quickly becoming the fastest growing segment of the travel industry and last year, there were 22.1 million cruise passengers. This year, that number is projected to be greater than 23 million and it is expected to increase exponentially going forward. CLIA represents over 20 different cruise lines (they just added two new ones) and there were over 1300 travel agents in attendance at the Conference. I have registered for and almost completed my requirements for their ACC designation (Accredited Cruise Counselor) and we will definitely be attending next year’s Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The advantages of being a Certified Travel Agent and the benefits available are outstanding. We not only have access to reduced travel costs for ourselves, we also earn commissions when we help others to save money and make travel plans that provide them with the best arrangements for their vacations or business travel. Vendors of all sorts have FAM (Familiarization) trips that are open to agents only and provide us with the personal experience of their product (cruise, resort, tour, etc) so that we can accurately and enthusiastically recommend it.

While at CLIA, I was fortunate enough to establish meaningful relationships with senior executives from AmaWaterways, MSC Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises and CroisiEurope Cruises. I also met with representatives from several other cruise lines and had the opportunity to inspect ships owned by Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Cunard.

We invite anyone who is interested in traveling more and saving money at the same time and/or is serious about starting their own home-based business where they can work their own hours, be their own boss and have lots of fun while earning extra income to reach out to us. We will be very happy to answer any questions that you might have, see if you qualify and help you decide whether or not this would be a good opportunity for you.

Harshman Travel is dedicated to  “Making Your Vacation Dreams Come True”!!

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