How I’d Build a High-Volume, Life-First Cruise Business in Today’s Market

The First 10 Minutes After a Booking: Your Make-or-Break Habit

Check out our workflows HERE [https://www.travelbizboss.com/workflow] What happens in the first five to ten minutes after processing a deposit can shape the entire client experience. Build the habit, and your workflows do the heavy lifting. Korrine's post-deposit checklist: 1. Open the cruise line's emailed confirmation and verify the deposit is showing as paid (lay eyes on it, every time) 2. Send the client their receipt 3. Send the cruise-line-specific "officially booked" email template with next steps and CYP (P stands for peach) info 4. Add the workflow or task list in your CRM, then customize it 5. Report the sale to your host agency so you actually get paid, and fill in commission info in your CRM for clean reporting later Bonus steps once you have an assistant:Add the cruise to your consortia price tracker, claim loyalty rewards points (like Celebrity), and segment the client into the right email lists.

Introducing Trafalgar River Cruises

Register for my FREE webinar: How To Scale Your Cruise Biz Using Technology & AI at https://travelbizboss.myflodesk.com/scalingcruisebiz [https://travelbizboss.myflodesk.com/scalingcruisebiz] In this episode, we are talking to Josh Hepp, VP of Strategic Accounts with Trafalgar River Cruises, about this new river cruise option that is loaded with value and special experiences. Josh announced some special offers at the end, and in order to claim the exclusive offer he mentioned, you’ll need to make a booking by 6/30/26 and email Josh to let him know you’d like to take advantage of the 7 Figure Cruise Business Podcast offer.  Include the booking number, and he’ll take it from there.  His email is josh.hepp@ttc.com [josh.hepp@ttc.com].

How to Choose the Right Cabin Location For Your Clients

My favorite free tool for choosing cabins with confidence: cruisedeckplans.com My favorite text shortcut tool: Text Blaze [https://blaze.today/?ref=UE5YPYBN] My text shortcut for an advisory about "guarantee" cabins: A guarantee means that the cruise line will choose the location of your cabin.  It can be assigned at any time until check-in at the pier and cannot be changed unless you purchase an upgrade (if available). In this episode, Korrine breaks down how to choose the right cruise cabin for every client and why it's one of the most overlooked ways advisors build authority and lock in clients for life. She covers the key questions to ask during intake, the truth about decks and motion, what to look for above and below a cabin to avoid noise nightmares, how to handle family and group bookings, and why guarantee cabins deserve a serious conversation (with documentation to match). Plus, she shares the free tool she uses every single time she picks a cabin, along with the exact verbiage she adds to invoices when a client books a guarantee.

How To Compete With That Big Warehouse Store (you know the one)

You've done the research, built the relationship, and then your client casually mentions they found a deal at that big warehouse store. Ouch. In this episode of Ship Shape, Korrine tackles one of the most common frustrations in cruise sales and gives you the exact framework to respond with confidence. You'll learn how to clearly articulate your value beyond price, why some clients just aren't your people (and that's fine), how to involve your BDM when you want to compete, and why having a ready-to-go email template can save your sanity. Bottom line: they're great for bulk paper towels. You're great for planning the trip of a lifetime.

How I’d Build a High-Volume, Life-First Cruise Business in Today’s Market

In this episode, I’m walking you through the strategy I would use if I were building from scratch in today’s market, with everything I know now. We’re talking marketing that actually works in 2025, how I’d attract the right clients without becoming a deal slinger, and why email lists and human connection matter more than ever. I break down how I’d approach mass market vs premium and luxury cruises, where I’d focus my time for the fastest momentum, and why “easy to sell” does not mean “less valuable.” We dig into client experience, from consult calls and proposal styles to trip prep systems that turn clients into superfans without burning you out. I also share how I’d structure operations, when I’d hire admin (and why I’d skip building a team), plus how I’d use systems, automation, and data to create a high-volume cruise business that still leaves room for a life. If you’ve ever wondered how to simplify, focus, and build a profitable cruise business faster and smarter, this episode is your roadmap.