Get cruise ship business certification for travel professionals

Whether you're talking a luxury ocean liner or a small cruise ship, it takes special skill to sell cruise lines vacations. Take advantage of resources offered by travel industry trade associations to move your cruise ship bookings to the next level.

I recommend: The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) offers a wealth of classroom and online programs and resources for travel agents interested in boosting their business. Cruise lines education and training opportunities include Cruise Counsellor Certification at Accredited, Master and Elite levels. CLIA also offers Cruising: A Guide to the Cruise Line Industry, the leading cruise ship business textbook. Visit the e-Learning Center of The Travel Institute for travel certification programs from entry-level to executive, as well as resources like a webinar on increasing your share of luxury cruise ship bookings.

Partner with cruise lines to get specialized sales training and benefits

When it comes to boosting bookings through your travel business, cruise lines can be a great partner. Many cruise lines, especially the top luxury programs, offer specialized cruise ship education and training programs for travel professionals. Completion of these programs may pay off in terms of access to inside information about cruise lines and special discount programs for your customers.

I recommend: Costa, Europe's leading cruise line, offers a 7-course Sales Training Academy. Completion provides benefits including CLIA certification credits, bonus commissions and the chance to win promotional prizes. Holland America Cruise Lines, a division of Carnival, runs the HAL Academy, a free 6-course online curriculum that provides certification credits for several North American programs and discounts upon successful completion. Advanced courses are also available to graduates.

Seek training to become a cruise line employee

While many jobs aboard cruise ships, be they luxury liners or small cruise ships, are seasonal and don't require specialized education or training beyond the skills needed for the specific task, you can take advantage of a growing number of community college programs intended to prepare professionals for full-time employment in the industry. If you're already employed by a cruise line, your employer may welcome your interest in continuing education and career advancement.

I recommend: Kapi'olani Community College in Honolulu, HI, offers a 4-course preparation for cruise line industry employment, resulting in a Certificate of Competence. Oregon's Chemeketa Community College, in partnership with the Cruise Institute International and Oceania Cruise Lines, offers certified cruise training and continuing education at four levels: Cruise Professional, Foundations of Cruise Leadership, Cruise Management and Certified Cruise Administration.