Brand history
Expedia Cruises started in 1987 in Vancouver, Canada under the brand “CruiseShipCenters.” By 1997, CruiseShipCenters had expanded to 36 locations across Canada, becoming one of Canada’s leading cruise retailers.In 2008, CruiseShipCenters formed a transformative partnership with Expedia Group, a global leader in online travel. Franchisees gained access to Expedia's advanced technology, extensive resources, and worldwide brand recognition.
In 2010, the company expanded its footprint into the United States, opening its first U.S. location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In 2020, the brand adopted the name Expedia Cruises. This change allowed franchisees greater integration with Expedia's powerful tools, technologies, and branding, offering franchisees greater value for their royalties.
Today, Expedia Cruises boasts over 260 locations across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Who are our Customers?
84% of Gen-X and 81% of Millennials plan to book additional cruises. (According to Cruise Lines International Association-CLIA)Cruisers are loyal, repeat customers
- 82% of those who have cruised are planning on cruising again;
- 12% of cruise travelers cruise twice per year; and
- 10% cruise 3-5 times per year.
Splurging Diverse Seafarers
Affluent singles and couples who are serial cruise passengers.
Wanderlust Retirees
Active retirees who spend above-average amounts on cruises.
Winter Escape Snowbirds
Affluent and mature singles & couples heading south for the winter.
Elite Family Voyagers
Families who travel on cruises in the summer months when school is out.
Deal Hunters
Diverse young & middle-aged families seeking discounts and promotions.
Short and Sweet Escapes
Affluent younger & middle-aged who book short cruises and vacations of less than 7 days in length.
The Expedia Connection
Our omnichannel retail model provides customers with a seamless booking experience, from start to finish, while providing franchisees with additional channels for lead generation. Not only do our franchisees receive leads from their Expediacruises.com website, Center walk-ins, and a robust marketing program, but franchisees also benefit from receiving cruise inquiries from Expedia.com and Expedia.ca, within their market territory*. This approach unlocks the benefits of our online channel, to better service customers offline, while simultaneously enabling our offline centers to complement our online offerings.
*Cruise inquiries from Expedia.com, Expedia.ca and Expediacruises.com are routed at Expedia’s discretion and based on information provided by the customer. Additionally, Centers must meet specific criteria outlined by the Franchisor to receive these leads.
The Expedia Cruises Difference
At Expedia Cruises, we are navigators of spectacular vacation experiences. We believe that our net promoter score, which is consistently above 90%, is due to the promise that all franchisees uphold to their customers. Expedia Cruises franchisees agree to:- Provide advice customers trust. Our Vacation Consultants are passionate travelers and cruise enthusiasts who can share their experiences to create the best vacation experience for customers.
- Offering the best travel options and prices. Franchisees offer travelers every cruise option, from the fantastic value of the most popular lines to luxury and river cruises - all at Expedia® prices.
- Expedia® Extras. Whether it's an onboard cash credit, Expedia® Exclusive Staterooms, reduced deposits, free upgrades, or special offers, many vacation packages come with an Expedia® bonus.
- Multiple Vacation Options. Customers can count on franchisees and their Vacation Consultants to represent every vacation possibility over air, land, and sea, including customized trips, coach and rail tours, and insurance.
- Always there. Franchisees are local. They are there to help - before, during, and after their customers’ trips.
The Cruise and Travel Industry
Customers are spending more now than pre-pandemic years.
In 2023, there were 16.9 million American passengers on cruise lines, accounting for 53.3% of the 31.5 million global passengers who booked cruises. After the pandemic scare, cruising is booming once again in the US and North America; rebounding faster than other forms of travel and tourism.
*According to Cruising.org
Global Cruise Market
In 2024 the total number of cruising passengers was estimated to be 34.7 million, which is up 17% from pre-pandemic years; so the industry has grown since the pandemic.
Source: CLIA 2023 Global Passenger Report
US Cruise Market
Grandview Research Projections indicate that the U.S. cruise market will reach approximately $7.58 billion by 2030, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 12.9% from 2025 to 2030, far greater than the 2.0% economists’ projected growth of the US and World economies.
How Do I Staff my Agency?
Franchisees staff agencies by recruiting Vacation Consultants. Expedia Cruises franchisor sets up each franchisee with a recruitment website and a recruitment CRM system dedicated to recruiting Vacation Consultants. We had record years in 2023 and 2024 for Consultant recruitment and currently have over 6,700 Vacation Consultants across the Expedia Cruises network.We have a dedicated recruitment marketing team that executes an award-winning recruitment program. This includes running national recruitment events, on your behalf, and funneling those leads to you, as well as supporting your marketing efforts for Center recruitment events (Discovery Nights) hosted by you.
Vacation Consultants (travel agents) are independent contractors paid by franchisees on commission only; they are not employees. This eliminates high fixed wages (guaranteed hourly rates and salaries) thus reducing franchisees’ risk and break-even costs. Vacation Consultants are only paid a percentage of what they sell.
The number of Vacation Consultants a franchisee manages will vary by location and can grow as big as a franchisee can support.
