Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reports new travel agencies have joined its Premium Diamond membership level, which was added as part of the organization's new three-tiered membership structure unveiled in October.
The highest program level – Premium Diamond – is enjoying strong enrollment, CLIA reports.
More than 25 U.S. travel companies have joined as Diamond Premium members, representing more than 50,000 agents.
Members since the program’s inception include: Automobile Club (AAA) of Southern California, Avoya Travel, Cruises & Tours Unlimited, Cruise Planners, CruiseOne, Cruises Inc., Ensemble Travel, Ensemble Canada, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Goldrush Getaways, Hyde International Group, Inc., InteleTravel, KHM Travel Group, Mtravel/Montrose Travel, Nexion, Protravel International, Signature Travel Network, Travel Leaders Group (All Aboard Travel, Cruise Deals, Cruise Holidays, Cruise Specialists, Luxury Travel Network, OASIS/Palm Coast Travel, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders, Vacation.com, Vacation.com Canada), Travel Planners International, TRAVELSAVERS, UNIGLOBE Travel, YTB Travel USA, Valerie Wilson Travel, Virtuoso and World Travel Holdings.
CLIA's Travel Agency and Agent Membership Program is a comprehensive redesign of CLIA’s agent/agency membership structure. Every membership level includes:
- Access to CLIA’s gold standard training to increase travel agent product knowledge, marketing and sales skills
- Special cruise line benefits – valued at more than $5,000 – for agent members
- Agent bonus commissions
- Reduced rate cruises for agent personal travel
- Priority FAM trip invitations
- Onboard credits for agents and their clients
- Points towards CLIA accreditation
The three membership levels for individual agents and agencies include the Silver membership for small agencies (1-24 agents) and new Premium Gold and Diamond memberships for larger category hosts, franchises and consortiums. All programs offer value membership pricing for agents who join as individual members as well as a core benefits package. This includes a unique agent ID number and membership card, hundreds of special offers from 25 CLIA member cruise lines, discounts on CLIA products, bonus commissions, preferred rates and registration at CLIA’s cruise3sixty and access to CLIA’s training and certification. Additional agent benefits are available based on the corresponding agency membership level. Gold and Diamond membership benefits include invitations to member summits and CLIA’s Annual Congressional Cruise Caucus in Washington, DC.
CLIA cruise lines offering exclusive agent member incentives include AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Pearl Seas Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Tauck River Cruising, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Windstar Cruises.
Program registration opened in October 2014.