Drew Daly of Dream Vacations and Theresa Scalzitti of Cruise Planners take part in two WTE Miami conference sessions together today, sharing their perspectives on where the cruise market is heading and how the right host agency can help advisors build stronger businesses.

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Theresa Scalzitti, COO, Cruise Planners

Turning Information into Expertise 

For Theresa Scalzitti, one of cruising’s biggest developments is the way companies are expanding into new segments while staying with travelers throughout their vacation lifecycle.

“We’re seeing tremendous investment in new ships and destinations, but we’re also seeing cruise companies expand into new segments of the market,” she says.

River cruising is one example, as experienced cruisers look for different types of vacations. For advisors, that makes broader product knowledge increasingly important.

“The more you understand the entire cruise landscape—not just one line or one segment—the better positioned you are to grow with your clients as their travel preferences evolve,” Scalzitti says.

That expertise still matters when travelers can research hundreds of options online. “Technology can provide information. A great travel advisor provides answers and solutions based on their experiences, relationships and knowledge.”

Cruise Planners applies the same thinking to AI, using it to help advisors research faster, personalize marketing and reduce administrative work.

“We look at AI as a way to make the advisor more efficient, more informed and more productive—not to replace the advisor,” she says.

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Drew Daly, SVP & General Manager, Dream Vacations

Growing with the Cruise Market 

Cruising is creating new opportunities for advisors across destinations and market segments, according to Drew Daly.

“One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is cruise lines continuing to invest heavily in destinations, private islands, and beach clubs,” he says. Shorter Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries on newer ships are also attracting travelers who are new to cruising, while more shoulder-season capacity is giving travelers additional options.

Daly sees particularly strong potential in luxury and river cruising. Luxury products are becoming more accessible, while river cruising continues to expand into new parts of the world.

“Some of the strongest growth opportunities aren’t necessarily in selling more vacations,” he says. “They are in helping travelers discover experiences they didn’t even know were possible.”

For advisors, Dream Vacations encourages diversification through groups, hosted cruises, luxury, river cruising and specialist niches. When choosing a host or franchise, Daly says commission splits and fees are only part of the equation.

“The question isn’t what’s the highest commission split,” he says. “It’s who’s going to help you build the business you want three years from now.”

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Today
Cruising…A Global Update
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Stage 1

The Host Agency and Franchise Playbook: Finding The Right Fit For You
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Stage 1