In case no one has noticed, the movie TITANIC is coming out again next month to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ship.  It will be shown in an unchanged but dramatic version of 3D as well.

Two cruises that will be sailing to celebrate the anniversary are scheduled to embark on the seas in April as well. The first one is already sold out, and the other is 70% sold, but the remaining cabins are on sale for 50% off. Imagine, 50% off!

The ship leaves April 10th from New York City, the same day the Titanic embarked on its trip from England in 1912.

It was stated that many of the Titanic Memorial Cruise are bookings from New York and are made up of many of the descendants of the crew and passengers that were on the Titanic. Both ships will feature lectures from Titanic historians.

In other headlines, USA Today cruise news reported that every vacationer boarding any cruise ship will be briefed on safety before it sets sail under a new industry-wide policy announced Feb. 2nd, 2012.

In a joint statement, the U.S. based, Cruise Lines International Association, Europe-based European Cruise Council and UK-based Passenger Shipping Association, indicated the new policy would apply across the board to their members, which include every major cruise line in the world.

Also known as muster or emergency drills, safety briefings on ships normally last about 30 to 45 minutes and start with passengers assembling in designated “muster” stations. Crew members then explain the safety procedures of the ship, including what to do and where to go in an emergency, and how to find and put on a life jacket.

The new policy “is designed to help ensure that any mandatory musters or briefings are conducted for the benefit of all newly embarked passengers at the earliest practical opportunity,” the cruise organizations said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean has designated February as the Month of Romance and rightly so seeing it is Valentine’s Day as well.

What could be more romantic than Roses, Champagne and Chocolate Covered Strawberries to show your loved one what a romantic you are!

For those who book between February 1st (Hurry up!) and February 29th (yes, leap year ladies!!), you can get this packaged deal free signing up for a six night or longer Royal Caribbean Cruise to Bermuda and Europe beginning after March 15th.  This is for new bookings only so don’t miss this opportunity to make your Valentine’s Day gift a special surprise.

Want to go a step further?  Cruise Planners American Express has partnered with Honeymoonwishes.com an online registry provider to provide a website for honeymoons and weddings.  How about those special proposals where you see a plane flying with a banner asking “Jenny will you Marry Me”, or what about that baseball game that shows the happy proposal on the LED Board?!  Now, you can add your own creative proposal using Cruise Planners/American Express agents to help you plan that special event and the staff of the Cruise ships themselves participate in the surprise.

“Engaged couples can book their honeymoon travel with a Cruise Planners advisor and register for their honeymoon trip and activities as wedding gifts directly on the advisor’s travel registry website created by Honeymoonwishes.com. In addition, couples can create a personal website to share their story, upload photos and send announcements directly from the advisor’s site. The link is a personal URL created for each individual Cruise Planners advisor”

What a memorable event that will last a lifetime. Go ahead, take the plunge and start planning that proposal, wedding, or honeymoon event right now…and shooow the loooove!

When looking for home-based opportunities, you will want to know what the top ten home-based Franchises are according to entrepreneur.com.

Their report for 2012 top franchises that can be run from home and LISTED in order of their ranking in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 cites Cruise Planners/American Express in the top 10.While this important stat reflects one of the best business opportunities, they also indicate the need of research and backup of the company’s credentials.

“This ranking is not intended to endorse, promote, or recommend any particular franchise company. Instead, it is meant to be a tool you can use while doing your personal franchise research, which should include interviews with existing franchisees, counsel from your attorney and accountant, and literature such as the Franchise Disclosure Document. As with any business purchase, a thorough, independent investigation must always be your first step toward success.” Entrepreneurs Franchise 500

However, as with anything, a ranking also indicates that the business is well known, and acknowledges it as a sound one to look into for investing purposes. If anyone were looking for opportunities in a home-based business, which one would they choose, one that carries a brand name like American Express or one that says, Cruise Business. Obviously, the Brand – American Express has already proven to be reliable and sound and offers their endorsement of the travel industry and cruise-ship business.
Cruise Planners/American Express can assist you in your research. They offer a University that teaches all the basics of being in the business, they have all the literature and has done a lot of the research for you, and can help you sort through all the particulars of owning your own business.

Dare to look at all the franchises in the cruise-ship industry and you will find yourself coming back to Cruise Planners/American Express, the number one franchise, agency, and business opportunity in the market today. Ask for Dan Hicks, he will help you on the road to successful business ownership.

• There are indications of an increased demand for travel in the Cruise Industry.
• There will be three new ships launching in 2012.
• People will respond to New Ships, Package Deals and Cruise Incentives Offered
• Cruise Planners will once again retain the Entrepreneur Award for the year.
• Wave Season (first 3 months of 2012) will have strong bookings in first quarter
• Franchises will be BIG this year, with lots of interested investors in the Cruise Industry buying in.
• Cruise Planners will achieve an all-time high number of investors this year due to the low investment but High Demand of the Franchise
• Forecast suggests that at-home businesses will rank high due to economy.
• Blogs, Social Media, and Articles will increase this year and create growth for the Cruise Industry.

The BEST prediction for 2012 is that Cruise Planners/American Express will continue to provide the best service, customer retention, best deals, and continue the trend of being the BEST Franchise Opportunity, with the American Express Brand, Training that breeds success, and a team that takes pride in calling themselves #1.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – January 10, 2012 – Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, is ranked No. 44 out of 500 franchises in Entrepreneur magazine’s 33rd Annual Franchise 500 Issue and for the ninth year in a row ranked the No. 1 franchise in the travel industry category.

“Our ultimate goal as a turnkey franchise business model is to establish the framework to help franchise owners succeed, and we do this by creating and implementing tools and programs so our home-based travel advisors become smart entrepreneurs in a competitive market,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners/American Express.  “In addition, as an American Express Travel Service Representative agency, franchise owners earn instant credibility with their affiliation to a well-known brand.”

Staff members at Entrepreneur began asking franchisors to participate in the ranking survey back in July 2011.  After spending several months calling, e-mailing, researching and analyzing hundreds of franchise companies in order to determine the rankings, 799 companies make the first cut and out of those the top 500 made the official Franchise 500 ranking.  For the past three decades Entrepreneur magazine has been perfecting the ranking procedure and proprietary formula to present the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking.

“The dedication, enthusiasm and innovation of our Home Office team demonstrates why we are, once again, ranked at the very top of the cruise and travel category on Entrepreneur’s list,” continues Fee.  “With our reasonable start-up costs and business-in-a-box framework, we hope to continue to be recognized as a franchise opportunity for the stay-at-home moms, veterans, baby boomers, retirees or anyone just looking to be their own boss and sell the experience of travel.”

About Cruise Planners/American Express
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Services Representative, is the largest home-based travel agent network in the cruise industry with more than 800 franchise owners across the country that independently book cruises and associated travel. Named No.1 Cruise Tour / Travel Agency by Entrepreneur magazine for the past eight years, Cruise Planners positions franchise owners for success by providing them with innovative marketing, booking and lead-generating tools as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives.

Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla., Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line. Accolades include Agency of the Year from American Express (2010), Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year (2007 – 2010), Norwegian Cruise Line Home-Based Agency of the Year (2010), Southeast Region Travel Agent Partner of the Year from Celebrity Cruises (2010), four coveted Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly in 2010, American Express Travel Representative Excellence Awards (2004 – 2010), Globe Award from American Express Vacations (2008 – 2010), Globus Family of Brands Premier Agency Partner (2009, 2010), Platinum Circle Member with Viking River Cruises (2009, 2010), and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer. For more information, please visit www.cruiseplanners.com.

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Media Contacts:
Holly Zawyer / Deserae del Campo
Cheryl Andrews Marketing
P: 305-444-4033
holly@cam-pr.com / deserae@cam-pr.com

Some Franchisees rely on their Corporate Headquarters to do all their marketing.

However, when you own your own company, it is to your benefit that you establish your own identity in the Social Media Arena. Social Media can be a Brand within a Brand in the Franchise Business World.  As a Franchisee, you would not only be using the corporate marketing strategy, but you would also create your own social brand of relating to your customers and vendors alike.

Advantages

• Using Social Media as a Franchisee, you can research and pass on deals, discounts and meet hundreds of “potential” clients on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and You Tube.

• Social Media offers the personal touch that identifies YOU as the “personal agent” of your clients.

• You can choose personal marketing strategies using Social Media that works for your area of expertise in the Cruise Ship Industry.

• You can communicate about those special trips and give a personal account/suggestion on the best places to go.

• You are able to “market” the best deals in your own words, building trust with your clients.

• Utilizing Social Media, you create networking opportunities that build your relationships in business and with customers, as well as people in the Cruise World Industry.

• Articles can be a tool for Social Marketing as well.  Go to ezine.com and find articles on the Cruise Industry.

• Sell those new ships made for 2012 as well as amenities offered by other ships that promote your business.

Social Media plays a very significant role in the Cruise Ship Industry, and should be a top priority in your package of goods for marketing. As a franchisee, you have a golden opportunity to advertise for free, make it personal, and establish new relationships.  Use it correctly and you will find that your business soars, your relationships experience growth, and even YOU more informed by others making comments.

See you on Facebook, Linked In, YouTube, and Twitter…add a few more if you like, the choices of how “social” you want to be are yours!

Cruise Planners/American Express was recognized by Norwegian Cruise Line as its 2011 Franchise of the Year, honoring the outstanding sales partnership and overall commitment to the success and growth of the cruise line.

“Every year our professional relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line becomes stronger as we continue to be committed to this well-known brand,” said Vicky Garcia, executive vice president of sales and marking for Cruise Planners/American Express.  “Our franchise owners understand the importance of this partnership by never failing to satisfy their customers with the unforgettable cruise vacations offered by Norwegian.  We hope the upcoming cruise travel season continues to be a successful one for us and Norwegian Cruise Line.”

“Cruise Planners’ travel agents have proved, once again, that they are a vital component of our success.  We appreciate the hard work and dedication coming from the franchisees across the U.S.,” said Andy Stuart, executive vice president of global sales and passenger services for Norwegian Cruise Line.  “As we look to another prosperous year in cruise travel, we are at ease knowing that Cruise Planners/American Express agents know our product and know how to sell the Norwegian brand to the consumer.”

Cruise Planners/American Express has received additional accolades from Norwegian Cruise Line such as the Home-Based Agency of the Year award in 2010 and is six-time recipient of the President’s Club Elite Travel Agency of the Year award.

While people like to think up resolutions for New Years, it has been  suggested that “goals” are more appropriately set to guide us towards success – more so than resolve.

“Goals” sound like a word that denotes happy or successful…where “Resolutions” appear to be an anchor pulling our energy from success and does not often last for more than a couple of weeks. However, when you have a goal…you know you are in it for the long run and you will not quit until that race has been won, the basket scored, or the field goal kicked.

Cruise Planners/American Express has many, many goals that you will witness repeatedly in this coming year.

While this list is far from all-inclusive, take a look at what is in store for you…Cruise Planners/American Express will:

• Suggest you try one of the brand new ships that will be surfacing this year.

• Help you find the best deal for your money, time, and budget.

• Lead you to that specific theme cruise you have on your bucket list to try.

• Proudly provide you with the continuous BEST SERVICE for which many rewards have demonstrated.

• Help newcomers plan their first trip and establish trust that will ensure their return.

• Introduce you to the various ships that provide you with top-notch service

• Help you plan where you want to go for that special family vacation.

• Will strive once again for the coveted Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly we will have won for the eighth   straight year.

• Will bring partner, Honeymoon.com wishes to many Brides and Grooms this upcoming year

• Will provide, train, and secure opportunities for you to invest in a Home Franchise Business at a continued low investment, high return offers.

There you have it…and this is just the beginning of our New Year’s Resolutions, which will solidify Cruise Planners/American Express, as the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry.

As the sands of time wash over the year 2011, may all our Patrons, Vendors, Agents, Staff, Partners, Cruise Ships, American Express Company and all of our loyal customers in the Cruise Industry, all have a very SAFE, HAPPY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR in 2012.