From Voyagers to Cruise Planners Business Owners: Nate and Colleen Set Sail on a Second Career

Blog August 22, 2024 8 min to read

nate and colleen chapman cruise planners business owners

Launching a Cruise Planners Business with Wind in Their Sales

Colleen and Nate Chapman, driven by their love for travel, embarked on a second career as Cruise Planners travel agents in the summer of 2024. Their YouTube channel, ‘Navigate with Colleen and Nate,’ had already amassed a following of close to 3,000 before they became Cruise Planners business owners. In their videos, the couple shares their passion by providing virtual ship tours, showcasing island hot spots, and assisting travelers with disabilities in finding accessible staterooms and ports. They also host a podcast called ‘Navigate with Us,’ which offers behind-the-scenes ship reviews and the latest cruising news.

Colleen, who uses a wheelchair full-time, said she usually has to book cruises 18 months in advance to ensure she and Nate get an accessible cabin. Now, she uses her extensive travel experience to help other travelers with disabilities find the accommodations and support they need to enjoy their vacations.

“We have a potential client (who has a child using a wheelchair) that is looking to do some cruising,” she said. “They are leaning toward one specific cruise line and have specific dates in mind. I’m waiting for the cruise line to release their cruising schedule for 2025 so I can be the first in and grab the rooms they need.”

Together, the Chapmans, based in Florida, have taken 10 Caribbean cruises. They initially got hooked on cruising because many cruise lines sail from ports close to their home, eliminating the need for air travel. This year, they plan on taking four more voyages. Colleen says Royal Caribbean offers modifications and accessibility for passengers, with Virgin Voyages following close behind.

“They’ve done some fantastic little additions, including a hand motion you can do in front of the bathroom door of your cabin,” she said. “They typically have that feature in public spaces, but not in your cabin.”

Nate and Colleen are excited to leverage their extensive insider knowledge, as Cruise Planners franchise owners. Cruise Planners, a home-based travel business, offers cruises, guided land tours, and all-inclusive resort vacations to customers nationwide. With a network of over 2,500 travel agents, open territories, and the ability to sell travel to anyone in the United States, the Chapmans are well-positioned to serve a growing niche of travelers seeking accessible vacations. The 2024 State of the Cruise Industry Report confirms the rise of accessible tour excursions, with 45% of cruise passengers booking an accessible tour for their most recent cruise, a testament to the satisfaction and support enjoyed by current Cruise Planners franchisees.

Transforming a Zest for Travel into a Business

The couple, still working full-time professional jobs, is excited to apply their marketing, management, and financial analysis acumen to their Cruise Planners business. After working part-time for a hosting company, Nate initially got a taste of what it would be like to work as a travel agent but found the role didn’t offer the opportunities for growth that Cruise Planners offers its agents.

“It was a way to get in and understand how to book cruises and travel, but what I found quickly was there wasn’t a lot of support—you’re doing everything yourself, including your own marketing, and using your own contact relationship management and proposal tools,” Nate said. “I asked myself, how was I going to scale this? Instead, we decided to find a partner that could help our business grow—and you can’t get any bigger than Cruise Planners.”

The Cruise Planners corporate office provides agents extensive marketing support, including web, email, social media, and direct mail support. As part of the franchise fee, agents receive comprehensive training at STAR University, a six-day in-person training in Ft. Lauderdale. They also get matched with a dedicated coach who provides ongoing coaching at no extra cost. Also, franchise owners can tap into Cruisitude Academy, an online learning platform with hundreds of training videos and learning experiences. The company’s support and training are designed to equip new franchisees with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the travel industry, making Cruise Planners an attractive investment for those who prefer not to start a business from scratch.

Nate jokes that if he didn’t sell cruises, he and Colleen would probably talk to friends about cruises anyway. In 2019, the couple began sharing their experiences on YouTube, where they received comments from followers who appreciated the cabin tours they highlighted on their videos aimed to help travelers evaluate accessibility features. The positive feedback and comments they received from viewers made them seriously consider turning their love for cruising into a business.

“I think the first time we were recognized on a cruise ship, someone came up to us and said, ‘Because of the video content you put out, we booked the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas and we had a fantastic grip and we follow your content—it’s a surreal feeling,” Colleen said.

Putting Experience and Training into Action

While Nate already had some travel sales experience, and he and Colleen hold management roles in major corporations, the week-long Cruise Planners’ STAR University provided them with valuable insights. For more new agents, it takes time to build a clientele base. When agents launch their businesses, they can expect to spend the first two to three years on customer acquisition and marketing, Nate said. Cruise Planners not only provides agents with research and a booking platform, the company also helps agents track their marketing efforts to help them determine what messaging and channels work best.

But the real key to growth is being prepared, Nate said.

“All of a sudden, you’re going to get that first client, and then that second client, and then clients are going to refer you to somebody else,” he said. “It has a snowball effect. It’s going to be slow at first, but you have to be ready.”

Colleen and Nate will continue to grow their travel business part-time, allowing them to enjoy financial stability while ramping up. They’ve already built a robust social media following and look forward to launching a direct mail campaign through Cruise Planners and investing in local advertising. They plan to get out into the community and participate in local events and have even created shirts with QR codes people can scan to sign up for their newsletter.

“It’s about getting your name out there and that’s part of our acquisition marketing,” Nate said.

As you put the right tools in place build your business, it’s critical to remember to put your client first, Colleen said.

“Make sure you have a true passion for travel and a desire to create memories and experiences for other folks, because it isn’t about you anymore,” she said. “If you don’t have that passion, you’re not going to find joy doing this day in and day out.”

Chart Your Course With Cruise Planners

For the 14th year in a row, Franchise Business Review has recognized Cruise Planners as a top franchise in 2024. Our rankings are based on comprehensive surveys of franchisee satisfaction and performance. In our surveys, franchisees rate their corporate franchise factors such as leadership, training, support, operations, and financial opportunity. Cruise Planners earned high marks in each category, highlighting the company’s dedication to providing its franchisees with the tools and support they need to succeed.

Cruise Planners’ franchisee survey data highlighted the following:

Overall Franchise Satisfaction Report Score: 99%
Training & Support: 91%
Technology: 92%
Marketing & Promotions: 91%
Owner Enjoyment: 93%
Would Recommend Cruise Planners: 93%
Trust in Leadership: 94%

Is Cruise Planners business ownership right for you?

You don’t need to know the ins and outs of cruising to become a successful agent, but you should have a passion for travel and assisting others. With a low barrier to entry and no office requirement, Cruise Planners is one of the most affordable franchises you can invest in. You can work full- or part-time depending on your goals and life circumstances.

Here are some of the financial requirements you must meet:

Initial Franchise Fee: $9,995 to 10,995 (Cruise Planners is offering a $1,000 discount for a limited time.)
Initial training fee: $695 for additional individuals taking part in training
Total Startup Investment: $2,295 to $23,464
Royalty: 1.5 to 3% of gross commissionable sales

Cruise Planners offers franchise discounts for military, first responders, existing travel professionals, and others. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and think you’d enjoy helping vacationers create lifetime memories, Cruise Planners could be the right fit for you.