Cruises Inc., part of World Travel Holdings and the original cruise travel host agency, today announced the graduation of its first-ever Virtual Training class.  The company recently launched a new “live” Virtual Training Program as a way to let agents train from the comfort of their own homes while still enjoying rich content and an interactive, personal experience.  The first graduating class joins more than 500 Cruises Inc. Independent Contractors as part of the nation’s leading retailer of cruise travel.

“Our goal is to attract the right talent to Cruises Inc.  By eliminating location as a barrier to entry, we are making our dynamic initial start-up training program available to those who cannot travel to Fort Lauderdale,” said Dwain Wall, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cruises Inc. “This program exemplifies our commitment to being flexible and innovative in the initiatives we offer agents looking to join the Cruises Inc. family.”

The newly designed 40-hour Cruises Inc. Virtual Training Program is highly interactive with a live instructor leading each class.  During the weeklong course, members of the Cruises Inc. corporate headquarters team guide agents through all steps of business operations, from office set-up to developing a business plan, from sales-building tips to crafting compelling marketing programs.  Agents gain valuable knowledge on the core components of the travel industry and receive product information from key Cruises Inc. suppliers, including executives from the world’s leading cruise lines and resorts.  The curriculum is delivered via a series of webinars, podcasts and live chats.  A small student to trainer ratio allows for a personal experience.
 
“The Cruises Inc. Virtual Training Team was impressed by the caliber of agents in this first graduating class and comments from the participants could not be more positive,” said Drew Daly, Vice President of Sales Performance for Cruises Inc.  “We look forward to evolving this unique concept over time and raising the bar even higher on training in the cruise industry.”