GoCruise

About GoCruise

GoCruise is part of Fred. Olsen Travel Ltd, making it one of the UK’s largest specialist cruise agencies. Leading the travel industry’s passion for cruising since franchising began in 2001, GoCruise has built a network of over 60 franchisees across the UK and offers an independent service creating bespoke cruise packages to meet each customer’s specific requirements.

With so much experience in the industry, GoCruise has developed close relationships and preferential rates with the world’s best cruise operators, which can be passed directly to the customer. With extensive knowledge of P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Fred. Olsen Cruises and Cunard as well as Azamara Club Cruises, Silversea, Star Clippers and Regent Seven Seas among others, GoCruise can offer honest and impartial advice and personalised recommendations for cruises to suit absolutely everyone, and deliver them with a five-star, personalised customer service at competitive prices.

The demand for cruises continues to grow, and GoCruise’s network of highly trained local specialists offer first-hand knowledge and a friendly, personal service, while delivering all the benefits of high quality destination-led and cruise ship-led cruise holidays from the world’s main cruise and river cruise lines. Offering outstanding customer service, premium quality and value for money, GoCruise ensure that seeing the world doesn’t always cost the earth.

How does the GoCruise franchise model work?

A GoCruise franchise combines the benefits of being part of a large travel company with the ability to provide a truly bespoke, personal service.

GoCruise franchisees use their knowledge and experience to find and book the perfect cruise holiday for their customers, guiding them through the process and offering a truly individual service. While the sales process is entirely down to the franchisee, the booking processes and administration are handled centrally, allowing more time for the business owner to be helping their customers.

GoCruise has developed strong relationships with all the major, niche and luxury cruise lines. Offering the benefits of large-scale business to each individual franchisee, GoCruise franchise business owners can offer their customers an unrivalled choice of cruise options with the best value deals, while also benefitting from some of the highest commission levels in the industry.

Are GoCruise holidays protected?

As part of Fred. Olsen Travel Ltd, GoCruise is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), and have Air Tour Operator’s Licence (ATOL) bonding. This ensures that customers’ money is protected and they will be covered if any of their holiday operators cease trading, offering complete confidence and peace of mind for clients that they are dealing with a reputable travel company.

How much does a GoCruise franchise cost?

Starting a GoCruise franchise business requires an initial investment of £11,995 +VAT. As well as this franchise fee, there is an additional monthly management fee of £130 +VAT which covers ongoing marketing and administrative support.

What do you get for your GoCruise franchise fee?

Along with comprehensive training and the GoCruise Operations Manual, franchisees are supplied with a personalised GoCruise affiliate website and access to the online booking system and GoCruise intranet. A starter pack of stationery including letterheads, business cards and display banners with personalised branding are also included, along with printed and online marketing materials, and the opportunity to request bespoke marketing collateral for your territory. The initial GoCruise franchise fee also includes one year’s CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) membership and Microsoft Office 365.

What does the monthly management fee cover?

Along with ongoing support, business development, lead generation advice and updated product training from the GoCruise & the Travel Franchise team, the monthly management fee covers all the necessary administration of your customers’ holiday bookings from start to finish, from processing the initial booking to dispatching the tickets.
GoCruise franchisees have direct access to the 30-strong central office team including in-house airport hotel, parking and flights specialists, and they also have access to other holiday services.

Did you know?

GoCruise is eligible for funding support!

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What training is provided for GoCruise franchisees?

Before launching their new business, GoCruise franchise owners attend an initial three-day residential training course at the company’s head office in Ipswich. This comprehensive induction provides franchisees with the operational and business knowledge required to open their business and start trading, including product training, instruction on using the online booking systems, and advice on how to establish a market and create interest and enquiries in their new venture.

After this initial induction, ongoing regular product training is also provided, along with entry to educational conferences and events.

What marketing support is available for a GoCruise franchisee?

Along with the printed and online marketing materials supplied at the initial induction stage, ongoing marketing support and advice is available including in-house design and print services, bulk supplies of corporate mailings, and branding merchandise supplied at net cost. There are also opportunities to access co-operative funding for GoCruise franchisees’ marketing activity.

Do GoCruise franchisees need travel industry experience?

No travel industry experience is required when joining the business as training is given, but a passion for travel (and particularly cruising) helps. The ideal GoCruise franchise candidate is friendly, outgoing and great at relationship building, as well as being professional and determined with good sales skills and business acumen.

Will I get the opportunity to network with other GoCruise franchisees?

Yes, there are regular opportunities to meet up with fellow GoCruise franchise owners including GoCruise conferences every year, familiarisation trips and cruise ship visits.

Is running a GoCruise franchise a full-time job?

It doesn’t have to be. A GoCruise franchise offers the flexibility of choosing to work from home or from business premises and allows the franchise owner to choose their own working hours, whether full- or part-time.

Does a GoCruise franchise cover an exclusive territory?

Yes. When you sign up as a GoCruise franchisee, you are given a protected territory covering approximately 250,000 people.

Why choose a GoCruise franchise over other estate agent enterprises?

Cruising is a lucrative niche market, which is growing all the time. A GoCruise franchise is perfectly placed to make the most of the huge earning potential while maintaining low start-up costs and overheads. Travel and tourism is a fun and rewarding industry to work in, and the GoCruise franchise model provides franchisees with the cover, benefits and lucrative pricing models of a large company while allowing them to main the control and flexibility of their own small business.

As well as the satisfaction of building a successful business, GoCruise franchise owners also receive travel industry benefits including reduced rates for personal cruises and holidays.

How can I apply for a GoCruise franchise?

The first step towards starting up your own GoCruise franchise is to read the Franchisee Prospectus and arrange a discussion with one of the GoCruise team to talk about territory options and get answers to any initial questions. After this, a meeting will be set up with the Franchise Manager at the head office in Ipswich for a more in-depth discussion. After this meeting, a £1,000 deposit is required if you wish to secure a territory, along with a completed ‘Start Up Form’, and once this is received your induction can be booked and you GoCruise franchise can be launched.

To express an interest in a GoCruise franchise, please complete the form on this page.