Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners: The Ultimate Guide for New Travel Agents

Deciding to become a travel agent is one of the most exhilarating professional choices you can make. You are selling dreams, experiences, and lifelong memories. However, the moment that initial excitement settles, you are hit with a wall of logistical questions. The most pressing among them is usually: "Who do I partner with?" In the vast landscape of the travel industry, two giants often rise to the top of the list for beginners: Outside Agents and Cruise Planners.

If you are currently paralyzed by the choice of Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners, you are not alone. In my decade of experience in digital marketing within the travel sector, I have watched thousands of agents struggle with this exact decision. It is not merely a choice between two companies; it is a choice between two fundamentally different business models. One offers the freedom of a host agency with low barriers to entry, while the other offers the structured, "business-in-a-box" approach of a franchise.

In this comprehensive guide, I am going to dissect every single angle of the Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners debate. We will look at costs, commissions, technology, marketing support, and culture. Furthermore, I will explain why, regardless of which path you choose, building your own brand identity with a platform like Travedeus is the secret weapon that most new agents overlook.

Grab a notebook, because we are going to go deep. By the end of this article, you will know exactly which path is right for your future travel empire.

Table of Contents

1. The Fundamental Difference: Host Agency vs. Franchise Model

2. Outside Agents: The Low-Risk, High-Reward Contender

3. Cruise Planners: The "Green" Machine Franchise

4. Detailed Cost Analysis: Startup and Ongoing Fees

5. Commission Splits: Who Pays You More?

6. Technology and Tools: Proprietary Systems vs. Freedom

7. Marketing Support: Cookie-Cutter vs. Customization

8. The Branding Trap: Why You Must Build Your Own Identity

9. Why Travedeus is Essential for Agents of Both Models

10. Training and Education: Learning the Ropes

11. Community and Culture: Where Do You Fit In?

12. The Verdict: Who Wins the Battle?

The Fundamental Difference: Host Agency vs. Franchise Model

Before we can even begin to compare the specific features of Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners, we must address the elephant in the room. We are comparing apples to oranges here. While both entities allow you to sell travel and earn a commission, the legal and operational structures are vastly different.

The Host Agency Model (Outside Agents)

Outside Agents operates as a traditional host agency. In this model, you are an Independent Contractor (IC). You are essentially renting the credentials of the host agency (their IATA, CLIA, or ARC numbers) to book travel.

In my experience, this model is fantastic for those who want autonomy. You run your own business under your own name. Outside Agents is the backend support; they process the commissions and provide the vendor relationships, but the consumer-facing brand is you. There are typically no long-term contracts that bind you for years, and the exit strategy is simple. If you decide travel isn't for you, you simply stop paying your monthly fee and walk away.

The Franchise Model (Cruise Planners)

Cruise Planners is a franchise. This is a legally binding business relationship regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). When you join Cruise Planners, you are buying a "franchise unit." You are buying into their brand name, their specific way of doing business, and their reputation.

While you are still an independent business owner, you are operating as "Cruise Planners - [Your Name]." You are wearing their jersey. This comes with significant advantages, such as instant brand recognition (especially with their affiliation as an American Express Travel Representative), but it also comes with stricter rules, higher upfront costs, and royalty fees.

Understanding this distinction is the first step in the Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners analysis. Do you want to build your own brand from scratch with support (Outside Agents), or do you want to buy a pre-packaged business system with a recognizable name (Cruise Planners)?

Outside Agents: The Low-Risk, High-Reward Contender

Let's dive deep into Outside Agents. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, and run by the dynamic duo of Steve Murphey and Chad Burt, Outside Agents has garnered a reputation for being one of the most agent-centric hosts in the industry.

The "Family" Philosophy

I have interacted with countless host agencies, and the culture at Outside Agents is distinct. It feels like a family. Steve and Chad are incredibly accessible, often hosting daily livestreams, answering emails personally, and fostering a community where "competition" is a dirty word. Their philosophy is that a rising tide lifts all boats. For a new agent who is terrified of making a mistake, this supportive environment is invaluable.

Barrier to Entry

The barrier to entry with Outside Agents is incredibly low. We will discuss specific costs later, but generally speaking, you can start your travel agency with them for the price of a nice dinner out. This low financial risk allows you to "test the waters" of the travel industry without liquidating your savings account.

Vendor Relationships

Despite being a "budget-friendly" option regarding fees, Outside Agents is a powerhouse in terms of sales volume. They are top-tier earners with every major cruise line and tour operator. This means that even as a brand new agent, you are earning the highest tier of commission from the vendor because you are piggybacking on Outside Agents' massive aggregate volume.

If you are looking for more comparisons involving Outside Agents, I have written extensively about how they stack up against others, such as in my article on Outside Agents vs Avoya Travel and Outside Agents vs Nexion Travel Group.

Cruise Planners: The "Green" Machine Franchise

On the other side of the ring in the Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners fight is the "Green Team." Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the largest home-based travel agent franchise in the nation.

The Power of the Brand

When you buy a Cruise Planners franchise, you are buying clout. The "American Express" affiliation alone can open doors that might otherwise be closed to a new independent agent. Clients trust the Amex brand; it implies luxury, security, and service.

Business in a Box

Cruise Planners is ideal for the person who says, "I want to start a business, but I don't know how to build a website, set up a CRM, create marketing materials, or structure my operations." They hand you everything. Their technology stack, CP Maxx, is widely regarded as one of the best all-in-one proprietary systems in the industry.

The "Cruisitude" Culture

Cruise Planners has a very distinct culture they call "Cruisitude." It is high-energy, very corporate-polished, and heavily focused on sales and marketing. Unlike the laid-back, family vibe of Outside Agents, Cruise Planners feels like a well-oiled corporate machine designed to maximize efficiency and profit.

For a broader look at how franchise models compare, you might want to read my analysis of Cruise Planners vs Dream Vacations.

Detailed Cost Analysis: Startup and Ongoing Fees

This is usually the deciding factor for 90% of new agents. The financial commitment required for Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners is drastically different.

Outside Agents Costs

Outside Agents is famous for its transparency and affordability.

• Startup Fee: Usually around $199 (often discounted during promotions).

• Monthly Fee: They typically offer two tiers. The standard tier is around $26/month, and the "Pro" tier (which includes more website features and email marketing) is around $46/month.

• Total First Year Cost: You are looking at roughly $500 to $800 to keep the lights on.

This low overhead is incredible. It means that with just one or two decent bookings, you have covered your entire operational cost for the year. This relieves the pressure to sell immediately, allowing you to focus on learning.

Cruise Planners Costs

As a franchise, the investment here is significant.

• Franchise Fee: The franchise fee typically hovers around $10,995. However, they frequently run specials where it might drop to $6,000 or vary based on experience.

• Training Fee: You must attend their "Star University" training in Florida. While the training itself is included in the franchise fee, you must pay for your airfare and hotel.

• Royalty Fees: This is a crucial distinction. Franchises charge royalties. Cruise Planners usually charges a royalty fee of 3% of your gross commissionable sales (decreasing as you sell more).

• Technology/Marketing Fees: There are ongoing monthly fees for their tech stack and marketing programs, often ranging from $50 to $100+ depending on the packages you select.

• Total First Year Cost: You are realistically looking at an investment of $12,000 to $15,000 upfront.

The Analysis

If you have capital and are treating this as a serious business investment where you want a turnkey solution, the $12k for Cruise Planners is actually quite reasonable compared to buying a McDonald's or a Subway franchise. However, if you are bootstrapping, Outside Agents wins this category hands down.

Commission Splits: Who Pays You More?

In the travel industry, you don't keep 100% of the commission the vendor pays. The host or franchise takes a cut to cover their support services.

Outside Agents Commission Split

Outside Agents offers an 80% split to start. This means if a cruise line pays a $1,000 commission, you keep $800, and OA keeps $200.

• Growth Potential: As your sales volume increases, your split can go up to 90% or even 95%.

• No Royalties: Remember, you keep that full 80-95%. There are no hidden "off the top" fees.

Cruise Planners Commission Split

Cruise Planners generally starts agents at 100% of the franchise's portion of the commission, but remember the royalty fee.

• The Math: It can be complicated. Because you are a franchise owner, you are theoretically getting the highest commission levels. However, you must deduct the royalty fee (approx 3%) from the Gross Commissionable Amount.

• Comparison: In my analysis, high-producing agents often find that the net income is comparable between the two, but the path to get there is different. With Outside Agents, you have to earn your way up to 95%. With Cruise Planners, you start high but pay royalties and high overhead.

To understand more about how commissions work in reality, I highly recommend reading my guide: How Much Does a Travel Agent Make Per Booking.

Technology and Tools: Proprietary Systems vs. Freedom

In the digital age, your technology stack is your lifeline.

Cruise Planners: CP Maxx

Cruise Planners wins the technology battle if you are looking for an all-in-one proprietary system. CP Maxx is a beast. It handles:

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

• Invoicing

• Booking engine integrations

• Marketing automation

• Mobile app for clients

It is seamless. You enter a client, and the system can automatically send them birthday cards, "bon voyage" emails, and welcome home surveys. It is designed to take the thinking out of the process.

Outside Agents: My Agent Gen & CRM Choices

Outside Agents provides a CRM and a website solution (often white-labeled versions of industry standards like ClientBase or proprietary intranet tools). They have recently rolled out new tech, but it is generally more "piecemeal" than CP Maxx.

• The Advantage: You are not locked into a proprietary system. If you leave Cruise Planners, you lose CP Maxx and potentially your data history if not exported carefully. With Outside Agents, you are free to use third-party CRMs like TravelJoy or Tern, which you own and control.

Marketing Support: Cookie-Cutter vs. Customization

Marketing is where the Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners debate gets interesting, and where I have the strongest opinions as a digital marketer.

Cruise Planners Marketing

Cruise Planners has a massive marketing engine. They send out beautiful, glossy magazines to your clients (branded with your name). They send weekly emails on your behalf. They provide social media posts.

• The Pro: It is "done for you." You don't have to lift a finger.

• The Con: It is cookie-cutter. Every other Cruise Planners agent is sending the exact same email at the exact same time. In the eyes of Google and social algorithms, this is duplicate content. It rarely helps with SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Outside Agents Marketing

Outside Agents provides a library of assets, images, and templates. They teach you how to market, rather than doing it for you. They have extensive training on social media growth.

• The Pro: You can customize it to your voice.

• The Con: You have to do the work.

For insights on growing your social presence, check out my guides on How I Grow My Instagram Account as a Travel Agent and How I Grow My TikTok Account as a Travel Agent.

The Branding Trap: Why You Must Build Your Own Identity

This is the most critical section of this article. Whether you choose Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners, there is a trap that new agents fall into: Relying on the host's provided website.

Both Outside Agents and Cruise Planners will provide you with a website.

• Cruise Planners: A subdomain site (e.g., cruiseplanners.com/yourname). It looks professional but is identical to thousands of others.

• Outside Agents: A white-label site that is functional but often lacks modern design aesthetics and SEO capabilities.

Here is the hard truth: You cannot build a long-term, high-value asset on rented land. If you use the provided website, you are building their SEO, not yours. If you ever leave Cruise Planners, that website disappears, along with any traffic you built up. If you leave Outside Agents, the same applies.

To truly succeed, you need a brand that is independent of your host. You need a website that you own, that ranks on Google for your niche, and that converts traffic into leads.

Why Travedeus is Essential for Agents of Both Models

This is where Travedeus changes the game.

I have tested every website builder on the market—Wix, Squarespace, WordPress. None of them are specifically engineered for the unique needs of travel agents like Travedeus is.

Why You Need Travedeus + Your Host

You might be thinking, "Why should I pay for a website when Cruise Planners gives me one?"

1. SEO Dominance: Travedeus websites are built for speed and SEO. They allow you to blog effectively (which you can't easily do on a franchise subdomain) and rank for terms like "Luxury Honeymoon Agent in [Your City]."

2. Lead Capture: Most host-provided sites are brochures; they are static. Travedeus sites are lead-generation machines. They utilize high-converting forms, lead magnets, and strategic layouts to turn visitors into paying clients.

3. Independence: If you start with Outside Agents and later decide to switch to a different host, or even become your own independent accredited agency, your Travedeus website stays with you. Your brand remains consistent. Your clients never know the backend changed.

4. Specialization: Whether you are focusing on safaris or destination weddings, Travedeus has templates specifically designed for those niches.

If you are serious about this industry, you need to treat your agency as a unique brand, not just a franchise number. Travedeus is the best travel agency website builder to make that happen.

• How to Make Your Own Travel Agency Website

• The Best Website Builder for Luxury Travel Agency

• Best Travel Agency Website Design Company in USA

Training and Education: Learning the Ropes

You cannot sell what you do not know. How do Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners compare in teaching you the trade?

Cruise Planners Training

"Star University" is legendary. It is an intense, in-person boot camp in Fort Lauderdale. You are immersed in the culture, the technology, and the sales techniques. For people who learn best in a classroom environment with structured curriculum, this is superior. They also offer hundreds of web-based training modules.

Outside Agents Training

Outside Agents uses a Learning Management System (LMS) that is self-paced. They have a massive library of videos, recorded webinars, and tutorials.

• Mentorship: Their secret weapon is their mentorship program. Experienced agents often help newer ones.

• Events: They host conferences and "FAM" (Familiarization) trips, but they are optional and pay-as-you-go, unlike the mandatory initial training of CP.

If you are a self-starter who can watch videos and figure things out, OA is fine. If you need someone to stand over your shoulder and guide you, CP's training is more rigorous.

Community and Culture: Where Do You Fit In?

I briefly touched on this, but let's expand. The loneliness of the entrepreneur is real.

The Green Team (CP)

Cruise Planners agents often wear green to industry events. They are a recognizable force. The culture is very "rah-rah," high energy, and sales-focused. It feels like being part of a large, successful sports team. There is a sense of prestige.

The OA Family

Outside Agents feels more like a grassroots movement. It is inclusive, diverse, and very supportive of the "part-timer" or the "hobbyist" as much as the million-dollar seller. There is less pressure to perform and more emphasis on finding your own path.

Comparison Matrix

To summarize the key differences in the Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners debate, I’ve compiled this data table:

The Verdict: Who Wins the Battle?

After analyzing Outside Agents vs Cruise Planners from every conceivable angle, here is my professional verdict.

Choose Cruise Planners If:

1. You have the capital: You can afford the $10k+ investment without stress.

2. You want structure: You want a boss (in the form of a franchise system) to tell you exactly what to do to succeed.

3. You want an all-in-one solution: You don't want to mess with setting up separate CRMs or email tools.

4. You value the Amex brand: You believe the American Express affiliation will help you close sales.

Choose Outside Agents If:

1. You are bootstrapping: You want to start with low risk and low overhead.

2. You value freedom: You want to build your brand, not promote a franchise.

3. You are tech-savvy: You are comfortable piecing together your own tech stack (website, CRM, email).

4. You want higher net commissions: You don't want to pay royalties on your hard-earned sales.

The Ultimate Winner? You (If You Build Your Brand)

Regardless of which you choose, the agent who wins is the agent who builds their own digital real estate. Do not rely solely on CP Maxx or the OA provided website.

My strongest recommendation is this: Join Outside Agents to keep your overhead low and your commission split high. Then, take the money you saved on the franchise fee and invest it into a custom, high-performance website built with Travedeus.

By doing this, you get the best of both worlds: the support and buying power of a massive host agency, and the branding and lead generation of a completely independent, professional travel business.

Visit Travedeus.com today to start building the digital foundation of your travel empire. The world is waiting for you to book it—make sure they find you first.

Deep Dive: Scenarios for New Agents

To ensure this guide meets the exhaustive needs of every potential agent, I want to walk through specific scenarios I have encountered in my consulting career.

Scenario A: The Retiree Traveler

Profile: Mary is retiring from teaching. She loves to travel and wants to book trips for her friends and family to supplement her pension. She isn't looking to build a massive corporation. Recommendation: Outside Agents. The low monthly fee means Mary doesn't have the pressure to sell. If she goes three months without a booking, she's only out ~$75. With Cruise Planners, the ongoing fees and royalties would eat into her casual earnings.

Scenario B: The Corporate Refugee

Profile: David was a marketing executive. He has a severance package and wants to replace his six-figure income within two years. He treats this as a serious business pivot. Recommendation: Cruise Planners. David understands the value of a "franchise system." He can utilize the "Business in a Box" to hit the ground running immediately. The marketing fees are worth it to him because he understands the cost of client acquisition. However, I would still advise David to build a Travedeus site to capture local SEO traffic that the corporate CP site might miss.

Scenario C: The Niche Specialist

Profile: Sarah wants to sell exclusively "Vegan Culinary Tours in Europe." Recommendation: Outside Agents + Travedeus. A franchise model like CP is too broad for a hyper-niche. CP's marketing is mass-market (Caribbean cruises, European river cruises). It won't help Sarah find vegan travelers. Sarah needs the flexibility of OA, but crucially, she needs a Travedeus website specifically optimized for keywords like "Vegan Travel Agent" and "Plant-based Europe Tours."

For more on niche website building, see:

• The Best Website Builder for European Tours Travel Agency

• The Best Website Builder for Adventure Travel Travel Agency

The Legal Implications of Your Choice

It is important to touch briefly on the legal differences, as this often confuses new agents.

The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)

Because Cruise Planners is a franchise, they are required by law to provide you with an FDD. This is a massive document (often 200+ pages) that outlines every fee, every litigation history, and the financial performance of other franchisees.

• My Advice: If you are considering CP, you must read the FDD. Do not skim it. It tells you exactly what you are signing up for.

The Independent Contractor Agreement

Outside Agents will have you sign an IC agreement. This is much simpler. It outlines that you are not an employee, you are responsible for your own taxes, and it defines the commission split.

• Flexibility: IC agreements are generally easier to terminate than franchise agreements. If you realize travel isn't for you, exiting OA is usually a matter of 30 days notice. Exiting a franchise agreement can sometimes involve penalties or complex asset sales.

Marketing Strategy: Beyond the Host

I want to circle back to marketing because this is where agents fail. You can pick the best host in the world, but if you can't get clients, you will fail.

The Limitation of Host Marketing

Both OA and CP provide "supplier-centric" marketing. They send emails saying "Royal Caribbean has a sale!" or "Save $500 on Sandals!"

• The Problem: This positions you as a commodity. It trains clients to look for price, not value.

The Travedeus Strategy

To succeed, you need "client-centric" marketing. You need to solve problems.

• Instead of posting a sale flyer, write a blog post on your Travedeus site titled: "5 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Disney Vacation."

• Use the AI tools I discuss in How to Use AI to Do Marketing for Travel Agency to generate content that positions you as an expert.

• Capture the email address of the reader using a lead magnet (e.g., a packing checklist).

• Nurture that lead with a newsletter. (See: How to Start a Newsletter as Travel Agent).

This ecosystem—Content -> Website -> Lead Capture -> Email—is something you have to build yourself. Neither Outside Agents nor Cruise Planners will build this custom funnel for you. This is why the website builder you choose is actually more important than the host you choose.

Final Thoughts on the Industry Landscape

The travel industry is booming. Post-pandemic "revenge travel" has settled into a sustained prioritization of experiences over goods. People are traveling more, and travel is becoming more complex. This complexity is the travel agent's job security.

Whether you choose the structured, corporate power of Cruise Planners or the flexible, high-commission freedom of Outside Agents, you are entering a noble profession.

However, remember this: You are the business. Not the host. Not the franchise. You.

Your knowledge, your service, and your brand are what clients are buying. Do not hide behind a generic "cruiseplanners.com" link. Do not settle for a basic white-label page. Invest in yourself. Invest in your digital presence.

Choose your partner wisely, but build your house on your own land with Travedeus.

If you are ready to take the next step in your marketing journey, explore these resources:

• The Ultimate 10-Step Travel Agency Marketing Plan

• Best Marketing Strategies for Travel Agency Growth

Good luck, and welcome to the world of travel.