Start a Cruise Planners Franchise in 2026

Company Overview

About Cruise Planners

Industry	Recreation
Related Categories	Travel Agencies
Founded	1994
Parent Company	CP Franchising LLC
Leadership	Michelle Fee, CEO
Corporate Address	3111 N. University Dr., #800 Coral Springs, FL 33065
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1999 (27 years)
# of employees at HQ	137
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.
# of Units	3,063 (as of 2025)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Cruise Planners franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$695 - $10,995
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$1,945 - $20,505
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	$4,000 off $10,995 franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	1.5%-3%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	3 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

Classroom Training	84 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	Yes
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	Yes
# of employees required to run	1-2
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	No

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Cruise Planners landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Cruise Planners ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

Ranked #43 in 2026

Franchise 500

Ranked #8 in 2025

Fastest-Growing Franchises

Ranked #24 in 2023

Top Home-Based & Mobile Franchises

Ranked #4 in 2021

Top Part-Time Franchises

Ranked #4 in 2025

Top Franchises for Less Than $50,000

Ranked #8 in 2025

Top Franchises For Veterans

Cruise Planners is a travel agency franchise specializing in vacation planning and creating memorable itineraries for travels in the U.S. and abroad. Cruise Planners is headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida, and is now the most extensive home-based travel agent network in the United States.

The fact that its co-founder Michelle Fee is a travel enthusiast and professional has worked exceptionally well for Cruise Planners. When Fee helped start the company in 1994, she had a career as a travel agent and an unstoppable drive to reach the top. When industry retirees Lynn Korn and Marvin Davis joined in, the company's formula for growth yielded great results.

Why You May Want to Start a Cruise Planners Franchise

Cruise Planners is happy to welcome anyone with Cruisitude, a term coined by the company, referring to a positive, travel-inclined attitude or disposition in life. If you love to travel, are ready to commit to a travel-centric business, and share the company's vision for growth, Cruise Planners could be a good fit.

Cruise Planners seeks to have a family-friendly company with franchisees who come from diverse backgrounds, from retirees enjoying their encore career to young professionals escaping the 9-5.

Cruise Planners has been ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 many times in recent years. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

What Might Make a Cruise Planners Franchise a Good Choice?

Cruise Planners is a good franchise option for many reasons, mainly because of its presence in the travel industry. It is also home-based, which means you can run your business at your place and time.

Cruise Planners also provides proven, award-winning technologies, tools, and professional coaching for what they believe to be an affordable price. Cruise Planners may be one of the least expensive franchises in the market, with incentive programs for certain groups, such as military personnel, first responders, and independent travel agents.

To be part of the Cruise Planners team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should be prepared for ongoing fees that will include royalty fees.

Cruise Planners is known to be one of the best franchisees for veterans to open, ranking highly on Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Veterans multiple times in recent years.

How To Open a Cruise Planners Franchise

Once you meet the initial requirements to be a Cruise Planners franchisee, the team may get you on board with a video walkthrough, which gives you an overview of the franchise, its training programs, technologies, and more.

A more detailed presentation of the Cruise Planners franchise opportunity will come to you via their Franchise Disclosure Document. This will be followed by a mandatory multi-week waiting period, during which they will dig deeper into your financial background. If everything checks out, you can sign your franchise agreement and immediately begin working with the franchise team to get you started on your new venture.

More from Cruise Planners

Company Overview

Cruise Planners is the nation’s largest and most awarded home-based travel franchise.

Recognized by Entrepreneur as the #1 home-based travel franchise for 18 consecutive years, Cruise Planners supports a network of over 3,000 franchise owners who sell full-service travel packages, including cruises, land vacations, all-inclusive resorts, travel insurance, car rentals, and more.

Founded in 1994 by travel advisor and entrepreneur Michelle Fee, Cruise Planners pioneered a low-cost franchise model that empowers individuals to be their own boss, work from anywhere, and travel the world.

The Cruise Planners Business Model

Cruise Planners offers a low-cost, home-based franchise opportunity that empowers you to run your own independent travel business from anywhere. As a franchise owner, you’ll sell full-service travel experiences, including cruises, land tours, all-inclusive resorts, flights, travel insurance, car rentals, and more, while enjoying the flexibility to work on your own schedule.

What sets Cruise Planners apart is a low-cost proven business model designed for those who want to turn their passion for travel into a rewarding business. You don't need prior travel industry experience. We will guide you every step of the way.

Unlike many travel franchises, Cruise Planners’ corporate office does NOT sell travel or compete with franchisees. Our sole focus to support YOUR success. And since there’s no need for a storefront location, your business truly goes wherever you go, whether that’s your home office or poolside at a resort.

No prior travel industry experience is required for success as a Cruise Planners franchise owner. We provide comprehensive training and a personal business development coach who will be with you every step of the way to help establish and grow your business.

What’s included with the franchise cost

6-day training in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, hotel & airline allowance included
Access to 800+ web-based training courses
Business development coaching and ongoing support
Award-winning marketing programs
A custom CRM and booking engine with AI
Social media page design and supplemental management
Mobile tools to run your business from a smart phone or tablet
Consumer-facing mobile app for your clients to book travel
$1 million errors & omissions insurance protection
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Membership
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Membership

A Booming Industry

Demand for professional travel planning continues to grow as travelers seek personalized service, expert guidance, and support when planning complex trips.

Cruise Planners franchise owners operate within an industry that has demonstrated long-term resilience and adaptability, while building businesses aligned with modern lifestyle and work-from-anywhere expectations.

2026 Franchise Incentive

Fill out the form to claim your free trip before this deal expires!
*Program details and eligibility requirements apply.

New franchise owners are eligible for FREE TRAVEL as part of the 2026 franchise offering. *

Cruise Planners Travel Advisors are true travel professionals who offer a full range of travel services. Any vacation you dream up can be precisely planned out to accommodate your vacation needs.

Disclaimer

The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.

Updated: December 12th, 2022

For reprints and licensing questions, click here.

Update Your Listing | Submit New Listing