Summary of Interview with Frankie Blankenship of Frankie Travels (Cruise Planners Franchise Owner)

Mark Murphy interviews Frankie Blankenship, a Cruise Planners franchise owner, about her travel business and recent cruise experience. Frankie explains that although Cruise Planners originally focused on cruises, it now offers a broad range of travel products, with her own sales split about 60% cruise and 40% land travel. She highlights Emerald Cruises’ luxury yacht product as a standout experience—featuring a 100-passenger, all-inclusive ship with water toys, elegant design, and a relaxed, flexible itinerary. Frankie shares that smaller cruise products like this appeal to clients who dislike the crowds of large ships and prefer boutique, immersive experiences.

She notes the importance of experiencing products firsthand to authentically sell them and explains how she uses social media and word-of-mouth to generate interest. For new agents, she advises investing in travel experiences to better connect with potential clients. Frankie also discusses how small ships like Emerald can access exclusive ports and how planning ahead is crucial due to limited cabin availability. Prices range from $4,300 per person for balcony suites to $13,000 for the owner’s suite, with premium options often selling out quickly.

Frankie stresses the value of being a "matchmaker" for clients—asking the right questions to pair travelers with the best-suited product. She compares her process to her own travel experiences on other small-ship lines like Windstar, Silversea, and Explora Journeys, all of which offer luxury, personal service, and less-advertised but high-quality options. She closes by reinforcing the importance for travel agents to be knowledgeable and solution-oriented, helping clients discover products they might not otherwise consider.