Dream Vacations/CruiseOne has raised the bar for travel advisor training, becoming the first CLIA Premier Agency Member to receive elective credits for their franchise education program.
The announcement was made this morning during the final general session of the 2025 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne National Conference, which is taking place on board the brand-new Star Princess and is set to wrap up tomorrow morning.
The evaluation process, conducted by CLIA’s Senior Manager of Industry Training, Maria Fonseca, assessed the program’s multi-phase structure—including online foundational learning, live instructor-led training and an onboard ship inspection. As a result, participants who complete the program now earn 40 CLIA elective credits and one ship inspection credit, fulfilling more than half of the requirements toward achieving CLIA’s prestigious Certified Cruise Counselor (CCC) certification.
Designed to support franchisees in balancing business ownership with travel advising, the refreshed program begins with Franchise Foundations—business setup, ethics and operational know-how—and progresses to instructor-led training that builds sales confidence, destination insight and mastery of Cruise Control, the brand’s proprietary booking engine.
“We’ve redefined what professional travel education looks like,” said Charity Santiago, VP of Training and Events for Dream Vacations/CruiseOne, during the announcement. “From day one, you gain CLIA elective credits, real-world experience and structured learning that blends foundational business skills with travel expertise. This isn’t orientation—it’s a launchpad for building a profitable travel business with recognized industry credentials and a competitive edge.”
“This milestone underscores our mission to elevate professional standards in cruise sales and support our CLIA Premier Members with forward-thinking recognition of educational excellence,” said Charles Sylvia, ECC, VP, Industry and Trade Relations, CLIA, in a media statement. “By awarding elective credits to Dream Vacations and CruiseOne’s Initial Training, we’re empowering new franchise owners to accelerate their careers and reinforcing the value of certified cruise travel expertise across our community.”
As a CLIA Premier Agency Member, Dream Vacations and CruiseOne advisors also receive four complimentary CLIA courses.
