Position Title: CRUISE SPECIALIST – ABERCROMBIE & KENT USA & CANADA DMC Full-time – Home-based in Major USA Port City, Seattle-area preferred, or in Company Headquarters in Boulder, CO. Other locations will be considered.

JOB OBJECTIVE:
Contribute to the success of the Cruise Team in delivering high quality shore excursions, pre- and post-cruise itineraries and extended land programs within the USA and Canada for our Cruise clients. In this position you will join Abercrombie & Kent USA & Canada DMC, a division of Abercrombie & Kent, an international company widely regarded as the leading luxury travel company in the world. Abercrombie & Kent was founded in 1962 and has grown into an international travel group with 56 offices in 30 countries.

POSITION SUMMARY
• Assist with development and execution of all cruise services, through all stages of the process up to and including cruise quayside operations.
• Maintain and grow Akorn and Abercrombie & Kent’s cruise business in The United States and Canada.
• Develop new and innovative cruise products including shore excursions, pre and post cruise itineraries and extended land programs.
• Conduct and coordinate site inspections when needed.
• Liaise with Cruise Manager or Operations Manager to ensure the pier side is covered for all cruise related operations.
• Liaison between Abercrombie & Kent and suppliers, keeping excellent relationship and capability of negotiating for both supplier and company benefit.
• Ensure quality of the ground services and products.
• Attend industry conferences, building relationships with prospective suppliers and clients.
• Alaska Inside Passage shore excursion/tour business experience a plus

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• All duties and responsibilities are to be performed in accordance with Abercrombie & Kent standards, Akorn standards and any other guidance/instruction given by upper management.

• Each employee may be required to perform all functions in various services venues across the United States and Canada throughout the Cruise Season, with a focus on the Alaska Inside Passage.

• Preparation of formal proposals to cruise lines, including costing and pricing.

• Each employee always conducts oneself in a professional and courteous manner. This consists of physical and verbal interactions with guests or fellow employees and/or in the presence of guest contact and working areas.

• Provides excellent customer services with regard to tour sales, refunds, complaints, and general port information.

• Works the assigned shifts on the office, the pier, or other venues as directed by the Cruise Manager or Operations Manager and operates computer terminal tasks.

• Prepares and submits all required reports, proposal, quotes or any other document within the deadlines establish by the client, Cruise Manager, Operations Manager or any other member of upper management.

• Handling a cash float when necessary, giving to Cruise Manager or Operations Manager the expense report upon completion of the designated operation.

• Provides training to new staff members (if required by upper management).

• Coordinates port operations when required with suppliers and/or port authorities.

• In conjunction with the Cruise Division Manager and Operations Manager, meets with shipboard staff, to reconciles sales and ensure quality assurance.

• May conduct scheduled site inspections.

• Participates in maintaining tour information, descriptions, and logistic details up to date. May rewrite copy or work with the USA TOC in order to have consistency in the product promised to final customers.

• Attends meetings, training activities, courses and all other work-related activities as required.

• Performs related duties as required. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor or management.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum hiring, language, and physical requirements to perform the job.

• 3 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry, with direct cruise experience preferred.
• Knowledge of luxury customer service preferred.
• Knowledge of ports-of-call and associated tours preferred, especially Alaska Inside Passage ports.
• Ability to sell, up-sell and cross-sell tour products and services.
• Ability to apply customer service skills, according to Abercrombie & Kent standards, when interacting with clients and coworkers.
• Ability to develop a new destination from port contact, product development and logistics.
• Working knowledge of computers, Internet access, and the ability to navigate within a variety software of packages such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
• Completion of Associate or Bachelor College Degree preferred.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
• Ability to speak English clearly, distinctly, and cordially with clients and customers.
• Ability to read and write English in order to understand and interpret written procedures. This includes the ability to give and receive instructions in written and verbal forms and to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients, supervisors, and co-workers
• Ability to speak additional languages such as French (Preferred), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or German a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND AVAILABILITY:
Good physical condition required for travel and occasional work in ports of call.

Employee must be willing to work for long periods on occasion to meet deadlines and when ships are in port (early hours, late hours), including weekends if required by the client and/or the operation.

Salary: $50,000-$60,000

Please send cover email and attach resume. We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.