Abel Prieto joins The Next 100 Days podcast to discuss InCruises as a side gig opportunity and its business model.

Summary of the Podcast

Key Takeaways

• Unique Membership Model: InCruises doubles members' monthly contributions (e.g., $100 → $200) into "Reward Points" for travel, forcing savings and guaranteeing a minimum 25% discount on bookings.
• Strategic Growth Engine: The affiliate model is a key driver for cruise lines, as 75% of InCruises' travelers are first-time cruisers—a market segment the lines struggle to reach directly.
• Significant Income Potential: The UK market is largely untapped. A mid-level goal of building a team generating ~$250k/month in sales yields a personal income of ~$50k/month (~£38k).
• Watertight Affiliate Tracking: The referral-link-only sign-up process prevents commission loss, a common problem with cookie-based affiliate programs.

The InCruises Business Model

• InCruises (corp. name: InGroup) is a travel club founded in 2016 by Frank Codina. Abel was onboarded as a Communications expert.
• Membership Tiers:
• Member: Pays a monthly fee (e.g., $100 or $250) which the company matches 100% in "Reward Points."
• Example: A $2,000 cruise costs the member $1,000 in cash and $1,000 in company-matched points, representing a 50% total value.
• Guaranteed Savings:
• Using Points: 25% minimum discount.
• Using Cash (Insider Pricing): 17% minimum discount.
• Key Rule: Points are for travel only and are non-refundable, ensuring members use them for vacations. They are transferable upon death.
• Partner: An affiliate who sells memberships.
• Partner Member: Both a paying member and an active affiliate.
• Company Profitability:
• Wholesale Pricing: InCruises buys travel inventory at wholesale rates.
• Commissions: Earns commissions from cruise lines on bookings.
• Unused Points: Profits from points that are never redeemed.

Market & Opportunity

• Growth:
• Sales: $350M in 2023.
• Customers: 750k+ travelers.
• Inventory: 21k+ cruises, 430k+ hotels, 350k+ tours.
• Untapped Markets: The UK and Europe are largely unpenetrated, offering significant growth potential.
• Demographic Shift: Cruising is attracting a younger audience with more diverse offerings (e.g., Virgin Cruises, onboard activities), expanding the market beyond traditional demographics.

Building a Business with InCruises

• Affiliate Model: Partners sell memberships, not individual travel bookings.
• Income Potential (UK Context):
• Mid-Level Goal: Generate ~$250k/month in team sales.
• Required Team: ~500–1,000 paying members.
• Resulting Personal Income: ~$50k/month (~£38k).
• Graham's Initial Strategy:
• Initial Test: A careers fair booth with a costumed "stewardess" (Karina) and leaflets to gauge interest.
• Target Audience: Affluent individuals (45+) who can afford the monthly membership.
• Leverage Existing Assets: Use the "finelyfettled" database of 278k cruise-takers for targeted outreach.
• Future Innovation: Develop an AI-powered "core agent" to provide personalised travel recommendations, adding value beyond the standard platform. 

The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts

Graham Arrowsmith

Graham founded Finely Fettled in 2014 to provide data from The UK High Net Worth Database to marketers targeting affluent and high-net-worth customers. He's the founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, creating lead generation AI Agents & Workflows and introducing the MeclabsAI Platform. Graham also provides an Answer Engine Optimisation solution to get your website in shape to be found by LLMs. Through his https://upperdeck.cruises website, Graham introduces people to inCruises. Become a member today by clicking here

Kevin Appleby

Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com