In a recent post on the Facebook group page Royal Caribbean Moms at Sea: A family cruising guide, a cruiser noted that her cabin on an upcoming sailing had obstructed windows. She wanted to know if she should switch to a nearby cabin.
The post got a lot of useful comments, including from people who had stayed in similar cabins and had booked into the same room. The poster made a decision based on input from others.
The active group of more than 43,000 members always seems happy to weigh in, whether offering tips on must-haves for cruising with kids, trip highlights or quick questions such as whether the cruise line will wash guests' soda cups between drinks
The catalyst for her travel agency, Moms at Sea Travel, was the creation of the Facebook group. The agency has four independent contractors who are based in Carmel. Moms at Sea has more than $3 million in sales and already has more than $1 million on the books for the next two years.
Moms at Sea booked over 200 passengers within two days of opening sales for Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas.
After spending most of her life thinking cruising wasn't for her, Ross decided to go on a cruise a decade ago. When she was dating Michael she took a trip to the Carnival Dream. Michael is a descendant of a family that owned a cruiser.
He asked if she wanted to go on a cruise and she said yes even though she wasn't fond of it.
The couple became frequent travelers. The Rosses have two daughters, one of which was booked on a cruise before her birth.
It was a pivotal moment in Ross' career when he sailed withAudrey on the Allure of the Sea.
She said that they got off feeling defeated and deflated because they didn't know about all of the amazing resources for children. I didn't use the nursery because I didn't know there was one.
She didn't know that diapered kids can't use the cruise ship pools and that the ship has a splash pad. On the first trip with her daughter, Ross had a lot of anxiety.
She started a Facebook group for women that has now grown to include all parents and is a place to discuss details and tips. It was meant to be a resource that goes beyond the level of detail cruise lines offer on their websites as well as a place to just talk about traveling with kids, including issues like the postpartum anxiety Ross experienced.
Ross said that it evolved. It isn't just a Facebook group. It's a group of people.
Ross continued to nurture the group despite the temporary halt to cruising caused by the Pandemic. Once cruising resumed, she continued.
Travel advisors in the group tried to help their members. "If anyone is going to sell these cruises and help these families, it's got to be me," Ross said.
She reached out to Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service for Royal Caribbean International, who shared resources with her.
There is a pier in Nassau with the Independence of the Sea behind it. Jamie Margolis Ross was the source of the information.
The Dream Vacations franchise was opened by Ross. The concept was introduced to the group by her. She said that it was a wave.
Freed said that Jamie wanted to spread the word on how families can enjoy cruising on Royal Caribbean. She provided tips for families on her Facebook page and helped families understand cruising as a great vacation.
She created an amazing business ranking as one of the top Dream Vacations franchise owners after transitioning her passion into selling cruises.
Ross believes she will end the year in the top 20 of Dream Vacations franchisees.
Moms at Sea is growing. Ross is in the process of hiring a team of experienced Disney cruisers to sell Disney Cruise Line, and from there she hopes to expand her product portfolio to include Adventure by Disney and Ama Waterways.
She wants to give other women the chance to get into the travel industry and balance their work and family lives. She wants to onboard as many contractors as possible.
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