Stay in touch is the best way home based travel agents can do to get bookings

Richard Smith, in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., "Over 85 percent of my customers are over 50, and they love cruises, because they have the income, the time and the interest in new destinations.

His advice to agents interested in direct marketing: get database software and be constant about adding names and building communication by mail with your customers and prospects.

"Your sales relationship doesn't have to be face-to-face. You can send them postcards and cruise flyers, and they can send you money. You have to build up a relationship by offering them the right products and by staying in touch. If you do that, they'll stay in touch with you, and you'll get the bookings."