Reach US travellers on the app that works once they leave port.
SMS still dominates at home, but WhatsApp is the app American travellers use abroad and the one many international and Hispanic customers prefer every day. Squarebox adds an official WhatsApp channel for US cruise agencies and travel advisors, alongside the channels you already use.
How customers here actually use it
WhatsApp use in the US has been growing steadily, and it is especially common among international customers, Hispanic communities, and anyone who travels abroad. Once a traveller is on a ship or in another country, SMS often stops working while WhatsApp keeps going over Wi-Fi.
For a US cruise agency, that makes WhatsApp the natural channel for everything that happens after booking: documents, pre-departure checklists, in-trip updates and changes. It works well alongside SMS and email rather than replacing them.
US time zones span six hours on the mainland alone. The agent covers the hours your team isn't working, and campaigns go out in each recipient's local time.
The US cruise market
The US is the largest cruise source market in the world, with major homeports in Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale, plus Galveston, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. Caribbean and Bahamas sailings make up much of the volume, with Alaska, Europe and Hawaii close behind.
Host agencies and independent advisors handle a lot of this business. Squarebox works for both: a shared inbox for the host with visibility across advisors, and individual conversations each advisor owns.
What's different about our setup in US
Works abroad over Wi-Fi
Travellers keep getting your messages on the ship and overseas, where SMS often fails.
English and Spanish
Replies in English or Spanish automatically, plus any other language a customer writes in.
Host agencies and advisors
Route by advisor, region or language, with oversight for the host.
Local-time sending
Messages scheduled for each recipient's time zone, respecting quiet hours.
The rules we build around
This is a summary of how we approach the rules, not legal advice. Your own lawyer should confirm how they apply to your business.
Consent first
Whether federal telemarketing rules apply to app-based messages is still debated, so we treat marketing consent as if they do. Opt-in is required by WhatsApp anyway.
State rules and quiet hours
Some states, Florida among them, have their own rules on marketing messages and when they can be sent. Campaigns respect the recipient's local time.
State privacy laws
We act as your service provider under state privacy laws such as California's, processing data only to deliver the service.
What businesses here switch on
Languages we commonly handle here
WhatsApp Business in US: common questions
Other markets and industries
Let's set up WhatsApp for your business in US
Book a 30-minute meeting. We'll look at your customers, your languages and the rules that apply here, then send a proposal with per-message rates and the infrastructure fee.
Scan to chat on WhatsApp+91 99018 0552130-minute meeting · Written proposal in 2 working days · Official WhatsApp Business Platform