Table Of Content
Just make sure you get the name and phone number of the representative for any follow-up questions. Companies such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line provide online directories to help you find an experienced cruise travel agent near you. Plus, the price of your cruise includes accommodations, meals, entertainment and activities — and in some cases drinks, tips, shore excursions, Wi-Fi and other extras. The cheapest base cruise fare does not always provide the best value or best overall vacation deal. However, the disadvantages of using a travel agent include not having control over all aspects of your booking. You’ll have to communicate with your cruise specialist for questions and changes you wish to make.
Questions to Ask Your Travel Agent or Cruise Specialist
Explorethe latest travel news, advice, updates, upcoming exclusive deals and more. Without being able to compare prices, it can be a challenge to determine the best site for booking a cruise. To make it easier to compare, we priced out a 7-night Caribbean cruise for two adults. Executive Members earn 2% back on Costco Travel purchases and receive additional benefits on select packages. Plus, Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi cardholders earn 3% cash back rewards on Costco Travel purchases.
Cruise Lines
Travelers can filter search results by destination, cruise line or departure port on various ships. This site offers cruises for every type of traveler, from budget to luxury, and every type of ship, from riverboats to mega-ships. Its message boards offer ways for website visitors to ask questions and share feedback with others based on their personal experiences and opinions. The site also acts as a metasearch for cruise deals, pulling in prices from multiple cruise websites.
Booking a Cruise with a Travel Agent: Pros
This will come as a surprise to many, but when you book a cruise, the service of your travel agent is free. The price will not be higher than booking with the cruise line directly. Now this doesn’t mean they don’t get paid, but rather that the cruise line pays a commission to them directly. Travel agents who specialize in selling cruises, are often referred to as Cruise Specialists or Cruise Consultants.
The Pros and Cons of Cruises
Some cruise travel agents even throw in booking perks, such as a complimentary bottle of Champagne, awaiting your arrival in your cabin. Those who choose to cruise enjoy having an all-inclusive vacation, where their accommodations, food and entertainment are all paid for ahead of time. The job of a cruise agent is to help customers choose the cruise that is right for them. Cruise agents sell cruise packages and make recommendations to customers who are not sure what they want.
Imagine Cruising
Cruise Planners/American Express Cruise Travel Agents specialize at selecting destinations that work well with their clients specific interests. Our cruise travel agents are also experts at letting travelers know the best time of year to travel to their destination of interest. The last thing we want is for you to spend your vacation in bad weather. A good travel agent will also get to know your travel style and guide you to the cruise line, ship and even room type that are best for you. Contrary to what you might expect, travel agents might actually be able to get you better deals than internet retailers or even the cruise lines themselves. The best travel agents have access to discounted group rates and exclusive cruise pricing that's not found anywhere else.
Questions to ask a cruise travel agent
The Best Ways to Book a Cruise - NerdWallet
The Best Ways to Book a Cruise.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:01:35 GMT [source]
Use the search tool to locate agents in your area with a variety of levels of CLIA training. Most cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, have some version of a "Find a Travel Agency" search tool on their homepage. In most cases, its located in one of the menus located near the bottom of the page. While this is great, who is available if you have a question or need assistance?
Extra Perks
In most cases, larger agencies or franchises have huge influence and buying power with the cruise line. This can mean better pricing on some cruises and/or some extra perks or amenities. While many travel agents will try to keep an eye on price drops, the reality is it can be missed. Did you know that many cruise lines will adjust your cruise fare if it drops before final payment? Often it needs to be on the same cabin category and it won’t be combinable with past promotions, but it’s always worth checking. Cruise Planners travel agent is merely a selling agent and makes no warranty expressed or implied.
Vacation Deals
If you're searching for cruises on a third-party website, you may question the legitimacy of that site. This is especially true if the site doesn't look professional or some of the information is outdated. When looking for the best way to book a cruise, the price is virtually the same on every website. In some cases, booking directly with the cruise line can be best because it eliminates a third party. If there's a problem with your reservation or you need to make a change, you don't have to worry about the booking site and the cruise line pointing fingers at each other. If you want to earn hotel points on your cruise, Marriott Cruise with Points is the best cruise website for you.
Travel agents can bring our attention to other cruise lines and travel experiences, especially as you may want to plan some of those bucket list cruises. You can book your cruise with a travel agency or directly through the cruise line. This can mean using a local travel agency or booking online through a cruise vacation website. From our findings, here are the top cruise booking sites for your next vacation, plus the pros and cons they offer travelers. Unlike when booking online, you can't book a cruise with an agent in the middle of night; you'll have to arrange times to talk during the agent's business hours.
Often, those working for larger agencies or franchises will have a main contact number if the need arises. Cruise specialists are also aware of more than one cruise line, and for avid or repeat cruisers, this can be especially useful. What we loved about the cruise line we sailed with when the kids were young, may not be the best fit years later. According to the Cruise Line International Association, when people did use a travel agent, they reported a high degree of satisfaction with the advice, knowledge and value received. However, there are some instances when some people will prefer to book directly with the cruise line. I’ll also go through some of the most important and frequently asked questions about booking a cruise.
In choosing a cruise travel agent, you will want to tap into the person's specific expertise about the cruise line and ship you are considering. Anyone can read a ship deck plan outlining ship spaces (which you can find online), but you are looking for people who really know their stuff. Cruise lines prefer that you use a travel agent rather than going online and booking directly. They have small in-house reservation teams, and when you have a question while making a booking, good luck in getting an expert on the phone in a timely manner. Your cruise specialist will take care of everything you need, and manage all the reservations. If you’re planning a group cruise with friends or family (like a multi-generational cruise), the travel agent will work with each party to make sure all their questions are answered.
But, your relationship with an agent doesn't tend to end after one trip. The agent will keep you in his or her database, alert you to deals or sales and can even suggest future trip ideas. You will also want to ask the travel agent if they have a preferred relationship or negotiated agreement with any specific lines that could lead to special perks for you. Have you booked a cruise using a travel agent or directly with the cruise line? Please let me know any questions, as well as any tips that you may have. When booking a cruise with a travel agent, there’s no additional cost, and it may be cheaper in some cases.
Additionally, trips booked through this site are eligible for promotions offered by the cruise lines. You should consider an online booking if you're an experienced cruiser, know exactly which sailing and cabin you prefer and are savvy about finding the best deal. You should also book online if you're the kind of person who enjoys the research process and wants to use Web-based resources to plan the perfect cruise. The upside to booking a cruise online is you have many options and can do your travel research and purchasing at whatever time is most convenient to you.
Remember, you won't just be using the ship as a home base, like you do with a hotel; it will be your home, restaurant and entertainment venue for a week or more. The right ship and itinerary can make your vacation that much more enjoyable -- and an agent can help you determine the best selection for your tastes. In addition, an agent can answer any questions or assuage any apprehensions you might have about taking a cruise for the first time. With everyone attached to their phones, laptops and tablets, many people assume that online is the only way to book travel. But, as booking online can often be confusing, a travel agent might be just what you need.
No comments:
Post a Comment