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This means that our travel agents provide their clients with the best hotel rates, airline rates, car rental rates, travel insurance rates, and of course cruise rates, as we have done for the last 20 years. Outside of personal recommendations from friends and family, your best bet for finding a good travel agent is to visit the website of the cruise line(s) you're interested in. There you'll find a "Find a Travel Agency" search option, usually listed in the links toward the bottom of the homepage. You can also go to the Cruise Lines International Association's website and search the Cruise Expert Finder.
Travel agents continue to book independent cruise excursions - Travel Weekly
Travel agents continue to book independent cruise excursions.
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:09:35 GMT [source]
Best Cruise Travel Agents
Explorethe latest travel news, advice, updates, upcoming exclusive deals and more. If you'd like to plan your vacation with the advice of a travel advisor professional, we can help you locate a travel advisor near you.Simply enter your five-digit ZIP code (USA) or your postal code (Canada) below. When you book your cruise, you are often given the option to select your stateroom ahead of time. If you are not familiar with the ship, you may find yourself in a location that you deem undesirable, like near the nightclub or have an obstructed view. It is a lot to think about, but these are all decisions that a travel agent can guide you through. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but be aware if the agent seems to be putting you off the line you were originally considering, as this could be the reason.
How can I find a good travel agent for booking cruises?
If you have no idea how you would like to spend a day in port, they can provide some ideas on what you may like based on your preferences. They can even help arrange private tours if there are multiple highlights you'd like to visit. You might, for instance, see a fare listed online without the port charges, taxes and fees, which you only see after you give your personal details.
They can create a group rate and handle everyone's bookings
Even if the price is the same, these additional perks are often where the savings come in. Prepaid gratuities, for instance, can save you hundreds of dollars, depending on how many people are in your cruise group. The great thing about working with a travel agent is that you can give up as much (or as little) control as you would like. If you let them deal with the booking, you can handle all the fun add-ons, including airfare, pre-cruise hotel stays, dining and show reservations, drink packages, and shore excursions. Their expertise can help you avoid mistakes, whether you are a first-timer or a repeat cruiser checking out a brand you have not tried before.
You should also ask if the travel agency offers 24/7 assistance (usually an 800 number) in case you have last-minute questions or something goes wrong before or during your trip. Be aware that not all agents work with all cruise lines; some represent only a few preferred suppliers or specialize in higher-end cruises. In the weeks following the NCL incident, she expected her clients to raise concerns about third-party tours returning them to a ship on time but none have brought it up, she said. Venture Ashore said it has partnerships with several agency groups, including Ensemble and Nexion. Not only will they take care of all your travel arrangements including flights and dining reservations, but they will also offer advice on destinations. Here's why you should always, always use a travel agent when booking a cruise.
Questions to ask a cruise travel agent
These larger online travel agencies can be a good option for those who prefer to make decisions and ask questions via chat. 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.
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Yes, there are differences between booking directly with the cruise line versus using a travel agent. Most specifically, travel agents are known for giving more personalized service than cruise lines, though some cruise sales representatives can be attentive and helpful. Sometimes, cruise lines will make changes to your booking or sailing. Maybe you booked a cruise on one ship and it was later changed to another due to scheduling issues or dry dock maintenance. Once onboard, your ship may have to cancel or change a port of call at the last minute due to weather. In these cases, your travel agent acts as your advocate and a liaison between you and the cruise line.
Ready to Book
Unless you book a last minute cruise after the final payment date, you will most likely pay an initial deposit and pay it off over a period of time. If you handle the cruise booking yourself, you will have to remember to make these payments. Rather than leave these issues up to one person in the group, let the travel agent remind everyone about the final payment date and renewing passports. Your dining and entertainment options are determined by ship that you decide to sail. For example, some cruisers would rather be on a ship with multiple complimentary dining options, while others are more focused on elevated specialty dining experiences.
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]
Vacation Deals
Carnival does not verify that the contact information below is accurate or complete. There is so much more that goes into planning a cruise vacation than just picking the right cruise line and ship. Do you want to book any shore excursions or specialty dining experiences? Some cruise travel agents even throw in booking perks, such as a complimentary bottle of Champagne, awaiting your arrival in your cabin.
She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer. If you want a child-free vacation, you may want to consider sailing on Virgin Voyages. However, if you also want to purchase a drink package, you will have to expand your horizons.
Keep in mind you can also transfer a booking made onboard a cruise ship to a travel agent, as well. Travel agents also can help with any special arrangements, whether it's organizing a wedding ceremony in a port of call, ordering gluten-free meals, or dealing with accessibility or medical issues. They can also help with pre- or post-cruise travel, such as booking hotels and flights or arranging tours. Additionally, travel agents may have first access to sales, as cruise lines will often notify their partner agents of them before the general public!
Others will send information about your cruise line, ports you're visiting, packing lists and tips for an enjoyable cruise. Upon returning home from your cruise, some agents may reach out to see how the trip was; a rare few may even send you a welcome home gift. If this type of service is important to you, make sure to ask about it before booking. Agents with a CLIA Certification icon below their name have passed a rigorous program of courses designed to elevate their cruise travel expertise. Refer to the key on the right side of the results page to understand CLIA Certification levels. Cruise Travel Agents are perfect for those who want the best cruise travel agent deals, accommodations, onboard cruise credits, and all inclusive deals!
"I just can't verify all that by the time I'm booking the trip," she said of the quality of the guest experience and guarantees that clients will be returned to the ship on time. That higher likelihood of a ship waiting for guests booked on its own excursions leads some advisors to favor those tours, at least in regions where the advisor lacks relationships with local vendors. Most of the time, using a travel agent will not cost you anything extra than booking the vacation yourself, either! Based on your preferences, travel agents will help advise you on the best cabin locations. If, for instance, you are prone to sea sickness, they might suggest a cabin on the lower decks. 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.
Discover similar offerings your friends have taken advantage of for years! The secret is out, personalized travel agents get travelers better deals than what can be found on online travel agent websites such as Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, and more. Stop waiting for Groupon travel deals, and start gaining access to extra benefits such as onboard cruise credits, and many more amenities. The cruise travel agent should have questions for you as well, to better understand your dream vacation desires. If you are calling a cruise agency for the first time, the agent should be interviewing you as much as you are interviewing him or her.
You can search by geographic location if you want someone who lives near you or by expertise if you want someone who specializes in a specific line or type of cruise. Cruise Critic also recommends you look for agents with CLIA-accredited designations like ACC, MCC or ECC, as these indicate the agent has invested a lot of time and money into his or her cruise education. Other affiliations that are good signs an agent is legitimate are affiliations with the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA) and the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). Working with a good travel agent provides so much value and service, and they are an invaluable asset to all cruisers. You can also find experienced and certified cruise travel agents through CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association, which is the industry's main marketing group. Asking friends who have cruised to recommend a travel agent is another good idea.
High-end travel agents, like those that belong to the Virtuoso or Signature consortiums, will typically charge more, but they're less likely to sell mainstream cruises like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. Consortiums -- and there are several travel agency consortiums out there -- are groups of agencies that pay a yearly fee to participate in a large selection of shared programs and resources. One thing to note about booking through a travel agent is that if you want to ask any questions about your upcoming trip or your booking, you will have to speak with the specific travel agency that booked your cruise.
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