Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? We say yes.
Booking a flight or hotel room online is a familiar and fairly straightforward process. However, when booking a cruise—especially your first one—you may want to reconsider your motivation for handling the transaction yourself through the cruise line’s website or a low-cost online advertiser. This do-it-yourself approach may not be the best way to find your dream cruise vacation.
In reality, booking a cruise is not easy. You will probably have a lot of questions that you don’t have the answers to.
That’s where professional cruise agents come in. Their expertise can help you avoid mistakes, whether you’re a first-timer or a repeat cruiser looking into a brand you’ve never tried before.
Why you should book through a cruise travel agent
You should consider booking your cruise through a travel agent as a knowledgeable agent can help you understand the nuances of buying a cruise and help you make the best decision for your vacation preferences.
When you book a cruise, you are making a vacation decision that goes far beyond a flight or a night at a hotel. The ship you choose will determine your dining and evening entertainment options during your vacation. The itinerary you choose will influence the destinations you visit and the shore activities you can participate in. It can be difficult to evaluate your options if you have never been on a cruise before.
Additionally, cruise fares can be confusing and difficult to compare. For example, you may see fares listed online without port fees, taxes, and fees that you only see after entering your personal information.
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. There’s a lot packed into some fares and not so much into others. A travel agent can help you figure out what your cruise fare will get you. The cheapest base cruise fare doesn’t always offer the best value or the best overall vacation deal.
Related: 4 cases when you should use the services of a travel agency
You do not just book a seat for the general cruise on the ship, as you will be required to Select a specific cabin and when you like to dine. Making mistakes in these categories can ruin your cruise experience, as can things like “bad” cabins and dinner times (think: noisy or stuffy cabins, 8pm dinner with cranky kids, etc.).
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With a cruise, you typically don’t pay for the entire vacation up front, just a deposit, with the final payment due later. A cruise travel agent can ensure you don’t miss any due dates.
Remember, you can be a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to booking flights and hotels, but booking a cruise is more complicated. If you prefer to do your own research, focus on what to do and see in your ports of call. Read up on different types of ships, cruise lines, and itineraries. However, when booking a cruise, we still recommend working with a travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you learn some tips and avoid any beginner mistakes.
Travel agents can get better deals on cruises
If you’re worried that working with an agent will make your cruise more expensive, don’t worry. Cruise travel agents make most of their money through commissions from cruise lines. Their services to you are usually free, although some may charge a minimal fee for first-time customers. It’s worth it.
In addition to sharing their expertise, agents may have negotiated group space at a lower price with the cruise line, which can save you money on cruise fares. Agents may also have advance access to sale prices because cruise lines notify their agent partners and loyalty club members before they announce sales to the public.
Related: 6 ways to get a cheap cruise
Some travel agents even include booking benefitssuch as a complimentary bottle of champagne waiting for you upon arrival at your cabin.
How to find a travel agent for a cruise
Cruise lines prefer you use a travel agent rather than going online and booking directly. They have small reservations teams on site and if you have a question when booking, good luck getting a call to an expert in a timely manner.
Companies like Royal Caribbean And Carnival Cruise Line provides an online directory to help you find an experienced cruise travel agent near you.
You can also find experienced and certified cruise travel agents through International Cruise Associationthe industry’s main marketing group. Asking friends who have been on cruises to recommend a travel agent is also a good idea.
Related: 5 surprising places to sell yachts
You may get more personalized care from smaller companies than from larger online companies, although sites like icruise.com, cruise.com, and cruise411.com also have experienced cruise agents. These larger online travel companies can be a good choice for those who prefer to make decisions and ask questions over chat. Just make sure you have the name and phone number of a representative to ask any follow-up questions.
Questions to ask a cruise travel agent
When choosing a cruise agent, you’ll want to tap into their specific expertise on the cruise line and ship you’re considering. Anyone can read a deck plan that outlines the ship’s spaces (you can find them online), but you’re looking for someone who really knows their stuff.
Look for tour operators that only offer cruise services or an in-house agency that specializes in cruises. If you are using a full-service tour operator, ask for the cruise desk.
Here are some questions you can ask a travel agent to determine their level of expertise:
- How often do you travel?
- Have you gone down the route I’m considering?
- Have you been on the cruise I’m considering, or do you have any customers who have been on that cruise and can share their vacation reviews?
- Do you know directly about the destination of the cruise? Itinerary?
You should also ask your travel agent if they have any preferential relationships or negotiating agreements with any particular carriers that might give you special benefits.
Please note that not all agents work with all cruise lines; some represent only a few preferred suppliers or specialize in higher-end cruises. They receive larger commissions from their preferred lines.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but be aware if the agent seems to be distracting you from what you were originally considering, as this could be the reason. On the plus side, an agent who is a preferred supplier may have negotiated a price with the cruise line and can call in to ask for help, such as a bottle of champagne or a cabin upgrade.
You should also ask if the tour operator offers 24-hour support (usually via an 800 number) in case you have last-minute questions or something goes wrong before or during your trip.
The cruise agent should also have questions for you to better understand your dream vacation desires. If you are calling a cruise company for the first time, the agent will be interviewing you as much as you are interviewing them. The agent will focus on helping you choose cruise lineThe right ship and cabin for you. Making the right choice is important to your overall cruise experience.
The last line
Booking a cruise is a complicated process. A cruise travel agent will guide you through cabin and dining options, deposit and final payment, as well as shore excursions and specialty dining options. If you need to cancel your trip, the agent will also help you through the refund process. Booking with an experienced agent will save you a lot of stress before and during your vacation.
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