Cruises are an excellent vacation option for countless reasons. From the included amenities and meals on board to the various ports that you get to visit on your cruise, a cruise is always a vacation to remember. Because of their hassle-free, all-inclusive nature, many first-time cruisers choose to simply book their own cruise online. And while this is certainly a possibility, you miss out on a great deal of benefits that you would have received if you’d booked through a travel agent. Keep reading to learn more about these benefits.
Insider Knowledge
This benefit is especially important for those who have never been on a cruise before. A cruise is unlike any other vacation you’ve been on, and it’s important to know what to expect, as well as to ensure you’re getting the vacation you were hoping for. A travel agent has in-depth knowledge about the various cruise lines, their ships, amenities and on-board programs offered, dining options, and so on. When you work with a travel agent, you can utilize this knowledge to your advantage and ensure that you book your cruise on a ship that includes everything you were hoping for.
There will also be other decisions that you’ll have to make while booking your cruise, and the knowledge of a travel agent will be invaluable for making those choices. For example, a travel agent can inform you regarding the major differences between and locations of the different types of cabins on a ship so that you can choose a room that suits your needs, desires, and budget. Your agent won’t overlook any of these little details.
Complete Vacation Booking
Booking your cruise is actually only the first step in planning your cruise vacation. What port is your ship leaving from, and how will you get there? Will you need a hotel for a night or two before boarding your ship or after disembarking? What will you do at each or your ports of call?
Your travel agent can help you to go over all of your options and get every reservation necessary booked for you, so that your vacation plans are complete. From your flight to the port city to your onshore excursions and your trip home, a travel agent can handle it all for you, taking a lot of stress off of your plate.
Dealing with Emergency Changes
Sometimes, life will interfere with your vacation plans. If an emergency occurs and you can’t make it to your cruise ship before it departs, your travel agent can help you to contact the right people about how you should proceed. Of course, if you’re hoping for any type of refund, you’ll likely need to purchase travel insurance with the cruise line—another thing your agent can help you with.
If you did purchase the insurance, your agent can contact the right people at the cruise line for you and provide you with the necessary information regarding how to collect your refund. They can also contact any third-party companies handling your onshore excursions regarding possible refunds for those activities. Or, if you hope to catch up to your cruise ship, your agent may be able to help make travel plans to get you to one of your ports of call, where you could meet your ship and board to enjoy the rest of the cruise.
Assistance with Cruise Prep
If you book online yourself, nobody is going to give you any friendly reminders or travel tips to ensure you’re ready for your trip. But a travel agent can. Your agent can offer you reminders regarding getting your passport and other documents in order, when payments are do, and other important matters that, otherwise, you’d have to remember yourself.
Promotions and Packages
While cruise lines will offer certain packages and discounts online via their website, travel agencies also offer their own promotions on cruises—promotions that you’d be missing out on if you booked the cruise on your own. They can also look for discounted rates on excursion packages to give you the best cruise experience at the lowest price possible. You can view our current packages and promotions on our Deals page.
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or an experienced one, booking with a travel agent makes your vacation simpler, smoother, and less stressful. If you’re planning a cruise vacation, contact Cruise Elite today. Our concierge-level of service will get all of your vacation plans in order for you so that the only thing you have to worry about is enjoying the vacation of a lifetime.
