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Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. In that case, you’ll want to contact the website that you booked through — not the cruise line (unless you booked through the cruise line’s website).
Cruise Search
Carnival Adds Features to Online Booking Tool for Travel Advisors - Travel Agent Central
Carnival Adds Features to Online Booking Tool for Travel Advisors.
Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:54:06 GMT [source]
In other words, these sites are more akin to having your own travel agent to help you with the booking process compared to only a website. If you’re a deal-hunter, there isn’t some magic website that has cruise fares for dramatically cheaper than everyone else (that we’ve ever found). 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 addition, cruise fares can be hard to understand and compare.
Hotel Reward Programs
Most specifically, travel agents are known for giving more personalized service than cruise lines, though some cruise sales representatives can be attentive and helpful. You can book a cruise through a huge travel retailer with branches around the country, a local cruise agency or even a home-based agent who will talk cruising with you at your local coffee shop. They are an invaluable resource, helping yousave time, money, and avoid the stress of vacation-planning. A travel agent is afulfiller of dreams, offering all the tips you need about our ships, activities, and destinations!
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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. When you think of Costco, you probably think of bulk food and toilet paper. But the next time you’re booking a cruise, it’ll be worthwhile to pull up Costco Travel, which is, unexpectedly, one of the best cruise websites. Many people think of Tripadvisor mainly as a travel review site, where you go to get real talk on hotels and attractions, and to see non-glamorized photos of places as seen through actual travelers’ eyes.
Remember, you might be a DIY type when booking airlines and hotels, but booking a cruise is more complex. If you enjoy doing your own research, focus on what to do and see in the ports of call. However, when it comes to booking the cruise, we recommend you still contact a travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you learn a few tips and avoid any rookie mistakes. While the bulk of a travel agent's income comes from commissions paid by the cruise lines, most travel agents also charge a small service fee ($15 to $30) for their time and effort, though not all do. Most travel agents who do choose to charge for their service are worth the expense, as they tend to be the most educated and well-traveled in the industry. 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.
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. Also look for any training the agent has done with individual lines. 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). Some travel agents also will monitor your cruise fare and, if the price drops, alert you to the difference and try to get you a refund, onboard credit or an upgrade.
Celebrity Cruises
In addition, you can look for affiliations with the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA), Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) or even AAA. 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.
You will likely run into a lot of questions to which you have no ready answer. Get hot holiday savings, travel inspo, and expert tips & tricks straight to your inbox. Your perfect vacation is out there, it’s time to discover it.
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. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.
They have done a great deal of research through familiarization trips and cruise line seminars, so you don't have to do the work yourself. Even better, agents often have access to special discounts or perks -- or know best where to find them -- and as the cruise lines pay their commissions, you don't pay more for their services and expertise. 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.
If the site offers a good incentive for booking through them, then know that you’ve found a good deal. If the incentive isn’t that strong or you don’t want to go through a third-party to your reservation, then booking directly through the cruise line is your best bet. In addition, these sites feature their phone number prominently for those who wish to talk to a person about their reservation. You don’t always find that with the large aggregation websites. Their staff are also focused on cruises, giving you someone who knows what they are talking about compared to someone with more general travel knowledge.
The cheapest base cruise fare does not always provide the best value or best overall vacation deal. If you'd like to book a cruise through a travel agent, you can pop into a downtown storefront or search for cruise sellers online. If you want to look for agents registered with travel organizations, here are some resources for finding agencies near you. Booking with a travel agent gives your transaction a personal touch -- you have a resource for asking questions and someone to contact if something goes wrong during your travels.
The good news is that cruise prices are usually the exact same across every single website you search. With a fleet of 14 megaships (and two small ships) offering over 330 ports of call, Princess Cruises Cruise Line is a terrific option for your next vacation. Holland America Line Cruises is committed to excellence with its Midsize 5-Star Fleet cruise ships, improved public areas and staterooms, as well as its onboard enrichment programs. Cunard Cruises is the leader in luxury cruising and sailing strong since the nineteenth century, the golden age of ocean travel. When you travel with Cunard, you'll see locations like Africa, the British Isles, and more amazing destinations.
Royal Caribbean Blog - Unofficial blog about Royal Caribbean cruises - Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean Blog - Unofficial blog about Royal Caribbean cruises.
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 16:35:40 GMT [source]
However, the big difference is that Costco offers special incentives to book through their site. For instance, a cruise might be priced the same as another website, but will have an offer of free onboard credit as an incentive to book through them. Every major cruise line allows you to book online and do everything from find a cruise to make upgrades, buy extras like drink packages, and pay for the trip.
