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Not only should you interview prospective luxury cruise travel agents, but he or she should want to interview you as well. A good agent will want to talk with you about the sorts of travel experiences you've had -- ones that you've loved as well as the ones that have fallen flat. If the travel agent starts recommending cruise lines without getting to know you first, take that as a red flag and look elsewhere.
How to Become an Agent for Cruises
In addition to sharing their expertise, the agent may have negotiated group space at lower rates with the cruise line, which could save you money on the cruise fare. The agent might also have first access to sale prices because the cruise lines notify their agent partners and loyalty club members first before they announce a sale to the public. Some travelers prefer doing business with larger agencies that employ dozens or even hundreds of agents. While you'll build a relationship with a particular agent, some like the idea of having the heft of a large and influential player behind them.
Extra Perks
Once you've chosen your cruise and, with the agent's help, matched your style with your vacation goals, you've got to book the trip. Your agent will also be able to sort out travel insurance, if required, and will collect payment for the cruise (usually a deposit at the time of booking and the full amount 60 to 90 days before departure). In addition, the agent can help you with the rest of your travel plans, such as pre- or post-cruise stays, airfare and transfers.
Why you should book through a cruise travel agent
Become an agent for cruises by learning everything you can about cruise ships and destinations, practicing your sales techniques, and selling vacations. Our local travel agents near you are also very experienced, with many traveling around the world to the hottest vacation destinations. They also have developed special partnerships and business relationships with top travel providers that you will benefit from once you become the travel agent’s client.
How to Get the Best deal on a Cruise
They'll often have more complete knowledge of your choices than a generalist. For example, if you want to cruise one of Europe's rivers in an intimate riverboat, you might not want to book with an agent who specializes in selling holidays on 3,000-person mega-ships. Cruise lines will not talk to you if you have booked through a travel agent. This can be frustrating if your travel agent is out sick or on vacation, or if the travel agent has made a mistake and is not fixing it. As in all professions, some agents are more helpful and easier to work with than others.
Is there a difference between booking directly with the cruise line and booking with a travel agent?
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. Explorethe latest travel news, advice, updates, upcoming exclusive deals and more. Cruise companies are using artificial intelligence (A.I.) in a wide array of applications, from itinerary planning to predictive sales tactics to supporting their decarbonization efforts. Cruise lines are building a plethora of new ships—and they’re counting on travel advisors to help fill them. We are a team of global travelers and cruise enthusiasts with several combined decades of experience in providing world-class luxury travel to our clients.
Questions to ask a cruise travel agent
The level of service and interaction you can expect to receive from a travel agent after booking your cruise varies significantly. Some travel agencies will simply send you a booking confirmation letter within a day or two of booking and a payment reminder as the final payment date nears. Others will send information about your cruise line, ports you're visiting, packing lists and tips for an enjoyable cruise.
The agent will keep you in his or her database, alert you to deals or sales and can even suggest future trip ideas. So, you've decided to go on a cruise -- perhaps your first venture on a vacation at sea -- and you're a little overwhelmed. You have to consider how much you're willing to pay, whether to book an inexpensive inside cabin or splurge on a suite, and which cruise line and ship are right for you. Add dinner seatings, shore excursions and cabin location to the list, and planning a relaxing getaway suddenly seems like a second job. Have you booked a cruise using a travel agent or directly with the cruise line?
Tips
You aren't just booking general passage on a ship, either, as you will be asked to pick a specific cabin and when you prefer to dine. Making a mistake in these categories can ruin your cruise experience, as there are such thing as "bad" cabins and dining times (think noisy or claustrophobic cabins, dinner at 8 p.m. with cranky children, etc.). One of the most important things to determine when vetting agents is whether this person's communication style meshes with yours. Are you the type that wants your agent to answer the phone on the first ring?
Oftentimes, a luxury cruise travel agent can find you discounted cruise fares or offer value-added perks you can't get from booking through the cruise line or an online booking site. Your agent might be able to find a lower cruise fare or get you an upgraded stateroom or suite for the same price as the entry-level cabin. He or she might have access to special discounted group rates or exclusive pricing that the lines only offer to their top agents. The travel agent has a top-down view of pricing and availability, and can identify the best deals and pass along that data to you. Good travel agents also watch for fare drops and do their best to snag you a refund or upgrade you to a better cabin/suite. Luxury cruise travel agents go above and beyond, and they do that by forming strong relationships with their clients.
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Those databases can be a good place to find an agent if you haven't received a recommendation form a friend. Cruise lines that maintain online databases of agents specializing in their cruises include Azamara, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and Silversea. Alternatively, you can call your cruise line of choice to inquire if they have a list of recommended agents. 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.
Along with group pricing, they might have special perks to offer like onboard spending money, prepaid gratuities, a free bottle of wine or comped dinner in a for-fee restaurant. 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.
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. 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.
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. In addition, agents occasionally give you extra value on your booking -- such as prepaid gratuities, a free bottle of Champagne or onboard credit -- to sweeten the deal. And if the price of your cruise drops after you book, a good agent will notice and refund you the difference in fare. Finally, as cruise lines pay agent commissions, you don't have to worry about paying extra for their planning services. A cruise travel agent will guide you through choosing your cabin and dining times, deposits and final payment, and options for shore excursions and specialty dining.
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. On the plus side, an agent who is a preferred supplier might have negotiated rates with the cruise line and be able to call in favors, such as that bottle of Champagne or a cabin upgrade. Going online to book an airline ticket or hotel stay is a familiar and fairly easy transaction.
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