Smooth Sailing Ahead: Why a Travel Agent is Your Best Bet for Booking a Cruise

Using a travel agent might seem unnecessary especially with all of the booking options available these days, but in reality it should be a no-brainer.  Travel agents are far more than a booking service; they have a wealth of knowledge and experience that will take your vacation to the next level.  

Some reasons you might want to go it alone

• If you use a travel agent it will cost more

• You can book a cruise on your own and it will look just like the advertisements

• You already know where you want to go why do you need a travel agent

• If you book directly with the cruise line you will get the best offer

• You can book online and there is a special perk for you

• You are the one that always books your family or friends vacations

• You already have a deposit paid for your next cruise

If you use a travel agent it will cost more

Travel agents may charge a planning fee or they may work strictly on commissions from booked travel.  If a travel agent charges a planning fee they may still be less expensive than booking directly yourself.  Travel agents often have access to special group rates that can make your trip less expensive than advertised rates. You do not have to be a part of a larger group to benefit from these rates.  That only means that the travel agent or agency has reserved a block of rooms for that sailing and will be passing along the savings to their clients.  Before becoming a travel agent myself I was surprised to find that I could book through a travel agent for less than booking directly with the cruise line.

You can book a cruise on your own and it will look just like the advertisements

Cruise lines have great advertising and the amenities aboard the newest ships are mind blowing.  Those amenities are showcased in all of their advertising along with their private island destinations, specialty dining options and entertainment that may not be available across their fleet of ships. If you are celebrating a special anniversary you will be looking for a very different experience than if you are taking a family or multi generational cruise.  Travel agents know what ships provide the right amenities for your vacation and will tailor your trip accordingly.  A travel agent can suggest which cruise line, ship, and itinerary is best suited to meet your travel desires. 

You already know where you want to go why do you need a travel agent

Knowing where you are going or what you want to see is a great start.  Your travel agent is an important friend to have in your corner here.  They are an expert in making sure that your expectations are met.  They have knowledge of where you are going and what the highlights are of any port stops your ship will make.  They also know which ships or cruise lines will best serve you.  For example if you wanted to go to Alaska after hearing about your friend's amazing trip and the great train excursion they took. You probably don’t want to be on a sailing that doesn’t stop in Skagway so you can experience the White Pass & Yukon Railroad excursion.  

If you book directly with the cruise line you will get the best offer

Your travel agent knows what fares are available and can recommend the best travel solution for you.  When you book a great deal you will likely be missing out on some things that could be very important to you.  You might end up in a guaranteed cabin when you would really enjoy having a cabin in a more centrally located area or miss out on the benefits of booking at a different fare that includes amenities like drink packages, specialty dining, wifi, or prepaid gratuities.  Your travel agent will know what is important to you and can make sure that you are not adding on package upon package to get the vacation you are looking for when there is a better option available.

You can book online and there is a special perk for you

Maybe you are a member of a certain warehouse club, your credit card offers travel perks, or you found a special deal that is only one click away.  The idea of something for free is pretty appealing for most of us.  To be honest I have booked travel this way myself in the past.  What do you sacrifice when you take advantage of those offers?  It might feel like you are getting exactly what you want and hopefully you do.  But in reality you are missing a huge step in ensuring that you get the vacation of your dreams.  Nobody is asking you what you want and isn’t what you want the most important part.  Who is recommending the best options for you, you are doing all the work, and they are just processing your payment.  You already have too much work to do, don’t skip the step of using an expert that gets to know you and crafts the vacation you deserve.

You are the one that always books your family or friends vacations

You are the planner, the one that everyone counts on, the one that is the hero when everyone has the ear to ear smiles.  You do the research online, watch the YouTube videos and read the blogs (Thank You!).  If you use a travel agent will this even be your trip?  Of course it will, and you don’t have to miss out on any of the fun of planning your vacation.  Your travel agent will probably become your best friend leading up to your vacation.  They can suggest the right YouTube videos to watch, suggest which cruise line or itinerary would be best suited to your trip and help you decide on which excursions will give you the best experience.  You are still the super hero, but what super hero doesn’t have a side kick that seems to always save the day.

You already have a deposit paid for your next cruise

If you have been on a cruise you have probably received offers to make your deposit on a future cruise at a reduced rate and likely receive some on board credit that you can use on that cruise.  If you placed a deposit for a future cruise you can still use a travel agent, and why wouldn’t you.  With many cruise lines your travel agent will see your deposits and any special offers that might be available to you as a returning cruiser.  Cruise lines know that it is more cost effective to get people to cruise again than it is to find new cruisers and they do everything they can with loyalty programs and future offers to keep you as a customer.  They also know that your experience is elevated when you use a travel agent and the elevated experience is what keeps you coming back so they make it easy.

Enough already: Use a travel agent blah blah blah…

You need a vacation but all vacations are not created equal.  You can certainly spend hours upon hours researching to feel confident that you find the best option available.  Those hours of research, no matter how many, will not equal the experience and training that your travel agent has.  Would you buy a house without a realtor, or write a will without an attorney?  Don’t book your travel without a travel agent.  Visit www.bigatravel.com and schedule a time to talk about your next cruise vacation today.