Cruising Basics
Why should I use a travel agent?
Let's face it, we're biases but we really do believe there are 10 really good reasons you should use a travel agent.- Travel Agents take care of all the details. CruiseExperts.com is a travel agency that specializes in cruises. Planning a cruise vacation can be complicated because of all the options—cabin type, cabin location, where and when to cruise, ports/itinerary, excursions, extending the vacation on land, airfare, shuttles, hotels and more. We can make recommendations and help you plan your entire vacation down to the last detail.
- Reputable travel agents are CLIA certified. In our main office located in central California, we have multiple agents that work hard at finding the right fit for each and every client, based on training in specific travel categories—and by no means do we sway our clients choices based on a bonus or commission advantage. In fact we don't let our travel supplier partners provide incentives to our agents so there's never a question of whether they are looking out for your best interest. We find out what our client's needs are, and research to find the best product at the best prices to meet their needs. The top priority for our agents is for you to have a memorable and fun trip so you'll come back for more.
- Travel agents stay up-to-date on "flash" promotions from the cruise lines. Our agents have years of experience and know when the deals are real, and therefore understand the importance of clients booking special "flash" promotions quickly before they're gone. Sometimes promotions only last a day or two. We work hard to make sure our clients know about these great deals and have a chance to decide before it's too late.
- Experienced travel agents know which cruise line would fit your lifestyle. Choosing a cruise line is your first step when deciding on a cruise vacation. Cruise lines have different personalities and therefore appeal to different individuals. Things we consider are the ages of clients, price ranges, and activity levels. Do you want a cruise that's laid-back, active, romantic, party-oriented, or a little bit of it all? We help you find the cruise that's right for you and also help you get all your documents in order and act as your vacation concierge before, during and after your cruise.
- Travel agents make airfare reservations as a service–no commission. It's true that travel agents do not make commission on airline fares. These days, it's easy enough for people to go online and book their own airfares. We often encourage our clients to do just that. However, when you're planning a vacation, and you need to fly to a particular port and be assured of making it to your cruise ship in time, we're happy to provide peace of mind and book your airfare for you. Our airline booking fee is nominal and well worth the avoided hassle. We have access to all the airlines and can quickly find and compare flights and prices and recommend the best route and connections.
- CruiseExperts.com agents have access to the best hotel prices. We can make it easier for you by making your hotel reservations in addition to other travel arrangements. Again, this is a service we offer to our customers as a convenience when putting together a vacation package. If you're cruising, we know from experience which hotels are closest to the embarkation ports and which have the best locations for walking around or access to restaurants, allowing you to relax and enjoy the night before your cruise departure.
- Commissions are built into the prices by the cruise lines. Whether you buy your cruise directly from the cruise line or from an agency—the commission is built into the price. You'll never get it cheaper by going direct. Consider this, the cruise lines have to pay their reservation agents just like any travel agency does so they don't lower the rate just because you called them direct. We, however, are your unbiased travel consultant. We can book your cruise with any cruise line to anywhere. Obviously the cruise line needs to convince you to book with them. They just don't have as many options to offer. Additionally, CruiseExperts.com has become a preferred agency with the major cruise lines, which allows us access to special offers that we pass on to our customers.
- A travel agent can help you determine if you need travel insurance. Travel insurance is another misunderstood topic. We'd never try to sell you something you don't need just to make an extra buck. Absolutely not. Depending on the type of travel there are times when purchasing travel insurance just makes prudent sense and sometimes it's not such a big deal. We can explain the difference and outline the benefits of purchasing it when you need it–but you make the final decision. For even more information here's a link to our previous blog "Should I buy travel insurance?" .
- CruiseExperts.com can get exclusive low prices with promotional group contracts. At CruiseExperts.com we reserve contracted group space on hundreds of sailings as much as two years in advance, holding cabins at locked-in prices. In addition, we can offer extra amenities to our customers, like free onboard credit, bottles of wine, or chocolate-covered strawberries. If the published price of the cruise goes up, our lower rate is locked in giving our clients a better deal than if they had gone directly to the cruise line to book their stateroom! As an example, we have prices on many Norwegian Pride of America Hawaiian cruises for this fall that no one can beat—not even Norwegian Cruise Lines can offer lower prices than ours.
- CruiseExperts.com agents ARE truly cruise experts. Our team specializes in cruising and the travel that goes with it. We make it a priority to stay up-to-date on the cruise lines, the ships, destinations and every aspect of getting there and back. We really have been there and experienced most of what the cruise world has to offer and if that's not enough, we have thousands of clients every year that come back and give us their perspective as well.