Reasons To Book Your Cruise With A Travel Agent

by Gary Bembridge · March 7, 2024

Reasons To Book Your Cruise With A Travel Agent

Despite doing 100 and growing cruises, I use a travel agent to book every cruise and for many good reasons, which I’ll explain below. There are numerous benefits to using a travel agent, but I only use an agent that is self-employed or who are homeworkers as part of a group – rather than going directly with the cruise line or through an online agency.

Why Book Your Cruise With A Travel Agent?

As I said, there are many benefits to booking your cruise with a travel agent. When it comes to booking your cruise, the expertise and personalised service offered by a dedicated travel agent can make all the difference. While it’s true that you can book a cruise online with just a few clicks, there are several reasons why using a travel agent is a much smarter choice.

So, let’s see what they are:

Expert Guidance and Insider Knowledge

Travel agents possess insider knowledge about various cruise lines, ships, itineraries, and destinations. By consulting with a travel agent, you gain access to their wealth of expertise, ensuring that you select the cruise that best matches your preferences and budget. Whether you’re seeking a family-friendly voyage, a romantic getaway, or an adventure-packed expedition, a knowledgeable travel agent can recommend the perfect cruise tailored to your needs.

One Point Of Contact

This has been invaluable for me several times. Especially when on a cruise where there is a problem, like flight controllers going on strike, weather cancellations or cruises being cancelled or curtailed at short notice or even while on them.

For example, I was on a Windstar cruise heading to Athens when a lengthy airport strike stopped flights for days. While many on the ship who’d booked their packages separately, were scrambling around, having to upgrade Wi-Fi, and using whole days at sea to try and contact all many parties to try and move everything around. My travel agent sorted everything out with new flights, hotel stay, transfers and so one, in fact they even started working on it before I even knew it was an issue. I spent my time enjoying myself leaving it all up to them.

Time saving

Another key reason for choosing to book with a cruise travel agent is time saving and the convenience of making just one call. With an agent, the advantage is that if your cruise is cancelled or you want to change it before the trip, your agent will deal with all the hanging on with the cruise lines if you’ve booked your whole package with them.

If you’ve booked directly with the cruise line, you could be waiting for huge amounts of time to speak to someone in a call centre.

If you’ve booked hotels, flights, etc with your cruise agent, then with one call or email, your cruise agent will deal with all the refunds, and it saves you having to contact the cruise line, deal with the airline, get hold of the hotel, or cancel excursions, etc. It’s one simple point of contact.

Exclusive Deals and Discounts – BEST prices

Contrary to popular belief, booking through a travel agent will not cost more than booking online as the cruise lines do not undercut agents nor run deals that agents do not have access to. In fact, travel agents can have access to exclusive agent-only deals, promotions, and discounts. They can help you find special offers or may be able to offer additional onboard credit, upgrades, discounted fares, or amenities that may not be available through booking direct.

Hassle-Free Planning

Planning a cruise can be overwhelming, especially for first-time cruisers. From selecting the right itinerary to arranging transportation and accommodations, there are many details to consider. Travel agents streamline the planning process by handling all the logistics on your behalf. They can assist with booking flights, pre- and post-cruise accommodations, travel insurance, airport transfers, and any other arrangements you may need. With a travel agent managing the details, you can enjoy a stress-free planning experience and focus on anticipating the adventure ahead.

Assistance and Support

Even after you’ve booked your cruise, a travel agent continues to provide invaluable assistance and support. Should you encounter any issues or need to make changes to your itinerary, your travel agent serves as your advocate, liaising with the cruise line on your behalf. Whether it’s resolving booking discrepancies, rebooking excursions, or addressing unexpected emergencies, having a dedicated travel agent ensures that you receive prompt assistance and reliable support throughout your journey.

Future Cruise Credit

If you have had cruises cancelled, and you’ve got future cruise credit, a cruise agent will be very happy to pick those future cruise credits up as you plan. Because the agents are so important to the cruise lines, they will give commission when they rebook new cruises with future cruise credits.

Also, if you book on board to get access to special deals the cruise line can have the booking allocated to your agent who can then work with you on the trip.

A Sturdy Checklist

They will point out to you whether you need visas or vaccinations. If you book directly with the cruise line, for example, they will give you standard documentation, but an agent is normally good at pointing out the kind of things you need to think about. If you’re heading to a new region or a new part of the world, with new regulations and rules, having that advice and guidance will be a real big plus.

It Just Makes Sense

So, in short, while booking a cruise online may seem convenient, enlisting the services of a travel agent offers advantages that will always enhance your overall cruise experience. From expert guidance and personalised recommendations to exclusive deals and hassle-free planning, travel agents play a vital role in ensuring a memorable and enjoyable cruise.

Travel Agent Recommendations From Tips For Travellers

If you are looking for a travel agent, here are the ones I usually recommend to my followers based on either personal experience or from the ongoing feedback from followers of the channel using them. I do not receive any commissions or referral fees from any of these agent I recommend, I suggest them only based on my own experience and on-going positive feedback people I have suggested using them.

UK

Sarah Bolton

Sarah Bolton is the agent who books all my cruises, and handles my Tips For Travellers Group cruises. I first met Sarah as she was a follower of the channel, a regular cruiser, and has completed many CLIA (the International Cruise Line Association) trainings.

[email protected]

Http://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/sarah.bolton

https://www.facebook.com/TCSarahBolton

https://twitter.com/TCsarahbolton

USA

Gary Pluck

The first agent in the USA that I have been recommending the longest is Gary Pluck, who is originally from the UK. Like Sarah, I first came to know him as a follower and active contributor on the livestreams. Over the years USA travellers working with him have found him a great agent. He is especially knowledgeable about river cruising, Cunard, and premium cruise lines and European and as well as North American travel.

[email protected]

https://www.travelbyred.com/gary-pluck/

Walter Biscardi

I came to know Walter through social media, including YouTube and TikTok, as he is an active content creator about cruising, and in the last few years turned his knowledge and passion into becoming a cruise-focused travel agency. He is based in Florida, and has lots of expertise in North America destinations, but also increasingly global routes.

https://www.whereswaltertravel.com

https://www.whereswaltertravel.com/contactus

[email protected]

https://twitter.com/WheresWalterTV

https://www.facebook.com/groups/whereswaltertravel

https://www.youtube.com/c/WheresWalterTV