Why You Should Use a Travel Agent

We live in a tech-savvy world.  If you’re reading this blog, you know, at minimum, how to operate a computer and send emails; at best, how to build a computer from scratch and create your own operating system!  So given your knowledge and innate ability to book your entire vacation direct…online…by yourself…why should seek assistance from a travel agent or cruise specialist?

For starters, by booking direct you are actually paying for something you aren't getting: the valuable service, training, and experience of a travel professional.  Surprised?  You see, cruise lines, tour companies, and hotels build commissions into their pricing.  That’s how we get paid.  Some people hold the misguided idea that if you go through a travel agent, you’re paying way more money for the same trip.  Think again.  It’s true that we sometimes add administrative or service fees, but those minimal fees would hardly suffice for making a living.  I’ve had clients who call me when nervously taking that first step into the travel agent world and seem to be holding their breath when asking, “Now, tell us about your fees.  How much do we have to pay you?”  There is a visible release of air when I mention the $20 or $25 per booking service fee, depending on the package. (That fee goes up when adding flights and more complex travel components.)

With that myth dispelled, what are the benefits of working with a professional?  First, you receive the experience and guidance of a knowledgeable travel pro.  Ben and I, for instance, have sailed on 67 ocean or river cruises.  We’ve lived in Italy and traveled all over Europe, the South Seas, Australia/New Zealand, Costa Rica, Canada and parts of South America, not to mention Alaska and Hawaii multiple times.  In cases where an agent like us has not actually visited a particular destination, we’re backed up by the 700+ colleagues in our agency who willingly share their expertise.  We know what we sell.

Second, with a travel agent you will receive an objective opinion as well as proper guidance and documentation for your trip.  We will gladly compare cruise lines and cruise ships within those lines, and the differences between tour companies such as Tauck and Cosmos.  Try getting an unbiased opinion from a single company.  Ask us lots of questions and give us honest answers to your travel style and expectations and the result will be a better matched and much more pleasant travel experience for you. Sometimes, what you “think” you want isn’t really the best fit for you.  We analyze your needs and help guide you accordingly.  That beats entering your credit card number online and receiving no more than a computer generated invoice.  No discussion, no relationship developed, just a booking.  Done.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, with a travel agent you’ll have an advocate.  Someone who will go to bat for you if anything goes awry; who’ll assist you if you must suddenly and unexpectedly get home earlier than planned; who’ll be your go-between to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money.  Ah, can we tell you stories about clients who called us for help: about the couple who missed their departure flight and could not get to the cruise port in time to sail (solution--a private float plane into Vancouver harbor!); about a thunderstorm delaying the departure flight of a mother-daughter flying to Seattle for their cruise (solution--overnight hotel in Seattle, flight to Juneau, and special permission to board there); and another missed flight situation from Ft. Lauderdale that required new flights to Cartegena, Colombia and special government permission for boarding there.  Then there are those health-related situations: the client who experienced a heart attack on the plane just before take-off and the client whose brother became gravely ill requiring an early departure from Barcelona before the ship ever sailed.  All of the above are real life issues that happened to our clients and that we helped solve for them as part of our service!

Travel agents are there for YOU.  We care for you and want you to request our services again.  We worry about you while you’re traveling, especially if we know inclement weather or other situations are looming.  Moreover, we send you stuff!  To the extent of your travel package, we forward materials to enhance your vacation experience.

So, next time you’re considering a cruise or tour package, use a travel professional.  As one new client once stated, “Yeah, I can book my own cruise on the cruise line site, but why should I?  I figure I’ve got better use of my time!”

Happy travels!

Wave Season Promotions and More!

The holidays came and went without a single blog posting from me, I’m afraid. I last posted from New York City the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Then came Thanksgiving; next, our military reunion in Nashville; and finally, the Christmas and New Year holidays. In the midst of it all, our clients kept us busy with new bookings that placed us well ahead of the traditional “wave” season—thank you! Now that I’ve finally updated our databases, it’s time to get busy and post again!

The January-March timeframe is traditionally the peak booking time for cruises, as people zero in on those summer and holiday plans. However, for Ben and me, the wave season varies each and every year. Most of our regular clients tend to buck the trend and book further in advance than the norm, preferring to take advantage of both best cabin location and best price, knowing that in most cases cruise lines will re-fare rates for booked clients if the price drops. That said, we also have clients who wait for those wave season offers. Now is YOUR time to book.

This is the summer of the great migration to Europe, with cruise lines pulling extra ships out of the Caribbean to capitalize on market growth in the Mediterranean and Baltic. Celebrity extended its season in Europe; Carnival is back in Europe with the new Magic, and Norwegian is sending the brand new Epic to Barcelona for summer sailings. Even Disney, a line not known for offering extra perks (their ships sell out quickly without them, thank you), put an onboard credit offers on the table for Verandah staterooms on select 7-11-night Med sailings and the transatlantic itineraries on May 14 and Sept. 10. Yes, airfare to Europe is not cheap, especially in summer months, but cruising is still an economical way to travel overseas. And from our 14 years experience, prices will not be cheaper in future years. This could be your best opportunity ever to take the Europe plunge!

Speaking of Disney, the line just christened her first new ship in some 15 years, the Disney Dream, in Port Canaveral. We couldn’t make the festivities, but our friend Gene Sloan of USA Today posted photos to his blog. Check them our HERE. 

Ben and I head to Costa Rica January 27 for our first cruise on the Windstar Cruises Wind Star. Accommodating a mere 148 guests, this four-masted yacht features wide open teak decks and a watersports platform at the aft. We’ll visit ports in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  Watch for the review in my next posts.

Wave Season Promotions

Wave season is here, and cruise line deals abound. Promotions can be linked to specific sailing dates, to a simple booking window, or to a certain type itinerary or cabin category. Here is just a sampling of current specials:

• Book a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Alaska cruisetour by Jan. 31 and receive $200 in onboard credit (select sailings, but the list is long)
• Book a cabin on the NCL Epic for one of her Eastern or Western Caribbean itineraries this summer (her inaugural season) by January 17 and get up to a 6-category upgrade and a 50% reduced deposit. Remember, our agency’s national conference will be held on this amazing ship in October. Beat us onboard one these Eastern or Western itineraries, and we’ll throw in $100 in onboard credit!
• Book a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise by Jan. 28 from a long list of select itineraries and receive up to $300 in onboard credit, plus a reduced deposit.

We know how discouraging it can be to call about an advertised promotion, only to learn your preferred sailing date doesn't apply. The most common reality check? Learning that that advertised "from $399" cruise rate applies to a date in the fall, when rates are always lower, and not to summer or holidays, when you'll pay premium prices. Or, as a client recently learned, these numerous current promotions apply to 2010 sailings and not 2011. In the latter case, however, clients should not worry! Most cruise lines honor lowered rates for already booked passengers before final payment. For instance, we have clients who sail on Royal Caribbean each year and always book a future cruise while onboard to take advantage of onboard credit offers. Before they actually sail, a past passenger or senior promo pops up (or both!), or rates are generally reduced, and they end up getting a lower rate while keeping the onboard credit. You really cannot lose!

So, we always advise our clients to book early. Don't think that by waiting for a potential "better deal," you'll save money. You're more likely to get your preferred cabin type and location, not to mention your favorite dining time choice, by securing that reservation now, and not later. Don’t gamble on last minute pricing! And if you must fly to your embarkation port, add another reason to book early. Fewer flights mean fewer seats and maybe more complicated connections!

Now, it's true that sometimes cruise lines offer certain types of promotions at the last minute (within the final 90 days) that apply to new bookings only. In this case, they may not reduce the price of previously booked cabins. However, the airfare to get you to the port usually negates any savings you may have reaped. For instance, Holland America's "Flash Specials" through January 17 feature Australia/South Pacific and South America sailings departing March 14 at reduced rates. Great deals if your schedule is flexible, and we can secure flights/seats this late. On the flip side, there are also some great rates for 7 to 9 day Mexican Riviera and Caribbean itineraries sailing in March, which might prove an easier addition to the calendar.

You'll notice that Carnival Cruise Line is not included in the promotions list. That's mainly because of CCL's new Early Saver Program that offers sailings at enticingly lower rates when booked at least 120 days from the sailing date. Buyer beware, however! With the ESP, deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable, and name changes are not allowed. If you cancel the booking, CCL will hold your deposit in-house for up to a year, but you will be charged a $50 per person service fee. Bottom line, it's a great deal as long as you are SURE the people you are booking into a cabin will actually sail. Of course, if you purchase travel protection insurance and cancel for a health related reason, the insurance company will refund your money. Please, please--when booking under the ESP rate, buy the insurance!

Do all of these in's and out's make you realize how complicated booking a cruise can be? Book through an experienced cruise agent and let a professional take good care of you. Translation: call or email us any time!

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had an enjoyable holiday season! Down time can be a good thing for all of us, especially when coupled with the opportunity to visit with family and friends. Today's post will be brief, with just a heads-up about the upcoming "wave season"--that traditional heavy booking period when many cruise lines offer discounts and/or onboard credit on select itineraries to rev up cabin sales. The key word, of course, is "select." If you can manage some flexibility in your travel dates, you will likely have access to a broader range of offers. Most of these offers through Cruises Inc. don't begin until January 7, however, so start thinking where you might want to sail in 2010 and prepare to book while the best cabins are still available. I'll be discussing some of these offers in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, Ben has posted his photos from our two-night inaugural on the Oasis of the Seas: http://picasaweb.google.com/bcatcruise/OasisOfTheSeasPreInaugural2224Nov2009#. Enjoy!