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As a cruise-only company, CruiseDirect doesn’t deal in flights, hotels, or rental cars, allowing it to focus its full capacity on helping you find the best cruise deal possible. On the site, you can search by destination, departure port, month, length of cruise, and cruise line. There’s real-time online chat and a contact number for support from a cruise expert. If you aren’t quite ready to buy, you can “heart” cruises to save them as favorites to refer back to later. You should also ask if the travel agency offers 24/7 assistance (usually an 800 number) in case you have last-minute questions or something goes wrong before or during your trip.
Questions to ask a cruise travel agent
Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Note that a Costco membership (starting at $60 per year) is required to book with Costco Travel, and that Costco doesn’t accept American Express. When looking for the best site to book a cruise, don’t be put off by CheapCaribbean.com’s overly specific moniker. The site’s vibe is beach-oriented and a bit cheeky, with a front page that can overwhelm—but click on the “Cruises” tab, and a cleaner interface appears. There you can search by cruise line, ship, destination, departure date, and departure port.
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From tropical Caribbean cruises to scenic Alaskan voyages, there are countless options and destinations to explore. With such a vast array of cruise lines, ships, itineraries, and onboard amenities, planning a cruise vacation can be overwhelming for many individuals. They are an invaluable resource, helping yousave time, money, and avoid the stress of vacation-planning. A travel agent is afulfiller of dreams, offering all the tips you need about our ships, activities, and destinations! Carnival does not verify that the contact information below is accurate or complete. You can also find experienced and certified cruise travel agents through CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association, which is the industry's main marketing group.
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Smaller Ships, Solo Trips, and Splurge-Worthy Suites: AAA Travel's Cruise Trends for 2024 - AAA Newsroom
Smaller Ships, Solo Trips, and Splurge-Worthy Suites: AAA Travel's Cruise Trends for 2024.
Posted: Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruise travel agents receive the bulk of their income via commission from the cruise lines. Their service to you is usually free, though some might charge first-time clients a minimal fee. Remember, you might be a DIY type when booking airlines and hotels, but booking a cruise is more complex. If you enjoy doing your own research, focus on what to do and see in the ports of call.
Liberty Travel is dedicated to helping you get the best value and greatest experiences out of any trip. One of our Travel Consultants will respond to your enquiry within 1 business day. We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews.
Keep Cruisewatch in strong consideration—more than a typical cruise booking website, Cruisewatch bills itself as a “digital cruise advisor” that couples data power with personalization. When you think of Costco, you probably think of bulk food and toilet paper. But the next time you’re booking a cruise, it’ll be worthwhile to pull up Costco Travel, which is, unexpectedly, one of the best cruise websites.
How To Become A Cruise Travel Agent
From booking your first cruise to understanding onboard perks -- the questions can be overwhelming, especially for anyone that is new to cruise. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals. You can search for a CLIA-certified travel agent on the organization's website. Use the search tool to locate agents in your area with a variety of levels of CLIA training. Remember, you won't just be using the ship as a home base, like you do with a hotel; it will be your home, restaurant and entertainment venue for a week or more. The right ship and itinerary can make your vacation that much more enjoyable -- and an agent can help you determine the best selection for your tastes.
Looking to sail out of NY? This local travel agent recommends these 5 cruise lines - liherald.com
Looking to sail out of NY? This local travel agent recommends these 5 cruise lines.
Posted: Fri, 13 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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. Again, it's a bit more complex than you might think, but a good agent will make the process go smoothly -- from securing the right cabin type and location to booking the dinner seating that will suit you and your party. 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.
Princess Cruises – Find The Best Cruise For You
Cruise lines prefer that you use a travel agent rather than going online and booking directly. They have small in-house reservation teams, and when you have a question while making a booking, good luck in getting an expert on the phone in a timely manner. 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.
By obtaining the required certifications and licenses, you position yourself as a knowledgeable professional within the cruise industry. These credentials not only establish your expertise but also provide your clients with confidence in your ability to provide exceptional service and guidance for their cruise vacations. In choosing a cruise travel agent, you will want to tap into the person's specific expertise about the cruise line and ship you are considering.
In addition, ask if the agent can meet or beat the best price you've seen elsewhere. Thanks to this comprehensive price history, Cruisewatch can predict cruise prices and drops with an accuracy rate of around 80 percent. Using the site’s cruise price prediction alerts, travelers can save up to 71 percent just by booking at the right time. Its front page is clunky and sort of in your face, but CruiseDirect is still one of the best cruise sites for a variety of reasons.
Many agents become accredited cruise counselors through CLIA's Cruise Academy or take courses through the different cruise lines to become more expert at selling their products. Inquire whether the agent has attended any of these training programs. In addition, you can look for affiliations with the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA), Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) or even AAA. Booking with a travel agent gives your transaction a personal touch -- you have a resource for asking questions and someone to contact if something goes wrong during your travels. But, your relationship with an agent doesn't tend to end after one trip.
Remember, finding employment as a cruise travel agent may require persistence and patience. By utilizing these strategies and demonstrating your passion for the industry, you can increase your chances of securing a rewarding position as a cruise travel agent. You might get more personalized care from smaller agencies than from the huge online agencies, though websites such as icruise.com, Cruise.com and Cruise411.com also have experienced cruise agents. These larger online travel agencies can be a good option for those who prefer to make decisions and ask questions via chat. Just make sure you get the name and phone number of the representative for any follow-up questions. You should consider booking a cruise through a travel agent because a knowledgeable agent can help you understand the nuances of a cruise purchase and help you make the best decisions for your vacation preferences.
Making the correct choices is very important to your overall cruise experience. By continuously honing your skills, building strong relationships with clients and industry professionals, and staying updated on trends and innovations, you can thrive in this dynamic and exciting field. Agents with a CLIA Certification icon below their name have passed a rigorous program of courses designed to elevate their cruise travel expertise. Refer to the key on the right side of the results page to understand CLIA Certification levels. We highlighted the importance of staying updated on industry trends and innovations, as well as strategies for finding employment as a cruise travel agent. Throughout the guide, we emphasized the value of continuous learning, networking, and adapting to the ever-evolving landscape of the cruise industry.
Margaritaville at Sea is your new off-shore resort experience, sailing from Palm Beach and Tampa to Grand Bahama Island, Mexico and Key West. On this floating island vacation, you can unwind, enjoy the endless activities and entertainment, or just relax and soak up the sun. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. You can sign up for price alerts, which will notify you by email when the fare on your selected itinerary drops. To save you the hassle, SmarterTravel investigated the glutted space of cheap cruise sites to determine which are worthy of listing as the best cruise websites; below are a few that come highly recommended.
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