Phone 305-982-7909
Specializing in Cruises for family, groups, meetings, & incentives. All major cruise lines including sailing and river boat
Phone 305-982-7909
Specializing in Cruises for family, groups, meetings, & incentives. All major cruise lines including sailing and river boat
Please reach us at if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The biggest advantage of booking a cruise through a travel agent is personalized advice from a knowledgeable source. A good travel agent will discuss your vacation preferences, budget and other travel needs and suggest which cruises will be the best fit. He or she can help you arrange flights and pre- or post-cruise stays, recommend in-port excursions and help with any special arrangements (think celebrations onboard or making arrangements for dietary and medical concerns).
Perhaps one of the most important reasons for using a cruise specialist is the high level of customer service you will receive that you will not get when using an online service or even a non-focused travel agent. The right cruise travel agent will be able to answer all of your questions and guide you through essential steps.
The right travel agent, especially one who specializes in cruising, will give you access to experienced staff with extensive knowledge who can help you choose the right cruise and stateroom. They will be able to take care of all your specific requests. If they sound vague or cold, ditch them and find a company that is passionate about winning your business.
If you book a cruise online, you take on all the responsibility for doing the research, making decisions and figuring out who to contact in case of a problem. No one is going to alert you to a factor you forgot to consider or remind you to book excursions (or, in some cases, alert you when your final payment is due). Also, if you book online through a cruise line's website, you might miss out on agency-specific promotions that could get you extra perks and savings.
You should book your cruise with a travel agent if you're a first time cruiser, have a lot of special requests or want to get the best deals. We tend to think that most people should use a travel agent for the best experience.
You should consider an online booking if you're an experienced cruiser, know exactly which sailing and cabin you prefer and are savvy about finding the best deal.
Good Cruise Travel agents gain valuable insights into ships during regular ships visits and ‘educational’ trips with the cruise lines. You can take advantage of the extensive knowledge they have to ensure you end up booking the right cruise for you.
The best agents also keep up to date with policy changes made by the cruise lines. Such things include smoking restrictions, cruise gratuities and Drinks Packages, which helps avoid surprises when you embark on your cruise. They can also advise on the Dress Code and the number of Formal evenings planned for your chosen cruise voyage.
More importantly, the best travel agents are kept fully informed about the latest offers from the cruise lines. Many of these agents offer the ability to sign up to receive offers and special offerings direct to your inbox via email. Signing up for these offers or newsletters is particularly good for last minute offers and cancellation cruise offers.
Some agents negotiate special pricing with the cruise lines and undertake to book a certain number of cabins or staterooms on a particular voyage. In return for this commitment by the agent, the cruise line rewards them by giving them ‘agent rates’ or free cabins, which the agent can sell or use themselves.
Examples of these ‘bonuses’ to the agent are 1-in-8 (i.e. The agent gets one 1 Free Cabin for eight cabins sold). If you are travelling in a large party with family or friends, it is always worth asking if the agent has special group pricing and ask for free places for your group rather than the agent taking the “Free” cabins as extra profit or freebies for their staff.
There is no surcharge when using an agent.
There is a view that using a travel agent to book a cruise will cost you more than booking directly with the cruise line. In reality, the opposite is the case. There is no surcharge when using an agent, and in most cases, their prices will be better than booking with the cruise line direct.
The reason for this is that the cruise lines need travel agents to sell the bulk of their cruises as they could not handle all booking themselves directly. The cruise agent will receive a percentage of the fare as a commission, but that doesn’t affect the price you get charged but funded by the cruise line. Commission earned is based on from the cruise element of the fare with things like port charges, flights etc. excluded.
Oscar Vazquez is a cruise agent consultant and I am here to help you choose the perfect cruise vacation.
Associated with J&M Travel Solutions LLC
Whether you're looking for a cruise, plane tickets, accommodations, or the whole package, we have you covered. Simply tell one of our specialists where you want to go, and we'll help you figure out the rest. We work directly with other companies to get the best deals.
While working with us, we want you to be completely happy with the experience. If you have questions about us, our services, get in touch! We hope you continue to book with us for many years to come.
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