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How to find a good cruise travel agent
There are basically three ways to book a cruise. Do it yourself online, call the cruise line or use a travel agent. There are pros and cons to any of those methods but in the long-run, using a good travel agent reaps the greatest rewards. The big trick is finding a good one."A competent travel adviser can be your greatest asset when you're planning a trip" says consumer advocate Chris Elliott. "Good travel agents have an edge over almost any other seller of travel. They know what you want. They speak your language."
But how to go about finding one of these good agents is the trick. Consider these suggestions to help with the hunt:
Attitude check
Start by getting your head in the right place. To get the most out of a travel agent, you and that agent need to be working on a long-term business relationship that will benefit you far into the future. If you think along those critical lines, you already eliminate a whole lot of travel agents who are just in it for the commission.
Make a list and check it twice
Asking friends and family, maybe business associates, who they use is a great way to find a potential candidate. If you work for a large company that has a travel desk or uses one exclusive agency, that might be a good place to start also.
Engage
Start by asking questions of potential agents. "Are you certified?", "How long have you been selling cruises? and other revealing questions are a must.
Test the waters
One of the big advantages of using a travel agent is saving time but a spending a little time up front locating that good agent is worth it.
At some point, you have to take the leap to using a travel agent. Try it on a simple booking you might have done online by yourself in the past. See first-hand if that agent comes through with a better value and overall better travel experience.
If they do, you have found your agent. If not, keep looking. The benefits of finding an agent right for you that produces good results is worth the investment of your time.
Flickr photo by jonworth
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Donna Dec 27th 2010 8:16AM
Great list, Chris. I would add that if you're looking for a specific type of cruise - main line, adventure, small ship, luxury - find an agent who specializes in it. You'll benefit from the extra knowledge. This is also true of cruise brands. If you want to book on a Holland America cruise (insert your cruise company's name here), find an agent who specializes in Holland America. As a high volume seller, the agent will have more clout that he or she can put to use for you.
Chris G Dec 30th 2010 7:35AM
As a travel agent myself I can assure you, the more details you as a client can offer, the better job at planning we can do. Have an idea of a budget, or a room type, or a departure port in mind? Let us know. The more specific you can be the more we (all travel agents) can show why a TA is worth the effort.