blog post

If you book alone you're on your own -- internet booking engines just take your money then leave it all up to you. Sure, it looks easy, but there are good reasons to book with someone you can trust to be on your side. Direct bookings aren't much better -- here are some common problems that I see people run into all the time:

#1. Even if you are lucky enough to get a real person on the phone, they can only tell you what is beneficial for their company.

     * They can only sell you their (inferior) insurance coverage.

     * They can only tell you about their shore excursions.

     * They can only reserve their hotels and transfers.

#2. There is no possibility for comparison with other cruise lines. Let's say you have looked up an ABC cruise online and called to ask some questions. They cannot tell you that cruise line EFG has a better itinerary or that HIJ cruise line sails the same route for $200 less.

#3. They can only answer questions that YOU ask. They cannot be proactive and "tell" you anything except for a few rules that might affect your rate -- "cruise line reserves the right to instate a fuel surchage," for example. Reading the fine print is all up to you.

#4. There are NO advantages for YOU. Travel agents get block-space deals, set up exclusive offers, and may have incentives that the cruise line does not. There is no such thing as a "better price" booking direct. Sure the cruise line is paying us commission, but only when a booking happens. Call centers are expensive -- a cruise line has to pay clerks whether or not there is a sale, so the travel agent system is actually very beneficial all the way around -- good for them, good for me, and good for you!

So how can I be of service to you?

* I ask the right questions to be sure you are booking with the right cruise line and getting on the right ship.

* Research and comparison shopping -- when you book with me you KNOW you are getting the best deal.

* Experience -- If I haven't been there personally I have most likely researched the destination, know someone who just got back, and have resources to find out what we need to know.

* I can help with arrangements for all logistics -- knowing the places where you should just grab a taxi, the places where you really need to take the cruise line transfers, and the places where I should set you up with   private cars or shared-shuttle transfers.

* Guidance with shore excursions and tours -- experience with "must do" and "don't bother" sights and activities. Knowledge of trustworthy tour operators.

* Insurance coverage that really protects you.

* One-stop shopping -- getting the whole trip put together in one place. You don't have to keep track of a variety of companies and reservations. I make courtesy bookings for air, hotels, cars, transfers, tours, excursions, trains, ferries, shows...about the only things I don't work with are timeshares and canal barges.

For a few real-life examples of how I have helped some of my clients, please click here.