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If a booking has an Air2Sea ticket and/or the transfer request involves a change in currency we cannot accommodate a transfer. If you would like to transfer your reservation to a travel advisor, please click the button provided below and complete the online form. 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. Be aware that not all agents work with all cruise lines; some represent only a few preferred suppliers or specialize in higher-end cruises. If a cruise vacation for your family, friends, high school reunion or any other group sounds like a great idea, your first step should be to work with a travel agent. One of my favorite things a good travel agent can do is take advantage of a price drop and save you money.
Travel Agent vs. Online Booking: Bottom Line
Individual agencies may have groups set up for specific sailings, and there is no reason they cannot add you to that group and take advantage of lower prices. You should ask what to expect in terms of the repricing process when there is a price change. A good question to ask a travel agent before working with them is their background working with Royal Caribbean. Earn your wilderness badge as you cruise between the Alaska glaciers, pan for gold in prospecting towns, and trek across the rugged tundra on an Alaska vacation. And savor a burst of flavors throughout culture-rich ports in the Mediterranean, the British Isles, Scandinavia and beyond on an unforgettable cruise through Europe. No matter where in the world you choose to wander, cruises can take you deep into top-rated cruise ports and off-the-beaten-path gems, so you can experience each one like a local.
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It is not unusual for travel agents to discover special group rates that have lower pricing, lower pricing based on residency or occupation, or even special rates offered to a consortia of travel agencies . In addition to the prices of a cruise you see online, travel agents have access to a variety of other ways to save their clients money. For anyone new to a cruise vacation, there are plenty of options to consider, and not all of them are super obvious. When it comes to travel agents, a lot of readers are surprised to hear that how important they can be for just about anyone. Traditionally, when someone books a Royal Caribbean (and most cruise lines) cruise with a travel agent, the agent receives the commission once the passenger actually goes on the cruise. If the passengers would cancel and take a future cruise credit, the agent would not be paid by the cruise line until the subsequent cruise was taken.
PLAN YOUR CRUISE WITH A CERTIFIED VACATION PLANNER
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. Plus, the price of your cruise includes accommodations, meals, entertainment and activities — and in some cases drinks, tips, shore excursions, Wi-Fi and other extras. The cheapest base cruise fare does not always provide the best value or best overall vacation deal. A travel agent can set up a group with Royal Caribbean that can possibly save money, or get you special perks back.
If you're interested in a specific type of cruising (such as river cruising or luxury travel), look for agencies that specialize in the line or type of cruising you prefer. For example, if you want to cruise one of Europe's rivers in an intimate riverboat, you might not want to book with an agent who specializes in selling holidays on 3,000-person mega-ships. 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. The agent will keep you in his or her database, alert you to deals or sales and can even suggest future trip ideas.
If you booked through a travel agent / agency:
Waterslides, mini golf, a Flowrider and ice shows make this ship perfect for a weekend family getaway. Touted as the ship that will bring the World’s Best Family Vacation, Icon will be taking cruisers on 7 night Eastern and Western itineraries, with each including a stop at Perfect Day at CoCoCay. With 2024 on the horizon, I was curious which ships people are gravitating towards and booking the most. So I reached out to Jenn Greene, who is a Travel Planner affiliated with MEI Travel. They are the person that goes back and forth with Royal Caribbean on your behalf, offers options to you, and more.
Top things you didn't know travel agents can do for your cruise vacation
It’s a little-known fact among first-time cruisers that these travel agent services, rich with potential to transform your cruise into the trip of a lifetime, come at no extra cost to you. Use ASTA's consumer website to locate a travel agent who has agreed to conduct their business activities in accordance with the organization's code of ethics. Select "cruises" or "cruise lines" under Specialties to find agents that focus on selling cruise travel. Cruise Planners travel agent is merely a selling agent and makes no warranty expressed or implied. Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, has a tremendous reputation for quality, service, and very competitive pricing for ALL of your travel needs. Cruise Planners travel advisors will help you discover exciting adventures around the world.
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In addition, any booking created through an online sales platform, such as Espresso or any third-party tool, will receive an additional $10 bonus. Throughout the global health crisis, Royal Caribbean has been a steadfast supporter of the travel agent community with various programs aimed at helping them stay afloat during this turbulent time. Not only will you enjoy those value-added benefits and amenities, but you'll also have a cost-saving travel agent service working for you before, during, and after your vacation. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience.
Besides organizing your voyage and on-ship activities, your travel agent extends their expertise to land-based adventures. Embarking on a Royal Caribbean cruise with your favorite people might seem like a logistical challenge at first. Information on various onboard services including dining, spa treatments, and live entertainment. While they may not always be able to offer jaw-dropping savings, they'll usually give you some onboard credit as an incentive to book with them. If you aren't familiar with the ship, you could accidentally book a room in a location that you find undesirable, such as near the nightclub or with an obstructed view.
These "secrets" are really about improving and enhancing your cruise experience, and we love to share tips on this blog. The podcast-format summit educates travel professionals on the newest technologies to support their business. Royal Caribbean’s Seminar at Seas events are a hybrid of a travel agent FAM and training, and are also invite-only.
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. 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. During hurricane season, a travel agent can assist if you vacation is impacted by changing flight plans or excursions. Errors in a reservation, mechanical issues in a stateroom, hurricanes and a great deal of other unforeseen situations can occur.
If they do, having a travel agent means you have someone in your corner fighting for you, and taking care of the details. By booking with a travel agent, you can take advantage of the great service they provide, as well as the lower rates. Before I talk about any other benefit a travel agent provides, you should know any good travel agent charges you absolutely nothing extra for their services. A good travel agent provides so much value and service, and they are an invaluable component to many seasoned cruisers.
Whether you know exactly what you're looking for or not, our Certified Vacation Planners have the knowledge to point you in the right direction. Royal Caribbean's Certified Vacation Planners give you a one-way ticket to a sea of cruising opportunities. If you're a do-it-yourself type, and you have the time and inclination to thoroughly research your own trip using resources like Cruise Critic, then go right ahead.
Travel professionals can get started with RCL Cares at CruisingPower.com, where they can access highlights of the CARES Act, FAQs, Small Business Association resources and tips. The support program will introduce new services and tools in the near future to continue helping travel partners during this difficult time. Many people mistakenly believe travel agents are just middle men and women, who take your information and book the same cruise for the same price you can see online. Travel agents often have access to special rates, onboard credits, and complimentary perks that can enhance your cruise experience significantly. Royal Caribbean travel agents get compensated by a commission directly through the cruise line, making them a financially savvy choice, comparable to booking on your own.
Although you can book everything entirely online by yourself, there is a network of seasoned Royal Caribbean travel agents, experts in crafting the perfect cruise experience. You can book a cruise through a huge travel retailer with branches around the country, a local cruise agency or even a home-based agent who will talk cruising with you at your local coffee shop. You'll find pros and cons of working with the different types of agencies; for example, you might get more personal service from an independent agent but better deals from a large company with a high volume of bookings. When Icon of the Seas' bookings opened, the inaugural cruise sold out within 24 hours. Those who worked with travel agents didn't have to worry about logging on and securing a reservation themselves, as the agent was on the ball the second itineraries were released.
One of the most important things to know is that agents -- in particular, cruise specialists -- have been onboard the ships and can really give you firsthand advice about different cruise options. They have done a great deal of research through familiarization trips and cruise line seminars, so you don't have to do the work yourself. Even better, agents often have access to special discounts or perks -- or know best where to find them -- and as the cruise lines pay their commissions, you don't pay more for their services and expertise. “These are extremely exciting times for the entire cruise industry – cruise lines and travel partners alike. With the global cruise suspensions, travel agents can help make sense of the refunds you get back, make requests for refunds or future cruise credits, and more.
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