Wave Season, the time of year when many of us buy a cruise vacation, runs from January through March. In Wave Season Is Coming, Are You Ready? we started talking about actually booking your cruise and gave you some good reasons why notto buy from an Internet Cruise Broker. Today we’re going to talk a little more about those Internet Cruise Brokers and introduce you to Travel Agents who can be the key that will unlock the door to your best cruise value during wave season.
The job of almost all Internet Cruise Brokers stops once you pay.
They simply don’t have time for you. To get those low prices they commonly give up a large amount of their commission. They still have bills to pay so they rely on a huge volume of business to survive, sometimes bending the rules or taking your money but not turning it over to the cruise line. A classic case, www.CruiseValueCenter.com, formerly one of the big Internet Cruise Broker’s websites, shut down and were offering site visitors advice on how to recoup money they had paid. If that is not enough reason stay clear of an Internet Cruise Broker, I don’t know what is.
I feel bad for those who may have had their vacation plans disrupted by the shut down of sites like that. This is a really good reason to concentrate on “Value” rather than simply “Price”. Yes, that advertised price of $199 for a cruise sounds great initially. But in many cases the end price can be nearly double that once port charges, taxes and fees that everyone pays are added in, not to mention optional buried fees one might fall into.
Find a Travel Agent who offers the best value, not just the best price.
Commonly, when all the numbers are considered, the Travel Agent has the better value in the long run. That’s compared to Internet Cruise Brokers or even with buying direct from the cruise line. And isn’t that what really counts?
A professional, certified cruise Travel Agent can be your friend in the business that provides a really necessary service, much like you might use an accountant to help with your finances. The business relationship between you and a Travel Agent is one of trust that is built over time. “Your” agent will come to know and take a personal interest in what is best for you. He or she will be constantly on guard of your vacation plans, taking advantage of special offers, using their behind the scenes contacts and daily up-to-date knowledge of the industry on your behalf.
The best part? This costs you nothing. Travel Agents are paid a commission by the cruise line. You truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain. There are Travel Agents who are simply sales people and Travel Agents who offer a service that will offer you great value in the long run.