Cruise secrets only travel agents know
It takes a lot of time and planning to find a cruise that will suit your needs and meet your expectations.
Even after you’ve booked your cruise, there are still plenty of extra choices for you to decide on.
What kind of dining experience do you want? What shore excursions are you interested in?
That’s why it can be helpful to get a cruise agent to help you organise your holiday and to lend their expertise.
Product director and joint owner of cruise and tour specialist Bunnik Tours, Marion Bunnik, says cruise agents should get to know their clients before making recommendations.
“I would never just reach for a brochure. You don’t want an order taker, you want a consultant who will do their best to meet your expectations,” she said.
“Of course we need to know who is going, how many, whether it is a family cruise — that sort of thing. But most importantly, we need to know your interests. What you like to do, where you want to go, what excites you.”
Jean Summers, director of sales at Clean Cruising, also believes an understanding of the client is paramount to planning a trip to suit you.
“My big question is always, ‘Why are you cruising?’” said Jean.
“I want to know what sort of hotels and service levels you are used to. I ask about previous holiday experiences, both good and bad. But everything comes back to the ‘Why?’ Is there a significant birthday, do you want time in the sun, lots of ship-time? What do you want to do on shore?”
Marion explained that commonly clients end up booking a trip far different to what they originally intended.
“People may have a particular cruise line or ship in mind,” said Marion.
“But if they are open to alternatives, the choice of ship may depend on where they want to go and what they want on board. For example, Royal Caribbean is a good choice if you have children while couples might prefer Holland America Line, Celebrity or Silversea Cruises. It often comes down to their budget as some lines are more expensive than others.”
Whether your cruise agent helps you plan an ocean or river cruise, Jean stressed how important it is to make sure you have travel insurance.
“Travel insurance should be at the very top of people’s checklist and organised before they pay for anything else,” she said.
“Research is crucial — you absolutely must know what you are covered for. Cruise agents should know which policies are suitable.”
Do you use a travel agent when you book a holiday? Share your experience in the comments below.