10 Reasons To Book A Cruise With A Travel Agent.
For some clients the dream vacation of a cruise is the trip of a lifetime and can mean many day to day sacrifices to pay for it.
Treat it as an investment, would you trust your stocks and share investments to a complete on line unknown stranger with no track record, or do you use your favourite stockbroker who has the knowledge and experience to look after your best interests.
1. Travel agents are knowledgeable experts. First and most importantly, travel agents provide knowledge and expertise that has taken them years to collect. This consultative experience with travel agents is incredibly valuable to consumers because it allows them to combine their own research with the expertise of their trusted travel agent and ultimately feel very confident in their final decision.
—Dana Gain, national director of Canadian sales, Norwegian Cruise Line
2. Travel agents offer advice at little cost. If you have a chance to hire a professional advocate and researcher at little cost to you (we’re paid by the suppliers), why would pass up that value-add? —Gary Smith, franchise owner, Dream Vacations
3. Travel agents deliver one-stop shopping. We are able to create a seamless travel experience with transfers, air, as well as unique pre and post tours and hotels. We are also able to create private shore excursions that are unique to each port. We bring added value to every booking. —Roy Ramsey, director of operations, Betty Maclean Travel, Inc.
4. Travel agents provide an added level of support. We absolutely rely on agents as our primary means of distribution—and it’s not just our distribution, it’s also just the support they provide. —Tom Markwell, president, French America river cruise line
5. Travel agents serve as your advocate when things go astray. There’s so much advice we can offer, it helps to have an agent before you go on a trip. But it’s also great to have an agent for when things go bump in the night, to have someone to call when you have a delayed flight. That’s what keeps customers coming back. Yes, they might get a lower price, but if you want service, we’re the ones who will be there for you at 3 a.m.” —Diane Bower, travel professional, CruzDiva Travel
6. Travel agents understand your needs. Travel professionals get to know the customer, their wants and their needs, really well. It’s almost as if your best friend is booking a trip for you. —Dana Gain, national director of Canadian sales, Norwegian Cruise Line
7. Travel agents are here to stay. The profession is only going to become stronger and more needed… We are going to need them to continue to sell us more than ever. —Ken Muskat, executive vice president, MSC Cruises USA
8. Travel agents are impartial advisors. A good agent is impartial and will always recommend and give insights into the best choice for the client, not the supplier. Going direct to suppliers limits your feedback to what is best for the supplier. —Gary Smith, franchise owner, Dream Vacations
9. A live travel agent is better than a click. When you get a good travel agent on the phone she can enhance your vacation with knowledge and expertise that you can’t get on the internet. And we have access to all types of promotions. —Beth Leonardt, owner, Vacations by Beth
10. A travel agent is a personal shopper at no cost. At Norwegian there is no price difference between booking direct and booking with a local travel agent, so the customer gets all the benefits of a personal shopping experience at no extra cost. It’s the equivalent of the perfect storm of reasons to work with travel agents! Travel agents are also close to home, allowing a personal and very customized experience, and this is something that no 1-800 number can provide. —Dana Gain, national director of Canadian sales, Norwegian Cruise Line
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