This is an update to an article I wrote a few years ago about the value of travel agents (or advisors). When I first wrote this article in 2019 I stated that “I was confused about why people used travel agents. Why have someone else do something that you can do yourself?” Fast forward five years, and I’ve become a travel agent myself.
A lot of people ask the same question I asked, though. Why use a travel advisor? The answer is simple – while it’s true that you can handle the logistics yourself, a travel advisor provides expertise, added value, and personalized service that can enhance your entire travel experience.
Something that I did not know before going into my research in 2019 is that most travel advisors provide their services at no additional cost to the consumer. Travel advisors are paid commissions from the cruise line directly. While some might charge a service fee, especially when adding on multiple components to a trip, many agents’ services are completely free to use.
With that said, it is important to remember that travel advisors are small business owners. If you are using them for quotes and research, it is good practice to complete your booking with them. After all, they are putting in hours of work for no additional cost (most of the time).
River Cruise Advisor works with two travel agents – me (Britton Frost) with Cruise Planners and Emma Cakmak from A Passport to Travel. Emma and I specialize in cruises, so we book cruises all day long and are familiar with multiple cruise companies, itineraries, and current promotions.
When booking a cruise, it is not necessary to find an agency that specializes in cruising, but it is helpful. What’s most important is to find an agency (like one of ours) that doesn’t have allegiance to any one company so that the agent can find the best fit for you. When agencies have ties to certain cruise companies, they may put those companies’ interests ahead of their guests’ interests.
Travel agents like us gather information from you to help find a cruise that is going to suit your needs. The more specific you can be, the better. This includes information such as budget, desired destination, accessibility and dietary needs, length of sailing, etc. Oftentimes, we can find a cruise for someone before they even know what they want themselves.
Travel agents are able to assist you at different steps in your booking or decision-making process. There are people who say, “This is the ship I want, this is the day that I want.” But there are others looking for guidance. It is okay to go to a travel agent and to say that you don’t know exactly what you want. You may only know which time of year you want to travel or what your budget is, or there may be certain cruise companies you’re considering A travel agent is able to help you with all of these questions.
Although travel agents are able to help at any step in the booking process, the best way to use them is in conjunction with your own research. For example, use a site like ours to look at comparisons between companies, and try to narrow it down to a few that you like. Better yet, use our Get My Recommendations tool to get a personalized response based on where you want to travel, budget, etc. If you fill out one of these forms, it will either be sent to Emma or me directly to assist you with your research and booking.
After you’ve gotten in touch with a travel advisor, we can help you look at itineraries, availability, and deals that cruise companies are currently running. We’ll also assist with securing upgrades to better cabins or suites and give advice on shore excursions that best match your interests. Additionally, travel agents can arrange pre- and post-cruise accommodations and ensure your preferences – like dining arrangements or accessibility needs – are met. In using this two-step process, you are still in control of your cruise and itinerary, but you are allowing someone else to step in and do the heavy lifting.
Lastly, a travel advisor is going to be there to advocate for you if something goes wrong. I’ve made middle of the night phone calls when transfers were missed and filed insurance claims for the unfortunate few who needed me to, among other things. Having someone in your corner during those stressful moments can make all the difference, providing peace of mind and ensuring you’re not navigating the challenges alone.
The main takeaway? You have nothing to lose when using a travel agent – and a lot to gain.
If you have had experience booking cruises through travel agents or cruise consultants, I would love to hear your stories below. And if you haven’t, is it something that you would consider in the future?
This article was originally published at River Cruise Advisor.
