Due to the recent troubles the cruise industry has sailed into, thanks in large part to the Carnival Triumph disaster, many travelers are staying away for boat excursions, but for those still interested in heading to sea for some R&R, this guide should help in finding the great deal.
In the digital age, most everything can be found online, either directly from the cruise line, or a website.
However, travel agents are still out there and sometimes have deals that cannot be found online.
There are also deals that can only be booked over-the-phone and vise versa.
When using an online site, the best advice is to shop around, go to multiple sites.
Some cruise lines offer price-matches and have last-minute deals just to fill up space. It is never too late to book.
Checking websites that are thought of as airline/hotel only sites, like Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz, is also a way to find deals because They can offer great airline/cruise packages.
Make sure before booking to do extensive research on the cruise line, the destinations, ratings and passenger feedback. It isn't a 20-minute internet-surf session, finding a cruise to fit individual needs takes time and patience.
But, for those old-school travelers who rather talk to a person or for people booking a cruise for the first time, travel agents could be the best option.
They are experts in their field. USA Today states, buying a cruise is a specialized purchase that requires a greater degree of understanding than other travel bookings. A good travel agent will offer expertise and experience, and most importantly, match your personality to the right cruise product.
An example of this is how an agent, unlike a website, can direct a family looking for a cruise that caters to kids, away from one that is for adults. They can also find a cruise that can deal with both: a husband and wife wanting a romantic getaway, but have kids to deal with in the morning.
Agents, unlike websites, don't charge for their service. Since they are paid commission by the cruise lines, the service fee that one would pay to an online site can remain in the pocket. But, according to USA Today, this can be both good and bad. If a travel agent seems unusually pushy about one line over another, it may be because he or she gets more commission from that line. Just be aware.
They also have access to very specialized deals and can offer more incentives than a website.
Need to know what type of cabin to bunk in, the travel agent can help with that issue as well.
All of this being said, finding a reliable agent is hard work, most might even consider it harder than booking the trip.
Some of the best ways to search for a "good" agent is to use word of mouth:
If someone booked a cruise with an agent and loved the experience, he/she will recommend using the same agent.
Another option is to check for affiliations.
USA Today reports that travel agents can become accredited cruise specialists through the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Those agents can achieve up to three levels: Accredited (ACC), Master (MCC) and Elite (ECC). That means they have completed a training program on various cruise products and are required to sail and inspect a certain number of ships. They must also make a certain number of annual cruise sales, demonstrating their experience in working with customers and selling travel. To find a CLIA-certified agent near you, go to the Cruise Expert Locator at cruising.org and input your zip code.
Travel agents can also become certified "experts" by the various cruise lines. For example, if you are interested in Royal Caribbean cruises, they have a list of travel agents specialized in their product here:royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/travelagentLocate.do.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
