Here's whyand who to call. With the global cruise suspensions, travel agents can help make sense of the refunds you get back, make requests for refunds or future cruise credits, and more. They will be the ones to sit on hold with Royal Caribbean and work with the cruise line to sort out any issues, questions, ordiscrepancies. If a booking has an Air2Sea ticket and/or the transfer request involves a change in currency we cannot accommodate a transfer. Whether youre the lounge-on-the-beach type or an adventurer longing for exotic destinations - we truly are the only nation that stretches from coast to coast. So they work very hard to ensure you have a great cruise, and want you to know they appreciate your business. Ultimately, you are looking for someone that works well with you. Errors in a reservation, mechanical issues in a stateroom, hurricanes and a great deal of other unforeseen situations can occur. Here's how to determine if it's okay to book on your own. Before I talk about any other benefit a travel agent provides, you should know any good travel agent charges you absolutely nothing extra for their services. Book your Holsted, DK holiday rentals online. We have plans. Equally important, they are great advocates for you to be reimbursed for the inconvenience, especially when the fault is with the cruise line. Many people mistakenly believe travel agents are just middle men and women, who take your information and book the same cruise for the same price you can see online. Be sure to inquire about any fees for using a travel agency prior to working with them. Royal Caribbean Cruises Agent & Cruise Deals. Often we associate travel agents with just being able to help plan our cruise and onboard experience, but travel agents are a great resource on shore excursions too. Any other tips youd like for choosing a travel agent? A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences and steer you to the perfect Royal Caribbean ship, itinerary and cabin for you. During hurricane season, a travel agent can assist if you vacation is impacted bychanging flight plans orexcursions. In addition to the prices of a cruise you see online, travel agents have access to a variety of other ways to save their clients money. Individual agencies may have groups set up for specific sailings, and there is no reason they cannot add you to that group and take advantage of lower prices. You'll find the following tools, functionality and resources on Cruising Power for agents: Planning Tools: Cruise Planner Booking Tools: Espresso, Flight Finder, Hotels, Shore & Land Excursions,. I listened to Kelli, best travel agent ever, and always paid the few extra dollars just in case. Goldilocks had a simple predicament: choosing the right bed and bowl. A good travel agent is paid commission by Royal Caribbean on the cruises they book, so you are not paying anything extra. It is a little different than planning a resort getaway, so here are a few tips to help you consider your options. This website uses cookies. Organizing a group is no simple task. Roal Caribban has announces its list of their annualTravel Partners of the Year for the United States of America and Canada. Again, it's a bit more complex than you might think, but a good agent will make the process go smoothly -- from securing the right cabin type and location to booking the dinner seating that will suit you and your party. Read More, If you are holding on tight to your Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) waiting for the perfect time and itinerary to put them back in use, many of them expire soon! Here are a few tips to get you started. Im very proud to honor these experts who consistently work with us and continue to see success with their businesses. cfrazierjr 5 yr. ago I would search deals online. After doing some rethinking, Royal Caribbean changed their policy so that guests who takeadvantage of the Cruise with Confidence program and are opting for a Future Cruise Credit in the full amount paid, will have earned commission to the travel agent protectedon both the canceled booking and the future reservation where the FCC is redeemed. Ive been reading on several sites such as trip advisor and noticed people mentioned preferred travel agencies for different cruise lines. We work directly with other companies to get the best cruise deals Royal Caribbean Cruise deals You might be surprised to learn a few very important things about using a travel agent, and how they can greatly benefit your vacation. , Royal Caribbean announced it has reevaluated its commissions structure for Future Cruise Certificates.SVP Sales and, Royal Caribbean has told its travel agents any cruises that are canceled and converted to a future cruise credit will. Would you be happier on a large ship -- such as Royal Caribbean's 227,000-ton, 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas -- or on a smaller, more intimate ship -- like Silversea's 17,400-ton, 298-passenger Silver Wind? A step-by-step process will guide you through the booking and payment procedures. What is best: should you call the cruise line directly or call a travel agent, or maybe you prefer to go online and book the trip yourself. Once you find a great deal, call the cruise line. (Yes, every ship has bad cabinsyou do not, for example, want to be over the stern thrusters.) Medium? My friends at MEI Travel helped come up with a list of suggestions. In these days of policy changes, future cruise credits, and fear of what may come tomorrow, a travel agent is invaluable because they are the ones that will spend hours and hours with the cruise line to sort out these issues. The travel agent industry has changed a lot over the years, and while other sectors of travel have seen a fundamental shift in booking things on your own, the cruise industry leans heavily on travel agents because cruise vacations are not "a dime a dozen". The more knowledgeable an agent is, the better advice you'll get. A prototype of Royal Caribbean International's planned immersive dining experience onboard the Utopia of the Seas. Unfortunately mistakes can occur before or during a vacation. The other important truth about travel agents is they will find you the same prices as you can on your own. In its . Her contacts enable her to secure the best cabins for her customers, as well as a wide range of onboard creditsi.e., she can be your ticket to special treatment at sea. If you're used to booking travel independently, consider these reasons why you might want to make use of a travel agent to book your next holiday at sea. Perhaps they can save you some money, or offer you a means of upgrading. These are the pillars of Royal Caribbeans commitment to you. While they cannot always get you a lower price, they have access to far more opportunities to save you money than booking on your own. When you retain the services of one of our travel agents, you gain exclusive access to American Express Cardmember benefits and travel deals in which you can gain access to special amenities and low travel fares. . Cruise Planners travel advisors will help you discover exciting adventures around the world. For residents of certain countries (United States, Canada, select Caribbean countries, et al), if you are before final payment date, you can re-price your cruise if the price goes down. Ask them questions about their own experience to understand how well they know the brand. You'll find pros and cons of working with the different types of agencies; for example, you might get more personal service from an independent agent but better deals from a large company with a high volume of bookings. All rights reserved. "Royal Caribbean is delighted to name our 2015 Travel Partners of the Year to recognize these incredibly successful and meaningful partnerships," said Vicki Freed, senior vice president, Sales, Trade Support and Services, Royal Caribbean International. Best for: Dinner overlooking an iconic Disney attraction. One of my top pieces of advice for any cruiser is to use a good travel agent, and the key word there is "good". This means you do not have to, and that results in more time for you to do somethinganything else! Did you read all of this and realize you now want to transfer the cruise reservation you made directly with Royal Caribbean to a travel agent? So you can easily find the one that fits. For immediate travel assistance, you may also contact a Royal Caribbean cruise travel agent directly by calling 1-800-683-0206. If you encounter a problem, either before or during your cruise, a good travel agent will be the one to contact Royal Caribbean and not only rectify the issue but make things right again. Travel Agents | Royal Caribbean Blog Royal Caribbean travel agent rate is a special discount offered to individuals who work as travel agents or are affiliated with a travel agency. One of my favorite things a good travel agent can do is take advantage of a price drop and save you money. If you agency is outside of the United States or Canada, please contact Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean . Be sure to inquire about any fees for using a travel agency prior to working with them. Beyond being knowledgeable about the basics of cruising, they take tours of the ships to learn what makes each ship unique. This not only shows the strength among our longtime advisors but also the great growth we continue to see in the industry overall. Travel partners can find educational material about the new law beginning today, and they will soon have the opportunity to receive more assistance through a resource desk the company is setting up. If they're charging for anything else beyond planning advice ( you spend an hour with them figuring out what kind of vacation you want) then I'd avoid them. A cruise travel agent will guide you through choosing your cabin and dining times, deposits and final payment, and options for shore excursions and specialty dining. Perhaps they can save you some money, or offer you a means of upgrading. The one deal-breaker for me with any travel agent is no service fees for their services. CruisingPower.com Equally important, they are great advocates for you to be reimbursed for the inconvenience, especially when the fault is with the cruise line. Read More, Starting on May 3, 2023 travelers who elect to use a state-issued drivers license at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport checkpoints must ensure that they are Real ID-compliant, which is designated by a star in a circle in the upper right corner of the license. They are paid a commission from Royal Caribbean, and there is no extra cost to you for their services. Cruise Planners Travel Agents can get you the best Royal Caribbean International Cruise Deals, take advantage of our invaluable travel agent services today. In that initial interview, they should ask you what kind of vacation you normally take (beach, city, active, for example), who is going (family, couple, singles), your travel style (entertainment and activity preferences, dining habits) and your budget. All travel agencies are free. Traditionally, when someone books a Royal Caribbean (and most cruise lines) cruise with a travel agent, the agent receives the commission once the passenger actually goes on the cruise. Of all the benefits a travel agent provides, this might be the least known, yet most important benefit of using a travel agency. FlowRider on Royal Caribbean: What You Must Know! | Flipboard Would you be happier on a large ship -- such as Royal Caribbean's 227,000-ton, 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas -- or on a smaller, more intimate ship -- like Silversea's 17,400-ton,. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Since many first time cruisers are often surprised to hear that a travel agent is free to use, it got me thinking what other helpful bits of information might Royal Caribbean travel agents wish you knew about? Holsted, DK holiday homes: Houses & more | Vrbo In short, there are a lot of ways a travel agent can get you a lower price than you can find online. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Look for agents offering discounts, free perks and other incentives. Experience this 35.6-mile loop trail near Holsted, Region of Southern Denmark. Not only that, they are the ones that sit on hold with Royal Caribbean so you do not have to, and they are the ones constantly comparing new promotions to see which benefit you the most. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Extraordinary landscapes and wildlife, untouched nature and quiet trails to meander for hours (with a good map and plenty of water, of . Is it all up to you to find lower prices? If you have cruised before and know exactly what you want -- the cruise line, destination, duration and cabin -- booking online can be quite easy. This means you can focus on getting everyone excited for the cruise itself! Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Use the search tool to locate agents in your area with a variety of levels of CLIA training. If you have read other posts on the blog, you might be aware that I use MEI-Travel for booking all of my Royal Caribbean cruises, and I can personally attest that they are fantastic! If you encounter a problem, either before or during your cruise, a good travel agent will be the one to contact Royal Caribbean and not only rectify the issue but make things right again. A round-robin agency means you have the advantage of getting serviced without relying on just one person's schedule. And I am glad I did, I paid less that . This entails contacting Royal Caribbean to re-price the booking, and a travel agent can do it all for you. I'll help you narrow down your options, and I can provide you with information about different packages so you can make the best decision about where you want to travel and when you want to go. Your agent will also be able to sort out travel insurance, if required, and will collect payment for the cruise (usually a deposit at the time of booking and the full amount 60 to 90 days before departure). If not, just leave blank, 10 Secrets Royal Caribbean travel agents wish you knew, Royal Caribbean honors travel partners of the year for 2017, Top 5 things to look for in a good travel agent for your cruise vacation, Royal Caribbean announces its 2015 travel partners of the year award recipients, Top things you didn't know travel agents can do for your cruise vacation, Royal Caribbean announces policy to protect full value of Future Cruise Certificates for travel professionals, Royal Caribbean promises to protect travel agent commissions on deferred cruises from coronavirus concerns. His email: Ashton@expeditiontrips.com, Tom Baker of Cruise Center specializes in large and medium-size ships from such lines as Celebrity, Oceania, Royal Caribbean, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, and Silversea. This means you do not have to, and that results in more time for you to do somethinganything else! Vacation Giveaway Win a 3-night Stay for Two Terranea Resort Stay Giveaway Get Exclusive Deals Exclusive Deals Join our Insider Club Featured Sailings Showing results 1 - 100 of 3178 Sailings on Royal Caribbean view all Show entries Shop around and see what size fits your needs best. Essentially, they never stop learning about cruising, and that results in being able to provide you an informed and complete look at all of your options. If you don't see a sign or advertisement, always ask -- the agent may have fabulous offers the cruise lines won't let him or her publicize. If you're interested in a specific type of cruising (such as river cruising or luxury travel), look for agencies that specialize in the line or type of cruising you prefer. These services will include one-on-one assistance and access to key resources and the latest information pertaining to recovery benefits available under the act. 10 Secrets Royal Caribbean travel agents wish you knew Why? Each Cruise Planners is Independently Owned and Operated. Unfortunately mistakes can occur before or during a vacation. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. If the passengers would cancel and take a future cruise credit, the agent would not be paid by the cruise line until the subsequent cruise was taken. There are many wonderful travel agents that specialize in Royal Caribbean. Any suggestions on finding a good deal on either in terms of when to buy, etc would be much appreciated. The winners for the coveted awards include 2017s Chairmans Award recipient, Cruise Planners an American Express Travel Representative, securing the coveted spot once again; Expedia Group, chosen for the Presidents Award, and first-time honorees throughout North America: Cruises & Tours Unlimited (Southeast Partner of the Year), Magical Vacation Planner (Central Partner of the Year), MEI Travel (West Partner of the Year) and The Travel Agent Next Door (Canada Partner of the Year). Finally, they have to know their stuff. . Beyond being knowledgeable about the basics of cruising, they take tours of the ships to learn what makes each ship unique. Share your experiences or concerns in the comments!
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