The 10 best cruise questions to ask your Travel Agent
When working with a travel agent to book a cruise, the first thing you should always check is that your Travel Agent is CLIA certified and works for a reputable travel agency. After that, there are 10 questions you should ask to ensure you get your ideal cruise booked.
What cruise ship is best for my needs?
This is the most important question to ask. By explaining what type of vacation you’re looking for, what your budget is, and what destination you’re looking for, a good travel agent can help you pick a cruise ship sailing to your destination that has the onboard amenities and time in port you crave. They can let you know the average age of travelers that typically sail on particular cruise lines and what type of ambiance is onboard: elegant, active, kid-oriented, and more.
What are my stateroom options?
Travel agents can give you insider information, such as which cruise ships have the most spacious and well-lit inside cabins, or which itineraries you’ll kick yourself once onboard for not splurging on a balcony cabin. They also can walk you through the differences of the suites onboard and which will work best for families or a romantic getaway.
GALLERY: How to Choose a Cabin
What is the best location for my stateroom?
Once you’ve decided on the type of stateroom you want, a Travel Agent can really make the difference by recommending where on the cruise ship you should book your cabin. The deck level and side of the ship can make a huge difference between what views you can see from your balcony or window, and how quiet your stateroom is.
What is the onboard entertainment like?
Find out what type of entertainment is on your ship and which shows or activities you’ll need to book in advance or which may cost extra so you can adequately prepare and budget for your trip.
Is the ship kid friendly?
If you are traveling with kids, knowing the amount and appropriate age level of activities for kids onboard the ship is very important to booking an enjoyable cruise. Some cruise ships are designed to have nearly every area onboard ready to entertain kids while others, particularly luxury cruise lines, don’t have any kids programs onboard or only offer them at certain times of year.
Should I make reservations for shore excursions?
Check with your travel agent if they can assist you in booking shore excursions in advance. Also ask which ports are tendered and what the procedure is for getting tickets off the ship in order to make sure you’re one of the first passengers off if you’re not doing an excursion, as it will give you sometimes hours longer in port.
TIPS: Planning shore excursions
How is the dining onboard set up?
Make sure you ask your Travel Agent how dining works onboard and what time they recommend if dinner seating schedules are required. Also check into what your options are for requesting a particular table if assigned seating exists in the main dining room. In addition, enquire about the specialty restaurants onboard and if there are costs involved, and if your agent can help you make a reservation prior to your trip to ensure you get a table.
What’s included for drinks and are there drink packages?
Find out what’s all-inclusive when it comes to drinks and what’s an additional cost (soda and alcoholic beverages are often extra). If you’re charged for most drinks, ask your travel agent if your cruise line offers drink packages and if they can recommend one for you.
Are any visas or special paperwork needed?
More than likely you’ll need a passport for your cruise, however it’s important to ask your travel agent what other paperwork you may need to ensure that you and your family can enter into the foreign countries you’ll be visiting without any trouble.
What are the gratuity costs?
An extra cost many cruisers don’t think about in advance are gratuity costs, which are often not included in the price of the cruise. Gratuity costs are usually tallied up at the end of your cruise, and they are paid out to your room steward and other behind-the-scenes crew who help make your vacation pleasant and comfortable. Another good thing to find out from your travel agent is what the expectations are for tipping while onboard.
If at any point in time you feel your travel agent isn’t knowledgeable on your specific cruising needs or the cruise line you’d like to sail on, don’t be pressured to book. Just like finding the perfect hair stylist, it may take talking to a few travel agents before you find the one that’s the right fit for you.
CRUISE 101: Choosing a travel agent
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