Sunday, March 31, 2024

Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? We say yes

best cruise travel agency

The site allows you to quickly search cruises by destination, cruise line, departure port, or last-minute deals. You’ll find lots of different types of cruises, from budget to luxury and from mega-ships to riverboats. Expedia is an obvious first mention in a list of the best cruise booking sites, in part because it’s an absolute juggernaut (Expedia also owns Travelocity and Orbitz). Its cruise-booking interface is simple and straightforward, only requiring you to enter your preferred sailing destination and date range, as well as how many passengers you’ll be bringing along.

Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America

Online or travel office? How to get the best cruise deals - Langley Advance Times

Online or travel office? How to get the best cruise deals.

Posted: Sat, 02 Sep 2023 06:26:59 GMT [source]

If you’re only concerned about finding the cheapest price, scroll down to the price comparison section at the bottom of this post to see how all of these sites stack up against each other. It can be a complicated, time-consuming process that involves dozens of open tabs and maybe a spreadsheet or two. One of the greatest highlights of any trip is sampling local cuisine. Food is powerful for obvious reasons, but also delights our taste buds and provides lasting memories. Enjoying native cuisine helps involve all of your senses in the cultural experience. During your stay in the Netherlands, many foods are considered a “must” try.

Why you should book through a cruise travel agent

For more on getting the best deal on a cruise, see our 10 Rules to Getting the Best Deal on a Cruise here. That means you don’t have to run yourself ragged trying to find the best deal. Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter. Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016.

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From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. The downside is that online pricing is not "live." Therefore, you must speak with a travel planner to get the latest prices and book your cruise.

What is the best way to book a cruise?

When you book a cruise using United Miles, you’ll get about 0.7 to 0.8 cents per mile in value. United miles are generally worth around 1.3 cents per mile (or more if you’re booking business or first class flights), so you’re getting less value than you could get if you used your miles for a flight. Cruises.com is another site that claims to be the best place to book your cruise.

Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean - USA TODAY

Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean.

Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Use United MileagePlus Miles To Pay for Your Cruise

best cruise travel agency

You’ll find everything you need to know about sailing on waterways like the scenic Canal du Midi in the South of France or the Caledonian Canal in the Scottish Highlands with help from Sack and the rest of the Barge Lady crew. The site also lists traveler reviews about each cruise ship (as supplied by Cruiseline), though the reviews often include comments about the ship’s destinations other than the one you’re considering, which isn’t entirely helpful. There’s also a live chat widget if questions come up while booking. George Aballi, owner of Connection to Cruise in Redlands, California, should be on your radar when it comes to cruising, especially for travelers looking for a more active cruise experience.

best cruise travel agency

One of the nice things about Orbitz is that it offers a rewards program, but, unfortunately, cruises are not eligible for Orbitz Rewards. If you’re sure of the cruise line you want to take, it makes your search a little easier because you’re just looking at one specific line. Expert travel tips, dream destination inspiration, and timely travel news delivered to your inbox daily. We remain committed to supporting our clients through these changes and encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns. Unfortunately, this means that all 2021 Alaska sailings beginning or ending in Vancouver as well as all Canada / New England (East Coast) cruise vacations have been cancelled.

The company's customer service is available seven days a week, from 9 a.m. You should also ask if the travel agency offers 24/7 assistance (usually an 800 number) in case you have last-minute questions or something goes wrong before or during your trip. Going online to book an airline ticket or hotel stay is a familiar and fairly easy transaction. When you book a cruise, however — particularly your first cruise — you might want to reconsider the impulse to handle the transaction yourself through a cruise line website or an online advertiser with cheap prices. This DIY approach might not be the best way to find your dream vacation at sea. While Travelocity doesn’t advertise as many deals and savings as other sites, the price still manages to come out about the same as other websites.

There’s no shortage of websites out there that can help you book a cruise. There may even be more options to book cruises than hotels or flights. In addition to the traditional online travel agencies, there are a bunch of cruise-only sites that you can choose from, too.

Similarly, some lines, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises, offer free two- or three-night land programs and a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay for some guests. It’s hard to talk about canal barge cruising without thinking of Ellen Sack, aka the Barge Lady and expert in the world of all things European barge cruising. Sack and her family-run travel company work as brokers for canal barge cruises in Europe, connecting travelers to the right sailing experience to suit their needs.

A travel agent can help you determine what your cruise fare gets you. The cheapest base cruise fare does not always provide the best value or best overall vacation deal. Their expertise can help you avoid mistakes, whether you are a first-timer or a repeat cruiser checking out a brand you have not tried before.

Cashback and onboard spending bonuses are generally tied to your stateroom level as well which means you’re not going to get anywhere near the amount advertised if you’re booking an interior or ocean-view cabin. The exception in this example was Cruise.com, which offered a savings of $50 on the price of the cruise. However, some of the extras offered by other sites could be worth more than that, so it’s always a good idea to price your cruise on multiple websites before booking. Travelocity is a website that many travelers use to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises.

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