Money
It’s a common misperception that booking all your travel
over the internet will save you money. When it comes to taking a cruise, you
may find that your travel agent can not only get you the same low process you
can find yourself directly through the cruise line, but can also score you
special offers that you won’t get when you book online or directly through the
cruise line and provide a better level of service than a 1-800#.
No, you don’t pay more to use our services, in fact pricing
is pretty comparable across the board and your travel agent might know about
unpublished promotions and special deals that won’t pop up on an internet
search. Further, your travel agent can be a fare watchdog for you, if the price
of your vacation goes down, most of the time we can get you the new, cheaper,
fare.
At Northwest Family Vacations, our partnership with Cruises
and Tours Unlimited and CLIA affiliation gives us access to some special group
rates on select sailings, even when booking an individual stateroom.
If you’ve purchased a “future cruise credit” or placed a
deposit through your cruise line’s rewards program, many times you can transfer
that reservation to your travel agent AND also take advantage of onboard credits
and other special offers.
Trip Planning - Experience matters – Your personality and vacation style should help to determine not only where you go on your next cruise but which ship you sail on. Cruising with kids? You probably want to get advice from someone who has actually used the kids programs on the cruise line you’re considering, instead of just reviewed the brochure.It is also helpful to have someone who knows the different categories of staterooms on your ship and the different perks and amenities that come with them. Cabin layout and location is especially important when cruising with kids.
- Plane Tickets- We make NO money on airfare. The price you pay for your plane tickets from us will be nearly the same as the rate you will find on any of the online booking sites or from the airlines directly. But, your travel agent can make sure that you have the most stress-free itinerary possible, include the cost of your tickets with your cruise package, and can also help you take advantage of any airfare rebate offers available from the cruise line.
Travel agents don’t do it for the money; we love to travel
and are enthusiastic about helping you plan your next adventure. That said; you
should vet your travel agent to make sure that they know what you’re looking
for. “Do you have kids? Do you take them with you when you travel?”
- Excursions and Touring- your travel agent may be able to give you firsthand information about excursions that aren’t even available through your cruise line, and secure reservations on your behalf. Pre and Post-cruise accommodations and touring arrangements can also be made beyond the narrow and often expensive options the cruise line offers. There isn’t anything offered by the cruise line that your travel agent can get for you that would be online. Sometimes we’ll find a terrific adventure and if the best price isn’t with our service, we will direct the client to book it directly through the tour operator. A good travel agent is always looking out for you and since we usually travel with our kids, we’re always on the lookout for the family-friendly spots, like the great aquarium or nice restaurant that also has a good kids menu. Just like you, we travel on a budget, and some of the best dining and adventures are those that don’t cost a lot of money but maybe require a little research to find.
Problem Solving
If you encounter an issue on your trip, rather than wasting
precious vacation time sorting it out, you can enlist your travel agent to
solve the problem for you. We may also
recommend and facilitate TRAVEL INSURANCE when appropriate, which can provide
additional protection in the event of a mishap.
Relationship
Beyond saving you money and smoothing the way for you, you
may want a travel agent with whom you can build a relationship, someone who is
going to take the time to get to know you and your family and your interests to
find the best fit for your vacation.
We will do the research so that you don’t have to. But if
you love to investigate before your trip, we’ll send you links and brochures
and be as involved (or uninvolved) in the planning as you’d like.
By all means, do some research yourself, but when you find
an enticing offer, run it by your travel agent – we might be able to offer you
the same deal plus a little personal service and maybe even a few other perks
too.
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For more information about how Northwest Family Vacations can help with your next cruise adventure, please visit our website and check out the Cruises page for special offers.