We confess. We haven't used travel agents often enough, and probably never will. Old habits are hard to change. However, especially if you're cruising for the first time (and maybe even if you're not), consulting a travel agent is one wise move.
Why?
There are things about cruises that make it a different kind of travel that, when doing it for the first time, you might not know. Those of us who have been on many cruises are by now familiar with the documentation that's required (much more than just a ticket), or with the need to be at the port with time to spare, or with what happens if you are late returning to a ship from a port visit.
A good travel agent will make sure you know everything you need to know about cruising before you leave home.
Then there's pricing.
Travel agents have relationships with cruise lines. That means, as good as an Internet price is, or even one you find right here among our Daily Deals, travel agents may have a better one. Or they may be able to enhance what you found by adding anything from free air fare to a bottle of champagne. And if you find an Internet deal that seems excessively good, run it by a travel agent in case they have an unpublicized deal that's better, or an upgrade. Or a reason why the deal you found isn't as good as it seems.
Travel agents are your advocates.
If you have a problem (i.e you make a booking mistake), a good travel agent will act on your behalf in resolving it with the cruise line — and the cruise line wants travel agents to be happy, too. If you have time to spare before getting on or after getting off a ship, travel agents have access to land packages that may cost less than the ones a cruise line promotes, and are just as dependable.
In short, travel agents can enhance your cruise experience if they're good at what they do.
Too bad we hadn't read this ourselves a long time ago!
Carnival Glory
7 nights
January 6, 2013
Miami (return): Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan, Grand Cayman
Inside: $409
Cost per day: $58
www.carnival.com