Transfer Your DIY Cruise Buy To An Agent For Bonus Value

So​ ​you​ ​did​ ​your​ ​homework​ ​and​ ​found​ ​a​ ​fabulous​ ​deal​ ​on​ ​a​ ​cruise.​ ​​ ​Maybe​ ​it​ ​was​ ​an​ ​awesome Black​ ​Friday​ ​or​ ​Cyber​ ​Monday​ ​bargain.​ ​​ ​It​ ​could​ ​have​ ​been​ ​a​ ​limited​ ​time​ ​offer​ ​for​ ​residents​ ​of​ ​a certain​ ​state,​ ​a​ ​discount​ ​for​ ​military​ ​members​ ​or​ ​some​ ​other​ ​limited-time​ ​offer.​ ​​ ​You​ ​are​ ​happy. Your​ ​DIY​ ​(Do​ ​It​ ​Yourself)​ ​Cruise​ ​deal​ ​was​ ​the​ ​best​ ​around​ ​but​ ​now​ ​time​ ​has​ ​passed. Interestingly,​ ​while​ ​most​ ​buyers​ ​think​ ​of​ ​travel​ ​agents​ ​on​ ​the​ ​front​ ​end​ ​of​ ​that​ ​transaction,​ ​an increasing​ ​number​ ​are​ ​including​ ​an​ ​agent​ ​after​ ​the​ ​sale,​ ​for​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​reasons.
Agents​ ​Can​ ​Ensure​ ​Value​ ​Now​ ​And​ ​Later

Travel​ ​agents​ ​are​ ​privy​ ​to​ ​exclusive​ ​pricing​ ​and​ ​offers​ ​that​ ​cruise​ ​travelers​ ​can​ ​not​ ​see.​ ​​ ​They also​ ​have​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​check​ ​pricing​ ​and​ ​value​ ​on​ ​any​ ​ship​ ​or​ ​sailing​ ​date​ ​at​ ​any​ ​time.​ ​​ ​If​ ​they do,​ ​they​ ​may​ ​find​ ​a​ ​lower​ ​price​ ​that​ ​you​ ​qualify​ ​for​ ​somewhere​ ​between​ ​booking​ ​and​ ​final payment.​ ​​ ​One​ ​hitch:​ ​Agents​ ​can​ ​not​ ​do​ ​anything​ ​with​ ​your​ ​booking​ ​if​ ​it​ ​is​ ​made​ ​directly​ ​with​ ​the cruise​ ​line.​ ​​ ​Transferring​ ​your​ ​booking​ ​to​ ​an​ ​agent​ ​opens​ ​that​ ​door.

All​ ​Boxes​ ​Checked,​ ​All​ ​Along​ ​The​ ​Way

Did​ ​you​ ​know​ ​that​ ​​ ​passports​ ​must​ ​be​ ​valid​ ​for​ ​at​ ​least​ ​six​ ​months​ ​after​ ​flying​ ​or​ ​sailing?​ ​​ ​If​ ​it’s not,​ ​the​ ​traveler​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​board​ ​a​ ​plane​ ​or​ ​ship.​ ​​ ​Agents​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​all​ ​the​ ​boxes​ ​are checked​ ​as​ ​they​ ​watch​ ​over​ ​our​ ​booking.​ ​​ ​Just​ ​one​ ​missed​ ​can​ ​throw​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​kink​ ​in​ ​our​ ​travel plans.

The​ ​Deal​ ​Might​ ​Get​ ​Better​ ​Right​ ​Away

Check​ ​with​ ​your​ ​travel​ ​agent​ ​or​ ​the​ ​agent​ ​of​ ​a​ ​trusted​ ​friend,​ ​they​ ​may​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​add​ ​value​ ​right now.​ ​​ ​Many​ ​travel​ ​agencies​ ​have​ ​ongoing​ ​promotions​ ​that​ ​reward​ ​cruise​ ​travelers​ ​for transferring​ ​their​ ​booking.​ ​​ ​An​ ​agency​ ​promotion,​ ​additional​ ​onboard​ ​credit​ ​or​ ​bonus​ ​amenity​ ​are all​ ​possible.​ ​​ ​It’s​ ​at​ ​least​ ​worth​ ​a​ ​phone​ ​call​ ​or​ ​email​ ​request.

You​ ​Did​ ​The​ ​Homework,​ ​Agents​ ​Can​ ​Be​ ​Your​ ​Support​ ​Staff

The​ ​normal​ ​cruise​ ​booking​ ​cycle​ ​puts​ ​the​ ​agent​ ​up​ ​front,​ ​helping​ ​with​ ​the​ ​selection​ ​and​ ​planning of​ ​travel​ ​before​ ​it​ ​is​ ​purchased.​ ​​ ​Increasingly​ ​today,​ ​consumers​ ​are​ ​turning​ ​to​ ​agents,​ ​once thought​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​thing​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past​ ​for​ ​guidance.​ ​​ ​If​ ​that’s​ ​the​ ​way​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​roll,​ ​how​ ​about including​ ​an​ ​agent​ ​on​ ​the​ ​back​ ​end?​ ​​ ​Then​ ​you’re​ ​really​ ​done.

The​ ​Right​ ​Tool​ ​For​ ​The​ ​Job

Once​ ​in​ ​the​ ​system​ ​of​ ​any​ ​decent​ ​travel​ ​agency,​ ​those​ ​boxes​ ​will​ ​get​ ​checked,​ ​more​ ​value​ ​will come​ ​and​ ​our​ ​travel​ ​dreams​ ​have​ ​a​ ​far​ ​better​ ​chance​ ​of​ ​happening.​ ​Not​ ​taking​ ​advantage​ ​of​ ​this totally​ ​free​ ​resource​ ​is​ ​simply​ ​leaving​ ​money​ ​on​ ​the​ ​table.​ ​​ ​Wouldn’t​ ​we​ ​rather​ ​take​ ​that​ ​with​ ​us to​ ​spend​ ​on​ ​board?

Chris Owen shares frank, inside information about cruise vacations on ChrisCruises.com