This weekend, I met a very nice lady and her boyfriend at my “Open House Collectibles must move out, Tag Sale”. Of course, she had seen my name and our logo on my truck. We naturally talked about cruises.
When I meet folks, and we get on the cruising topic, I automatically ask, “Do you buy your cruises online (I don’t ask if they buy locally; cause I hope they do) ?”. Naturally I ask this, since our company is the cruise distribution house for Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, the Airlines, and more; and there are still so many folks in Lynchburg, VA, who have yet to hear from my existing customers, that we are here locally, for them (and their out-of-state referrals) to buy directly with us for the Best Prices Guarantee; avoiding the “net“ and keeping their MONEY IN LYNCHBURG.
She immediately responded with, “ I book directly at the cruise line because they specifically give me a special offer”.
Surely, I seemed a little shocked when I responded with, “Are you under the impressions that this is an Exclusive offer, where you must book directly through the cruise line ?”.
She said yes.
Weeeeeeeeeeee.
Oh, you poor lady ! WRONG.
Her booking directly at the cruise line actually means she has …
* Not only taken her money away from Lynchburg (it can not in turn, come back around to her)
* She has taken away that security of buying local, or if not local, from someone she could get to know personally.
* Sadly true, she is missing out on working with the expertise of agents in the cruising field AND someone who has probably been around for years (unlike at the cruise line, who has 24/7 turn around) !
* AND, she no longer has that middle man, that Famous Travel Writers suggest you need, when buying a cruise, to “FIGHT YOUR BATTLES” when the UNEXPECTED HAPPENS !
* And, she may not have the best available rate or amenities.
PLEASE KNOW. Past Passenger Rates, offered by the cruise lines for “loyalty” are NOT EXCLUSIVE ! Every travel agent and cruise specialist in the World, has access to these Past Passenger Rates to give all their customers (new callers) !
AND … Do yourself a favor, DON'T book direct at the cruise line; DON'T play your own travel agent. I don’t know which is worse: Booking direct or booking on the net, in reference to YOUR SECURITY (your back) !
Truly, I feel sorry for any cruiser or vacationer who does not have their own agent, local or not, that they can entrust with any and all information that may be needed !
ALSO KNOW: Past Passenger rates are NOT ALWAYS the best prices. So be aware ! AND know, even with Past Passenger rates, if you are working with a distribution house, there may be more amenities you can have, than just the rate !
REMEMBER MEANINGS:
ADVERTISED CRUISE LINE SALE. This is NOT EXCLUSIVE.
BEST PRICE GUARANTEE or LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE only means, you won’t see a lower rate elsewhere (it does NOT MEAN EXCLUSIVE). We advertise this, because it is true. Carnival now advertises this, cause it is true; they have Best Price Guarantee, but it is NOT EXCLUSIVE !
EXCLUSIVE. Now, this means Exclusive. This means you can only receive buy buying at that location.
Being able to entrust is important, but also know their …
* Level of expertise !
* Direct connection and level of connectivity to the cruise line !
* AND, how they process payment (and always use your credit card for payments); beware of agencies that will accept cash, even if you use credit card; be sure to ask !
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