Received this question. Can you tell me the advantage of buying from an agent as opposed to from the cruise line itself

Normally, I have folks ask me, why buy directly at the cruise line ?

But I’ll instead, I’ll answer this persons question, their way. 

 

Don't mean to start off by soundind silly, by the 1st 2 things I respond with.

#1, The cruise line does not pay the consumer to take care of your own vacation, and they legally "can not" give you a lower rate than an agent ("select agents, as in large agents, like ourselves, are the ONLY people the consumer can get a lower rate from) and …

#2, In reality, if cruise line did not think it was better idea, for the consumer to buy from an agent, they would not pay agents commission and their wouldn't be so many agents out there, in “need” for helping all the consumers who are cruising ! 

 

The basic only reason the cruise line sells cruises at all, to consumers, is in hopes of catching you, in buying now, when you call, so you do not call another cruise line and buying there !  They’re not worried about you buying from an agent (they promote this); they are worried you will go to another cruise line !

 

Cruise lines have cruise specialist and travel agents, selling their product, basically for 3 reasons:   

(1)      Agents have experience; the more cruisers can be educated before they buy and sail, the less problems cruise lines will have - This is the cruise lines #1 reason for having agents on their side. They need help ! Not only in being sure you are educated, but …   

(2)      They do not have the sales force to fill up their ships       

(3)      Cruise Line folks come and go all the time; they may not be at all, employed by the cruise line, even a week after you buy; most have never sailed (if an agent hasn't sailed, run too); you don't know these folks (anyone, like on the internet, can tell you anything they think you want to hear;  they don't care if you don’t come back and buy a second time; agents want you for life; they want to build a friendship, not just be an agent); only info cruise line folks can give you is what they read off a computer - consumers have a misconception if they think folk at the cruise lines are the experts; sometimes, that might be all an agent can give you too, but at least, an agent should know if it makes sense or not, what the cruise line is telling them !

 

Now, that's what's in it for the cruise line that you do not buy direct with them !

So What's in it for you ...  

(1)   As mentioned, the cruise line won't give you a discount or pay you for taking care of yourself.  But they will pay an agent. It's usually free to you; who doesn't like free ! 

(2)   Leave all the work to someone else. You say, what work ? Work for agents doesn't begin till you buy. We're not actually paid, to help you decide which cruise, especially now that this info is all over the net. Of course, they can also be here to help guide you; ask questions to see if you are sure this is right cruise for you. But they are actually here, for after you buy. Sure, in answering your questions.

(3)   What the consumer doesn't think about ... what if there's a problem ... with your own life or the cruise line ... Why rely on yourself, to have to figure it all out; that the cruise line will even listen to you, as a consumer.

(4)   You are one cruise; agents deal with these cruise lines for many cruises; and agents like ourselves, who sell 100,000 a year, deal with them much more !  The more experience the agent has with a cruise line, the better your cruise has a chance at running smoothing. More importantly, the fighting power the agent has over the consumer; as the largest cruise distributor, we work with the cruise line CEO’s when the issue gets bad ! 

 

The consumer is not aware of what goes on behind closed doors and all the work that takes place in keeping your cruise safe. And if you work with a big company, like ours, we have computer safe guards, that lets us know if the cruise line has touched your booking, with in as early as 2 hours; giving us a better chance at getting in there and getting it fixed before it is too late. 

If you've never had problems, that's wonderful; but that's not reality in the cruise world ! My day is 50% problems and fixing !  I love it; but at the moment, very stressful.

 

Though most agents, do not get any lower rates, than you can get at the cruise line directly, there are the LARGE co's like ourselves that do. It's not every date, it's not every cruise line.  And our Exclusives change daily, like all the sales you see at the cruise lines.

 

Thankfully, our folks come to us, just cause they like US, otherwise, I might take it personally, and think they only want to work with us, due to something monitary ...hehehe !

 

Hope this helps. We are here in LYH, 22 years now, protecting folks cruises and answering their questions.  And … providing equal rates to that of Orbitz Hotwire, Priceline, the Airlines & more.

How can I say EQUAL ?  Because they buy from US !  We are the distribution house, providing cruises to these internet companies I have mentioned above.  That’s right, they do not buy from the cruise line either !  They buy from US.  This is “how” we are known as and became the Nations Largest Cruise Distributor !

Now we don’t monitor the cruises or answer questions for folks who buy off these internet sites.  Our expertise and protection is only available for folks who buy from us direct.

And we are right here in LYH. 

Many folks do not know we are here.  It’s by word of mouth only, to know we are here.  You either find out cause you and I are friends … You’re a past cruiser with us … Our customers tell you … You’re on my facebook page … Or you ran up on US accidently (like part of the 51% of my out-of-state customers have done)

So yes, you too, can by-pass the internet and deal directly here too … Keep your money in LYH … Get the best possible rates there are … and tie into our personal connection with the cruise line too ! 

We were placed here in LYH specifically for LYH folks !  
And I admit, if LYH folks want US to stay, their support in needed in knowing this, by buying with us directly !

(1)      So you can buy from an expert, with higher connections at the cruise line, and not have to buy from a cruise line agent.

(2)      So you can receive the lower rates that the cruise lines give US; that they “legally” can not give you !

(3)      So you can keep your money in LYH !

(4)      So you can deal with someone locally that you know !

(5)      So you don’t have to get our rates, by having to go on the net.

(6)      And we allow you to refer friends and family from out of state, where we can “legally do business”; because we have license in every state, unlike local agents.

 

When you decide you want us to help you, please call/no email or facebook with questions ..........
434 237-3832, press 6 ...... then press 62 or 61, which ever best describes you (by reading this, consider that you already know me, and don’t pres 63)