New to traveling ? New to a specific area of travel? Turning to your agent for travel advice ? Heeding to agent travel advice ? Know possible reverse results ?

 

I’ve been in the “cruise business” for 25  years now and taken 138 cruises.  And strange as one may guess, that I too, have experienced travel disasters ! 

In this article, I’m not talking about disasters in working “with” a cruise line or land tour operator or new folks I’ve experiences THIS YEAR, who are wishy-washy in their original package.  I’m just talking here, about the travel experience itself !

You can call the situations I’ve experienced misfortunate, yes, or you can call it ‘added value’ for my customers.  The more I travel, whether it be “with” a specific cruise line, take flights, trains, transfers, or stay before or after my cruises in hotels … These ALL … Give me added value insight for the travel of others.

Not that I want to get into this topic today, but the majority of travelers want to save a DIME.  And the way to do that, it buying the ‘parts of the puzzle’, to go with your main package, on  your own. 

Agents are not paid today, to handle your airfare nor transfers, and most often, never receive pay for handling any pre/post hotels (unless bought thru a Land Tour Operator).  In turn, they must charge a fee to handle.  Now they are covered under “their insurance”, to cover you, for a wrong purchase.

So when I first book a customer’s basic vacation (cruise or land), I tell them … COME TO ME FOR YOUR NEEDED ADVICE !  This includes flights, tranfers, pre/post hotels, and tours ashore.  Even when they are NOT buying these “parts of the puzzle” from me.

I want to “hear” what they are THINKING prior to their decisions.  I want to analyze, their options, to make sure all the pieces match !  BEFORE THEY PURCHASE !

THAT’S MY FORTE to this business … Problem solver !   Will this work ? How to make it work ?  Where do we go from here ?

Life has so many crazy turns, for all of us, that I look into the possibilities of disasters, that could unfortunately get one’s decision into added stress on their vacation !  Don’t get me wrong, NEW STUFF surfaces all the time.  So allowing me to help, with the “road I’v e already been down”, is why I am here ! Why Cruises Inc is here.  My staff, has seen even more issues, than I’ve experience with my personal travels and the misfortune of clients !

Fortunately, the majority of my clients have been with me for years.  They’ve called me, from the beginning for ALL insight and emergency situations, as most of them continue to do today !

However, THIS YEAR, I am getting a lot of (1) Never before travelers and (2) Nnew client travelers.  These folks either (A) Don’t understand what I mean by, “call me for all your needed advice”,  (B) Do not understand the mishaps that happen with travel … Or  WHAT ?  (C ) Like playing Russian Roulette. 

Understand, when you buy these “pieces of the puzzle” on your own … You’re ON YOUR OWN !  That is totally NOT my advice to you.  I will not push you, cause I want you to save money, but only IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING.  Otherwise …

(1)    I should buy your airfare
(2)    Your hotel
(3)    Your tours should be bought by “our discount” Shore Excursion Group (though my 1^st suggestion is the cruise line, if pre-buying).
(4)    Let me give you needed advice for transfers

Example of what I’m seeing: 

(1)    Not buying “our” special Trip Cancellation Insurance
(2)    Buying or changing flights after purchase …
        (A)   Not listening to, ‘go down the day before’
        (B)   Not understand cost or change cost, till after they make changes
        (C)   Or that the changes won’t work
        (D)   Have no idea what time they need to fly in or out by
(3)    Buying tours ashore from folks they don’t know
(4)   Listening to advice from 'Facebook' pages !  Other travelers.
(5)   Guessing answers (answers NOT in writing)

So far,  this is the disasters I’m seeing.  Unfortunately, everyone hasn’t gone on vacation this year, and I’m not excited, about the more than could possible come.

(1)    Missed flights d/t close connections
(2)    Missed cruise
(3)    No luggage for cruise
(4)    More out of pocket for cancel/change charges
(5)    No tour when get to port

Call me !  Once your vacation is booked, pre-advice is FREE.  Getting you out of a fix is … COSTLY !

And if you have your own agent, LISTEN TO THEIR ADVICE !

And if you bought at the cruise line ?  They are 'order takers' ... NOT experienced travelers !  Pay someone for your needed advice !

 

Next Cruz Lady article June 1, 2016