Keep in mind that many large ships cruise ocean waters, but some of the smaller ones set sail on large lakes and even rivers. Decide what type of experience you want, whether a tropical get away to a Caribbean island or an Alaskan holiday adventure. In your search for the perfect cruise for you, meet with a few different Garden City, New York NY cruise travel agent specialists to get the scoop on price, seasonal discounts, airfare combinations, and schedules. He or she can tell you which cruise line and package is right for your journey, based on what types of activities and excursions you are interested in. If you want a real close look at each cruise ship, take a virtual tour online of each one. Check out each Caribbean island or other destination to come up with the itinerary that’s right for you and your fellow travelers. This will give you a good idea of what your cruise vacation can look like. Many online cruise line and vacation sites provide photo galleries, customer testimonials, free estimates, news and reviews, and travel information. Before committing to a Garden City, New York NY cruise travel agent specialist, find out how many years the company has been in business, what qualifications the company has and what services the company specializes in, such as cruise vacations or holiday package deals. Ask if the travel agent is part of a local, national or international entity, and whether it has a website you can check out for additional information. Before booking a cruise adventure and setting sail, make sure you have everything in writing—airfare, price, dates, and cruise line information.
People who want to go on a vacation where they are constantly pampered will often take cruises. Many cruise lines have luxurious, multi-storied ships that offer a wide variety of activities to guests. Some cruises offer swimming pools, lap pools, spas and saunas for the guests’ pleasure. Most packages on cruises include meals and gratuities, so that guests need not bother with carrying extra cash while on board. Cruises often vary in how they accommodate alcohol consumption by their guests and people often inquire about this when planning for the amount of cash to take on cruises. Cruise ships sometimes stop on islands or other land masses and guests disembark to explore and shop there.
Following are important questions you should ask when shopping for a cruise vacation: If the person you are talking to is hesitant, won’t answer or doesn’t know the answer to these questions, say thank you, walk out or hang up the phone.
- Is the agency a member of Cruise Line International Assoc. (CLIA)?
- Is the agency insured and bonded?
- Does the agency have a CLIA Master or Accredited Cruise Counselor on staff? If not, does it have a cruise specialist? (If the agent is an Accredited or Master Cruise Counselor you can skip the next question.)
- How many cruises has the agent taken? (Should be more than 5 with at least 3 different cruise lines–the more the better!)
- When I book my cruise will the agent provide me with a direct confirmation from the cruise line and a booking number? (Very important!)
- When was the last time the agent cruised? (Should have cruised within the past 2 years.)
- Will the agent be the only person who will be handling my cruise transaction from start to finish? (At Cruise Planners, one person will be handling your cruise transaction from start to finish, reducing the chance for errors.)
- Will the agent help me select my shore excursions?
- Will the agent be available to answer any questions and concerns before and after my cruise?
- If the agent suggests a particular ship or itinerary, ask why they are recommending this particular cruise line, ship or destination.
- Will the agent monitor my booking and honor any price reductions or newly added promotions (reduction in airfare, upgrades, etc.) that may occur from the time of deposit until I cruise?