Quote:
Originally Posted by sunseeker55
we had booked thru an agent, and some friends of ours booked with the line and they got onboard credit and a free excursion which we didn't get and our agent said she couldn't get those for us.
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Find another agent! Any time the cruise line offers something like that, the agent can get it for you. This is why it pays to find a Cruise Specialist as many travel agents are not trained in cruises.
I once met an agent onboard a cruise when we were seated with her at lunch. I asked her what she did and she said she was a travel agent with 20 years experience. I remarked that she must have been on alot of cruises - imagine my surprise when she said this was her first cruise! I asked her how she could sell something she knew nothing about and her partner chimed in that she was very good at it. I thought to myself she was very good at lying to people!
As with any business, there are alot of tricks of the trade and a specialist will always be better trained and more aware than a generalist. If you have a problem with your feet, you go see a podiatrist because they're specifically trained in that area of expertise and know a great deal more than a general practitioner. This same principle is true in all areas of life.
Booking directly with the cruise line is fine if you don't have any problems. But if you have a problem, that's when a Cruise Specialist can be invaluable. Let them do the work so you don't have to - it'll make your life less stressful. Sorry - didn't mean for that to sound like a commercial for agents, but you'd be surprised what they can do for you that the cruise line won't.
Pete