What We Say to Travel Agents, What They Hear and Why You Should Care

The​ ​process​ ​seems​ ​simple​ ​enough​ ​when​ ​buying​ ​a​ ​cruise.​ ​​ ​Decide​ ​when​ ​and​ ​where​ ​we​ ​want​ ​to sail​ ​then​ ​call​ ​or​ ​click​ ​our​ ​way​ ​to​ ​travel​ ​happiness.​ ​Some​ ​travelers​ ​handle​ ​the​ ​booking​ ​process themselves​ ​from​ ​dreaming​ ​to​ ​doing​ ​with​ ​little​ ​help,​ ​especially​ ​when​ ​visiting​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world they​ ​have​ ​been​ ​to​ ​before.​ ​​ ​Others​ ​use​ ​a​ ​personal​ ​travel​ ​agent​ ​to​ ​make​ ​and​ ​maintain​ ​a​ ​cruise booking.​ ​Those​ ​savvy​ ​travelers​ ​are​ ​banking​ ​on​ ​the​ ​agent’s​ ​expertise​ ​being​ ​a​ ​helpful​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the deal​ ​both​ ​upfront​ ​and​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​life​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reservation.​ ​​ ​That​ ​brings​ ​good​ ​reason​ ​to​ ​think about​ ​what​ ​we​ ​say​ ​to​ ​travel​ ​agents​ ​which​ ​can​ ​be​ ​quite​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​different​ ​than​ ​what​ ​they​ ​hear.

Motivated​ ​to​ ​make​ ​cruising​ ​dreams​ ​come​ ​true,​ ​if​ ​for​ ​no​ ​other​ ​reason​ ​than​ ​to​ ​secure​ ​our​ ​future cruise​ ​booking​ ​business,​ ​that​ ​agent​ ​considers​ ​our​ ​personal​ ​needs,​ ​budget​ ​and​ ​schedule.​ ​​ ​Still, the​ ​very​ ​best​ ​travel​ ​agent​ ​is​ ​only​ ​as​ ​good​ ​as​ ​the​ ​information​ ​they​ ​have​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with​ ​going​ ​into the​ ​process.

“I think I might want to go on a cruise. Whatcha got?”

This​ ​question​ ​comes​ ​from​ ​one​ ​of​ ​two​ ​people:​ ​​ ​Someone​ ​you​ ​live​ ​with​ ​that​ ​knows​ ​everything about​ ​you​ ​OR​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​has​ ​never​ ​been​ ​on​ ​a​ ​cruise​ ​before.​ ​​ ​Assuming​ ​the​ ​later​ ​of​ ​the​ ​two, a​ ​travel​ ​agent​ ​is​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​react​ ​predictably​ ​to​ ​someone​ ​calling​ ​in​ ​randomly​ ​for​ ​that​ ​information.

That​ ​agent​ ​will​ ​ask​ ​a​ ​series​ ​of​ ​questions​ ​aimed​ ​at​ ​discovering​ ​one​ ​of​ ​two​ ​likely​ ​outcomes:

1. Identifying​ ​the​ ​caller​ ​as​ ​an​ ​inappropriate​ ​fit​ ​for​ ​what​ ​they​ ​do​ ​OR
2. Piquing​ ​the​ ​agent’s​ ​interest​ ​at​ ​the​ ​thought​ ​of​ ​guiding​ ​someone​ ​new​ ​to​ ​cruising​ ​which supports​ ​a​ ​mission​ ​of​ ​building​ ​a​ ​long​ ​term​ ​business​ ​relationship​ ​with​ ​a​ ​travel professional.

Obviously,​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​later​ ​of​ ​the​ ​two​ ​directions​ ​that​ ​we​ ​want,​ ​although​ ​knowing​ ​what​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​cruise travel​ ​an​ ​agent​ ​or​ ​agency​ ​specializes​ ​or​ ​avoids​ ​is​ ​important​ ​too.​ ​​ ​Ask​ ​an​ ​agent​ ​who​ ​focuses​ ​on long​ ​sailings​ ​for​ ​information​ ​on​ ​a​ ​3-night​ ​cruise​ ​and​ ​they​ ​might​ ​have​ ​less​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​booking​ ​it. This​ ​is​ ​just​ ​not​ ​what​ ​they​ ​do.​ ​​ ​Know​ ​this​ ​though:​ ​​ ​There​ ​is​ ​an​ ​agent​ ​that​ ​specializes​ ​in​ ​all​ ​sorts​ ​of cruises.​ ​​ ​You​ ​just​ ​need​ ​to​ ​find​ ​them.

Before​ ​asking​ ​​ ​​“I think I might want to go on a cruise. Whatcha got?” ​which​ ​totally​ ​nails​ ​you​ ​as​ ​a cruise​ ​rookie​,​ ​do​ ​some​ ​homework.​ ​​ ​Not​ ​much,​ ​just​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​general​ ​overview​ ​of​ ​what​ ​is being​ ​offered​ ​and​ ​general​ ​pricing.

The​ ​reason​ ​to​ ​care​ ​is​ ​simple:​ ​our​ ​investment​ ​of​ ​time​ ​will​ ​be​ ​rewarded​ ​with​ ​a​ ​productive conversation​ ​with​ ​a​ ​travel​ ​professional.​ ​​ ​That​ ​relationship​ ​can​ ​add​ ​up​ ​to​ ​big​ ​$​ ​savings​ ​up​ ​front​ ​at the​ ​time​ ​of​ ​booking​ ​and​ ​down​ ​the​ ​line​ ​if​ ​a​ ​better​ ​offer​ ​comes​ ​up​ ​later.​ ​Perhaps​ ​more​ ​importantly, the​ ​quality​ ​of​ ​our​ ​travel​ ​experience​ ​can​ ​be​ ​far​ ​higher​ ​when​ ​we​ ​communicate​ ​effectively​ ​with​ ​that agent.

Chris Owen shares frank, inside information about cruise vacations on ChrisCruises.com

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