A little background… first, I’m a travel agent that specializes in cruises. So, as a cruise TA I often get requests to price a cruise.

Personally, I love doing it. It gives me a chance to research ships, cruise lines, and destinations. I’m always learning new things! It also gives me the opportunity to make new friends, even if they don’t book a cruise with me.

REQUESTING A CRUISE PRICE QUOTE TIPS:

• Asking for a cruise quote should NOT cost you a fee. Most travel agents will do it happily.
• Using a travel agent can often save you money and doesn’t cost you anything.
• Qualify your travel agent by asking for credentials, references, websites, etc.
• The more information or background you share with the TA, the more realistic quote you will receive. Information can be dates, desired destination, how many guests and ages, what you expect or want, budget, likes or dislikes. This helps narrow down your options.
• In this day and age it’s easy to request a quote. A simple text, email, message, or phone call will get you going. In the “olden” days you had to go into a travel agents office!
• Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for a quote even if you’re just “kicking tires.” Some people just want a ballpark figure to see if it’s even in their budget.
• If you’ve been doing research on your own and see pricing, don’t hesitate to share it with your travel agent. It’s important to communicate openly. But, make sure you’re comparing apples… I love the challenge of seeing what I can do!

IF YOU GET A QUOTE:

• Be aware that quotes are just that. Not a set price.
• Cruise lines are notorious for changing prices constantly. Your price can easily go up (or down) overnight.
• Cabins may be sold and not available by the time you decide.
• If you are seriously interested, always ask your travel agent to place a courtesy hold on your cabin. You will need to provide some basic information to do this. You do NOT need to put any money down until you are ready to book. These holds can be 24 hrs to a few days depending on the cruise line.
• Don’t be upset if you put it off then find prices have gone up or the cruise is sold out.

REMEMBER, it’s common courtesy to let the travel agent know if you decide to go a different direction. There’s never an obligation to book when you request a quote.