LATEST

 Norwegian Cruise

 

 

Unlimited Beverages

Sip on a Mojito poolside and a glass of Pinot at dinner. With Free Open Bar, Guests 1 & 2 get an Ultimate Beverage Package, including all you can drink spirits and cocktails, wines by the glass and draft beer, and juice or soda. 
YOU SAVE UP TO $178.00 PER DAY
Excludes gratuities and service charges.

 

Specialty Dining

Savor an array of Specialty Restaurants with Free Specialty Dining! Guests 1 & 2 get a 3-Meal Specialty Dining Package on 3-9 night cruises, or a 4-Meal Specialty Dining Package on 10+ night cruises. 
YOU SAVE UP TO $168.00
Excludes gratuities and service charges.

 

Shore Excursions

Dogsledding in Alaska. Scuba diving in Belize. Explore each port of call during your cruise with $50 free shore excursion credits. 
YOU SAVE $50.00 PER PORT
Free credit is applied per stateroom.

 

Friends & Family

Invite your friends and family along for the cruise of a lifetime. With Free Extra Guests, your third and fourth roomies sail free on select sailings!

 

WiFi

Stay connected while at sea and share your vacation moments with friends and family back home. With Free WiFi, you get an Internet Package Time Plan of 250 minutes to use throughout the ship. 
YOU SAVE $125.00
Includes activation fee. Time Plan is applied per stateroom.

 When to Use a Travel   Agent!

**RCB** / Flickr

It’s an assumption you’ve heard before: Travel agents are a dying breed. Many people presume that the rise of do-it-yourself booking engines like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com all but wiped out travel agencies — Yahoo recently declared a career as a travel agent a “dead-end job.” But that’s not necessarily the case. Travel agents still have their place: In fact, members the American Society of Travel Agents book more than 144 million vacations a year, and ASTA reported more than $17 billion in revenue for 2012.

In an attempt to change consumers’ views, John Pittman, a vice president at ASTA, said the society prefers to use the term “travel professional.” This term describes the profession more broadly as today’s booking agents do more than act as the go-between for travelers, airlines and hotels. Travel professionals now work across multiple platforms (even using DIY sites) to help clients book a wide variety of vacations. “The truth is, travel agents have adapted to the changing environment, and they are relevant and they are meeting a consumer need,” Pittman said.

[See: Why it Pays to Book With a Travel Agent]

Jeff Klee, the CEO of DIY-booking website CheapAir.com seems to agree: In June the site announced it would begin offering every customer who purchases a plane ticket access to a CheapAir.com travel adviser who can be reached directly by email or phone. The adviser can help you make modifications to your booking, deal with trip delays or cancellations, or organize additional elements for your booking, like car or hotel reservations.

Even still, there are certain instances where it’s more beneficial to book with a traditional travel agency rather than to attempt to organize a trip on your own. Pittman cites five examples as optimal opportunities to use a travel agent:

International travel

In addition to providing some destination-specific advice, travel professionals can negotiate international hotel and flight packages for you to help trim the costs of a trip overseas. Pittman also stressed that things can get tricky when traveling abroad, especially if you’re visiting a nation with complicated visa or passport requirements. Not only can you get a better value when you use a travel agent, but you also have the peace of mind that you won’t get stranded in a foreign country.

Honeymoon travel

You’ve got enough on your plate when it comes to organizing your wedding — let someone else plan the honeymoon. Not only can a travel agent get you discounted rates, but they can use their established relationships to provide you with special honeymoon perks like room upgrades, welcome amenities, and candlelit dinners.

Large group and corporate travel

Thanks to their industry contacts, travel professionals can help you negotiate large-group discounts and organize all of your itinerary details so your family reunion or your corporate retreat goes off without a hitch.

Cruise travel

Planning a cruise may sound easy, but you have to consider a lot of variables. What itinerary is right for you? Will you be spending an extra night in the departure or arrival port? Do you need to book a hotel room or car rental? What shore excursions do you want to sign up for? A travel professional can help you sort out all of the intricacies of your cruise and use their connections to secure unadvertised deals. If you’re hoping to use an agent that deals exclusively with cruise travel, you can search for one through the Cruise Lines International Association CLIA offers an Accredited Cruise Certification for agents, which means travel professionals with this credential have gone through extensive training in order to better match travelers with the right cruise itineraries.

Theme park travel

Theme park vacations can get expensive quickly, especially when you factor in daily park expenses like tickets and food. Though places like Disney World routinely advertise package discounts to entice vacationers, a travel professional can help you distinguish between a good deal and a deal that’s too good to be true. He or she can also find you those under-the-radar discounts, such as special family or group rates.

10 Reasons To Use A Travel Agent In 2017

by Cheryl Rosen / November 22, 2016

Photo: Dubai International Airport

In this season for giving thanks, we at Travel Market Report want to thank all the professional, smart, caring travel professionals who have supported and befriended us this past year. 

In their honor, we bring you 10 reasons why you should always use a professional travel agent—and this year more than ever.

1. Buying travel is a unique purchase because you are buying both a product and a service.
A travel agent knows how to sell both parts—the airline and resort and cruise line that best match your needs, and the service that will guarantee your vacation is seamless and stress-free.

2. Travel agents are trained to take a critical look at each piece of your trip puzzle.
They make sure each piece meets your specific needs, so you’re happy with every penny you spent.

3. They can make sense of the multitude of offers from cruise lines and airlines and hotels. 
This year travel companies are offering more brands than ever before in history—on land, in the air, and on the seas. Is Fathom the right cruise for you? Is Delta Light good enough? A travel professional can decipher the subtle differences and choose the one that fits your requirements for this unique trip.

4. Travel professionals save you time and money.  
Whether they charge a fee, as many do, or base their businesses on commissions, the time and money you spend with them will be returned to you many times over in the form of perks, upgrades, convenience and great service. 

5. They are your advocate.  
Whether you need an upgrade to an ocean view or a ticket out of harm’s way after an earthquake, your travel agent will be there for you, intervening with suppliers on your behalf.

6. They are the experts.  
Like a doctor or an accountant, a travel counselor will ask the right questions, listen to your answers, understand your pain, and offer expert advice to guide you in making one of your most important decisions—how to spend your invaluable time off. Because there are no do-overs for a vacation gone wrong.

7. Knowledge is power.  
From the visa and passport requirements to the name of the maître d’ at the best restaurant in town, a good travel agent has the inside information that makes your trip perfect. 

8. They have your back.  When things go wrong, a travel professional knows whom to call to get it fixed on the spot. If your flight is canceled, just have a seat and pick up the phone while the rest of the passengers are lined up trying to rebook. Didn't get the room category you booked? No need to argue with the front desk. One call will get it corrected.

9. They are your personal shopper.
Over time your travel professional gets to know you and your family, your likes and dislikes. You are so much more than a sale to them—and they provide the human connection that makes every transaction more pleasant and meaningful. Plus by supporting local businesses, you support your community.

10. They can offer customized experiences that no one else can.  
After 20 or 30 years in the business, a travel professional has the connections to arrange for the side trips, the special passes, the upgrades and little touches that are not available to the general public. Because in this wide and amazing and wonderful world, you just don't know what you don't know. So ask someone who does—ask your local travel agent!