The popularity of the Internet has enticed many travelers to book their vacations independently, but booking a cruise can be a complicated process and many travelers prefer to book their cruises through a travel agent. The cruise lines actually prefer this. An experienced travel agent can stop you from making uninformed choices in planning and booking. They can also help if things don’t go as planned, such as if your cruise is cancelled or you miss your flight to the port.

Even if you love to search online, if you’re cruising for the first time, it is wise to get help from a travel agent. Even if you’re not a cruise novice, you may still have questions such as best cabin size and location, dinning arrangements, shore excursions, beverage packages travel protection, and document requirements. Additionally, some destinations lend themselves to a cruise tour, a combination cruise and land tour. Using a cruise specialist travel professional can save you time and money.

Remember, you are hiring the agent to enhance your travel experience so choose one with current cruise experience, preferably on the line(s), specific ship or chosen destination(s) you are considering or asking for recommendations.