Booking through Cruise Planners vs direct with cruise line

Categories

Cruise Planners -

You will find Cruise Planners to be very customer oriented.  Caring and well-traveled agents. Offering tips and suggestions that one cannot be found on the internet.  We are supported by representatives of the various cruise lines who interest is in you and us and providing a satisfying experience with their brand.

Did you know that Cruise Planners does offer truly "exclusive offers and rates" on select cruise lines and sailings?

We offer the exact same promotions that the cruise lines do - PLUS.  Even when they say .....Cruise Line exclusive.  You will NEVER pay more booking with us.  Instead you have more to gain.  Due to our extraordinary relationship and partnerships with a variety of lines we can offer you bonus offers and on many occasions better pricing on select lines, ships and sailings.

We do not charge fees for our services.

 

At Cruise Planners we translate what is included in a promotion and what is required.  What you can expect.  It may not be exactly what you are thinking.  

We don't confuse you with pricing.  We tell you exactly, total, with taxes and fees included, and what is included in the price for each person.  No per person cruise fare.  No misleading quotes.  No surprises.  How many people tell me that they saw something that says $59 per person and expect to be able to get that rate with every ship and sailing.  The sad part, that doesn't even include taxes and fees, and more.

Your phone calls, texts, chats or emails will be answered immediately or very promptly in most circumstances. 

No queues.  No long waits with elevator music.  Just the immediate service you deserve.  

When you reach out to us, we will respond very promptly.  Even if you elect booking through our convenient website (scroll down to the bottom of the landing page), we will personally reach out to you with an email and or a phone call.  We will discuss your selection.  Double check for accuracy and see if we can find a better deal for you.

You have questions.  You need advise for all the other components that make your vacation complete.  We can and will do that. 

Your questions will be answered from our expertise.  If we don't know the answer, we seek an answer from our fellow colleagues or our travel partners.

You can expect from us truly personalized service and expertise that can have you coming home from your vacation meeting or exceeding your expectations.

 

Cruise Lines -

Got to love those people who prefer to book direct with a cruise line because they feel they are getting the best deal exclusive to them who book direct with the cruise line, and would in turn also receive a better level of service and support for doing so.  They say it is more convenient.  This is not necessary true.  Not all the time.

Let's face it.  In the day of the internet it is easy to shop and book our own travel.   To many it seems easier and more convenient.  Yes It can be as simple as putting in the destination you want to go to.  Dates you want to travel.  Preferred cruise line(s).  You can even compare what each is offering.  Yes, it was confusing or even complicated but you feel you know what you want.  Once you have found what you think you want, input the required information requested, put in your credit card information, and press the button.  Voila you have succeeded in making a booking.  Now what?

Great you now have your cruise booked.  But wait.  Something is not quite right.  The price isn't what you thought it was.  You have questions.  You may need to make some changes.  Maybe you are considering an upgrade.  You now need the assistance of the cruise line's representative.  You need to call.

Customer Service not so personalized

You call the 800 number, and press appropriate keys to connect you to the best representative to service you.   You are warned that they are very busy and you would have to wait on hold for the next person to service you.

You are now enjoying their elevator music and the music is slowly being ingrained in your head because you are on hold for several minutes.  Great customer service.   So much for that.  You are waiting and wasting your precious time.

You finally get a very friendly representative to answer the phone.  Who are you?  What's your name?  What's your booking number?  We at Cruise Planners know you by name.

Depending on the complexity of the inquiry the representatives do service you adequately, and at times cannot properly advise you.   If you call again and speak to another person, you may possibly receive a different answer.  Which is right?  The first person, or the next.   So much for consistency within the brand.

It is surprising how many cruise line representatives have never cruised.  Much less ever cruised on the cruise line they represent.  Their primary purpose is to sell.  After that, you are pretty much on your own.  They can't give you tips and suggestions to making your experience the best in can be.  

Bottom line online sites and the cruise line representatives  are only there to sell.  They don't care about you.

Your cruise vacation experience should be of importance to you.  You should value what you are getting for the price and know out front what to expect.  You deserve prompt and convenient customer service from someone you can trust to respond promptly to all of your inquiries.  

You deserve to discover the Cruise Planners difference.