Thinking about taking a cruise? Make sure you use a professional to make your trip as seamless as possible. Your friends say just book online and go...not so fast. There are so many more logistics to cruising than just booking and paying-that's the easy part. You need a professional that has the knowledge and experience to help you make the right decisions for your vacation investment every step of the way. There are many moving parts to cruising, below are just a so you can see that it's not as easy as clicking that "Book now" button. 1. New Protocols First and foremost you need to understand the new protocols for sailing. The CDC has requirements in place and some islands also have additional ones. We keep up to date on all of this to make sure you know exactly what you need to do and when you need to do it by. 2. Choosing the right ship Some cruise lines have over 50 different ships. How do you know you are choosing the right one that fits what you truly are looking for? We know them all and have experienced them first-hand. Don't get bogged down trying to figure out all the differences, that's what you have us for. 3. Choosing a stateroom You know you want an ocean view and a balcony but what floor is best? What area of the ship is best? Do you know what's above that room you found online to avoid loud noise or a wet balcony? We are experts in the ships and know the best room category and best stateroom numbers to pick. 4. Ports of Call Some islands offer more to do than others, don't get stuck on a sailing that goes to an island with not much to offer. We have experienced them all and can help make sure the ports match what you want out of this vacation. 5. Getting to the ship It's easy to book the cruise but how do you actually get there after your flight? What if your flight gets in to late and you literally miss the boat? We will make sure every detail is correct so you are on the right path to having a stress-free vacation. We take a critical look at the moving parts of your trip to make sure that each component fits – like a giant jigsaw puzzle. 6. Food Allergies & Special needs Some cruise lines are better at this than others but you wouldn't know it unless you have sailed with them. We will steer you in the right direction to make sure your needs are met. 7. Sailing with kids Traveling with small children adds an additional layer of stress. Some ships are better suited for families with different amenities like kids clubs, water slides, baby zones, etc. Can you have an adult meal while your kids are in the kids club? Absolutely, we will handle that for you. 8. Passport and destination entry requirements Can you cruise without a passport? Yes! A lot of people don't realize this. There are ways to do this but you need to make sure you have the correct documentation. 9. Onboard Activities Some of the larger ships have a mind-numbing amount of activities and most of them require an advanced reservation. Don't miss out on the fun because you didn't know you needed to book it ahead of time. We have this handled for you. 10. You are leaving money on the table when you book direct instead of with us. The cruise lines and resorts build the commission they pay us into the price you see but if you don't use us, that money just stays with them. Wouldn't you rather have an expert helping you instead of giving it back to them? We don't charge a fee, so the price is the same if you book it yourself or with us. We are your advocate and have no reason not to get you the best price possible. It's a win-win! 11. Leave it to the pros Our careers are based on knowing things, places and people, that you don't know. We have spent our careers establishing and building relationships with our supplier and destination counterparts, so that our clients can enjoy exclusive access, VIP treatment, an special amenities wherever and whenever they travel. In some cases, these benefits are complementary to the traveler-just one more way travel advisors provide superior value. Perks of booking with a Travel AgentBetter Value What if there's a better ship or better stateroom for the same price that you don't know about? We do! The cruise lines offer us special pricing to offer you that is not published online. Freebies & other Perks Shipboard credits are credits for you to use towards extras on your cruise like excursions, the spa, upgraded drinks, and fine dining. Depending on the sailing and details of your booking, most agents will include a shipboard credit with your booking. We currently have a shipboard credit offer for new Disney Cruise Line bookings. Find out more here! Mickey's Dream Vacations is a full-service travel agency, specializing in Disney Destinations. We take the stress out of travel planning. Comments are closed.
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