Want to know a secret? Life as a Travel agent is about to get stressful!

Its nearly that time of year again for Travel Agents all over the country. It’s time to get out our crystal balls and guess whether it’s better to book early or hold out for a bargain as we start to approach launch for cruises in 2017/18 with the mainstream cruise lines.

I really wish I was able to see into the future because if I could I may have held off booking my own cruise on the Emerald Princess and then instead of getting $30 on board credit per person I would have got $200  on board credit per person but never mind I was happy with what I got at the time.

Every day I am asked is it better to book early or later? The answer is I really do not know any more. If you need a specific cabin and dining time then book early but please do not come back to me in six months time to tell me the price has dropped and if you book later please don’t moan that you can’t choose your cabin or dining time?

As long as you are happy with what you have paid at the time of booking then why look to see if the price drops again. If you bought a new car would you take it back to the garage if the price drops?

Anyway I am digressing as I am supposed to be telling you a secret about launch dates for 2017/18 – actually I don’t actually know the exact dates all I know is that there will be an announcement fairly soon so keep checking our website for details if you want to book early.

Launch for us as Travel Agents is horrendous as normally the new cruises are launched around 8am in the morning so many of us are sat at our desks from 7.30am onwards as fastest finger first gets the bookings. Many of my clients pre register with their details so as soon as their cruise goes on sale I am able to grab the cabin they require. I have not missed a cabin yet but last year remember booking a family group by having my PC logged on as well as two iPads! I have always been good at multi tasking!

By the end of the day we are quivering wrecks!

Launches like this happen fairly regularly and we were recently given a heads up on a 3 day new sailing on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Ovation of the Seas. Our Marketing department quickly sent an email out and we began taking pre registrations however the cruise was launched earlier than we were told so we were left in a mad scrabble for cabins and as fast as we were booking them they were disappearing in front of us. Passengers were calling to express their interest and we were having to tell them if they wanted a cabin to book there and then as the cabins would sell fast!

I think definitely a few bottles of wine were consumed that evening.

I guess what I am trying to say is that yes launch times are stressful but also extremely invigorating and finally none of us know whether prices will drop or increase so if you are happy with the price you have paid at the time of booking then why keep checking the price.

If you are interested in pre registering for launch dates then drop me an email at [email protected].