July 25, 2009
Back to the travel agent discussion
I was supposed to call my travel agency today but I forgot. The reason I'm supposed to call is that I haven't gotten all the papers and things I expect to get before my cruise on August 14th.
My sister tried calling the travel agent, my travel agent Lynn at Royal International. Apparently Lynn no longer works there but no one told us she was gone (until my sister called up and asked for her).
Now I'm sure being a travel agent is tough these days. Commissions are down and fewer people are traveling. More people are traveling cheap and booking online. It must be tough to be a travel agent.
That's why if I worked at Royal International, I would be contacting Lynn's customers in an effort to make them my customers. It would also be good for the agency itself and management should have made sure they followed up with Lynn's customers. I really don't like not knowing when my papers will arrive and who I have to talk to in order to get them. I have to consider finding a new travel agency or just booking online (which I sometimes do anyway). I mean one of the benefits of using a travel agent is not going through the trouble I currently have trying to get my papers and stuff.
Of course, there's always the possibility that they just don't want my business. They normally deal with VIPs and luxury travel. I think the only reason Lynn ended up being my travel agent is because she reads and comments (or used to comment) on this blog.
Posted by James Trotta at July 25, 2009 7:44 AM
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Tracked on June 13, 2010 11:39 PM
You may have electronic documents for this cruise. You go online at www.royalcaribbean.com and log in with your reservation number. You need to check in online and fill in all the information about your passport, etc. anyway.
Just an idea. When I cruise now everything comes through online.
This is Julie, Jim's sister. If I could do it over again, I would just book the cruise myself on NCL's website. Or through Continental.com, who actually gave me a better price than the travel agent (they were running a sale, plus I would have gotten mileage credit). I've had a few questions along the way and have not been able to get immediate answers since I need to go through the travel agency. If I had booked through NCL I could just call them anytime but since I didn't they can't help me. I am in fact waiting on a return call from the travel agent right now, but am not holding my breath. I personally find it very frustrating since I know there are faster and easier ways to get the information I need.
In fact, can anyone tell me if two lower beds can be converted to a queen bed in any cabin or just some cabins? Will it be like being away at sleepaway camp with my husband (sleeping in separate tiny beds)? We almost upgraded to a balcony room (from an inside cabin) several times but in the end decided the money could be better spent elsewhere. Now I am not so sure.
Also, according to NCL's webiste US citiznes need their passport, driver's license, and birth certificate to enter and exit Bermuda (unless I am misreading the information). This seems excessive to me. I can't believe they need a passport AND a birth certificate. Does anyone have any experience on a Bermuda cruise? What documentation did you need?
Thanks!
Posted by: Julie at July 27, 2009 11:45 PMIt's been a few years since I went on an NCL cruise to the Caribbean from Miami to Puerto Rico, etc.,not Bermuda. But, a passport was sufficient then. Also, although we paid for an outside cabin (one small porthole), there were two single beds (more like bunks). Definitely could not be converted. I think you'll want to upgrade, if possible, to get a more comfortable, larger cabin.
Posted by: Sharon at July 29, 2009 12:15 AMI heard back from the travel agency yesterday and the agent I spoke with assured me that a passport was sufficient. Also, she was able to change our bed to a queen size. I assume that means two lower beds next to each other, but I'm fine with that. I would still prefer to upgrade, but I'm trying to be frugal, which is new for me!
Posted by: Julie at July 29, 2009 5:46 AMI should also mention that I really only had to wait a few hours for the travel agency to call me back. It just seems it would have been easier to go directly through NCL. And it other dealings with the travel agency they were very helpful, looking up the cost of upgrading for me, etc.
Posted by: Julie at July 29, 2009 11:34 PM