LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS

Planning your summer cruise vacation can be easy when you let an expert lend a helping hand. Fortunately, cruise experts are easy to find at www.cruising.org, the Web site of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a non-profit association representing the North American cruise industry and nearly 16,000 travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

By typing in a zip code on the site, travelers can easily locate the nearest “experts” – CLIA-member travel agencies and travel agents – who can help them plan their cruise vacation.

Eliminate Disappointment

“Many people work hard and save for the vacation of their dreams. By matching consumers with the cruise that is best for them, CLIA agents help ensure they don’t come home disappointed,” says Terry L. Dale, CLIA’s president and CEO.

Using a cruise expert makes selecting the right cruise easy. With all the choices available today, it is important to find the answers to some key questions, such as:

- What cruises best match your interests?
- Where would you like to go?
- How much time can you spend away from home and work?
- Do you plan to lie by the pool and on the beach, or go shopping and sightseeing, or get involved in more strenuous activities – or a little of each?
- What size ship do you think you would prefer – a large resort at sea or a smaller, more intimate vessel?
- With whom will you be sailing?
- If you’re traveling with children, what ships are most appropriate for children, and what children’s activities and amenities are available?
- What is your vacation budget?
- Will you have to tip anyone? If so, how much?
- Will you have to pay for anything once you’re on the ship?
- Will you need any documents and immunizations for the destinations you’re visiting?
- What type of room/cabin is the best deal for your needs?

Save Time And Energy

A travel agent affiliated with a CLIA-member agency can take a great deal of the planning process off the consumer’s shoulders. Travelers won’t have to spend their valuable free time and energy doing research to determine which cruise is best for them – the CLIA agents have already done it! They are familiar with the 19 CLIA-member cruise lines, the CLIA fleet of nearly 150 ships, the more than 1,800 worldwide destinations visited by cruise ships and the ever-expanding list of amenities available to travelers.

“In today’s time-starved world, why use your valuable time when an expert can plan your perfect getaway?” asks Dale. “The experts at your local CLIA-member travel agency can take the hassle out of finding ‘your’ ship so you can set sail on the vacation of your dreams.”

Save Money

Because they are in constant contact with the cruise lines, CLIA-affiliated agents are aware of the latest deals on the market and can confidently point consumers in the right direction. They can help consumers find the cruise that matches their lifestyle and their budget.

“These agents are the recognized experts when it comes to sharing the good word about cruise vacations,” says Dale. “They have taken advantage of CLIA’s extensive ongoing education program, including personal cruise ship inspections and actual cruising experience.”

Their knowledge of cruise products is enhanced by CLIA’s ongoing Cruise Counsellor Certification program. This extensive training program is designed to keep agents aware of the most up-to-date product information as well as the latest sales techniques. Through a combination of training courses (available across the country and via the Internet or video) and personal cruise inspections and cruise experience, agents earn certification as Accredited Cruise Counsellors, Master Cruise Counsellors and Elite Cruise Counsellors. The certification also earns them recognition as experts in cruise selling.