EUGENE, Ore. – The best advice on taking a cruise now during Spring Break and over the popular springtime cruise line season, say longtime cruisers here in Eugene is to start collecting data now before you cruise. Also, travel agents – who were once viewed as taking large commissions -- are now thought of as having the best expertise in today’s world of complicated cruise planning with more than 100 major cruise line and travel agency links that “create more work for you, while not delivering the best deals that trained agents can offer.”
This advice comes after a March 7 accouncemtn by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) that they are putting on a full court press to attract cruise line fans to its web site and its services because it claims “only travel agents can give you the best deal for the major cruise lines. Moreover, American Cruise Lines stated at the end of last week that it’s “Wave Season 2011,” is offering some of the best cruise deals for small ship cruising in its history.
For instance, Eugene is home to a massive Royal Caribbean cruise ship booking company that’s boasting “the best deals ever” for anyone wanting to visit the Caribbean or Alaska.
In fact, regional senior groups here in the Pacific Northwest have “almost cornered the market on cruise deals up to Alaska this Spring,” said one local agent who just books over 50 “Baby Boomer” voyages on the smaller cruise lines.
Cruise lines point to travel agents as having the best deals
“Each of the past five weeks has broken previous company sales records. We predicted
significant sales growth this year and have yet to be disappointed,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines, who added that more cruises on its most popular itineraries are being marketed by travel agents in response to demand.
Beebe attributes the sales growth to a number of important factors, the largest of which may be American Cruise Lines’ new tiered commission structure for travel agents. “We are working with more new travel agents and our existing travel partners are booking more cruises than ever,” said Beebe.
Here in Oregon, where cruise lines offer super deals with smaller cruise ships sailing out of Portland and British Columbia, there’s news from American Cruise Lines that renovations on the popular “Queen of the West” are near completion at the docks in Portland. This popular cruise ship, that’s takes passengers up to sites in Alaska is set to get back in service this spring.
At the same time, Beebe stated in a recent company news release that the newly renovated Queen of the West will offer passengers a better cruise experience when it sails out of Portland, Oregon, “with larger staterooms, new furniture and more private balconies.
Moreover, Beebe announced that the legendary “Mississippi paddle wheeler’s construction is also underway, and “ahead of schedule” with tickets being booked now in advance of its scheduled debut next summer season.
Collect data now on cruising to better enjoy yourself later
While there’s much to explore and plan for when “cruising” the Internet for the best deals on cruise line deals, travel experts say it’s best to make a list of items needed and what types of “comfortable” clothing to pack while still staying mindful of who best to book your Spring Break or springtime season cruise.
“Too many travelers approach their cruise with money first and enjoyment second. If you can afford it, let the travel agencies handle cruises with their network of cruise contacts and deals that may only be known to them. Don’t forget they (travel agents) are given huge incentives to make you happy and to book your cruise with the company that gives you both the best deal,” says Carol Kent Izenour, a long-time travel agent here in Eugene.
As for how and when to get organized for a forthcoming cruise, Kent Izenour asserts “it should be now if you’re planning to sail sometime this spring season.”
Also, she recommends first time cruisers to “hang loose,” and learn to say no to all the invites offered during a cruise. “Make it your cruise, and get help now before you cruise so as to make it the most fun and rewarding for the money you’re paying.”
Cruise Lines making massive deals to get you on the water
Here in Eugene, Royal Caribbean is telling local travel agents to get the bookings now for customers who want to save big bucks on voyages to the Caribbean islands.
Cruise passengers who have Dominica, Jamaica, Antigua, Grenada and Barbados in mind, can save the most right now, adds Kent Izenour.
Also, Carnival Cruise Lines said this week that a recent “72-hour sale” that featured free upgrades resulted in booking 165,308 guests and broke a company record.
Other “hot” cruise destinations – where customers can haggle and get great deals in the low hundreds of dollars – include three-day voyages to 16-day trips to such places as the Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.
At the same time, those once popular Mideast cruises with the Holy Land being offered are more or less off the table, and on hold for Americans, said one local travel expert who points to the “Cruise Lines International Association” as a specialist in when and where to cruise in a world at war or in conflict.
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