You can book virtually any trip online. You can research cruise lines, compare ships, choose a cabin and make your reservations without ever speaking to a travel curator. So why work with one?
For me, it comes down to making sure your trip is complete before you leave and having someone to turn to if you need help along the way.
Booking a cruise is one part of planning a vacation. Making sure all the arrangements work together takes more thought. And when an issue comes up, especially in the middle of a trip, it helps to have an experienced curator who knows your plans and can work with you to address it.
Making Sure the Whole Trip Is Planned
A cruise reservation may be the centerpiece of your vacation, but there are other details to consider. Flights, hotel stays, airport transfers and transportation to the ship all need to fit together. You also need to understand the documentation required for your itinerary and what your fare includes.
Those details are easy to underestimate when you are focused on choosing a ship or a destination. An inconvenient arrival time or an overlooked transfer can create problems before you ever board.
Our role is to look at the trip as a whole, discuss what you need and help make sure those arrangements are addressed. You should know how you are getting from one part of your trip to the next, without having to figure it out as you go.
Finding the Right Cruise for You
We work primarily with premium cruise lines and above, with an emphasis on luxury travel, groups and the “ship within a ship” experience.
Within those categories, there are meaningful differences. Two cruises may visit similar ports and still offer very different vacations. The size of the ship, the atmosphere onboard, the dining options, the service and the fare inclusions all affect your experience.
That is where a conversation matters. We want to understand what you enjoy, what you expect and what you would prefer to avoid. Do you like a smaller, quieter ship? Do you want more entertainment and activities? Would you appreciate the private spaces and additional services of a ship-within-a-ship setting, while still having access to the amenities of a larger vessel?
There is no single right answer. Our job is to help you sort through those choices and recommend a cruise that fits how you want to travel.
For groups, that conversation also includes the needs of the people traveling together. Everyone may be taking the same cruise, but they may have different budgets, cabin preferences and travel arrangements. Addressing those differences early helps the planning go more smoothly.
Understanding What You Are Paying For
The lowest advertised fare does not always tell you what the trip will cost.
One cruise may include things that another charges for separately. Depending on the cruise line and fare, that could mean beverages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, gratuities or shore excursions. Before comparing prices, you need to understand what each option includes and which extras you would actually use.
We help you look at those differences so you can make an informed decision. Sometimes spending more upfront provides better value. Other times, a less inclusive option makes sense for the way you travel.
Our time as a travel curator is valuable. We believe you should understand our fees and when they may apply. After our initial planning meeting/call, we determine if an upfront fee is warranted. In many instances, clients are asking us to spend several hours putting together their trip. For this reason, we do reserve the right to charge an upfront professional services fee. If you book with us, we apply that fee to the cost of your trip.
Having Support When Plans Change
This is one of the most important reasons to work with an experienced travel curator.
When you book on your own, resolving an issue often falls to you. You may need to contact the airline, cruise line, hotel or transfer company, explain the situation and work through the available options. Those companies are not always as helpful or as easy to reach as you would hope.
That can be frustrating at home. During a trip, it can be much harder, especially when a delay affects several parts of your plans.
When you work with us, you have someone to contact who already knows your trip. We can help you assess the situation, communicate with the providers involved, and work through possible next steps.
A curator cannot prevent every disruption or guarantee a particular outcome. But having experienced support can make a difficult situation easier to manage. You are not left to handle everything yourself.
A Conversation Is a Good Place to Start
Online research can help you gather ideas and narrow your interests. You may already know exactly which cruise you want, or you may need help deciding where to begin.
Either way, we start by talking about what you have in mind. From there, we can look at the right options, consider the full trip, and help you understand the details before you commit.
You put time and money into your vacation. It deserves careful planning and support when you need it. If you are considering a cruise for yourself or a group, get in touch.
If you have never worked with a travel curator, or are new to cruising and luxury travel, we would be glad to talk through your plans. Take a moment, click on “Find My Cruise” anywhere on our website and provide a few pieces of information so that we can better serve you. Please feel free to fill out as much or as little as you have time or are comfortable with.
Let's Experience the World together!