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And if the price of your cruise drops after you book, a good agent will notice and refund you the difference in fare. Finally, as cruise lines pay agent commissions, you don't have to worry about paying extra for their planning services. Also included in Norwegian Central is Marketing Headquarters, which gives agents the opportunity to create their own marketing materials for selling NCL from an extensive toolbox of flyers, banners, videos and more. One of the most important things to know is that agents -- in particular, cruise specialists -- have been onboard the ships and can really give you firsthand advice about different cruise options.
Shopping for Great Deals
You don't want to get caught in an agent's agenda if the cruise line isn't right for you. Many agents become accredited cruise counselors through CLIA's Cruise Academy or take courses through the different cruise lines to become more expert at selling their products. Inquire whether the agent has attended any of these training programs. In addition, you can look for affiliations with the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA), Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) or even AAA. The portal offers access to Norwegian’s new booking engine, which enables agents to book new reservations, manage existing reservations and review weekly promotions and pricing information.
Search Travel Market Report
If you're used to booking travel independently, consider these reasons why you might want to make use of a travel agent to book your next holiday at sea. The “Connect with Us” section provides contacts for an agent’s local business development manager and the headquarters-based business development specialist. Let's get you and your agency set up to Learn, Promote, Book, and Connect to all things Norwegian.
Social Media & Influencer Marketing
If you don't see a sign or advertisement, always ask -- the agent may have fabulous offers the cruise lines won't let him or her publicize. In addition, ask if the agent can meet or beat the best price you've seen elsewhere. With everyone attached to their phones, laptops and tablets, many people assume that online is the only way to book travel. But, as booking online can often be confusing, a travel agent might be just what you need.
For smooth sailing, the registration process should be completed by the agency owner, authorized director, officer, or manager. All correspondence should include the guest's name (first and last), name of ship and sailing date, as well as a contact address and telephone number. For your first cruise, you might need help in matching your lifestyle and budget with a cruise line and destination. Choosing a cruise is not the same as picking a hotel or flight, as there are many more options to consider. Norwegian Cruise Line’s updated travel agent education platform, Norwegian Cruise Line University, is now open for enrollment.
Norwegian Cruise Line unveils new agent portal
You can search for a CLIA-certified travel agent on the organization's website. Use the search tool to locate agents in your area with a variety of levels of CLIA training. Find out if the travel agent has preferred status with any cruise lines or whether he or she belongs to travel consortiums that would enable him or her to get you better deals, upgrades, etc. But watch out -- some agents will push a particular line too aggressively for your tastes.
For example, if you want to cruise one of Europe's rivers in an intimate riverboat, you might not want to book with an agent who specializes in selling holidays on 3,000-person mega-ships. Question the agents on cruising trends or up-and-coming destinations, and ask them to explain the differences between cruise lines. Find out how many cruises they've taken that year and with which lines they've personally cruised. If the agent has rarely cruised, you might want to take your business elsewhere. In addition, you might want to look for an agent who is a cruise specialist -- either at a cruise-dedicated agency or within a larger general agency -- to get the best service. Use ASTA's consumer website to locate a travel agent who has agreed to conduct their business activities in accordance with the organization's code of ethics.
SIGN UP FOR DEALS
In addition, the agent can help you with the rest of your travel plans, such as pre- or post-cruise stays, airfare and transfers. If you're interested in a specific type of cruising (such as river cruising or luxury travel), look for agencies that specialize in the line or type of cruising you prefer. They'll often have more complete knowledge of your choices than a generalist.
Norwegian Previews Culinary Experiences Aboard Norwegian Aqua - Travel Agent Central
Norwegian Previews Culinary Experiences Aboard Norwegian Aqua.
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They have done a great deal of research through familiarization trips and cruise line seminars, so you don't have to do the work yourself. Even better, agents often have access to special discounts or perks -- or know best where to find them -- and as the cruise lines pay their commissions, you don't pay more for their services and expertise. By logging in to Norwegian Central, partners gain direct single log-in access to NCL’s agent booking engine Seaweb, as well to a complete relaunch of NCL’s award-winning training platform NCL University (NCLU).
This form helps us understand your disability and/or special needs requirements to adapt your cruise with personalized accommodations. Once you have submitted the form, Norwegian Cruise Line Access Desk will respond within 72 hours. Feel free to contact our dedicated team of Accessibility Coordinators if you have any question or concerns.
The agent will keep you in his or her database, alert you to deals or sales and can even suggest future trip ideas. If you're a do-it-yourself type, and you have the time and inclination to thoroughly research your own trip using resources like Cruise Critic, then go right ahead. Look for agents offering discounts, free perks and other incentives.
In that initial interview, they should ask you what kind of vacation you normally take (beach, city, active, for example), who is going (family, couple, singles), your travel style (entertainment and activity preferences, dining habits) and your budget. Booking with a travel agent gives your transaction a personal touch -- you have a resource for asking questions and someone to contact if something goes wrong during your travels. But, your relationship with an agent doesn't tend to end after one trip.
So, you've decided to go on a cruise -- perhaps your first venture on a vacation at sea -- and you're a little overwhelmed. You have to consider how much you're willing to pay, whether to book an inexpensive inside cabin or splurge on a suite, and which cruise line and ship are right for you. Add dinner seatings, shore excursions and cabin location to the list, and planning a relaxing getaway suddenly seems like a second job. Norwegian is fully committed to providing you and your travel companions with the best cruise experience. Guests requiring special accommodations must fill out the Guest Special Needs Request Form.
Contrary to what you might expect, travel agents might actually be able to get you better deals than internet retailers or even the cruise lines themselves. The best travel agents have access to discounted group rates and exclusive cruise pricing that's not found anywhere else. In addition, agents occasionally give you extra value on your booking -- such as prepaid gratuities, a free bottle of Champagne or onboard credit -- to sweeten the deal.
Agents can login with their Seaweb credentials or email to register. Agents may also view a calendar of upcoming webinars, access archived presentations and read the blog of Andy Stuart, Norwegian’s executive vice president of global sales and passenger services. The “Research and Promotional Tools” section contains information on itineraries, deck plans and ship facts. The first is that completing the course will earn them a total of 20 CLIA Certification Credits — five credits with each degree achieved.
The all-new knowledge hub provides refreshed course content, new achievement levels and a reimagined reduced rate programme that allows agents to book reduced cruises for module course completion. Once you've chosen your cruise and, with the agent's help, matched your style with your vacation goals, you've got to book the trip. Again, it's a bit more complex than you might think, but a good agent will make the process go smoothly -- from securing the right cabin type and location to booking the dinner seating that will suit you and your party. Your agent will also be able to sort out travel insurance, if required, and will collect payment for the cruise (usually a deposit at the time of booking and the full amount 60 to 90 days before departure).
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