How Do I Select The Right Agency? Part II

How Do I Select The Right Agency? Part II
Be Prepared

It’s very important to be prepared. It’s best to have an idea of where you want to visit, how much you can spend, what type of accommodations and style of cruising you would enjoy and how long you have for your travels. Ask friends, work colleagues and family if they have gone on a cruise and for their recommendations. They will know your personality and can provide you with good advice.

Once you have an idea of where you would like to go a qualified Travel Agent can help you find a cruise vacation that best suits your needs. To find the best travel agent for your needs GaySailAway.com has prepared a list of gay/gay friendly Travel Agencies that you can start interviewing. The list is broken up into geographical locations in the U.S. (Visit List) If you are not located close to one of these agencies you can always work with them over the phone. They can provide you information via conversations and through email and websites.

Two of GaySailAway’s most recommended Travel Agencies are located on the West Coast and are able to accommodate clients from all over the US. These are Now Voyager Travel (www.nowvoyager.com 1-800-255-6951) in San Francisco (serving the LGBT for 25 years from the gay Mecca of the Castro) and Jerry and David’s Cruises and Tours (www.rsvpcruises.com 1-800-748-6968) located in sunny San Diego)

Remember to ask for an Agent’s qualifications for selling cruises. They should be experts in the Cruise Industry, preferably with memberships and accreditations by the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), CLIA (CruiseLine International Association) and IGLTA(International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association) . They should know everything from what cruise lines and ships best work for your needs, the best way to get to and from your ship, embarkation and disembarkation information (getting on and off the boat), accommodations close to your port of embarkation, passport and visa requirements and what to do in case of any emergency.

Once you’ve selected an Agent and are comfortable working with an Agent don’t be pressured into buying anything. It’s best to get their recommendations and do some research on your own. Ask for brochures and web addresses and visit the web sites yourself. A good rule to see if a Cruise Line is the right fit for your needs is to look at the photographs. If the photos generally show people over 50 years old in tuxes and formal wear chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time with retirees. If they show young families with kids then you’ll be on an active cruise that will have lots of kids during summer and spring break. Photos don't lie...Remember they are key marketing tools used by the Cruise Industires to entice key audiences to purchase their products.

Another resource you have available to you are websites that post reviews, both formally and visitor reviews. These websites can be extremely helpful in finding out if the Cruise Line, itinerary and ship fit your style. GaySailAway has found CruiseCritic.com, CruiseDiva.com and CruiseReviews.com to be very helpful.

If you prefer to cruise on an all-exclusive gay chartered cruise there are several options available for you. You can go directly to the Cruise Charter and book your cruise (you can also book them through any Gay Travel Agency). The Cruise Charters have in-house cruise specialists that know their product intimately and can help you purchase your cruise. For gay men www.AtlantisEvents.com and www.RSVPVacations.com offer all-gay charters. For lesbians www.Olivia.com and www.SweetDestinations.com offer all-women charters and cruises. For families www.RFamilyVactions.com, founded by Rosie O’Donnell, offers all-gay/gay-friendly charters and cruises. All of the aforementioned Cruise Charters are extremely inclusive of bi and trans customers.

There are several Agents offering small or large hosted LGBT group cruises on traditional cruises. On these cruise you will be traveling as a group amongst other passengers who are not LGBT. An advantage to traveling in a small group is the intimacy of being with a cohesive group, the economy of not having to pay for up-charges on an all-gay charter and more options to fit your schedule. These cruises are offered by well-established Gay Travel Agencies and can only be purchased directly from them. These Agencies include www.PiedPiperTravel.com, specializing in Gay Men’s groups, www.AquafestCruises.com, specializing in mixed groups and www.SweetDesitnations.com, specializing in socially conscious cruises for women. Though they tend to cater to one gender, they are always open to any gender or gay-ally.