I was one of those people who didn't see the point of using a travel agent. Everything I need to…read moreknow, and every price that could possibly exist, can be found online. In 2014, why did I need some middleman to book things for me, when I can control it all myself? Plus, not to toot my own horn, but I am very good at researching things online, and I am known for my organizational skills.
I was asked to organize a cruise trip for my husband's frequent-cruising family, and quickly realized that planning travel with a large group -- with all the various personalities and individual "needs" (i.e. drama) is more trouble that one would imagine. So I decided to consider using an agent.
I reached out to a few agents from well-ranked agencies, and wasn't terribly impressed, or convinced that they would even do as good a job as I could do myself. Then I talked to Jeremy from Cruise Vacations, Int. He's very friendly and has all those customer service skills you would expect from someone who makes their living in sales, but that's not what convinced me to work with him. It was very clear to me, from the very beginning, that HE KNEW HIS SH*T. I even asked him a few "test" questions to make sure he knew what he was talking about -- he was very impressive. HIs profile on the Virtuoso site says he's a second-generation travel agent. That probably explains a lot.
Jeremy has handled every curve ball the family has thrown at him -- and there have been plenty -- like a pro. As the group leader, he keeps my informed about everything, which I like (i.e. I am a control freak). In fact, one of the older members of the family contacted me to say Jeremy was the best travel agent they had ever worked with.
But the thing that I've been most impressed by -- and indeed, the thing that has convinced me of the value of travel agents for even individual travel -- is that Jeremy has, on two occasions, gone to bat for me with the Cruise Line. The cruise line made two distinct errors on my personal reservation - one in which they were charging me too much taxes, and the other in which they weren't giving me a discount to which I was entitled. Jeremy fought with them -- for several hours over the course of several days -- to get these things fixed. In the case of the taxes, it was only a $3 difference, but Jeremy knew that it was really, REALLY bothering me, so he didn't rest until it was fixed.
I would have neither the time, nor the clout, to go up against the cruise line on my own. I'd probably just be out of luck had I booked on my own. But having a GOOD agent, like Jeremy, who is willing to do what it takes to make sure that his clients are happy, made all the difference.
I don't often do 5 star reviews, but I highly recommend Jeremy Hall at Cruise Vacations, International.