Alaska Cruise Vacation Booking

Interview with Angela, a travel agent out of Philly.

How often do you book trips to Alaska?
It is more popular than you would think. People like to stay inside the United States. Probably 1 or 2 clients every month here ask me to help plan a trip to Alaska. Of course, warmer regions and Europe are still more popular, but we get Alaska too.

Are Alaskan cruises popular among Alaskan travelers?
Yes. That's actually most of what we book to Alaska.

Which cruise lines are the best?
I actually don't think that one is better than another. I will say, that personally, I like Princess because they're easy to work with as a travel agent. I'd imagine that they're quick to take care of your problems on board too. Princess is the best for luxury. Really, though, all of the cruise lines I've worked with have been fantastic.

What do you help a client plan for his or her Alaskan cruise?
We start with talking about price. Usually, they give me a price range of a few hundred dollars, and I try to hit the bottom of that range, since other costs are probably involved that they don't know about - like my fees or tipping on the ship. Then I go over the options for rooms. Rooms are usually most important to people. Lastly, we talk about length. How long do they want to travel? I take the price, room, and length and see what I can come up with. From there, I help them narrow down the options so that they get the best value for their money.

What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when planning an Alaskan cruise?
Going for a shorter cruise to save money. Trust me, there is SO much to see and do in Alaska. You want the longer cruise, even if it means sacrificing a few other things, like driving to your port instead of flying.

Interview with an Alaska Cruise Director >>>