Best Travel Agent Ever!

A round the world cruise is a big investment so it pays to get a little professional help.

I can't sing the praises of Cruise Specialists loudly enough--and since I'm a classically trained soprano, that's saying something! And I'm most particularly pleased with our agent, Teresa Skeim! She's attentive to the smallest detail and responds very quickly to even my silliest question.  

For example, about a week ago, someone mentioned to me that cruise passengers like us with a reserve cabin (i.e. one not assigned until closer to embarkation) might be denied boarding just like an air traveler on an oversold flight. Buying a reserve cabin means we have paid for the lowest priced stateroom we'd be happy with, which in our case means a balcony cabin. It's a bargain, but it also means we didn't get to choose a specific cabin. The cruise line will assign us one. According to the Princess website, our cruise has been sold out for some time. 

Believe you me, there was panic in our house at that moment. We've dreamed. We've saved. We sold some Google stock before it had its recent run-up. To be left at the pier because the trip was oversold would turn me into a giant puddle of weepiness.

So I fired off an email to Teresa to see if it was possible that we might be "bumped" from the cruise. She didn't just reassure me. She contacted Princess and forwarded the email she received back from them, promising that we would never be involuntarily bumped. We have a reserved BF balcony or better and that's what we'll get. We just may not know which specific cabin will be our floating home until closer to the date of departure. 

The Deck 6 plan to the left shows the BF category balconies. They are the  green ones. As you can see, the BF's are closer to the front of the ship so  it will probably feel like we're riding on the back of a dolphin. (But no worries! I'll have my scopolamine patches, so I'm good.) That motion-of-the-ocean factor may be why they are also the least expensive balcony  cabins.

Now, occasionally, when someone books a reserve cabin, all the staterooms in that category get filled up. When that occurs, the planets align and the lucky traveler gets "upgraded" to a more desirable cabin in a higher category. It would be delicious if that happened to us, but I won't  hold my breath. I'll be tickled to pieces with a BF balcony. Just as long as we're on the ship.

And our TA, Teresa, God bless her, will make sure we get at least a BF. She has been invaluable in helping us get all our traveling ducks in a row and keeping me from needless panic.

Not only did Teresa help us get a super deal on our cruise fares, we received some terrific perks from Cruise Specialists:

• Pre-paid gratuities (a benefit worth over $2500.00--don't worry! We still intend to give additional tips to our stewards, dining room servers, the maitre d', and others)
• A delightful $800.00 shipboard credit (good for the spa, specialty dining or internet minutes!) 
• Chocolate-covered strawberries sent to our stateroom.     

Then the other day, this box of goodies arrived from Cruise Specialists:

• 2 windbreakers with hoods
• 2 across the body packs
• 4 luggage tags
• Calendar printed with our itinerary
• A folder with all our cruise documents, travel insurance info, boarding passes, etc... 

All very timely & useful! 

I can't say enough good things about the way Teresa has helped us and we haven't even left home yet. 

In exactly one month, we'll drive to #1 Daughter's house to start our adventure. Sometimes, I still think I've woken in the middle of someone else's lovely dream...

~

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