Booking a cruise online offers you many perks that other methods cannot. From the comfort of your own home, you have the convenience of searching for the itinerary you want and when you want it. On the website you can also compare prices, apply discounts or check reviews instantaneously. And the reservation you book can be confirmed in a matter of minutes. However, the process can be daunting! How do you narrow it down to find the best option? Are you getting the best deal? Is it safe to pay online?
To help you safely navigate the endless aisles of online shopping, our Personal Vacation Managers put together this quick online booking guide.
Find a Legitimate Company
One of the most important parts of planning your cruise vacation is finding the right company to book your cruise with in the first place. Travel companies offer exclusive perks when you book your cruise with them, including onboard credit to spend on the ship, stateroom upgrades, specialty dining credits and more. You want to make sure that you’re working with a reputable company that specializes in cruises and makes it easy for you to contact them. Family owned and operated since 1972, Online Vacation Center has over 50 years of travel expertise. Proudly exceeding in service and customer satisfaction with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and over 4.7 stars in client ratings, you know you’re in good hands.
For even more reasons to book with Online Vacation Center, visit: Why Book with Online Vacation Center?
To make sure the website you’re on is secure, look for the “padlock” icon in the search bar. Also, check to see that the website address starts with HTTPS (the “S” indicates that it is secure!). As an added layer of protection and peace of mind, we have a dedicated IT and security team on staff to ensure your information is safe at OnlineVacationCenter.com.
Decide on Budget and When and Where to Cruise
With access to all the major cruise lines and over 20,000 itineraries to choose from, your options at Online Vacation Center are virtually endless. Start by filtering down to what matters to you most; do you have a dream destination in mind? A specific time of year to travel? How long of a trip do you want to take? Do you have a favorite cruise line or have been wanting to sail on the newest ships? For expert input, our Personal Vacation Managers are rich in knowledge of the best deals and can advise which itinerary and cruise line may be best for your interests. Online, you can also get a visual map of the itinerary and easily see the route and destinations that are offered. After filtering down your results, sort by price and find the sweet spot for your budget.
Follow the Steps to Book
Once you’ve found your ideal cruise and you’re ready to book it, just click the “Book” button and follow the simple prompts. You’ll have the opportunity to apply discounts or past passenger numbers, select your cabin type and enter other travel preferences before reaching the payment section. At the end, you’ll have a chance to review the total cost of your trip and all the perks and inclusions it comes with.
Pro Tip: When you are shopping around for price comparisons, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. What you see on the search results page might not be what you see as your trip total. That is because the final rates are inclusive of all port charges, taxes and government fees. Also, if you see a cheaper price elsewhere, check to see what it includes. There’s a chance it may not include as many amenities as the more inclusive price.
Success!
Once you finish booking, you’ll receive an acknowledgment email in a matter of minutes. You may also receive additional information about things like shore excursions, flights, etc. If you have special notes, discounts or other travel preferences you didn’t get to enter, don’t worry! Once you submit, your reservation will be reviewed by a Personal Vacation Manager who will reach out to you (via your preferred contact method) to confirm the final details and review all of your included extras. Then, they will confirm your reservation at the cruise line. And voila! You’re ready to start packing and for the excitement to begin.
If you’re still hesitant about booking online, rest assured your reservation will still receive the same exclusive pricing, promotions and attention to detail you would receive if you called in and booked. Not to mention, you’re protected by our Low Price Guarantee, meaning Online Vacation Center guarantees that at the time of booking, our rate will beat or match the lowest price advertised by competitors. Even when you book online, support is still here for you. You can call your Personal Vacation Manager who has access to your reservation at any time. The best part about booking online is, you can do it yourself at any time! To get started in planning your your next dream cruise vacation, visit OnlineVacationCenter.com today.
