Sean Hornbeck sees it all the time. People will go online, find a cheap rate per night and instantly book a cruise. The problem, said the CEO of The Connected Traveler, is that more often than not, that price is too good to be true.
“We have all seen the commercials—come on board for $29 per night,” he said. “People will think that is great, but that pricing might just be the fare per person. Then you find out there are all these extras you need to pay: there are gratuities, taxes and port fees.”
And, he adds, there may also be the cost of a beverage plan, or Wi-Fi, or shore excursions at certain ports. That is why, he said, you should book your cruise through a travel specialist.
“We are going to know the value, know what the price is,” said Hornbeck. “So instead of the price being 10 times more expensive, we can still get it booked for close to the price you originally thought you were going to pay. We are going to make sure you have the best package.”
Operating for the last 20 years, The Connected Traveler specializes in connecting members of the LGBTQ+ community with the world. It organizes custom vacations, large group trips, destination weddings, luxury escapes and other travel experiences to help celebrate important life events.
More than that, the company also works to ensure travellers can explore the world in comfort and safety while still having the time of their lives. And, Hornbeck said, that starts by getting to know who you are, what type of travel experiences will appeal to you, and understanding some of the challenges or concerns you have to ensure you have a positive and memorable vacation.
“We start by asking them questions to make sure that they feel comfortable,” he said. “It is like a background check. We ask you about your past travel, what you did and what you liked about that experience.
“If you tell me you want to book a certain ship, I will ask what it is you like about that ship. Sometimes, people are looking at where to go on a cruise, and, if they have never been there before, they aren’t sure what it will be like, but we can give them that important feedback and information.”
They do all this, Hornbeck said, to see if they can match you to some of the vendors or suppliers The Connected Traveler works with. For example, a person who wants to interact more with their fellow passengers would be better suited to a smaller river cruise in Europe than a larger cruise ship.
“If you tell me that, ‘I am someone who gets motion sickness,’ then I know where on a cruise ship your cabin should be located. More than that, I will have other arrangements done in advance, like information about where the doctor is onboard, what their hours are, and whether we should have a backup medical plan if you end up not feeling good. We want to look out and protect you.”
Protect and ensure your complete comfort during your trip. That extends to providing insider information about how long it might take to go from Point A to Point B on a larger cruise ship, what the weather will be like at a certain time of year to ensure you pack appropriately, or—when it comes to certain destinations—highlighting things that might be a concern to the LGBTQ+ community.
“The great thing about working with a travel advisor is that we have either been on that same trip or we have local connections,” Hornbeck said. “I just had people visit Santorini on an Aegean cruise, and I had a local historian, who was also a photographer, meet them. He was able to take them to all the sites and had photoshoots along the way. They had a great time, and it gave them an immersive experience. That is what they were looking for versus signing up on the ship for a random tour with 50 other people.
“Anything that we do, even if the person is just going to book a standard trip, we always try to find something that is unique, so the person gets something special, something they can’t get anywhere else, out of the experiences.”
He said another benefit that comes from using a travel specialist is that they are involved in all aspects of the trip—not just the cruise. This includes booking flights and hotels, but also sharing important tips and knowledge to ensure things go smoothly, like flying to the city where your cruise is departing at least a day in advance in case of flight-related or weather issues.
“It can be a nightmare sometimes, but by working with an advisor we can adjust and reroute things,” he said. “If we get a sense that something is going to go haywire, we can figure our alternatives to make sure you can just enjoy your trip and not worry about it.” To learn about more about the benefits of booking your next cruise through The Connected Traveler, https://theconnectedtraveler.com.
