Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The first ocean-based vessels were created to ship goods and cargo around the world, not as a means of transporting passengers. Black Ball Line was the first shipping company to provide frequent and reliable passenger service from the United States to England in 1818. By the 1830s, steamships commanded the transatlantic market, and famous ships such Britannia, Mauritania, Lusitania and Titanic defined nautical history. It wasn't until the 1960s that we began to see the modern cruise industry take shape.
Cruise representatives are an integral part to the industry, and they are responsibilities for ensuring travelers get the most out of their trip. According to Monster.com, the cruise industry has expanded steadily over the last 10 years, and companies are spending over $15 billion on new and refurbished ships--all designed to expand passenger capacity. That's why cruise representatives are so important. They need to fill those ships and keep everyone happy.
Cruise representatives provide potential customers with information about destinations, the types of cruises available, on-board accommodations and entertainment, onshore excursions and cruise tours. They will also clear up any confusion related to passports, visas, customs regulations, vaccinations and international exchange rates. Because cruising can be very expensive, representatives must be able to offer customers a worthwhile travel experience that's still in their budgets.
There are many types of cruises, so representatives can be matched with their specific area of expertise. For instance, some cruises are geared toward families or seniors, while others for outdoor adventurists. Representatives are required to understand their customers and the needs of that market. Foodies are another type of cruiser, so knowledge of the culinary world can be important as well. Most cruise representatives have a background in another industry that they can apply to their work now.
To put it simply, cruise representatives just make life easier. They organize all of the complicated details that can make cruising stressful, so then customers can just sit back and enjoy their trip. Sometimes cruisers like to partake in onshore activities like sightseeing and hiking, and the representative will handle all of those arrangements for them. They'll often bundle packages of activities together to save customers money, and they'll also make sure they are enjoying their on-board accommodations as well.