Should you book on board? We have some answers

We've been asked if you should book on board. Should you book your next cruise while your still enjoying your vacation?

Which cruise line is this?

At first it sounds counter intuitive since many people want to finish one vacation before planning the next.  In this post we discuss the pros and cons of booking aboard.

Reasons not to book on board

1. Sometimes the vacation  just didn't meet expectations.  Perhaps the service or the food wasn't as good as you expected.  Maybe this particular cruise line was a bad fit for you.  (See this post for a way to avoid this.)  In this case you wouldn't want to book another trip without some serious discussions with your travel agent.  And you should have that discussion with your travel agent to make sure they understand your concerns.
2. Another reason to not book on board is because you want flexibility in planing your next vacation.  You may have loved the Paul Gauguin but next year you have your eye on Iceland. And the next year you're planning on taking the kids to Disney.

Reasons that booking on board makes sense

1. AmaWaterways AmaCello - a great reason to book on board

   Cost.  One of the best deals around is booking  on board.  Discounts vary but travel suppliers love when you book aboard since it saves them marketing expenses.  So you can be sure they have some sweet deals.

2. Ease.  What could be easier than walking off the ship knowing you don't have to do a lot of planning for your next trip.  Plus in most cases booking on board is quick and easy.
3. Satisfaction.  By using the same supplier, you are assured that you'll get the same excellent service, food and experience.  No guess work or reading reviews for the next trip.
4. Benefits - member multiple sailings.  Almost all suppliers offer benefits to past guests.  Since you're automatically a past guest you'll receive these complementary.  Benefits might include additional on board credit, a special cocktail party or availability to book excursions or dining reservations early. Another reason to book on board.
5. Flexibility.  Wait - didn't we use this under the reasons NOT to book aboard?  Well, there's still lots of flexibility associated with booking aboard.  While it varies, one supplier we deal with a lot allows you to lock in your savings and benefits without picking a specific cruise. They allow you to book anytime in the next two years - meaning the trip could well be three years away.  And the required deposit is very modest.

All in all, many of our clients book a future vacation while on board.  This is because they have had such a great time;  once they see the product, they want to come back. This is especially true with our river cruise clients.  There's so many rivers to explore.  By booking on board they can be assured of the same level of service while getting a whole new experience.  And don't worry, your travel agent will get full credit; plus you'll be able to avail yourself of all the advantages of using a travel agent.  (here's a list if you're unsure).