Your Personal Cruise Planner, From Hello to Home
One person who knows your trip, start to finish. Here is exactly what a personal cruise planner does, how it works, and how to pick a good one.
Talk to a Personal Cruise PlannerWhat a Personal Cruise Planner Is For
A personal cruise planner is the one human being who carries your cruise from a vague idea (“somewhere warm in March, the two of us and my sister”) all the way to the moment you walk back through your own front door. Booking engines are good at showing fares. They are not good at noticing that the cheaper cabin sits under the pool deck, that your flight lands too late on embarkation day, or that your final payment is due next week. That noticing is the job.
This site explains that job openly: what happens at each stage, what you should expect to receive, how a cruise travel advisor is paid, how a cruise line’s own personal vacation planner differs from an independent advisor, and how to sort the best cruise advisors from the order-takers. When you are ready, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will act as your personal cruise concierge at no charge for the planning.
The short version
- You talk; the planner listens for budget, pace, who is travelling and what “a good trip” means to you.
- You get a short list of sailings with the reasons each one fits, not fifty search results.
- Your quote shows the cabin, the fare type and what is and is not included.
- After you book, the planner tracks deadlines, add-ons and changes for you.
- During and after the trip, you still have someone to call.
The Ten Stages, at a Glance
Every planner works a little differently, but a careful one moves through the same stages. The full walk-through is on what a personal cruise planner does; here is the outline.
| Stage | What the planner does | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1. First conversation | Asks about dates, budget range, travellers, past trips, must-haves | A clear brief of your trip in plain words |
| 2. Matching | Narrows lines, ships and itineraries to a handful that fit | A short list with the reasons |
| 3. Quote | Prices the cabin and fare type you choose | A written quote you can compare |
| 4. Booking and deposit | Places the booking and holds the cabin | Confirmation number and payment dates |
| 5. Between deposit and final payment | Watches for fare changes and promotions you may qualify for | A note when something changes in your favour |
| 6. Add-ons | Flights, hotels, transfers, insurance, excursions, dining | One plan instead of six bookings |
| 7. Documents | Reminds you about passports, check-in and boarding passes | A short countdown list |
| 8. Travel day | Is reachable if a flight slips or plans change | A person to call |
| 9. Onboard | Helps with problems the ship cannot fix alone | Backup from shore |
| 10. After the cruise | Follows up on refunds, credits and your next trip | Loose ends tied off |
Who Gets the Most From a Personal Cruise Planner
First-time cruisers
There are dozens of decisions you do not yet know exist. A planner walks you through them in order, and our sister site First Time Cruise covers the first sailing itself.
Families and groups
Connecting cabins, kids’ ages, a grandparent with a cane, three different home airports: coordination is where a planner earns trust.
Busy people
If comparing deck plans at midnight sounds like a chore, hand it to someone who does it every day.
Big-trip travellers
World segments, expedition ships, suites and luxury lines reward expert matching; Luxury Cruise Consultant goes deeper on the luxury side.
If you would rather do it all yourself online, that is a reasonable choice too, and Cruise Clicks shows how to book a cruise online safely. A planner is an option, never a requirement.
Why Our Planners Work This Way
Personal Cruise Concierge is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Quotes go through the Official Cruise Directory quote form, where our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise pick them up personally. For deals as they appear, join the Mister Cruise cruise-offers newsletter; for the season’s biggest sales, see Wave Season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a personal cruise planner?
A person, not a website, who takes your trip from first idea to final day: matching you to a ship and sailing, quoting, booking, keeping track of payments and add-ons, and helping if something goes wrong. At Personal Cruise Concierge that person is one of our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise.
Does a personal cruise planner cost more than booking myself?
Usually not for mainstream cruises: cruise lines pay advisors a commission out of the fare, so the fare you pay is generally the same. Ask any advisor up front whether they charge a planning fee, and get the answer in writing.
Can I use a personal cruise planner if I already know which ship I want?
Yes. Plenty of guests arrive with the ship and date picked. The planner then checks the cabin, the fare type, what is included and what is not, and keeps watch on the booking until you sail.
More Cruise Sites From Our Network
Meet Your Personal Cruise Planner
Tell us who is travelling, roughly when, and what you hope the trip feels like. A Mister Cruise advisor replies personally with a short list and a written quote.
Ask for a Personal Cruise Planner