Booking your dream cruise may sound like fun until you start researching all the details involved, which can feel more like a nightmare. Luckily, the experts at Admiral of the Fleet Cruise Center are ready to manage those details for you so you can simply show up and set sail! What’s more, unlike other travel agencies, the Cruise Center charges zero fees for planning your unforgettable vacation.

     

“We are an independent agency and are 90% cruise focused. Our agency does plan Disney, all-inclusive resort and land packages as well. Both me and my employee, Leslie Eatmon, go on ship tours and sail frequently so we can learn about the ships and cruise lines firsthand, as well as various destinations, so we can tell our clients exactly what they can expect,” says owner, Brandi LaCombe. “We also follow industry news as far as what is going on with all the hurricanes and such, political unrest anywhere, and so forth.”  

     

When a client comes in and says they want to go on a cruise, the agents at the Cruise Center really listen to determine which cruise will best fulfill their desires as far as cruise line, ship size, cabin type, and destination. “Once a client’s cruise is booked, we make their payments when they are ready to go, give them luggage tags and any documents needed, and provide transfers between the airport and the ship when they embark and on their return,” she explains. “We are here if any issues arise during your cruise, all the way until you return home.”

     

The Cruise Center also sells travel insurance to help protect their clients’ vacation investment and assists clients if there are any issues in processing their claims. Speaking to that, Brandi admits they encourage clients to purchase this insurance as without it, you can be out thousands of dollars if your cruise is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances such as medical or work issues or political unrest in your destination.

     

The Cruise Center works with almost all the cruise lines. There are a select few the agency does not work with because they don’t meet the Cruise Center’s standards. In fact, the agents at the Cruise Center have vetted all the cruise lines they sell to the point where in the first two minutes of meeting a client, they know what cruise line they are going to put them on based on age, lifestyle, what they are hearing the client wants in their cruise and destination. “Our agents are trained in determining what people want by really listening to them,” says Brandi. “Budget factors in, but not as much as you’d think. On any cruise, we can hit almost any budget. Getting them the right cruise for what they are looking for is what is most important to me.” As one happy customer says:

“Brandi does an amazing job taking care of her clients. She is always on top of everything for you to make sure your trip is flawless, and you only need to focus on having a great time. She knows all the cruise tips and all the various cruise lines.” –  Kristi M., 5-Star Review

     

As for off-ship excursions, most are done directly through the cruise lines and clients like to book those themselves. However, agents do get asked by clients what they should see along the way and are experts in their responses, having done so many cruises themselves. “I’ve cruised Alaska six times now so I can pretty much tell you where to go and what to see in each of those ports,” says Brandi. “Same with the Caribbean. We also book cruises in Australia, Iceland, Ireland, Antarctica, Europe, you name it. All the agents at the Cruise Center are Certified River Cruise Experts for Viking Cruise Lines, which is one of our favorites cruise lines to work with.”

     

While Leslie has been with the Cruise Center throughout its 30 years of existence, Brandi was a CPA for 28 years and bought the business from a client of hers when he retired in 2019. “Working with vacation clients versus tax clients is much more fun,” she says with a laugh. “I absolutely love this business and love having people sit down at my desk and get so excited about their cruise. We talk about everything because there are so many details people don’t consider such as what side of the ship and what location on the ship their cabin is located,” she continues. “For instance, going up the Inside Passage of Alaska, you want to be on the shore side where you can view the bears from your balcony. If you get motion sickness, you want to be midship and mid-height on the ship.” Ship size is another important detail as they run anywhere from a few hundred passengers all the way up to 7500, which are two vastly different experiences! And if you think a smaller cruise will be less expensive, you are wrong. “The smaller ships tend to be the luxury lines, so that is where we really talk budget,” Brandi says.

     

Whatever your desires, Admiral of the Fleet Cruise Center has a cruise for you. For first-time cruisers, Brandi suggests Alaska because you don’t have to fly. “It’s a perfect, easy, first-time cruise. You just drive down to Pier 91 or down to Seattle and you’re done,” she says. “For those who want to go somewhere warm, the Caribbean is nice and easy as well.” Either way, the Cruise Center is going to take all the stress off your shoulders so you can enjoy every moment!

     

In the future, Brandi hopes to grow her team in the company’s new location on Alderwood Mall Boulevard. And personally, she would love to go on a Viking River Cruise in Europe in the next year.

     

To learn more, go to www.cruise-center.com.