About Us
History
In 2004, a group of my college friends were deciding where to go on vacation. We had previously driven to the Appalachian mountains and the beach. Surely there was something else exciting waiting out there for us.
Why not a cruise? The idea was suggested, and when I checked the pricing of a Carnival cruise, it seemed too good to be true. I could visit Mexico on a five day cruise, including meals, for less than $100 a day per person! That was cheaper than a round trip flight from Atlanta to Puerto Vallarta.
This is where my love for cruising was born. If only I had known about the excellent value of a cruise vacation sooner.
When I took my first cruise, I had no mentor and made some planning mistakes. I booked with a large travel agency that didn’t offer much support. I didn’t realize that lunch was included on the first day. No one I knew took cruise vacations, so I wanted to make people more aware.
Mission
Over time, I introduced cruise vacations to my friends and family. I eventually became a local resource who people turned to with their cruising questions. In 2022, I decided to take my passion for cruising to the next level by becoming a travel agent.
Even though I had already taken 20 cruises by this point, I was amazed at how much new information I learned. One tends to become familiar with policies that affect themselves personally, but there are policies for traveling with children, documentation requirements for non-US citizens, and the services available for those on oxygen or in wheelchairs.
Education is the key to success, and I constantly keep up with cruise news in order to keep my knowledge up to date. The Facebook groups are full of well-intentioned people who sometimes provide the wrong information or spread rumors that turn out to be untrue. While I use Facebook as one of many sources to keep my knowledge up to date, I always independently verify the information. I pride myself in having the correct and up to date information. If there is something that I don’t know, then I have lines of communication open to a fellow group of cruise industry professionals.
Specialties
In the travel industry, a jack of all trades is a master of none. There are travel agents selling cruises, who have never been on a cruise before. Sure, they can book a cruise for you, but what if you have questions about what to expect? Will they be responsive to your needs after the cruise is booked? Do they truly value you as a customer, or do they see you as a mere transaction?
I have sailed on many different Carnival ships, including the newest ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. I like to be very familiar with what I recommend to my clients. This is why the majority of cruises that I sell are with Carnival. I earned the Carnival Diamond Level Graduate designation at the end of 2022.
Are you planning a group event? Did you know that Carnival provides group benefits starting at only five rooms? You can work directly with the cruise line, but wouldn’t it be better to have a single point of contact who is familiar with your group and can assist you more efficiently?
Travel Planners International
When a travel agent starts their business, it can feel a bit overwhelming. In November 2022, I partnered with Travel Planners International, which provides community and resources to support my business. They only accept travel agents who have taken and passed travel industry training and exams. In order to join, I passed the Travel Advisor Competency Test (TACt) and completed the Certified Cruise Specialist (CCS) course in August 2022.
When I book your cruise, you will see that Travel Planners International is listed as the travel agency on the invoice. I never handle any funds directly, and all credit card and gift card charges come from the cruise line itself.
Future
Complacency is never a good thing, and we should all be growing to get the most enjoyment out of life. To further my education, I became a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA). I’m currently enrolled in CLIA’s Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) program. In order to achieve this certification, I have to pass various classes, sell a certain number of rooms, attend several ship inspections, and take two personal cruises, each on different cruise lines. Who knew that education could be so much fun!
In addition to selling Carnival cruises, I plan to expand my knowledge of Royal Caribbean International in the near future.
About Me
I’m Alex Agle and I live in the Atlanta area. I’m a graduate of Woodward Academy High School and the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. I have over 30 years of professional IT experience, specializing in workflow management and information management systems.
In my spare time, I go to the gym and tend to my house and yard. I’m always up for a 5-7 mile walk or going out to see a new movie. Of course, taking a couple of cruise vacations a year also ranks high on the list.
In the past, I took flying lessons in a Cessna 152 and was the CFO of the Yellow Jacket Flying Club for 3 years. In 2007, I earned the Super Randonneur honorific for completing a series of self-supported bike rides totaling 1,500 kilometers in a season. For the past 18 years, I have participated in the Atlanta Peachtree Road Race 10K and earned the t-shirt.
