Whilst the recent failure of a few businesses has led some pundits to question the future of the high street travel agent it would seem that this lack of trust and confidence is not shared by the cruising fraternity and they are not turning to online solutions in their droves.

According to a poll conducted last week by the influential cruise news and reviews website Cruise Critic, when asked about whether they worry when booking a cruise through a high street travel agent, some 64 per cent of cruise travellers said no.

Fourteen per cent of respondents replied that they already booked direct with the cruise line and a similar number have begun to book online.  Only nine per cent claimed to take out insurance to protect their holiday against failure. 

Said Cruise Critic editor in chief Carolyn Spencer Brown: “Booking a cruise is not as simple as a flight to Malaga. There are so many variables to consider when choosing your holiday – the line, ship, style, cabin, itinerary, port –  and cruise travellers really value the one to one expertise and advice that can be had from a good traditional travel agency.  Many travel agents are in fact Cruise Critic members and the savvy ones use our site to keep up to speed with the latest developments.”