Cruise cost comparison

[Cruising Jake]

I know we cannot mention travel agents, so please don't. And I know there was a thread about where you booked your cruise: online, brick and mortar agency, etc. In that thread a lot of you said you research online agencies and then call your agent for the cruise. My question is: how close does your agent get to the cheaper prices online? There is such a wide range of online and travel agent prices. I have never used an online agent, but the price is tempting.

Thanks.

[ekerr19]

My regular, full-service TA always gets me the best price. Along with shipboard credit, I might add.. :)

[IrishLassie]

My TA also always gets me the price that I find on line. I always do my own research than take everything to her. Works really well. We just came back from Alaska on the Coral Princess which I had booked almost a year in advance & I did all the research. Hope this helps.

[bombero]

I've used the same TA for every cruise so far. :) :) . Only once could he not give me a better price than anyone else. :( . That time he could only match it. :p . I'm staying with him. :) . Bombero

[Leslieswiger]

We have used the same TA now for many, many years. We feel safe and Grace our TA has ALWAYS come through. We are now in Switzerland and I have called her about the trip in Sept. on the QM2. She gets back with me in hours. I would not deal with any online company. That's me.

[jhannah]

I know that many people get very good deals online. However, I have used my TA for some time and am very pleased with the prices I've paid. She has gone to bat for me and even bettered the online price I found for our upcoming cruise. (It took her almost a month, but she did it.) I like the feeling that should something go wrong, and even if I get torqued with her, there are others in the chain to whom I can go for relief. As long as I'm satisfied, I see no reason to look elsewhere.

[Cruising Jake]

Thanks for your replies.

I have used the same travel agent for several years. She seems good, but she cannot match the online prices. She has been close for Caribbean cruises but is $400pp higher for the Baltic cruise I am planning for next summer. When I ask her about those prices she says "maybe they cannot get you the Amex credit or upgrade". Actually I wanted her to match the price and not use the online agency. By the way, I am in Michigan and she is in New York. I found her about 5 years ago by calling a national cruise agency. I may just walk into an agency here in town and see if they can match online pricing.

[elmorejj]

The cruise lines are starting to not allow any TA to sell at below the cruise lines posted prices at their web site. Whether you will still get the lower price remains to be seen. I think the new rules go into effect very soon...jean :cool:

[michmike]

we just booked 11/6 sailing of volendam. Stumbled across what I thought was a great price of $999 for a Cat E(outside) for 10 nite cruise (that price includes port charges and taxes). Called my TA out of loyalty and asked him to see what he could do. He could only get within $150 per person, so I went with the online company (after doing some research on the boards re them). That way I essentially ended up getting our trip insurance free with cash leftover. HAL's web site is quoting $1219.80. Will see how it all turns out.