1st river cruise, book with TA?

I have done many ocean cruises and usually book directly with cruiseline. Is there any advantage to booking with a TA for a river cruise?

One, and perhaps a second, river cruise line does not commission agents. If you get the right agency, they will rebate some of their commission to you the same as some TAs will do for ocean cruises.

You are about to book 1 cruise, and if you like it maybe you'll book 1 a year? A good TA who specializes in river cruises books lots and lots of cruises year after year. So when there's a problem, or a rule needs to be bent -- the TA probably has an advantage in getting to "yes." Or at least, the TA will be the one sitting on hold...

We book directly with Vantage (after selecting cruise/land tour from their brochures or online) After 10 trips have NEVER had a problem that we couldn't fix by calling and working directly with them. ( they don't use TA's...so that's not a consideration.)

My TA discounts a lot with river cruises. We have booked 3 with her, and have referred many folks. She guarantees the lowest rate. I know that we save at least 15% but I think more, plus amenities. We have 2 other couples going with us next April and they are so happy with what they are saving.

I have done many ocean cruises and usually book directly with cruiseline. Is there any advantage to booking with a TA for a river cruise?

Our travel agent gives big discounts and often other perks.

I never use a TA any more. Why give my money to them when. Most TA's get substantial commissions and steer passengers to the ones they get the most $$$$ from. They are in a business and are not chartable institutions. The internet had taken much of their business and most are having trouble staying afloat.

I have saved thousands of dollars in the past 12 by researching and booking river cruises as well as land trips without a TA.

I never use a TA any more. Why give my money to them when. Most TA's get substantial commissions and steer passengers to the ones they get the most $$$$ from. They are in a business and are not chartable institutions. The internet had taken much of their business and most are having trouble staying afloat.

 

I have saved thousands of dollars in the past 12 by researching and booking river cruises as well as land trips without a TA.

I agree that for me the internet has reduced the need or even desire, to use TA's for the purpose of saving money or choosing the right cruise. However, not everyone enjoys researching and spending the needed time. For them, it's probably a good deal. YMMV.

I use on-line TAs regularly for ocean cruises as they usually can give me a much better deal than I can get myself. I never could understand that if a TA will give me $xxx in obc why the cruise line wouldn't equal or better that to safe on commission. But they won't . . .

OTOH, I book river cruises directly with GCCL, who won't commission TAs, because I like their product and price. They have not been able to negotiate with them . . . If I ever decide to try another river cruise line, I will certainly contact on of the TAs I previously used to see whether they can beat a book direct price that I got.

I use on-line TAs regularly for ocean cruises as they usually can give me a much better deal than I can get myself. I never could understand that if a TA will give me $xxx in obc why the cruise line wouldn't equal or better that to safe on commission. But they won't . . .

 

 

 

OTOH, I book river cruises directly with GCCL, who won't commission TAs, because I like their product and price. They have not been able to negotiate with them . . . If I ever decide to try another river cruise line, I will certainly contact on of the TAs I previously used to see whether they can beat a book direct price that I got.

YMMV of course, but we regularly get OBC when booking directly. We're possibly using different cruise lines. We've used both online TA's and direct with cruise lines but when they are close or identical in price and perks - which is very often the case, we book direct.

Evidently I am wildly different from the rest who have posted. We ALWAYS book with a TA. We pay no $ to the TA, other than for the cruise and we get better deals through the TA than we would booking it ourselves.

That said, the #1 reason why we book with a TA is to have someone who will deal with the cruise lines in case there are any problems. I like having that consumer representative in my corner to deal with the corporate people--especially if I'm on the cruise!!

Evidently I am wildly different from the rest who have posted. We ALWAYS book with a TA. We pay no $ to the TA, other than for the cruise and we get better deals through the TA than we would booking it ourselves.

 

That said, the #1 reason why we book with a TA is to have someone who will deal with the cruise lines in case there are any problems. I like having that consumer representative in my corner to deal with the corporate people--especially if I'm on the cruise!!

You're not wildly different -- there are many who feel the same way (me included). :)

-Travel agents can often times get better pricing than you can. They have access to group pricing which is often times the lowest available.

-Travel agents have Business Development Managers at their beck and call with each cruise line whose job it is to educate and provide them with any support necessary. (and yes, they can bend the rules for them)

-Travel agents have connections that they can rely on when things don't go right to remedy problems on the spot.

-Travel agents do all the work for you and most do it at no cost to you. Free expert assistance? Try that with your doctor, plumber or any other professional.

-Travel agents take care of details so you don't miss something. Final payments, hotels, air, insurance and a host of other things.

-Travel agents answer your questions so you don't have to come to a forum and ask a bunch of people you don't know and certainly can't trust to be right. (no offense meant)

Haters will always run their mouth about Travel Agents and how they 'steer' you somewhere, but that is complete BS. Travel Agents rely on repeat business so their mission is to give the client the best possible experience they can. Most cruise lines pay the same anyway. They only thing they 'steer' you from is a BAD EXPERIENCE from something they know won't fit you.

You can buy online and be just another transaction. :eek:

Or, you can put your plans in the trusted and capable hands of a good Travel Agent who looks out for you and your best interest the entire way. :cool:

To each, their own.

We have used the same cruise specialist for years. I have tried myself online and she has gotten me better pricing as well as excellent OBC! Have talked to others on board as far as what they received on their own or with their TA and our TA won out! I am not trying to sell her just pitching our experience.

What she gets out of it is deeply discounted cruise trips and with that experience she can give me the best idea of what will suit us

You have to do your home work to get the best pric, if you do not want to do that then book with a TA. Sometime there are advantages and discounts provided by TA or wholesale companies and sometimes booking with the lines direct you can get bigger discounts.

You have to do your home work to get the best pric, if you do not want to do that then book with a TA. Sometime there are advantages and discounts provided by TA or wholesale companies and sometimes booking with the lines direct you can get bigger discounts.

Agree completely.

Boy we got 10% off the listed price from our TA plus the special offered thru Avalon at the time we booked and a referral bonus from the TA. The discount over all from our TA was significant when considering the extremely high cost of River cruises.

This is too much $$ to leave laying on the table to not be dealing thru a TA who specializes in Luxury Travel/River Cruising.

JMHO

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nana541--and after you sail with Avalon, or take a Globus land tour, or a Monogram, you can join the Journey Club (free) get a number from them, give that # to your TA, and you will get 5% off your tour--right off the top.

It can be combined with all other deals, including the ones from your TA, but that 5% is guaranteed every time plus you will get emails with special offers.

We love Avalon (and the 5%!!) Our TA keeps that # in our file and it is shown on every quote he sends us.

nana541--and after you sail with Avalon, or take a Globus land tour, or a Monogram, you can join the Journey Club (free) get a number from them, give that # to your TA, and you will get 5% off your tour--right off the top.

 

It can be combined with all other deals, including the ones from your TA, but that 5% is guaranteed every time plus you will get emails with special offers.

 

We love Avalon (and the 5%!!) Our TA keeps that # in our file and it is shown on every quote he sends us.

Isn't it great! I'll likely be doing a land trip with them too!

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Just finished working on an ocean cruise and river cruise. Got a better deal from an online TA for the ocean cruise: slightly upgraded cabin, larger OBC, gratuities included and drink packages comped for same price BUT on our next river cruise the in-person TA got us a complimentary upgrade from a level 5 to a level 2 cabin so now we are basically getting the two of us for the price per person of our original reservation. Would this have happened with an online TA or if we booked directly with the cruise line? Who knows? Maybe maybe not. Certainly the more complicated or more exotic your planned trip is the more likely a TA would be a good idea. Simply booking a RT flight and a single cruise would be easy enough to do on your own.

Isn't it great! I'll likely be doing a land trip with them too!

 

 

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Hi! Other than the loyalty discount you mention what is it about Avalon that makes it your favorite river cruise line? Stuart.