Cruise bookings

I asked this on another forum and probably should have asked here first. . Lately when we have booked our cruises, I have booked directly with the cruiseline. The last 3 times our cabin has been a suite and I always receive a call from NCL asking me about pillows, if we needed anything special in our suite upon arrival and all that good stuff. i get there name and if We need anything I've always been instructed to call. Here is my question. Because there are some really good perks with a travel agency I am thinking of booking through them, extra OBC, pre paid gratuities, etc. If I do that, will I still get my wonderful phone call from NCL about my suite and what I might want or need? I know that if you book through the TA, NCL will have you go through that TA for any questions or changes.

If booking direct has worked in the past, why change???

If it's not broke, don't fix it... IMHO I would stay with what has worked in the past...:cool:

We use to book our suites directly, but now use a big membership store and save about 10% doing so. Still get all the perks.

Be sure to check out joining aarp, for an additional 5% off.

:)

Even if they did not call, all of that can be arranged upon arrival. Not a big deal.

I asked this on another forum and probably should have asked here first. . Lately when we have booked our cruises, I have booked directly with the cruiseline. The last 3 times our cabin has been a suite and I always receive a call from NCL asking me about pillows, if we needed anything special in our suite upon arrival and all that good stuff. i get there name and if We need anything I've always been instructed to call. Here is my question. Because there are some really good perks with a travel agency I am thinking of booking through them, extra OBC, pre paid gratuities, etc. If I do that, will I still get my wonderful phone call from NCL about my suite and what I might want or need? I know that if you book through the TA, NCL will have you go through that TA for any questions or changes.

Yes, you will still have access to the pre-cruise Concierge (that's who is arranging all of the pillow requests, etc)

A good TA will handle this for you.

If your TA (Travel Agent) offers you a better deal with more bennies; miles

or points take advantage of it - you will still get the same on board bennies

from NCL.

Whoever gives you the most bang for your buck take it - loyalty is great

but maximize what you can get !

It is far easier to deal with one TA all the time rather than playing telephone

roulette with the changeable variable rotating staff at NCL.

I deal with Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Cruises exclusively and get a ton (lots)

of miles to use on future cruises almost paying for a coach ticket to a

airport near the port of departure. Another thing TAs get fam trips from time

to time on cruise ships and have personal recommendations of what to do

what not to do and solutions to cabin problems on a more personal level !

TAs also have direct lines to the reservation center of the cruise lines and

do not have to wait on hold for the music to stop and a live agent to come

on board to answer your questions and booking.

And as usual YMMV - take the blue pill for better results - OR - was it the red one !