Best price for cruises

As first time possible cruisers living in Australia we would like to know if it is best to buy direct from a cruise line, a regular travel agent or an agency specialising in cruises. We are considering a Mediterranean cruise with Azamara Club or maybe two back to back, or one with HAL in June. We are seniors and welcome your advice.

You do not mention on line agents. We are not allowed to mention them here, but a little digging will find them.

For our first Azamara cruise, the best price was direct with Azamara. For our second we used an online agency and never saw as good a price anywhere else.

Azamara does have sales and specials, but you are taking a chance waiting for them, especially for more popular cruises (which ones to the Mediterranean are).

You will love Azamara.

As first time possible cruisers living in Australia we would like to know if it is best to buy direct from a cruise line, a regular travel agent or an agency specialising in cruises. We are considering a Mediterranean cruise with Azamara Club or maybe two back to back, or one with HAL in June. We are seniors and welcome your advice.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

I don't know whether you can book with a US agent if you live in Australia.

I would never book directly. Travel agents are able to offer you things you can't get when you book direct. Travel agents who work for agencies that book lots of cruises with a particular line can offer group space, which is always priced lower. Big volume agencies also get earned rebates from cruise lines, which they can pass along to their customers. I'd love to be able to tell you who I book with, but, according to Cruise Critic rules, I can't. Instead, I'd suggest that you look at the travel agencies that advertise on this site. The one I use is there. Call several and price shop. See how much onboard credit is offered.

If you're at all sensitive to smoke, you might want to reconsider booking HAL. You can read about that on the HAL board.

Once you're on your cruise, talk to your fellow Aussies and ask them who they book with. No need to talk money (definitely considered gauche). Just explain that you're new to cruising and are looking for advice. You'll get educated very quickly.:)

Thank you for your helpful replies. I contacted the cruiseline directly and was given some prices of cabins and they seemed dear; now I've found a Sydney discounter that offers packages with flights so shall follow that up. Unfortunately it is stated on some of the US sites that you have to have either a US or Canadian passport which is a pity as the discounts appear significant.

The boards provide so much helpful information it will take a while to absorb it all.

Thanks again kupferq