Is there any purpose to use a TA?

[CPCruiser4Life]

We recently booked a cruise with a TA, but if I want to get any information about my cruise, or inquire about price drops, everything has to go through the TA....Is there any reason why some people still use a "middle man?"

 

This is our last time using a TA, unless there is something I'm missing...

[Bristol5]

I am in total agreement with you. We booked Early Saver over a year ago for our upcoming September cruise. There have been quite a few price drops and I have hated having to go through the TA. Also, at one point I had a question to ask about the cruise and Carnival said I would have to go through my TA. I have vowed not to go this route ever again!

[KenMo]

I've never used a TA and don't see the purpose.

 

Some have said they get perks with a TA.

 

I'd rather be in control of my booking.

[Joanne G.]

I think it's just personal preference. We have used a great travel agent for something like 18 cruises over the last 15 years. While we do plenty of reserach ourselves, she provides additional advice and information on ships and cabins. She responds promptly to our questions and seems to work 24/7. She has been on many cruises herself. She works for a cruise only agency, and we figure she knows how to contact the right person at the cruise line if we have a problem. She meets or beats the prices I see online, and she monitors prices on our behalf after we have booked. As her services don't cost us anything, we will continue to use her.

 

I imagine a bad or indifferent travel agent is worse than no travel agent, but, to us, a good one makes our travel planning easier.

[choclitsnda]

i think it's just personal preference. We have used a great travel agent for something like 18 cruises over the last 15 years. While we do plenty of reserach ourselves, she provides additional advice and information on ships and cabins. She responds promptly to our questions and seems to work 24/7. She has been on many cruises herself. She works for a cruise only agency, and we figure she knows how to contact the right person at the cruise line if we have a problem. She meets or beats the prices i see online, and she monitors prices on our behalf after we have booked. As her services don't cost us anything, we will continue to use her.

 

I imagine a bad or indifferent travel agent is worse than no travel agent, but, to us, a good one makes our travel planning easier.

 

i totally agree! :)

[golfadj]

In the past TA would rebate part of their commission as obc. Carnival doesnt allow it anymore so we went back to pvp.

[jaggin]

In the past TA would rebate part of their commission as obc. Carnival doesnt allow it anymore so we went back to pvp.

 

 

But it still happens.

[penguin85]

We like to use a TA. Agree they can help with info about a ship or a port as ours has traveled on several ships.

 

Last cruise the TA was able to help with a problem on board with our balcony dividers, between 6 rooms in a row. Traveled as group and she had done our booking.

[gritsnc]

Each time we plan a vacation, I always say I'm going to do it myself. Yet, it seems like we always get the same deal with the travel agent and I like having someone else handle everything. We've used the same one each time we've gone out of the country and she makes everything so easy for us by explaining everything to a "t". We've never had a problem making changes through her either.

[kennelgang]

Ever since Carnival stopped allowing OBC's from TA's, my TA sends me a check in lieu of OBC's, after completing a Carnival cruise. The amount depends on the price we have paid for the cruise. The check is always 3 digits and compensates us for what we would get in OBC's if we had chosen a different cruise line. It is for that very reason that for years and years we have always gone through the same TA when booking a cruise.

[billfish]

It all depends on the QUALITY of the TA. And some PVP's are just awful. I have a great TA that takes care of all the details and is always making sure we do not miss out on any price drops.

[RWolver672]

If there is more than one cabin involved (Friends/Family) a TA can put a hold on them and each couple can then send in their deposit. If you do it through the computer or a PVP, you have to make the deposit on all of the cabins to hold them or have each couple try to get the cabins in the same section at the same time. In the meantime, somebody else grabs one of those cabins.

 

We never book ES and aren't control freaks. We give the info of what ship, what dates and what cabins we want and she takes care of the rest. She gets paid by Carnival for doing the work. If we did it, Carnival gets the booking without having to pay anybody for it. It's bad enough we have to print our own boarding passes and luggage tags.

[BarJen]

Years ago a TA was the best way, but now with everything being so easy to access we just book online directly through CCL. If I ever have a question or issue, it is resolved very quickly with a phone call. It's easy to manage price drops as well.

 

 

Barry

[kruisecat]

I think the common thread here is that all who have said they use one have used their TA for a long time....it is however very hard to find one that will do all these things for you. Since I don't have one I just do the planning myself. But if I did have a TA I would continue to use them since it wouldn't cost me anything :-)

 

 

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[OCruisers]

Having a GOOD Travel Agent is wonderful.

If there is any sort of issue, our TA deals with it for us. :)

 

LuLu

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[maxydu]

We use a TA and get "cruise ship gift certificates" as rebate to use on the cruise. Usually

$75. for a 7 day trip. There have been multiple price drops for our next cruise and having booked early saver, was entitled to each. Although I used due diligence and located the drops, it was up to my TA to submit the forms. He was real testy with the last drop and said he might have to drop the amount of my rebate. I told him if that is the case, I won't use him in the future. His attitude turned around quite quickly......

[icat2000]

In Australia, I have yet to see a benefit by using an Agent versus booking direct with the cruise line.

[Sh1035]

My pvp applies for my stock credit and all price drops. No calling required. Show me a. TA that does that? Or anything but take my $$$$.

[TheTravelista]

A good TA is better than any PVP.

 

Good TA's are hard to find though. Luckily I've had a great one for well over 10 years now. Love ALL the extras she provides on the cruise (bottles of wine, dinners in the steakhouse, photo coupons, cakes when celebrating special occasions, OBC, etc) and the amazing 24/7 service she provides pre and post cruise.

 

I can easily book everything myself...but why? I'm no less "in control of my booking" using my TA.

[golfadj]

But it still happens.

 

Perhaps but my TA says they cant do it anymore

[TheTravelista]

Perhaps but my TA says they cant do it anymore

 

LOL this is one of the differences between a regular TA and a Good/Great TA.

[nlktx49]

After seven cruises using the same TA, this time I decided to use a PVP. One had just called and left a message for me, as well as sending me an email. Knew what I wanted, cabin number, deck, just called him and in about 5 minutes it was all taken care of. TA was no longer giving any credits or perks, increasingly hard to get hold of her.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Perhaps but my TA says they cant do it anymore

 

That's because they are playing by the rules and not circumventing them.

 

Bill

[golfadj]

That's because they are playing by the rules and not circumventing them.

 

Bill

 

But thats no fun

[golfadj]

LOL this is one of the differences between a regular TA and a Good/Great TA.

 

 

Could well be. Think the TA would have noticed by now that we have not contacted them for over a year.