How do you book?

[BeachMartini]

Hi All,

 

How do you book Carnival? Direct, or with a TA?

 

TAs seem to get you more extras - OBC, etc.

 

We are looking at a cruise for Summer 2015. Would you book direct? Why or why not?

 

Really appreciate the advice.

 

Thank you!

[kybluecruiser]

I search the carnival website to see what i want. Then call the 800 number and make my reservation.

[denrusk]

Most people are going to tell you to book direct. We have always used the same TA. She does give us a nice OBC, but I would use her anyway. She has no issues sending in price reductions for us. She answers her email right away and after hours or when she is on vacation she has someone in the office cover for her. We have had a few odd issues come up and she always knows who to speak with to get them taken care of.

 

 

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[loxley]

Most people are going to tell you to book direct. We have always used the same TA. She does give us a nice OBC, but I would use her anyway. She has no issues sending in price reductions for us. She answers her email right away and after hours or when she is on vacation she has someone in the office cover for her. We have had a few odd issues come up and she always knows who to speak with to get them taken care of.

 

 

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And the reason most people are going to say book direct is the chance of you actually getting a TA as described in the quoted post are slim.

 

Of course, if you get stuck with a sucky TA (which is very possible), you can always join the lesson learned, never gonna use a TA again club.

[KirkNC]

We use an online TA, usually save 5-10%.

[Krennen_OK]

We have always booked direct due to the lack of TA in our area and the horror stories of crappy ones.

[forwardcabin]

We have a really great Carnival PVP who has helped tremendously. We have also booked onboard when the promotional OBC is too good to pass up.

[ccruisequeen]

I check out availability and price then contact PVP

 

[Granny1]

I use a PVP and she is wonderful, she even called me the other night to wish us a wonderful trip and to call her when we get back , probably to reserve another trip.LOL

But she is very easy to talk to and answers all of our questions, a very upbeat person who seems to enjoy her job, even when she was home sick she took our call and when I wasn't ready to book she said she would call back when I wanted her to.

So there is no definite answer about how to book..:D

[mrb1963]

Always use a TA. Great Perks and good ones are easier to find with a little research than people on here will lead you to believe.

[092306]

We used to use a TA but now book direct. We never really got any perks from the TA, it was just easier for us to have her to coordinate air travel with the cruise. I prefer booking direct now.

[wininbid]

I started out with a TA for our Feb Cruise. He is a person I know on that "other site". Told him what I wanted, took forever for him to get me quotes. Had lots of questions that he struggled finding answers to. Dropped him and called Carnival direct. Got a wonderful PVP, that answered all my questions. She has called me already about the recent $50 deposit in case any of my family members were ready to book. I think I will stick with booking directly with a PVP from Carnival.

Edited June 6, 2014 by wininbid

[OCruisers]

We book through our long time TA!

LuLu

[Lisichka]

I always book direct and then transfer to a TA right before final payment is due. That way I Get the perks of OBC PLUS a carnival PVP up until final payment. Best of both worlds.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Lisichka

[Tetromibi]

Direct + CF subscription. Easiest method & least harassment.

[jgaudette3]

We have used a TA and direct and we found that most times, calling direct is the best. I do all the price shopping homework and while talking with my PVP, I know what to ask so I get the best price. We use a local TA when they have group rates that are just to good to pass.

[cruisingberger]

I have always used a TA until this cruise. It was so easy to do the whole thing on the internet through the Carnival website. I think it took 10 minutes total. I have booked shore excursions now that way too. This is a new way to book travel for me, and I think I like it.:D

[Pine Bluff]

Hi All,

 

How do you book Carnival? Direct, or with a TA?

 

TAs seem to get you more extras - OBC, etc.

 

We are looking at a cruise for Summer 2015. Would you book direct? Why or why not?

 

Really appreciate the advice.

 

Thank you!

 

I still book through a TA. She still gets me better prices than I can find online of through a PVP.

[wrigley80]

I book through a TA........and that would be me so I book my own cruises :D

[swazzie1]

I used to book direct, then with a good PVP. After I received a mileage credit card from an airline that advertises here, I experimented with booking through them for the additional mileage points. The woman that answered the phone when I dialed the 800 number was fantastic. She blew my PVP out of the water! I've booked several cruises through her...

 

Do you have to pay any booking fees thru that agent?

[Loralye]

I usually book online via the cruise line's website as I like to have no middleman to rely on when I want price drops, changes, etc.

 

TAs are not offering that much in OBC - some $ but not much - TA told me that they don't make enough profit from Carnival bookings as Carnival's pricing is very competitive. OBC I've been quoted are $25 or $50 for my recent Carnival booking.

 

This time I used a PVP for the first time. I like him. He cannot do better pricing that what you find online but he has proven to be helpful in getting me money/obc long after my initial booking - filing paperwork for me for price drops and room changes. All with a simple email which is my preference to communication. Email request, shortly find out that he put the paperwork through and within the 48 hours he lets me know the end result. Helpful guy but not pushy in the least :)

 

Good luck.

[Mysticks1]

Hi All,

 

How do you book Carnival? Direct, or with a TA?

 

TAs seem to get you more extras - OBC, etc.

 

We are looking at a cruise for Summer 2015. Would you book direct? Why or why not?

 

Really appreciate the advice.

 

Thank you!

 

I would book direct through Carnival and their group booking department. That allows you to contact them directly whenever an issue comes up and with a large group you will have quite a few of those.

 

I have never found a competent TA in my area. The "Cruise Specialist" TA in my city doesn't know as much about cruising as I do. They just look at brochures and websites and book you. I can do better myself and will buy my own cheap bottle of wine if I want it;).

[AK Wife]

I have always researched cruises using "vacations to go" - they can show me who is going where & when all on one page....then I start researching sites for prices. In the end, I always go to Carnival's website and book. Then I continue to check in case there are price drops (always make sure that I have that option when I book). This is my thinking: if I am going to keep checking the site for price drops anyway (because I'm OCD like that), why would I then try to contact my TA, who may (or may not if they're less than honest) try to look into it for me.

My initial booking for my upcoming cruise included OBC as part of the special, so you don't need a TA for that. Every time the price dropped (2x now), I called & spoke with a wonderful Carnival rep who cheerfully helped me & both calls took less than 8 minutes! The other day I received a phone call for an upgrade (or up-sell as some would say) & I booked it - all by myself! Here's what I did by myself: initially booked an 8C balcony cabin for $1299 pp. Had price 2 reductions - $560 off my total balance & then $80 OBC after I had PIF. Upgraded to an Ocean Suite & the cost is $1273 pp! Upgraded to a suite & still paying less than I originally would have in my balcony! :D I'm my own TA & I'm pretty darn good! ;)