travel agent or direct with cruise line

[oceandream]

Our travel agent is no longer working. We are almost ready to book a cruise and I can either use a new agent from same agency or book directly with cruise line. I do a lot of research myself and know what I want. No need for flights or hotel or insurances, just the cruise. Do you see any advantages in booking directly? Can they access more easily what cabins are left? Thanks for sharing experience.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We use a TA because of the perks we get from her.

And she can quickly call the cruise line and tell them what cabin we want.

[paul929207]

We get a discount from our TA, that the cruise line does not offer. We also get perks like OBC from her.

 

In the event of a problem, the TA will help you deal with the cruise line

[beachbum53]

Our travel agent is no longer working. We are almost ready to book a cruise and I can either use a new agent from same agency or book directly with cruise line. I do a lot of research myself and know what I want. No need for flights or hotel or insurances, just the cruise. Do you see any advantages in booking directly? Can they access more easily what cabins are left? Thanks for sharing experience.

 

Was your former TA able to offer perks that you couldn't get by booking directly with the cruise line? Would the new agent be able to get you those same perks? You could try booking on your own by doing a mock booking, and if you can't get what you want, then call your travel agency and ask for help.

[Nitemare]

See the other thread, below, same header. There's really nothing I can see that is an advantage booking direct vs. booking thru a GOOD TA.

[GUT2407]

We had TA after TA, all hopeless.

 

Booked direct a few times online.

 

Now use a PCP, best thing we ever did, a little concerned as ours just retired, hope the replacement is as good.

Edited May 2, 2016 by GUT2407

[SPacificbound]

I book direct with cruise line.

[Jasalth]

We had TA after TA, all hopeless.

 

I fully understand that feeling! Finding a good TA is harder than finding a good auto mechanic! Oddly enough I found both in the same year it seems!

 

That is really the thing, almost anyone can do any job, but finding someone who is good at it is almost impossible. Finding a full TA where almost EVERYONE is good at their job? Might as well play the lottery!

 

There are some out there though! I really do wish we could give out TA names TBH, or even just agencies since I found one I really love.

 

But I went threw so many bad ones before hand I almost gave up also. Sometimes it really is just luck.

[AKCabinDude]

I just booked our first cruise last weekend. I was loath to use a travel agent when I could do everything myself (using air miles for the flight and knew which hotel I wanted). I put my cruise out to bid (just in case; I absolutely knew I could do it better and cheaper) and ended up using a TA that saved us approximately $500 on a $3500 booking, along with all cruise company perks, saved us another $100 on Trip Insurance, as well as giving us an additional $100 OBC. I still am not entirely comfortable asking others to do things I can do, but we'll definitely us a TA again next time.

 

 

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[Flatbush Flyer]

I just booked our first cruise last weekend. I was loath to use a travel agent when I could do everything myself (using air miles for the flight and knew which hotel I wanted). I put my cruise out to bid (just in case; I absolutely knew I could do it better and cheaper) and ended up using a TA that saved us approximately $500 on a $3500 booking, along with all cruise company perks, saved us another $100 on Trip Insurance, as well as giving us an additional $100 OBC. I still am not entirely comfortable asking others to do things I can do, but we'll definitely us a TA again next time.

 

 

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A little hint when using the competitive bidding website(s):

Call or e-mail the bidding TAs and ask for more than what they've initially offered. You'll pretty much always be able to get additional OBC or gratuities or something else.

The bottom line choice is

A) do the real research and find an excellent TA ("brick & mortar" that also has web presence) who is a bona fide top producer for the cruise line you want.

B) do the research and find those occasional exclusive (unadvertised) sales that a cruise line rotates among their top producers.

C) do the research and don't be lazy enough to just settle for using cruise lines' own employee reps (e.g., PVPs, PCCs, etc) who aren't going to provide extra perks or argue successfully with the folks who employ them when the poop hits the fan.

[zqvol]

Our travel agent is no longer working. We are almost ready to book a cruise and I can either use a new agent from same agency or book directly with cruise line. I do a lot of research myself and know what I want. No need for flights or hotel or insurances, just the cruise. Do you see any advantages in booking directly? Can they access more easily what cabins are left? Thanks for sharing experience.

 

Unless they are giving you some great OBC, or somehow discounting the price there is no reason to use a TA.

[Nitemare]

If you have problems with your reservation or the cruiseline has financial issues or is possibly canceling or changing your cruise, you'll get much more assistance from a good TA than you ever will from the cruiseline. The TA wants your business. Needs your business to STAY in business. The representative at the cruiseline wants to finish your call ASAP and take the next one to be graded high

[Flatbush Flyer]

Agreed that a good TA works for you while a cruise line's own phone reps or concierge wannabes (e.g., PVP, PCC or whatever else they are called) are beholden to their employer.

I would add, however that the "good" TA really needs to be a cruise specialist who is a top producer for the line you are sailing. When you do dozens (or more) of bookings a month with that line, your calls get answer and your problems get solved.