Booking direct or with an agent?

[Dixiebelle13]

Hi all - looking to book for the Caribbean in November/December 2017 on Brittania. I've been on one cruise before some years ago (Ventura) and booked directly with P&O. However, I remember a few people onboard advising me that I'd get a better deal with an agent. I've started looking but most agents' websites just seem to give a predicted 'enquire now' price so finding it hard to compare. I can't book for a couple of weeks (need to firm dates with work) so no point enquiring just yet... I just wondered what others' experiences are and whether it's worth me making enquiries with a few companies or just going straight to P&O.

 

Thanks in advance.

[jenny wren]

I would definitely book with an agent either online or the high street, get best price quotes from all and ask if they can offer extra on board spend or parking etc. We usually expect up to 5% discount off P and O prices. We have got quotes off the internet and asked local high street agent if he could match and he has knocked an extra 50 pounds off......It's amazing what they will do to get your business but you do have to ask!!

[CCFC]

If you can hold out then book closer to the time, I have done November/December cruises for the last three years and the best prices appear in September/October, its not a popular time to cruise. My last cruise didn't sell out.

[Deep-Blue-Iris]

I just booked my first cruise today, after weeks of going round the bend doing research. Ended up in local high street travel agent - they actually managed to save me around £240 as they had access to cabins I couldn't book via P&O directly (could only book a more expensive grade of cabin).

 

So in my opinion, go with an agent, either online or high street - at the very least they should match P&O's price, maybe even beat it. Plus, my agent is sorting letting P&O know about my visual impairment, saving me some form filling.

[Dixiebelle13]

Thanks everybody for the quick responses, I will be doing some ringing around in the New Year! I hear you Mike but I'm not sure I can hang on that long... :-)

[ChrisPBacon]

I have the opposite experience. The only reason we got a discount from them is because it was a P&O event. When I paid my balance, I got two receipts. My genuine one and one that was for the agents eyes only. They got a healthy booking fee and passed none of it onto me.

 

The trick is to see if you get a good discount and if not, go to P&O. But don't assume the agent is always the best option. Some people have said on here that the agent discounts are getting less and less. When you book with an agent, P&O won't deal with you at all. You have to go through the agent. I also believe that despite being on a Select fare and first in line for upgrades, going through an agent means you're less likely to get one. They have made less money from you if you go through an agent.

 

 

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Edited December 27, 2016 by ChrisPBacon

[jeanlyon]

Definitely use a specialist cruise company. Pity we can't mention them on here. They have access to all cabins and do a really good job.

[pete14]

Definitely use a specialist cruise company. Pity we can't mention them on here. They have access to all cabins and do a really good job.

 

We always deal directly through P and O by phone. They also have the full range of cabins, it is only online that selection is restricted. Booking directly means that any important communications regarding the cruise such as change of itinerary come directly to you and do not rely on an agent taking the trouble to pass them on. If I am happy with the financial package they offer, I am not interested in spending time researching whether a small reduction is available by using what may be an inferior service. I find the personnel on the other end of the phone helpful and efficient and am happy to book my cruise directly with the company who operates it. It makes sense to me!

[Deep-Blue-Iris]

Pete, thanks for that info. As a first time cruise-booker I had no idea it was only online that restricted cabin grades. I also wanted someone I could physically go and talk to, but now I know that P&O have all cabins available on the phone I think I'll book with them next time (assuming I like cruising and get bitten by the bug, that is).

[annieuk]

We book with a Cruise Specialist Club - they have always been amazingly good. When we've wanted to book a specific cabin on the opening day of booking from a new brochure we've always got what we wanted. They have specialist knowledge of the ships and we also get a discount above the P&O discount when we book with them. I'd never use a high street agent, some of them claim to be cruise specialists but I've come across ones who don't know as much about the various ships as I do.

 

I used to book direct from P&O when we first started cruising back in 2003 but then someone we met on board recommended this Cruise Specialist Club and we've booked with them ever since. If my particular agent is busy when I phone she always calls me back, usually within 10 minutes or so. The service they give is what keeps us going back to them.

[gadabout60]

We always deal directly through P and O by phone. They also have the full range of cabins, it is only online that selection is restricted. Booking directly means that any important communications regarding the cruise such as change of itinerary come directly to you and do not rely on an agent taking the trouble to pass them on. If I am happy with the financial package they offer, I am not interested in spending time researching whether a small reduction is available by using what may be an inferior service. I find the personnel on the other end of the phone helpful and efficient and am happy to book my cruise directly with the company who operates it. It makes sense to me!

 

However if you form a relationship with a dedicated cruise agent you will get all sorts of impartial advice - that you won't get with P&O and they will pass on messages etc

Agent for me every time

[Dixiebelle13]

Thanks everybody - I guess I'll get a few prices and see what the difference is to booking direct. The ones I've looked at online don't seem to offer me a choice of particular cabin (only the grade) so might have to ring a few.

[jeanlyon]

We always deal directly through P and O by phone. They also have the full range of cabins, it is only online that selection is restricted. Booking directly means that any important communications regarding the cruise such as change of itinerary come directly to you and do not rely on an agent taking the trouble to pass them on. If I am happy with the financial package they offer, I am not interested in spending time researching whether a small reduction is available by using what may be an inferior service. I find the personnel on the other end of the phone helpful and efficient and am happy to book my cruise directly with the company who operates it. It makes sense to me!

 

Sorry, but I receive all communications from P&O by email, even though I book with an agent. Inferior service? It makes no difference. P&O have my email on Cruise Personaliser. You only get discounts from the TAs by telephoning and asking. 5% is a nice discount.

Edited December 29, 2016 by jeanlyon

[pete14]

Sorry, but I receive all communications from P&O by email, even though I book with an agent. Inferior service? It makes no difference. P&O have my email on Cruise Personaliser. You only get discounts from the TAs by telephoning and asking. 5% is a nice discount.

 

Fine. You keep using your agent and I will keep using P & O direct and we will both be happy. All I was doing was trying to help out the OP by giving an honest opinion.

[ChrisPBacon]

Sorry, but I receive all communications from P&O by email, even though I book with an agent. Inferior service? It makes no difference. P&O have my email on Cruise Personaliser. You only get discounts from the TAs by telephoning and asking. 5% is a nice discount.

 

 

 

I'm with Pete on this. Our itinerary has changed and we got nothing from P&O. There are certain things I ring P&O about, and they tell me I must go through my agent. Added to that, my agent doesn't really give me any real discount.

 

 

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[gadabout60]

I'm with Pete on this. Our itinerary has changed and we got nothing from P&O. There are certain things I ring P&O about, and they tell me I must go through my agent. Added to that, my agent doesn't really give me any real discount.

 

 

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Sorry but you don't have a good agent

You need to build a relationship with a good agent who'll look out for you and get to know you

[terrierjohn]

One of the main reasons we use an agent is because we don't always cruise with P&O, even though we do probably do most cruises with them. So having the one agent who handles all our cruises and is able to give insights into all the cruise lines, means that we only need to contact one person, or company, to deal with all our cruise holidays, and they offer us the best prices as well.

[john watson]

I find it best to book on the telephone, irrespective of whether it is with an agent or direct with the cruise line. I also like to have a paper brochure available opened up at the deck plans page. This way you have a good idea of what they are telling you in terms of cabin selection and you can also come back with is X999 still available having spotted that it is better in some way. I think both agent and direct can find any cabin you mention.

 

I suspect the website information agents have access to gives a lot more information about availability than what we see, but also think it does not openly disclose every available cabin. Another point to bear in mind is that big specialist cruise agents might buy up significant groups of cabins at a discount and sell them on retail. They therefore could have cabins that are only available through that specific agent.

 

I have booked direct by internet, direct by phone, agent by phone ans walked into agency. So far I have not concluded that any system is clearly the best but I do know you need to know your market price.

 

Regards John

[jeanlyon]

I totally agree. I ring my agent, give him the cruise or cruises we want and he comes back with a price, always includes a 5% discount. He sends our booking paperwork by email and our friends by snail mail as that is how she likes it.

 

Have had tremendous service from him.

[ChrisPBacon]

Sorry but you don't have a good agent

 

You need to build a relationship with a good agent who'll look out for you and get to know you

 

 

 

We thought we had a great agent. They know us and our relatives by name. They ring us up when prices are out. We did get a discount on this cruise, or the one before. But it was because they had the P&O rep in town doing a presentation and it was made clear that the discount would only be offered at the event. So I think that came from the rep, not the agent.

 

Having inadvertently got the agents copy of the invoice sent to me and seen the commission they are getting, I feel ripped off. Our agent also insists on the full price 16 weeks before the cruise date....much earlier than P&O request the money. The agents receipt I got also had the actual payment due date on it. I know agents will want to get the money in on time, but not so far in advance,

 

As you say, they are not a good agent, but that has put me off using another. I'll book on the cruises themselves and get the low deposit and the better spending money.

 

 

 

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