Booking direct Vs. through an agent?

[LostFan#1]

Good to know - thank you, Heidi!

 

[longterm]

We're planning to book 2 Viking Ocean cruises when we get on board our river cruise this October, so that we can get the on-board discounts, and so that we get a much more favorable final-payment date (6 months out rather than a year or more).

 

Then, once we've booked them, I'll transfer them both to our TA, who I've used only to get the OBC.

 

Any reason why this is *not* a good plan?

[formernuke]

I believe you can't book cruises on a river cruise (no cruise specialist), but you can book afterwards (within 2 weeks I think) and get many of the same benefits. You can also buy a certain number of 2 for 1 vouchers (e.g. $200 face value for $100). Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

[Squawkman]

1 hour ago, formernuke said:

I believe you can't book cruises on a river cruise (no cruise specialist), but you can book afterwards (within 2 weeks I think) and get many of the same benefits. You can also buy a certain number of 2 for 1 vouchers (e.g. $200 face value for $100). Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

This is mostly correct. I just did this (again) a week ago. You can book any cruise (river, ocean, expedition) and get $200pp SBC if you book within 14 days of disembarkation. As long as you have another cruise booked, you can request 6 months PIF. And definitely buy 4 vouchers which you can use on these 2 new cruises as well. The vouchers will be returned if you cancel, so think carefully how many you can use. They’re also transferable too and are condition-proof as long as they’re applied to a new booking.

[longterm]

14 minutes ago, Squawkman said:

This is mostly correct.

Ah, forgot that there’s no spot for a cruise specialist. 
 

We’ve already changed our plan, going on African safaris in 2025 instead, cruises in 26.