Book direct or through travel agent?

[tiwi]

When you book a RC cruise do you go through them directly or do you go through a travel agent?  Are there benefits to travel agent vs. direct?  Been a few years since I cruised last.  

Thank you!

[Biker19]

52 minutes ago, tiwi said:

Are there benefits to travel agent vs. direct? 

Search the site here - gets discussed probably monthly. You may get some perks with a TA.

[Wineaux007]

I usually search on line for my cruises then call my TA for a price.  Sometimes they will have Group Rates and give extra perks such as up to 10% OBC, specialty dining, etc.  Shop around for your TA.  Some give better perks than others.  

[Ret MP]

As with other issues in this forum that I've responded to, I believe it's a crap shoot either way.

There are many pro's and con's either way.  I've done both and to be honest, I've had fewer issues booking direct with the cruise line, especially if you get a very conscientious and professional agent, which is hard to do. 

However, I get a lot more OBC, up to $1,500.00 using a big box TA.  

 

There's a lot more to it than the above.  You'll need to experience both before you will know what's right for YOU.  My only suggestion is, if you are booking a short (3 or 4 night cruise), do cruise line direct and just experience it.  If you are looking to book a 7+ night cruise, try a big box TA and get some really generous OBCs, especially if you are booking a suite.  

 

JMHO

Edited September 26, 2022 by Ret MP
Opps, I guess I broke a golden rule by mentioning, not as an advertising though, a TA

[3kidsncats]

I used to always book direct, but ended up finding an amazing TA, so pretty much book all of my cruises with her.  Land based stuff I still do on my own.

 

It’s not about perks so much (although there are some), it’s more about knowing she is there to handle any unforeseen issues like flight delays/cancellations, etc.  And she is just a sweet person that I enjoy interacting with.

[Ret MP]

5 minutes ago, 3kidsncats said:

I used to always book direct, but ended up finding an amazing TA, so pretty much book all of my cruises with her.  Land based stuff I still do on my own.

 

It’s not about perks so much (although there are some), it’s more about knowing she is there to handle any unforeseen issues like flight delays/cancellations, etc.  And she is just a sweet person that I enjoy interacting with.

I think you are the one that I asked for your TA's name and company.  You said that you weren't comfortable putting that in this site.  I now understand why.  On my reply above, I mentioned two big box TAs by name and one, not both, got ******'ed out.  So, I guess if you mention a company name, it is a big time no no in here.  

 

I wound up deleting both company's names just to be safe.

[Btank]

I used to book direct, but then a childhood friend became a TA for a smaller agency.  I get only a few perks compared to the big box TAs, but it's nice to not have to worry about pricing / etc.  Not to mention the fact that I feel good about supporting her.

 

      --bruce T.

 

[Tonysplus2]

I saved over $300 using TA and got perks cruise agent could not match

[Big_G]

We do both. It depends on what the TA is offering.

[binro01]

The big trick is finding a good TA who is a professional. One who will listen to your needs and do the legwork.

 

They are with their weight in gold. But they are hard to find. When you do find one, they will keep you happy.

[3kidsncats]

4 hours ago, Ret MP said:

I think you are the one that I asked for your TA's name and company.  You said that you weren't comfortable putting that in this site.  I now understand why.  On my reply above, I mentioned two big box TAs by name and one, not both, got ******'ed out.  So, I guess if you mention a company name, it is a big time no no in here.  

 

I wound up deleting both company's names just to be safe.

I don’t recall that, but I know CC doesn’t allow recommendations of TAs.  I assume because they sell or have some connection to sales of cruises and don’t want the competition.  And they don’t have pm functionality here either.  It’s a great forum, but the prohibitions on some info and just general over moderation of some content, and often disregard of the bullying is not appealing, imo.  And probably why a fair number of cruisers are not joining roll calls here anymore, and have moved to other platforms.  There is no roll call for my upcoming cruise in a month — never seen that before.

[lcpagejr]

Now a days pricing is pretty even.... However many more perks (OBC, gratuitities paid, etc) working through a Internet agency 

[Hammer61]

Swings and roundabouts in my experience! You may get a cheaper price and more perks booking with a TA but that often comes with fees if you want to change the booking, especially the low cost online agents, the shop front agents if you have good relationship and regular business are more accommodating but prices wont be as low (initially) as the online agents.

 

Book with RCI (or most cruise company’s) and you can usually call up if they drop the fare and they match the new fare, with a TA it may not be that simple, either a fee to change the booking or you must cancel and re book which will also incur a fee or loss of deposit. More recently with prices changing so frequently I book direct, may pay a bit more initially but with the last booking we made the price has dropped 3 times in the last 6 months and it’s been a quick phone call to change to the new promotion, had we used a TA then we would be well out of pocket especially when fees are taken into account.

 

My experience is in Australia though, maybe pricing is more stable in the US/Canada? RCI seem to have a special deal every week!!!! Agents likewise, one week it may be high OBC, the next a price drop, reduced deposits, specialty dinning or combination of all!!!!

Edited September 27, 2022 by Hammer61

[Stealthdog]

We always booked through a TA for 2 important reasons:

 

1) we get additional goodies from the TA in addition to whatever promotions the cruise has.  Sometimes its a bottle of wine, chocolate strawberries, additional OBC.  

 

2) If we encounter any problems or issues with the cruise, the TA deals with it.  Sometimes its hours of calls with the cruise line to address or fix things.  I'm happy with the TA getting his/her commission (the cruise price is still the same whether you book through a TA or direct), knowing that he/she spends the hours on hold or talking to customer service to resolve any issues we may have.  

 

[brillohead]

My TA is affiliated with a large organization, and he's had group rates available on probably 90% of the cruises I wanted to book.  

I only book cheap inside rooms (unless my CAS balcony discount makesa Central Park balcony cheaper), and my TA probably saves me $50-$150 on every weeklong cruise, between lower rates and/or OBC.  If I were booking more expensive rooms, the savings would be even more pronounced.  

Fifty bucks might not sound like much of a savings, but I booked four months' worth of cruises for 2022 -- it really adds up!

[retired dude]

5 hours ago, brillohead said:

My TA is affiliated with a large organization, and he's had group rates available on probably 90% of the cruises I wanted to book.  

I only book cheap inside rooms (unless my CAS balcony discount makesa Central Park balcony cheaper), and my TA probably saves me $50-$150 on every weeklong cruise, between lower rates and/or OBC.  If I were booking more expensive rooms, the savings would be even more pronounced.  

Fifty bucks might not sound like much of a savings, but I booked four months' worth of cruises for 2022 -- it really adds up!

good am: i have a favor to ask.. We are on the 10-15-22 sailing on the explorer and i was hoping that you could check with the pool band and see if it is still the great band from jamaica that was on this ship this spring..There are four in the band, singer, piano, guitar and drums and they are the best we have seen in 30 years of cruising. If it is the same band could you let me know here on CC...I only ask because i see that you are doing multiple back to backs on the ship before we board. thanks much 

[flamingos]

14 hours ago, 3kidsncats said:

I used to always book direct, but ended up finding an amazing TA, so pretty much book all of my cruises with her.  Land based stuff I still do on my own.

 

It’s not about perks so much (although there are some), it’s more about knowing she is there to handle any unforeseen issues like flight delays/cancellations, etc.  And she is just a sweet person that I enjoy interacting with.

 

Exactly my situation.  But the OBC we get is nice as well. 🙂

[Tulsacoker]

 One more way to consider is direct on board with Next Cruise. You get OBC like a TA will give 

[TwoWestAussies]

7 hours ago, Hammer61 said:

Swings and roundabouts in my experience! You may get a cheaper price and more perks booking with a TA but that often comes with fees if you want to change the booking, especially the low cost online agents, the shop front agents if you have good relationship and regular business are more accommodating but prices wont be as low (initially) as the online agents.

 

Book with RCI (or most cruise company’s) and you can usually call up if they drop the fare and they match the new fare, with a TA it may not be that simple, either a fee to change the booking or you must cancel and re book which will also incur a fee or loss of deposit. More recently with prices changing so frequently I book direct, may pay a bit more initially but with the last booking we made the price has dropped 3 times in the last 6 months and it’s been a quick phone call to change to the new promotion, had we used a TA then we would be well out of pocket especially when fees are taken into account.

 

My experience is in Australia though, maybe pricing is more stable in the US/Canada? RCI seem to have a special deal every week!!!! Agents likewise, one week it may be high OBC, the next a price drop, reduced deposits, specialty dinning or combination of all!!!!

It appears that TA's in the US are different to here in Australia, I have spoken to a few so called Cruise Specialists here in Perth, I knew more than a couple of them, they either quoted the same or actually higher than I was able to get booking direct with RCL.  When asked if the price of the cruise drops after booking; will they be able to get the lower price for me, I was told point blank by a couple that RCL no longer does that and it cannot be done - this is false.

Also, as you said, our TA's here charge a couple of hundred for even the slightest change - so even if you did make a small saving on the initial booking - this will be quickly eaten up should you make any changes or you miss out on any credits should the price drop.

[crazyfrazee]

10 hours ago, 3kidsncats said:

I don’t recall that, but I know CC doesn’t allow recommendations of TAs.  I assume because they sell or have some connection to sales of cruises and don’t want the competition.  And they don’t have pm functionality here either.  It’s a great forum, but the prohibitions on some info and just general over moderation of some content, and often disregard of the bullying is not appealing, imo.  And probably why a fair number of cruisers are not joining roll calls here anymore, and have moved to other platforms.  There is no roll call for my upcoming cruise in a month — never seen that before.

I think they still have PM but it may be monitored like Facebooks. I think a PM should be a PM!

[Stealthdog]

39 minutes ago, Tulsacoker said:

 One more way to consider is direct on board with Next Cruise. You get OBC like a TA will give 

 

When you book onboard, your TA is also added to your booking, so you get rates/promotions their company has running at that time as well.  So you get OBC for next cruise + TA perks.  Its awesome, especially if you already planned a future cruise.  😀

[brillohead]

17 minutes ago, crazyfrazee said:

I think they still have PM but it may be monitored like Facebooks. I think a PM should be a PM!

This site does not allow PMing people.

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, retired dude said:

good am: i have a favor to ask.. We are on the 10-15-22 sailing on the explorer and i was hoping that you could check with the pool band and see if it is still the great band from jamaica that was on this ship this spring..There are four in the band, singer, piano, guitar and drums and they are the best we have seen in 30 years of cruising. If it is the same band could you let me know here on CC...I only ask because i see that you are doing multiple back to backs on the ship before we board. thanks much 

I will attempt to find out -- if you don't hear from me, please remind me by posting in our Roll Call thread!

[Stealthdog]

25 minutes ago, TwoWestAussies said:

 When asked if the price of the cruise drops after booking; will they be able to get the lower price for me, I was told point blank by a couple that RCL no longer does that and it cannot be done - this is false.

 

In the US it appears they did change the policy of getting OBC if the price drops after final payment.  Now it seems they only offer upgrades if the price of a higher category is the same as what you paid (per my TA and his attempt to get me OBC with price drop after final payment).

[time4u2go]

Travel agent.  They give you stuff.