Knowing you are using the right travel agent

[loulani]

I can book a cruise on RSSC with this one particular travel agent and save approximately $1000 per person. However, sometimes I feel I am "annoying" him because I have so many questions. How important is the TA after you put down your deposit? What I mean is once a certain cabin is secured, I don't know if there is much else for the TA to do. From reading other threads, I will be the one to fax RSSC with the excursions of our choice and making dinner reservations once on board. I will also be making my own plane reservations.

[sdf89]

I have yet to have a cruise in which I don't have an unanticipated issue or two come up necessitating the TA. I recently changed TA (before booking next cruise) since the relationship with TA is pretty important.

[maxiesmom]

I think it depends on how much you need your hand held. I'm a former travel agent and airline employee. I pretty much know what I'm doing and feel very comfortable handling my own arrangements. I save tons of money on cruises by booking with a large on-line agency after I have done my own research and know what I want. I've never had any important issues come up after booking but have been able to have any issues resolved using this agency and/or my own resources.

 

Judy

[Kathy Z]

Our first RSSC cruise was booked with a local TA who was a cruise specialist. Other than the early booking discount we had no price break and although my questions were handled with courtesy and as much information as she was able to obtain from RSSC, she did not have any extensive knowledge of RSSC to share with me.

 

Next month we go to French Polynesia to cruise on the Paul Gauguin. This time I booked with an on-line agent (although they do have an office one could walk into if you were in that city) who specializes in highly discounted prices only on RSSC. Her agency is a top producer for RSSC and keeps clients alerted to all specials on RSSC. She can answer any question about any of the ships, their itineraries, shore excursions and pre or post cruise hotels. When Radisson originally planned our air transportation with nearly impossible connections she got them to change the flights and overnight us in LA at their expense. She responds to e-mails almost instantly. I'll use her again for any other Radisson cruise! (Her partner also handles Silversea & Residensea.)