Purchasing a cruise

[BuddaDude]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

[JRcorvette]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

Talk to Lori Rieser to book your cruise. She is a Villager. Lori.rieser@cruiseplanners.com

She will do you right.

[firefighter4u]

I've purchased from both. A vacation planner may be able to offer you more on board credit, or a bottle of wine. If you are new to cruising, I'd go with a vacation planner - they can help with things you may not realize or know, and, it doesn't cost you more. I use Expedia cruises, which I believe there is an office here somewhere in The Villages.

[2newyorkers]

Get a travel agent!

[Lottoguy]

We have booked many cruises thru the web site vacationstogo.com

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

For the first time, use a travel agent. After you have experience and if you like it, go back and look at the cruise lines web sites and travel aggregator web sites, and see prices differences / options. . also figure out if you like just being away on a ship, or going ashore to visit foreign locations. We pick cruises for the shore excursions, less about the ship or ship activities. .

Given our traveling experiences, independently we have been to all continents except Antartica, we seldom use agents unless they can get us into places we want to go that are very hard to get by ourselves.

[rjm1cc]

I use AAA. But I pick my own cruise (only because I have done this for years) and then tell the agent. They give me a free dinner. Also if I had a problem I would ask the agent to help resolve. I would lean toward a local agent you can sit down with. Also make sure you understand the tipping, port charges and other charges.

[Kenswing]

We book through Costco. They kick back roughly half of their commission in the form of a Costco Shopping card. You can also purchase travel insurance through them which is generally more comprehensive and more affordable than what the cruise line offers. I call them instead of doing it online. That way I'm able to tell them what stateroom I want and they can check on other discounts while I'm on the phone with them.

[spk7951]

Use a travel agent. You may get a specialty dinner or onboard credit plus any issues the agent can deal with as your representative.

Also, buy travel insurance but not through the cruise line. Allianz Travel is a good one to use.

[gatorbill1]

Use Pavlus Travel online or call them and get money back when they book your cruise. Same price as direct with cruise, but they give you money back.

[dtennent]

For a first time cruiser, I would suggest using a local agent. They can give you a lot of info that is gained through experience. Our one experience with AAA was not great. We now book directly through the cruise lines.

While excursions through the cruise line are more expensive, if anything happens during the excursion, the cruise line will take care of you. As you gain experience, you can consider local operators.

At our age, travel insurance is a good idea. I like Allianz. Make sure that you get plenty of medical and medical evacuation insurance.

Hope you have a great cruise!

[ThirdOfFive]

We deal directly with the cruise line. It is pretty stress-free and the people we talk to are extremely knowledgeable. Sometimes questions come up that I don't know if an agent could answer; dining times, views from the various cabins and the like--things you'd like to know before you actually board the ship.

[Arctic Fox]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

CruiseCompete.com

Enter your cruise details and you will get a number of quotes from cruise agencies - the prices they quote are inclusive of all taxes etc.

You may find a lower price elsewhere (we never have) but at least this gives you a low price already when comparing other sellers.

[Kelevision]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

You know the cruise you want, check the price online… you can get all the way to checkout to see the total with taxes and port fees before purchasing, then call an agent and see what they can offer you for that exact cruise. Chose whichever is the best deal. If the travel agent can get you the exact same deal, go with the agent just to be safe. But I cruise often and mostly just book online when it’s a good deal. The more you cruise, the better offers you’ll get from the cruise line. I use an agent who works for one particular cruise line because she always sends me the best deals.

[biker1]

Use a travel agent, you will get a better deal. We use cruisesonly.

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We've done both. One time, extended family were all going together and one of them hooked us up with their agent. We used their agent. It was a good enough deal, but we found out after the fact that we could've gotten more on-board credit, and rewards through direct sign-up with the cruiseline. Turned out the family member who recommended their agent was getting a free room as a result of us all linking our reservations to "her" ticket. The least she could've done was paid for the water package and hooked us all up with free drinking water, eh?

We've mostly booked our own without an agent, directly through the cruise line. It's less stressful.

[dewilson58]

Use a travel agent, you will get a better deal.

MAYBE.

Like Kelevision stated: You know the cruise you want, check the price online… you can get all the way to checkout to see the total with taxes and port fees before purchasing, then call an agent and see what they can offer you for that exact cruise. Chose whichever is the best deal.

[blueash]

Cruisecompete.com has been mentioned and I second that suggestion. Not only are the cruise costs almost always lower, they often throw in on board credits as well. The beauty is you get multiple offers on exactly what you want (you enter the cruise date/ship and the room type eg inside, balcony etc) and within 1 to 2 days have several offers from major cruise agencies. You are NOT required to accept any of the offers so this is not anything other than a way to find the lowest number from your keyboard.

[biker1]

Travel agents will give you an equal or better price than the cruise line website plus extras. However, there a few smaller cruise lines that don’t really play well with travel agents and you are better off, IMO, contacting them directly. Grand Circle and Starclipper come to mind. The more popular cruise lines, such as Celebrity and Azamara, are better booked through a travel agent.

MAYBE.

Like Kelevision stated: You know the cruise you want, check the price online… you can get all the way to checkout to see the total with taxes and port fees before purchasing, then call an agent and see what they can offer you for that exact cruise. Chose whichever is the best deal.

[npwalters]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

I agree with most about using a travel agent if you are not sure what to expect. There is some upside to using an agent. The downside is that if you have a problem or want to change something you cannot do it directly with the cruise line. You have to go back to your TA. That includes air reservations if you book air through the agent.

[TJ SoBos]

Being new to cruising, you may want to visit a site that has a ton of information, and forums. Go to cruisecritic.com , and click on the "Community" tab. Have fun!

[JC and John]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!
Agree with other posters to go with a travel agent being that you are a novice cruiser. They are very knowledgeable and can give you insight on transportation, room choices, dining as well as shore excursions, all valuable information. We have always been happy with AAA and Ocala Travel. Have a fabulous cruise!

[wanttoknow]

we always use bestpricecruises.com

[ColtsFan]

We also use an agent with the cruise line. We usually go on the same cruise line, so we go back to the same cruise agent every time.
Now he knows us so well. He gave us his own personal company phone number so we can go directly to him. He sends us emails and also looks for the best deals.

[Remembergoldenrule]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

If you belong to Costco, check their prices. They also give you shop cards back.

[shueburruss]

I have booked both ways and prefer direct with the cruise line. Every cruise line has cruise agents that can help with your booking.
Booking with the cruise line allows you to contact the line directly with any questions or concerns. If you book with a travel agent, that company "owns" your booking and all correspondence has to go through that agent.

[Shelbyh]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!
As an experienced cruiser (over 30), I have only booked directly through the cruise line. It has worked out well that way for me.

[JakeW]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

We use CruCon, last 10 cruises we received 10% of the cruise cost back in On Board Credits. We have used CruCon for fifteen years and 45 cruises. You can find them on line.

[JimmyDebbie]

I have booked some cruises online in the past with Cruises Only (online) and found some good deals. In the past few years though, I have used a local travel agency here in The Villages. Janet Parks with Dream Team Vacations is excellent at what she does. She and her team also managed a large group cruise we were on last year. She is organized, friendly and knows what she is doing. Give her a call at 352-640-9455.

[kkingston57]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

Cruise 1-2X a year and very difficult to answer your ? All agents/cruiselines/websites offer different choices and the headline price does not include add on like tips, port charges, Internet, drink packages etc, If you like a particular cruise line, you can get your own agent that represents them and they can help a lot. Good luck

[midiwiz]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

no actual advantage to using an agency or planner. you'll get the same if you just use the cruiseline. Some people say use expedia, vacationstogo, etc. What they don't ever see is some of these places actually cost more than just going through the cruiseline. After being a road warrior for 26 years I learned that in a comparison you can't beat going direct to the source.

[jjombrello]

We have used Ocala Travel for several cruises. Always had good results. They have an office in The Villages and are very friendly and helpful. Make sure to buy the travel insurance with any cruise. We have used Allianz. On one cruise our travelling companion had an issue and had to go to a hospital in Puerto Rico and then catch up with the cruise and on another, some travelling companions had a medical issue and could not make the cruise and lost all because they did not have insurance.

[Arctic Fox]

Just as an example of why to use CruiseCompete.com , I received the following quotes (net of benefits) over the weekend for a cruise:

$3,738 $3,626 $3,597 $3,378 $3,073 from five well-known cruise travel agencies

For those who don't quote on CC - Vacations-to-Go is quoting $3,852 and Yankee Trails $4,238

Cruise line direct: $4,520

[lawgolfer]

I'm a novice when it comes to cruise shop vacations. I've found the cruise I want to go on and am ready to purchase it. What's the recommended method to purchase a cruise? The cruise line direct or via a travel agency? If an agency, any recommendations? Thanks!

Are you taking a short cruise out of Port Canaveral or Ft. Lauderdale? If so, you can do it yourself. Look up the cruise on Vacations to Go and get all the particulars. Look up the ship on the line's website and have your computer on when you call so you can discuss your options when choosing a stateroom. Either book through VTG or call the cruise line directly.

If you are cruising overseas, use an agent--and an experienced one. The agent will coordinate air flights, hotels, excursions, and transportation. We have used one agent for more than 30 years for, probably, 40 cruises. He knows the cruise lines, their ships, and the hotels in the cities where the cruise begins and ends.

After several years of using the cruise line's transport between the airport or hotel and the ship, the agent convinced us to use a private car and driver and to do the same for shore excursions in the ports. There is little, if any additional cost and the difference in quality, particularly on the shore excursions, is dramatic. Instead of being on a bus with 50 passengers and waiting for the required restroom stop or to visit the driver's cousin's rug shop, we are whisked, in a late-model car, from the ship to the attraction and back. In certain places, Istanbul being one, if you have a private car, driver, and guide, you go to the front of the line. For attractions such as the Blue Mosque or the "James Bond" underground reservoir "From Russia With Love", that line can stretch for two blocks or more.

One of the dirty, little, secrets about cruising is that the cruise lines make a significant amount of their money from selling shore excursions. For two people, the additional cost for a private car and driver/guide is minimal. If you are with another couple or your family, you will save money with a private car and driver/guide. In either case, you will avoid wasting time getting on/off the bus, at a restroom stop, or at the driver's cousin's rug shop, and will get to see what you want to see.

[dkaufnelson]

I've taken 27 cruises and find VacatiionsToGo.com website to be the easiest way to search for and compare cruises. When you go there for 1st time, be sure to open free account with them and check off all the possible discounts you may be entitled to, When you click on any cruise, it will then give you the cheapest price for every category based upon the possible discounts you can get. You can then book through them quickly and they will always keep your discounts listed under your account. You may get discounts for Fl. resident, over age 55, retired/active military, airline employees active/retired, police, firefighters, teachers etc. After they give you rates, be sure to click on cruise line websites, to see if they're offering any special deals. VacationsToGo website includes all taxes in their online rate quotes. Cruise line websites don't easily reveal taxes until after you pretend to book and choose everything, then they tell you all the additional taxes at the end. Some cruise lines will have tiny print showing taxes under the starting prices they quote, but you really don't get full price until you pretend to book online and see what final price is. Then you can cancel or go ahead and book. Another thing you can look into is that many cruise lines now offer their own Visa cards that come with a deal that gives you about $300 credit toward their cruises. Highly recommend you check out ships, cruise info etc found on Cruise Critic.com. It's a great reference site for all things about cruises!

[Ecuadog]

I've taken 27 cruises and find VacatiionsToGo.com website to be the easiest way to search for and compare cruises. When you go there for 1st time, be sure to open free account with them and check off all the possible discounts you may be entitled to, When you click on any cruise, it will then give you the cheapest price for every category based upon the possible discounts you can get. You can then book through them quickly and they will always keep your discounts listed under your account. You may get discounts for Fl. resident, over age 55, retired/active military, airline employees active/retired, police, firefighters, teachers etc. After they give you rates, be sure to click on cruise line websites, to see if they're offering any special deals. VacationsToGo website includes all taxes in their online rate quotes. Cruise line websites don't easily reveal taxes until after you pretend to book and choose everything, then they tell you all the additional taxes at the end. Some cruise lines will have tiny print showing taxes under the starting prices they quote, but you really don't get full price until you pretend to book online and see what final price is. Then you can cancel or go ahead and book. Another thing you can look into is that many cruise lines now offer their own Visa cards that come with a deal that gives you about $300 credit toward their cruises. Highly recommend you check out ships, cruise info etc found on Cruise Critic.com. It's a great reference site for all things about cruises!

Bingo. I also use VacationsToGo.com. Their tool for searching for cruises is excellent, even if you decide to go elsewhere to to buy your ticket. Take the time to learn how to use it. Fill out the profile. When I look at a particular cruise, I also see if a discount of mine will give me a better price. I qualify for FL resident, over age 55, veteran and retired airline employee (my wife qualifies us for an "interline" discount) discounts.

[Arctic Fox]

I agree that Vacations to Go is an excellent source of information when researching cruises and ships, but it does have some quirks of which you need to be aware.

For example, if you call up 16985 you'll see the balcony price is $2,050 so you'd pay them $4,100 in total for two people sharing that room.

Click on Singles and you'll see that one person would have to pay them more - $4,328. For some reason, the "per person double occupancy" price has jumped from $2,050 to $2,239 just because you clicked on Singles. So they can claim that the Singles price of $4,328 is 93% of the "new" double occupancy total price of $4,478.

I have pointed this website glitch to them several times over the years and never had an acknowledgment that it exists, or that they intend to fix it.

Regardless, use VTG to get the information but go to CruiseCompete for the best pricing.

[Salty Dog]

Travel Insurance, don't leave home without it. If at all possible, don't use the insurance provided by the cruise line. If you don't care about recouping the cost of the cruise, the medical coverages are very reasonable. Make sure the coverage is primary payer.