Travel agents???

[Heartnsoul]

I walked into Ocala travel this morning looking for an (expensive) cruise. Told the woman what we were looking for. She pullled up cruise line and quoted me "exact price" that is listed on the cruise site itself?? Is this normal for a travel agent? I thought they gave you good deals or tried to??
She asked me what my email was, told me she would email me info, I walked out with really no info, no brochures, nothing?? Was sort of put off?? Am I missing something? Is this normally how you are treated??

[stuckinparadise]

Basicly your travel agent is only doing the "legwork" for you. You can get the exact prices for cruises or any travel package off its websites. The travel agent should have given you a brochure though. You can also order a brochure from most online sites. We ordered several brochures from Crystal and Regency Seven Seas cruiselines. Good Luck

[Heartnsoul]

so basically if you can sit at puter yourself and get same exact price, Why would I need a travel agent?? just wondering??

[stuckinparadise]

You really don't need a travel agent. We just use one because it saves us time and she gets everything together for us in one neat package, plus I like our travel agent and want her to stay in business.

[Heartnsoul]

You really don't need a travel agent. We just use one because it saves us time and she gets everything together for us in one neat package, plus I like our travel agent and want her to stay in business.

Wow I have heard from so many OH MY TRAVEL AGENT got me such a good deal?? I guess NOT?? if you can book on line for SAME PRICE?? i THOUGHT I was missing something?

[swrinfla]

As someone who spent nearly 20 years as a travel agent (admittedly now more than 10 years ago), I feel that I must justify a travel agent's existence.

The good ones (those who've been around several years) know not only how to find the best deals with the cruise line, but also what to tell you about the cruise line, the ports you might call at, how to best get from your home to the ship; indeed, innumerable things you might either not know or might foul up booking yourself!

Today, I usually do my own research on line (after 23 cruises, I know pretty well what I want), but almost always I assign the booking to a gal with whom I worked years ago. I know that she'll get me the best deal. I know that she knows what I'll accept and what I won't.

And, I know that I can count on her to spend part of her commission on wines for me to enjoy aboard!

My bottom line advice: Do Not Assume that what you can find on line will necessarily be the best for you. A travel agent can offer you security, good advice, sound hints and a peace of mind!

And, except in very exceptional cases, the monies they make from your booking do not come from you, but rather from the cruise line, tour operator, or whomever they're dealing with.

SWR
:beer3:

[cab1948]

I've used cruisecompete.com. You simply log in and post the cruise your interested in, and different agents respond to you with their best offers. You have to create a username and password so that they contact you thru this website not your personal one.

[Heartnsoul]

As someone who spent nearly 20 years as a travel agent (admittedly now more than 10 years ago), I feel that I must justify a travel agent's existence.

The good ones (those who've been around several years) know not only how to find the best deals with the cruise line, but also what to tell you about the cruise line, the ports you might call at, how to best get from your home to the ship; indeed, innumerable things you might either not know or might foul up booking yourself!

Today, I usually do my own research on line (after 23 cruises, I know pretty well what I want), but almost always I assign the booking to a gal with whom I worked years ago. I know that she'll get me the best deal. I know that she knows what I'll accept and what I won't.

And, I know that I can count on her to spend part of her commission on wines for me to enjoy aboard!

My bottom line advice: Do Not Assume that what you can find on line will necessarily be the best for you. A travel agent can offer you security, good advice, sound hints and a peace of mind!

And, except in very exceptional cases, the monies they make from your booking do not come from you, but rather from the cruise line, tour operator, or whomever they're dealing with.

SWR
:beer3:
The travel agent I used today didn't offer me advice. she didn't even give me a brochure?? Not sure I felt like she wanted to help.

[SusanOfWoodbury]

I walked into Ocala travel this morning looking for an (expensive) cruise. Told the woman what we were looking for. She pullled up cruise line and quoted me "exact price" that is listed on the cruise site itself?? Is this normal for a travel agent? I thought they gave you good deals or tried to??
She asked me what my email was, told me she would email me info, I walked out with really no info, no brochures, nothing?? Was sort of put off?? Am I missing something? Is this normally how you are treated??

Go to AAA, Triple AAA in the Villages, there is one off Rt 441 near Kentucky Fried Chicken..https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/images/smilies/spoken.gif

[asianthree]

if you have never been on a ship then a travel agent can book you a room on the best level with their knowledge..after a few times booking on your own it the way to go

[red tail]

one of the 'bennies' of being a travel agent is the many 'fams' that the air carrier and cruise lines offer the agents. it gives them the experience of actually taking the things they sell. that makes them able to give you their experiences on the products they sell. so if you use a travel agent you get that knowledge free of charge! also any profits are paid by the air carrier and/or the cruise line not you.

[Heartnsoul]

some have suggested I go directly through the cruise line so I think I'll give that a try. Any thoughts on that??

[JE Greenwood]

The travel agent I used today didn't offer me advice. she didn't even give me a brochure?? Not sure I felt like she wanted to help.

That's a shame that she treated you so poorly!

To answer your question...most cruise companies have an agreement that a travel agent must charge the same price they offer so they will never undersell an agent and the agent cannot undersell the cruise line. BUT the savings come in to play when the travel agent offers you upgrades such as wine in your stateroom and perks like onboard credit (Can be used anywhere on the ship).

I always offer my clients both wine in the stateroom and onboard credit. The onboard credit varies depending on the cruise.

This travel agent really did not do a good job to offer you any services!

I hope you enjoy your cruise!

[betsiemike]

I agree, I experienced the same thing after we booked a cruise. Basically we did everything ourselves (printed luggage tags, ticket, etc) I was not impressed & I would no use them again for anything.

[duffysmom]

We frequently sail a transatlantic each year for approximately 15 days. We do not cruise the Caribbean. We always book with CruCon.com, they have the same price as the cruise line but they give perks that can be generous. Currently we booked a Pacific cruise to Hawaii for 15 days and we received $200 on board credit, a dinner in a specialty restaurant (approx $50 value) and a spa treatment which is usally (for me) a facial worth approx $75.00. We have a balcony cabin priced at $l,500.00 pp. You should always get insurance and you have to factor in air fare. Usually you will get a decent airfare from the cruise line's Air program. As been mentioned on these boards many times, sign up on Cruisecritic.com, find the cruise line you're interested in and you will find tons of information. You can also ask questions as well. Happy Sailing...

[chachacha]

i always refer friends to Theresa Odom at Expedia Cruise Ship Centers in their new builging along side walmart off of 466 (the street past walmart going toward 301) she has helped me a lot planning a family trip to italy. please tell her dianne sent you :)

[travelguy]

a travel agent should offer you a lot of information and will always be there to 'hold your hand' if that is what you need. cruise pricing from travel agents is identical to what is offered directly from the cruise lines which is also identical to any/all on-line agencies. what you get from a travel agent is knowledge, suggestions, reminders of what you need to do to have a successful cruise, information on ports, and much much more. i heard of a tale that an on-line agent told the client that they needed a visa to get off at a particular port. the client told them that they would take care of it themselves, and when they got to the port, they showed the officials their visa card, along with their mastercard and american express. needless to say they were denied entry to the port......a travel agent would have insisted on taking care of the correct VISA for the client.
as far as getting brochures from travel agents, most mainstream cruiselines have discontinued printing brochures.....the agent should have told you that.
as a home based outside sales travel agent I provide services that you would never get from booking directly with a cruise line or with an on-line agency. remember, you will never or rarely get to speak to the same person twice. and that is a problem.