Purchasing a cruise
 

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.

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.

Get a travel agent!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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