Cruising - Travel Agent, Internet or Cruise Line?
 

Several folks on this forum have recommended using internet websites (Vacations-To-Go, Cruise Critic, etc.) while others have recommended using a travel agent. Recently, since I had several ship specific questions, I decided to call the cruise line direct (Holland America) and got all my questions answered and found the prices to be no higher than online and they offered the total package including cruise fare, insurance and home city coach service ... I am wondering why not deal directly with the cruise line? What am I missing?

It really depends upon your level of experience in cruising and how to make a reservation. The Big and best advantage of dealing with a Travel agent is 1) Some of the larger agencies do offer discount prices that are even advertised on the web.....and this is even for cruises such as Celebrity, RCL Carnival, Princess etc that require the smaller agencies to offer a price no different that what one could get from the cruise agency itself.

2) If you know what you are doing, dealing with the right agency, and even if the price is the same or comparable to what the cruise line is offering, A goood agency will provide you On-Board Credits (OBC) which are the same as cash to use as you please while on board, or offer you dinner for 2 in a speaciality resturant or pay your gratituties. THis is the real difference in booking with a TA. On our last 15 night cruise we had a $450 cabin OBC provided to us plus dinner in a speciality resturant. Cruise lines will not offer this AND even if they do, cruise line OBCs are very restrictive in that they cannot be combined with most other offers.

3) If something goes wrong wile on the cruise hopefully the cruise line will assit you, but by having a TA, they can always a back stop and be another person to assist you.

We've gone directly to cruise lines as well as using travel agents.

Reasons for using travel agents:

1. Going with a group and arrangements were set, just needed to reserve our stateroom.
2. Travel agents throwing in some benefit - they pay gratuities, on board ship credit, welcome aboard gift, etc.

Reason for going direct:

1. Sometimes better selection of staterooms.
2. You can go direct to the company if there is a problem.
3. With some cruise lines there is more information available to you on their website if you book direct which makes it easy to book specialty dining, tours, etc.

No matter who you deal with, ask for the extras, asking is free and you may get something.

We leave on a cruise next week, booked this one direct. Still looking for the upgrade but the ship looks to be full.

This reminded me of another experience we had. Were going on a cruise with friends and booked through a travel agent. Our friends had to cancel - luckily they had insurance. They needed documentation to make a claim. The travel agent said you need to get it from the cruise line. The cruise line said because they booked through the TA they had to go through them. Became a hassle. The TA should be helping whether you are booking, changing plans, canceling, whatever.

travel agent, hands down
 

always use a travel agent. you will have a recurring partner who can help every step of the way. they can make recommendations on excursions, what to do in the ports, what to do on the ships. they work for you! i know of many travellers who got conflicting information from on-line agencies and the cruise lines.....the TA is your partner.
:wave:

Be sure to purchase insurance. We've had to cancel and were promptly reimbursed. It's a good thing!:wave:

:agree: with travelguy.

Maybe because I spent almost 20 years being a travel agent.

But, I like that my agent always sends me a wine package on board, so that I seldom have to run up a huge (or, shall we say, "a bigger than usual") barbill for the cruise! :wine:

It's true today that folks who have some computer savvy can find good deals for cruising, or for shore excursions, etc. But, it generally will pay to have an "expert" do stuff for you! As with anything else, pay 'ttention to the details and don't be snookered by some smooth-talking scammer!

SWR
:beer3:

We often book through the cruise line, then transfer the booking to a travel agent to get the on board credits. Wish I could say how it works, but my wife makes the arrangements.

We always use a TA. She knows our likes and dislikes and we just call her up or email her and she does the rest. Plus, as mentioned previously, the little perks like ship credit, or a bottle of wine, or a specialty meal, are just little bennies that you don't get with going direct.

I have booked directly (Holland America) and through several travel agents. My preference is to book directly, but I think you might be able to find better deals with a good travel agent. Primarily when the TA gives you some on board credits. Unfortunately finding a good TA has been a problem and I find that I can do a better job of putting the trip together than working with an agent.