[Gator Fan]

I normally book my cruises online directly through the cruise line or use one of the many other sites. This time, I want to book through a cruise consultant that works directly for Royal Caribbean. Does anyone have a particular consultant they would highly recommend? Thanks.

[Mimivillager]

We use our AAA agent. She does a great job for us. We are with her for 40 years+ and have been on 27 cruises.

[Debfrommaine]

Originally Posted by Mimivillager

We use our AAA agent. She does a great job for us. We are with her for 40 years+ and have been on 27 cruises.

Do you want to share her name and which location she is at?

[ladylake1]

AAA Spanish Springs Deby Sobiewski Have been using her for many years. Multiple cruises on RC.

[Madelaine Amee]

Definitely use AAA, either SS or SL.

A couple of years ago we were booked on a Maiden Voyage transatlantic Cruise through AAA. Two weeks before we sailed we had a call from the Cruise Line itself telling us that we were being relocated on the ship because they needed our cabin. We contacted our agent, told him that unless we were left in the original cabin on the original deck we were canceling everything. He fought it out for us and we did indeed get our original booking. When we got on the ship we heard horror stories about people making their own bookings and being bumped by premier passengers who were further up the food chain than us!

I know there are thousands of people who do their own bookings, but for us it is AAA all the way. They are so big and they have so much pull with the cruise lines.

[John_W]

I know when you take a AAA bus to a local event such as a baseball game you don't need to be a member. To use the travel service do you need to be a member?

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by John_W

I know when you take a AAA bus to a local event such as a baseball game you don't need to be a member. To use the travel service do you need to be a member?

You don't have to be a member booking cruises, etc.

[Bonny]

We have been on 60 plus cruises. Most were booked through the cruiselines.
We have used Debi S. at AAA before. The last one I booked I used CruCon. Got a better deal than I got from the cruiseline so I switched my booking over.
It pays to shop around and call a few people including the cruiseline. See who is offering what.

[Mleeja]

We had a group which recently booked a cruise directly with RCI. Our cruise coordinator is Honey (yes Honey) Alvarez. She has been very helpful with our groug, arranging rooms, getting us some "extras", arranging dinner seating, etc. Her direct contact information is Honey Alvarez 800-859-7225, Ext 13157, email Halvarez@rccl.com. Her working hours are from noon to 8:00 pm. I agree with Bonny about shopping around. One couple in our group transferred their booking to AAA and got a few more perks. We are not members of AAA, so we have just left our booking with RCI. If you would like more detailed information, send me a private message.

[Sparty6971]

We've been using Deby Sobiewski (Spanish Springs AAA) for many years for our cruises on RCI, Princess, Un-Cruise, and now Celebrity. Recommend her highly. Other agents are probably good as well (couldn't really tell you). But while checking around for deals is never to be scoffed at, there is also a thing called loyalty which can go a long way towards you getting great service.

[PennBF]

We have been on 15 or more Transatlantics, a number of other cruises including the South Pacific/Tahiti etc. We have found there are advantages and disadvantages between using the Cruise line or a Consultant. The cruise line typically discounts the price while the consultants provides more on board credits, etc. Also once you use a consultant the cruise line typically refers you to the consultant if you have a question or concern, etc. In a lot of cases it is hard to get the line back on the phone to discuss concerns, adjustments,etc. while with a consultant , if you have a good one they will call right back and are available on the weekend, etc. We have a great consultant who lives in Williamsport, Pa and is extremely good in maximizing on board credits, etc.etc. Also she always returns our call within an hour even on weekends. If we see something that would be good or change a cabin etc. she will fight for what we ask and she usually wins. Again, it appears there are advantages to using the Cruise line vs a Consultant and a Consultant vs Cruise line.