This has probably been done to death, and I know there's no "right" answer, just what's right for an individual person... but for those of you who work with a PCC, or tried it but maybe went back to doing your own thing, I'd be grateful for your input.
I've never worked with a travel agent and always booked everything direct - I don't mind getting into the details of things, and too much handholding from someone else makes me nervous (I suppose I have control issues š
). I'm nowhere near retirement age but now I'm in a position to start cruising more over the next few years, so I figured that now might be a good time to establish a relationship with a PCC... if I'd be booking direct anyway, I'm assuming the cost would be the same but the PCC will get a commission out of it.
Since I'm eyeing the promo that ends today I was also checking the options on a certain west-coast-warehouse-club TA, but I called the PCC I've been receiving emails from (we haven't actually worked together yet) and left them a voice mail, and they returned my voice mail maybe 20 minutes later! I'm pleasantly surprised, they offered to extend the promo an extra day in case we couldn't connect right away, etc.
I'm realistic about the fact that any PCC is an agent of the company and not an advocate on my behalf the way an outside TA would be, etc. but since I would probably just be booking direct anyway I don't feel like I'm losing any TA-style advantage or service I would be getting otherwise.
Anything huge I'm overlooking? Things I can ask them for/about that I wouldn't know otherwise?