How to find a great travel agent?

I'm an American living abroad and I'd like to find a US-based TA to help me plan and book future cruises.

I've been booking our cruises online through discount sites, but I don't care for their level of service (or lack of) and I'd really like to find a reputable TA.

None of our friends are American and all of them live in Europe. I don't know anyone stateside who cruises that I ask for a recommendation.

I know we're not allowed to recommend agents on this site, but can anyone please tell me how to find a good agent other than by word of mouth?

I always book through US websites because I use USD to pay for the trips and don't like losing money on the transfer by paying in foreign currency. I have a US address I can book with if need be.

I'm an American living abroad and I'd like to find a US-based TA to help me plan and book future cruises.

 

 

 

I've been booking our cruises online through discount sites, but I don't care for their level of service (or lack of) and I'd really like to find a reputable TA.

 

 

 

None of our friends are American and all of them live in Europe. I don't know anyone stateside who cruises that I ask for a recommendation.

 

 

 

I know we're not allowed to recommend agents on this site, but can anyone please tell me how to find a good agent other than by word of mouth?

 

 

 

I always book through US websites because I use USD to pay for the trips and don't like losing money on the transfer by paying in foreign currency. I have a US address I can book with if need be.

You can start by doing a Google for "cruise specialists". Interview them. Have they won any awards (or are they on the recommended lists) from travel publications like Conde Nast Traveler (which does publish occasional "best of..." lists). Are they members of a preferred provider club for the specific line you are considering (e.g., Oceania's Connoisseurs Club). We've used one locally in Marin County (though we dealt with an agent in their main office up in Washington) for a particular group cruise. But, more recently, we use an Orlando based TA who is a top producer for our preferred line, Oceania.

You may also want to peruse the travel sections of the newspapers of larger cities (e.g., SF Chronicle, NYT) for cruise stories where particular TAs are often quoted for their expertise. Also, If your college alumni association does travel trips, see who they use for a "cruise specialist." Also, some cruise lines have a link on their web that will connect you to an agency with member TAs. But, do interview and compare your short list!

Note that some cruise lines pay better commissions than others (again, e.g., Oceania), which can translate to as much as 10%+/- OBC from the TA to you. And those commissions may be highest to their top producing TAs. Note as well that many of the better TAs won't normally do bookings for budget cruise lines like Carnival (unless it involves a group). So, try to find a top producer for the line(s) that interest you.

Beyond OBC (and ability to guide you through the cruise selection process in an unbiased fashion), a great value of a good TA is that, because they may do millions in business with a particular line, their concerns about problems you may experience will be addressed immediately by that cruise line.

And don't confuse a TA with some cruise lines' "Personal Cruise whatever" who is the line's employee and beholden to who pays their check.

In addition, a TA can help you determine the true "net daily rate" of your cruise vacation, which is a far better comparison tool than cabin cost. (For example, if you're looking at HAL or Celebrity for Alaska, you may want your TA to price Oceania's Regatta, which includes airfare, specialty restaurants, beverages and, if you book the right itinerary, some mix of tips/internet/excursions at no additional charge). Compare the bottom lines of ALL planned expenses minus OBC/credits/cash back/etc. - all figured as a net daily rate.

When you look at "net daily rate" instead of cabin cost, you'll find O to be in the same cost range as HAL or Celebrity but with far better food, a smaller passenger load (and better crew ratio), and far more restrictive smoking policies.

You can start by doing a Google for "cruise specialists". Interview them. Have they won any awards (or are they on the recommended lists) from travel publications like Conde Nast Traveler (which does publish occasional "best of..." lists). Are they members of a preferred provider club for the specific line you are considering (e.g., Oceania's Connoisseurs Club). We've used one locally in Marin County (though we dealt with an agent in their main office up in Washington) for a particular group cruise. But, more recently, we use an Orlando based TA who is a top producer for our preferred line, Oceania.

 

You may also want to peruse the travel sections of the newspapers of larger cities (e.g., SF Chronicle, NYT) for cruise stories where particular TAs are often quoted for their expertise. Also, If your college alumni association does travel trips, see who they use for a "cruise specialist." Also, some cruise lines have a link on their web that will connect you to an agency with member TAs. But, do interview and compare your short list!

 

Note that some cruise lines pay better commissions than others (again, e.g., Oceania), which can translate to as much as 10%+/- OBC from the TA to you. And those commissions may be highest to their top producing TAs. Note as well that many of the better TAs won't normally do bookings for budget cruise lines like Carnival (unless it involves a group). So, try to find a top producer for the line(s) that interest you.

 

Beyond OBC (and ability to guide you through the cruise selection process in an unbiased fashion), a great value of a good TA is that, because they may do millions in business with a particular line, their concerns about problems you may experience will be addressed immediately by that cruise line.

 

And don't confuse a TA with some cruise lines' "Personal Cruise whatever" who is the line's employee and beholden to who pays their check.

 

In addition, a TA can help you determine the true "net daily rate" of your cruise vacation, which is a far better comparison tool than cabin cost. (For example, if you're looking at HAL or Celebrity for Alaska, you may want your TA to price Oceania's Regatta, which includes airfare, specialty restaurants, beverages and, if you book the right itinerary, some mix of tips/internet/excursions at no additional charge). Compare the bottom lines of ALL planned expenses minus OBC/credits/cash back/etc. - all figured as a net daily rate.

 

When you look at "net daily rate" instead of cabin cost, you'll find O to be in the same cost range as HAL or Celebrity but with far better food, a smaller passenger load (and better crew ratio), and far more restrictive smoking policies.

Wow! Thank you for this. This is exactly the sort of info I needed, and you've confirmed that a good TA will bring to the process the value and expertise I'm looking for.