Inexperienced Traveler Asks: Why a Travel Agent?

[AlexDouglass]

Please pardon a question from a longtime traveler, but one relatively new to ocean travel (one cruise, this past fall, that opened our eyes to all we've been missing!).

 

The partner and I are thinking of adding a transatlantic to our summer trip (we're expats who take a long break annually, this year to see family back in the US). I've been looking at a specific Westbound trip on the QM2, and have noted that there is a considerable difference between the Cunard site's prices for the categories in which we're interested (B2 or AA, depending on how flush I feel in a given week!) and that of our credit card (platinum member). The credit card's travel program offers direct access to specific agents supposedly experienced in various kinds of travel, and I'm considering contacting him to see if he can engineer a price match to the Cunard site (so that I can take advantage of the card's benefits - points, on-board credit, supposedly priority boarding, etc.).

 

My question is, is that (i.e. the price match) likely? Or should I say, my questions are: is that likely? And if so, are there other things that I should expect to get from an experienced agent or that I should seek out (so that I sound, I suppose, more experienced than I am)?

 

In short, beyond the specific question of this card-related question, why a travel agent? What can they do for one that just booking online can't? Does one get better cabin location, likelier assignment of one's choice at dinner, etc.? My employment will be taking care of our flights, so I don't need any special help or breaks with that, but anything that can enhance our week asea would be a real bonus.

 

Thanks to all the veteran travelers here for your sage counsel!

[BlueRiband]

You'll find arguments for both here.

 

A travel agent can match the accommodation to your preference and budget. (For example, somebody unfaimiliar with the deck layout of the QM2 might not know that A4 balcony staterooms come with a lovely view of a bright orange lifeboat.) They can also make any air and ground connections as well as reserve your hotel room. They will have access to discounts and frequently offer on board credit. On the down side, until you board your travel agent "owns" the booking and all information and requests go through the agent.

 

Some prefer to book directly with Cunard. In that case the traveler is on their own to make sure that they have all of the boarding documentation - visas and the like. You're also on your own if you book your own incoming flight and it literally misses the boat.

 

If you chose a travel agent he/she should be somebody who reutinely books cruises. Your employer's agent, who might book only business flights, probably knows less then you do.

[eratog2]

I booked my cruise direct with Cunard, over the phone, and could not have got more assistance from any travel agent. I live in Cyprus and couldn't find a local travel agent who was a Cunard agent (since found out there is one), and, as I don't have a UK IP address, I couldn't book on the Cunard site - although I did hide my IP and check up on prices. When I came to book it online the UK website wouldn't accept my Cyprus address, so I ended up ringing Cunard. I got a far better price, with onboard credit, and the young man I dealt with was extremely knowledgeable and steered me towards a more suitable cabin (more midships for a transatlantic). I really couldn't have asked for more, and will definitely book direct again.

[Chunky2219]

I guess it varies from country to country, but from a UK perpsective I can tell you that we've always done rather better on price, and also had excellent service when we have used a cruise specialist who can also sort out flights. This has been for every cruise line we've ever sailed with. It has even included when Cunard and others have had special offers on. I've been able to do nearly as well with a very small, one person cruise specialist, so the direct route has never come close to being attarctive to us. When prices drop, out TA has been able to do better than the official price drop and get us the reduction.

 

Once we have a booking reference number, there has never been any problem with direct contact withe cruise line and we've been able to get all the documents direct or even (nowadays) by download.

 

The moral is to shop around and then get the best combination of price and service that is avaiable locally. It might prove to be direct.

.

.

[MCC retired]

If you shop around you should find many TA's with a better rate than booking direct with Cunard. If you get the same quote as Cunard (retail) or no OBC ,ect., try another TA.

TA's can do this by rebating some comm. or booking you into their speculative group rates. Add to this their help & knowledge with your choices. All of this for FREE.J