Travel Agents No names No Pack drill

[MACKAM]

As the heading, says I know we can't use actual travel agents NAMES as such but last year I booked with a well known company located in the English lake district. To my cost I have just found out it is now owned by at least one multi national company(and maybe a very well high street travel agent).

 

I don't know whether the problem is untrained staff or just a couldn't care less attitude. All I have had is mis-information or have been left hanging on the phone.I would be interested to know if anyone else has had these problems. Moral of the story is book direct with Celebrity or your local travel agent.

[arewethereyet]

As the heading, says I know we can't use actual travel agents NAMES as such but last year I booked with a well known company located in the English lake district. To my cost I have just found out it is now owned by at least one multi national company(and maybe a very well high street travel agent).

 

I don't know whether the problem is untrained staff or just a couldn't care less attitude. All I have had is mis-information or have been left hanging on the phone.I would be interested to know if anyone else has had these problems. Moral of the story is book direct with Celebrity or your local travel agent.

Are those the only options? I've used an online TA for my last 15 cruises, with excellent service.

 

Experiences vary.

[uktog]

Are those the only options? I've used an online TA for my last 15 cruises, with excellent service.

 

Experiences vary.

 

In the UK pretty much, the online business is not that well developed though there are some entrants to the market that are beginning to excite customers

[Jayneykul]

Havent used the 1 in Cumbria you have but early this year booked through a company based in South Wales and they were absolutely hopeless everything was wring from the dining times to gratuities. I tend to use another 1 based in London but it is only because they get cheaper deals than going direct but they are still pretty useless at giving any information or knowing anythig about the product and even sent us the wrong cruise ref this time so when we went to book anything we couldnt! Wish the TAs in the UK would shape up!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We us the same TA for years ....

[Hawaiidan]

Book through an American agent? you get a cheaper price, do not have to pay vat and can pay by wire from a bank or credit card. I do this all the time with international travel

 

Heck, if I in Hawaii can book a tour from an agent in China, why cant you book in the US?:confused:

 

The very last place I would book is with the shipping line themselves, as that is rack rate.. no discounts. Whereas, many agents in the US give their clients as much as 10% off the lowest

 

UK and Australian passengers are pretty much held ransome by their agents.

[Chunky2219]

We use the (claimed) largest and longest standing cruise only bureau in the UK. Northern location. Family owned, I believe.

 

I can't be complementary enough, both on the basis of getting prices I've never been able to beat and the quality of response on the phone. Cabin changes, price reducetions, upgrades - all dealt with very professionally.

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[simon stingray]

I always check out 3 or 4 of the big Cruise/Travel agents prices before I book but I never seem to be able to get a better deal than booking with X directly.

 

We have just booked a Southern Caribbean sailing on Summit for next March/April and out of 4 agents, I found 2 were more expensive for the same cat stateroom and 2 were only slightly cheaper.

 

But the 2 which were cheaper then add on a further charge if you wish to pay by credit card-we prefer to pay with Amex. X do not charge extra for this.

 

In addition to this, X gives a 5% discount for booking on line.

 

Then the deposit is higher with one of the agents-£389 compared to £300 booking direct with X.

 

And the final payment date is 4 weeks sooner with the agent as compared to X.

 

And then there is the benefit of being in control of your own booking and not having to rely on an agent if there is a price drop.

 

And then there is the issue that someone has already mentioned-dealing with a "cruise agent" who really has little knowledge of what they are talking about-that really irks me.

 

I wish we had good cruise agents here like in the US but until then I'll stick to booking directly:(

[DebbieMacG]

I've used the same online UK TA for our last four bookings after I got an amazing price first time, they are owned by RCCL :)

[Jayneykul]

What fantastic points you make Simon Stingray so if the price drops and you have booked directly with X you will get a discount? Im looking at booking a specific cruise for next March with Cunard but the TA wants £550 deposit each which I think is extortionate

[simon stingray]

If the price of your stateroom (same category) on the sailing you have booked drops after you have paid the deposit but BEFORE you have made the final payment then you just have to call Celebrity and they will adjust the price on your reservation to match the new lower price.

 

I think they only allow you to do this once per reservation-if the price drops again and you want to take advantage a 2nd time then they charge a service fee for adjusting the reservation.

[Sparkle 123]

Yes I have had bookings in the past with the company the OP mentioned, only because the original cruise specialist I used to book with from Bournemouth was taken over by them. I also found them to be pretty hopeless, I had to fight to get a price reduction, luckily I did but I found their attitude to be pretty unprofessional.

Needless to say, I certainly wouldn't recommend them.

 

I now use one of the big dot co.uk agents, and whilst the girl I deal with is absolutely lovely and has got price reductions and cabin changes for me, I dislike the fact that they require a £400 deposit vs £300 that Celebrity wants plus the final payment is about 12 weeks before departure, that along with the credit card fees makes me think I may be better off in future booking direct with the cruiseline especially if I can negotiate some onboard credit to make up for the 10% discount from the TA.

[dorisis]

As the heading, says I know we can't use actual travel agents NAMES as such but last year I booked with a well known company located in the English lake district. To my cost I have just found out it is now owned by at least one multi national company(and maybe a very well high street travel agent).

 

I don't know whether the problem is untrained staff or just a couldn't care less attitude. All I have had is mis-information or have been left hanging on the phone.I would be interested to know if anyone else has had these problems. Moral of the story is book direct with Celebrity or your local travel agent.

 

There are internet travel companies based in the USA that serve Brits. Sorry I am not allowed to name them.