Disappointed by Valor

[sharecruises]

I've never been in a group of this size - not even close but I'm just going to be honest. I would not want to be on a cruise with this large of a group, well behaved or not. Last cruise on Destiny we finally just left the pool area at Margaritaville after having a nice time but then a group showed up who just "took over". I'm all about everyone having a great time but when you hover over my chair (with my purse, etc. on it) while I'm in the pool, throw a football over my head, sling water in my drink - that is the kind of stuff that starts happening. Pretty soon while you and your group are having a wonderful time - me not so much. I'm all about live and let live but when you have 600+ people the crowd takes over. I appreciate the desire that you all have to get together so lets look at a more postive spin - Carnival should be sending notice to other cruisers when a group this size is booked, or how about you consider doing a charter on a smaller ship and having it all to yourselves? There has to be a happy middle ground here. I will say that on my last cruise - I never saw or noticed any security except for when they were telling people that their babies couldn't wear swim diapers in the pool.

 

Well thank God they didn't let babies in with swim diapers...yuck

 

You really assume that the cruisers on the cruise have more input than they do. This was run by a large , internet (mostly) based travel agency that has been doing this for years

 

There are smaller groups....I prefer that myself...but these are popular.

 

There are not many "small" ships to totally charter..just not that easy. Some large Gay groups do manage to charter major cruiselines ships a few times per year

 

I was on MSC when they had Donny Marie Osmond fans on...LOL>> they took the early seating the rest of us the late, we saw the regular ship shows before dinner, they had the theater aftewards

they paid about 2-3x what we did

Singles cruises don't charge near that much

 

Singles cruise groups have a big attractions in that people do NOT have to pay double

 

This particular company had been doing 2 Halloween cruises one east coast, one west...so maybe 300 on east and 200 on west

but....since cruising Mexican Riviera is about "done" they all went out of Miami this year.

 

My guess is they won't do another one this big in future..just too many headaches. But they still will have singles cruises...people want the "roomate shares" , they want to be with other singles, and they don't want to be stuck with families, married couples etc....:)

[Rottweiler Puppy]

When talking about cruise ships, eight years is *not* old. :rolleyes:

 

The first ship I sailed on was 40 yrs old at the time. 8yrs is nothing lol

[nitro2448]

I think the concept of a singles group for cruising is a great idea, from a cost stand point. Every single cruiser on here had said that they have been on several " singles cruises " but until now, it was never mentioned that this was probably the largest one. I would say it was to large, and that was the problem. Why can't you do a singles cruise with smaller groups ? 100 maybe even 200, but 600 is way to many. IMO. Like it or not, even though the group may not have malicious intentions, they are still going to be intimidating, and enough so that some people will complain. And it has nothing to do with the Valor, or Carnival, it can happen on any line. I'm sure I can guess the answer but I'll ask anyway. What would you singles do if you were in a bar with one or two people, and a group of 600 came in ?

[dwing18]

If the bar was built to hold 3000 customers + staff, I would not have a problem with it.

[nitro2448]

If the bar was built to hold 3000 customers + staff, I would not have a problem with it.

 

Is there a bar on the valor that holds 3,000 people ?

[roger114]

First let me say I enjoyed the cruise and the Valor but I love the Liberty. Yes I did have a haunted grand suite this year which even my cabin stuwards enjoyed going thru it. My room never got out of control and no one complained about my room. I had guest that were not with the singles group walk thru my cabin and one couple I be came friends with wanted to take their 4 yr old thru my cabin. The staff wanted to see my cabin. I made a lot friends outside the singles group and alot from the singles group. I am sure I will be bashed for the letter I sent to John. I think John is a great CD and spokes guy for carnival. I am sorry about the spelling but I just got done working a 22 hrs shift.

 

 

Hello John,

I don’t know if you remember I met you on the Liberty last year prior to my Singlescriuses.com Halloween cruise 2011. I just got off the Halloween cruise 10/27 sailing on the Carnival Valor along with 620 – 650 Singles cruisers. We ranged from new cruisers to Diamond members, cruisers in are group purchased Suites to inside cabins. As I have in the past I decorated my cabin as I have done in the past cruise for singles cruises Wine Crawl. This event has been going on since 2004 I think and my understanding is SinglesCruises.com lets the Captain and Security Officer what we are going to do on the cruise. The Wine crawl is always held between 6pm and 8pm hen everyone is at dinner. During are wine crawl a few cabins were shut down security never came to my room. Security demand copy of the cabin numbers from one our cruisers and then they were going to those rooms to close them down one of my friends observed this and I notified me. I did not think your secured could demand personal property of a guest unless it was life endangerment or illegal. Anyway everyone heard about my room and wanted to see it, so, one of our hosts went to see if I could do this but no one ever got back to him. Then I received a message if I had anyone to my room I would be kicked off the ship. A slap in the face for what I paid for the room. I went to the cruise director and explained the situation. He took my room number and promised me he would get back to me. I told him I was a blogger and he told you helped him move up. He was a very nice but he is not a man of his word. I am still waiting for him to contact me but now that the cruise is over I guess he will just say he could not find me. That will take care of the room thing.

Let’s talk about your security officer; I always pay attention to my surroundings because I am a police detective. I walked in to the disco one night and one off your security officer was talking to his girlfriend handing her hand and not doing his job. When singles cruisers where dancing on the dance floor one officer would walk around the dance floor in circles watching them like a hawk. When they were not on the dance floor they would just stand in the corner and watch other people dance. I was seating outside the disco people watching with some friends and watched one officer pump up his chest every time a male singles cruiser walked by him. (Single cruisers wear name beads). So just to make sure I was not seeing thinks I walked by him and he pumped up his chest and stared at me, he was trying to instigate a responds from me. I stared back at him and continued into the disco and he followed me into the disco and followed me around. Two cruises in our group were kicked out of the serenity deck hot tub for kissing. I could not be leave it at first, so be a detective I went to the person it happened too. I was amazed to hear the story from both male and female cruisers. I talked to them separately. They story matched. So here is what I was told. They were in the hot tub she was sitting on his lap. They stated they kissed and another guest started to complain and call security. Security arrived the single cruiser told the other man to grow up. The man who call security kicked the single cruiser and security officer observed this and did nothing to him and escorted the two single cruisers out and attempted to get the room numbers thankfully they were smart and did not give it to them. So my question is why was the man who committed a battery to another passenger taken to the brig and removed from the ship. We get threaten to be kicked off the ship as a group and this guy commits a battery in front of security and security escorts the single cruisers out for kissing. It was like security had it in for us.

Ok, now the front desk. I went to them and I asked why security was treating us this way. He told me they are hard on everyone on the valor. Which is not so true just if you were with the singles group I guess? So, I purchased express luggage which is a great program. I received my boarding pass but never received my luggage tags. I called the desk they said they would get back to me they never called me back so I went to the desk as I was standing in line a older couple was in line complaining about the smoking on the ship. They said it was because of the singles cruisers. The Officer working the desk agreed with her about the single cruisers really. I get to the desk and ask about my luggage tags and I was told the airline did not send them. I was told I had to bring down my luggage to the front desk and they would take care of my bags. I did not think that was my job but I complied. Upon my return they told me they still did not have my tags and they would take my bags. I asked for a receipt and she said she did not have one I asked her to put on a piece of paper and we could sign showing they had my luggage. She said she would not do that. I asked why she said she was not responsible for my bags. I said really but you want my bags until you get the tags so who responsible for them. She told me to hold on and proof the tag fair showed up and my tags appeared really. So I asked them why security was treating the group like we were bad people all they could say was I am sorry you fell this way. That’s all they would say they told me they would pass it on.

I made the best of a bad situation. I must say my room stewards were the best and treat me very well. They were upset by the way I was being treated and kept saying sorry. I left them a lot of my Halloween decor. I will travel on carnival again but this was the worse ship I been on. Security really needs to learn people skills. If I treated people or profiled a group of people I would not be employed. I have been on 5 other Carnival ships and never had trouble. I just don’t get why they were trying to be hard a--. I will continue to wait to see if the cruise director every gets hold of me but I won’t hold my breath. Sorry about the long letter, misspelled words and grammar. Please respond in a private email.

Thank you your friend

Roger C. Sipple

P.S. I am looking at going on your bloggers cruise January 19, 13 if I can get the time off of work. Attached are pic’s of my room.

[Jocia]

I was thinking the same thing, and I also didn't see the issues wookie did

It might not be the age, but something is wrong with the air on the ship and it's not being seen to. You shouldn't be able to smell the cigarette smoke by the shops from the casino.

[Jocia]

I think the concept of a singles group for cruising is a great idea, from a cost stand point. Every single cruiser on here had said that they have been on several " singles cruises " but until now, it was never mentioned that this was probably the largest one. I would say it was to large, and that was the problem. Why can't you do a singles cruise with smaller groups ? 100 maybe even 200, but 600 is way to many. IMO. Like it or not, even though the group may not have malicious intentions, they are still going to be intimidating, and enough so that some people will complain. And it has nothing to do with the Valor, or Carnival, it can happen on any line. I'm sure I can guess the answer but I'll ask anyway. What would you singles do if you were in a bar with one or two people, and a group of 600 came in ?

I'm not sure why you think we travel around like a zombie hoard. The group ranged in age from 21 to 83, we all don't like the same things, hang out in the same places, do stuff at the same time. Even when we had the meetups on ship for the whole group, it still wasn't everyone.

[nitro2448]

I'm not sure why you think we travel around like a zombie hoard. The group ranged in age from 21 to 83, we all don't like the same things, hang out in the same places, do stuff at the same time. Even when we had the meetups on ship for the whole group, it still wasn't everyone.

 

Where did I say you were a zombie herd ? You need to really read my posts. I said I'm sure you're group had no malicious attitude, it is just the nature of a group that size. I find it hilarious that the few singles on this thread are defending all 600+ people in the group, like there's no way some of them could not have been disruptive.

[whatawookie]

I was thinking the same thing, and I also didn't see the issues wookie did

 

I guess we will agree to disagree. The Valor is in the worst shape of all the Conquest class but it also the reason you can get a better deal on this ship (hence the you get what you pay for comment). Old may have been the wrong choice of words, I guess I should have said she is worn out and needs the upgrade and retrofit. I thought it ridiculous that I could smell smoke in my cabin. It was coming through the ventilation systems. People smoking in public area's do not bother me, Casino and other areas if I don't like it I can move, but when all of a sudden it smells like someone is smoking in my cabin something is wrong.

[coachj]

I was really dissapointed on my first 8 cruises on the Valor and I expect the same on the next 3 I have scheduled in the next 3 months.

[nitro2448]

I guess we will agree to disagree. The Valor is in the worst shape of all the Conquest class but it also the reason you can get a better deal on this ship (hence the you get what you pay for comment). Old may have been the wrong choice of words, I guess I should have said she is worn out and needs the upgrade and retrofit. I thought it ridiculous that I could smell smoke in my cabin. It was coming through the ventilation systems. People smoking in public area's do not bother me, Casino and other areas if I don't like it I can move, but when all of a sudden it smells like someone is smoking in my cabin something is wrong.

 

At least we agree on something, we agree to disagree. But I can also say even if I did spot a little rust, it wouldn't strike me as " the ship needs an upgrade and retrofit ". As far as smoke smell in you're room, did you ever think maybe, even tho it's not allowed, maybe the previous occupants smoked in it ? That's why I always take air fresheners. But if all these things you mentioned bothered you so much you think it's the worst ship in its class so be it, it's an opinion you are more than entitled to, we just don't share it :). But I also think a cruise is what you make of it, I'm not a nit picker, and haven't had a bad cruise yet.

[Justacanadiangirl]

Valor had a large...large...single's group over Halloween.

 

Some of them were NOT happy with the food (I read their comments), slow dining room service

 

with such a large group there were bound to be some crowds, venues closed,

or friction JMO

 

I was on the Valor with the Singles Group!

 

This was my third time on the Valor and I have to say the only reason I went the third time was because of the singles group.

 

The first time was with another singles group size was around the 200 ppl the food was horrible, the adult only pool was running with crew family with small children. Security would do nothing.

 

The second time was not with a singles group again the food terrible this time the table of 8 I was sitting with there was not one night that meals were sent back. Deli Sandwiches were soggy room service sandwiches were soggy unable to eat them pizza well it hasnt changed no taste.

 

This last time I would have to say the food has improved and we did comment in the buffet to one of the white suits to let them know. But the service in the dinning room 2 hours to get to the main course. Please. You cannot even say it was because of the large group remember if the SINGLES were not on the ship I am sure Carnival would have filled the ship with others who would have had dinner in the dinning room.

 

For those who comment on the group being too large. I am sure there were times when it appearred that way but I am just as sure there were time the single were all around and you didnt even notice.

 

The only reason we were identifiable was because of the name beads. HMM maybe we should only wear them when it was a group funtions? Really

 

I have done 11 Single cruise of which 3 have been halloween cruises the first one was over 400 the second one was around 300 and this last one was over 600.

 

Comment that the large group is intimidating. Hmm even with the large group there is still lots of space on the ship and without the group I can almost garuntee the disco, piano bar would not have been as lively.

 

FYI Rumor has it a non single patron was removed from the ship due to assaulting another passenger. For the most part we are professional people who like to vacation just as couples do and choose to do it with friends from around the globe.

 

The Singles Groups bring in a lot of Cash to the ship and I am not saying they should be treated any different but I am saying we should not be punished or singled out for being in a large group.

 

Carnival knew almost a year before for the cruise that there would be a singles group on the ship and from the past year should have known it would be a large group.

 

Did anyone complain about the Swingers group on the ship? Or did you know they were there trying to pick up the singles to join in their activities.

 

The Serenity area is adult only I would like to know why teenagers were constantly up there? I would think their families should be watching them more closely! I know if I had a teeenage daughter on the ship I would want to know where she was and would not allow her to be on serenity with a teenage boy!

 

Carnival the Valor is in need of some major changes in the way the patrons are treated, right from secruity to food service.

 

Ask the cabin stewarts I am sure they would prefer to have the singles to the families as the tips are better and the cabins dont have kids all over!

 

JMO

 

I will cruise Carnival again with a singles group but I will not cruise the Valor again. Which is unfortunate because my hope was to do a cruise out of San Juan next year and they are move the Valor there. HMM will look for another cruise line that does the same intinerary.

[cuthbert732]

Sorry to hear that.I just got off the Valor saturday and i loved it best cruise and my favorite ship. Staff was friendly and the dining room food was excellent loved that i could add money on the machine and not stand in line. And i don't have to fight my dh about a balcony anymore next cruise we will get one so he can smoke.I got my gold pin and drink coupon was waiting on us in the room.

[SOMBRERO6]

Canadiangirl, why do you keep going on this ship if you really do not enjoy it? Also wondering if this large group would cruise another ship, do you think things will be any different? Do you think its the large group that throws things off, or is it the staff and ship itself? I am not flaming or forming an opinion, just asking.

[CapeCodCruiser]

Canadiangirl, why do you keep going on this ship if you really do not enjoy it? Also wondering if this large group would cruise another ship, do you think things will be any different? Do you think its the large group that throws things off, or is it the staff and ship itself? I am not flaming or forming an opinion, just asking.

 

I think it was the large group - I was on that cruise and we had a fabulous experience! All of the staff treated us fantastically, the food was delicious & hot, dinner was always served in a reasonable time. We had none of the problems the singles are complaining about.

 

And trust me...I was looking for things to not like about this cruise. After hearing all of the changes and cuts by Carnival and the negative reports I had stated several times that this would be my last Carnival cruise. So now - I am eating those words! Sure there were things I did not like like the lack of Caribbean music at the pool, that the volume everywhere is way too loud for reasonable people and the quality of entertainment has really gone downhill.

[SOMBRERO6]

We are sailing on the Valor in Feb. Glad to hear things are okay! I can't imagine any cruise being bad! Well, maybe sailing in a hurricane!

[Justacanadiangirl]

I think it was the large group - I was on that cruise and we had a fabulous experience! All of the staff treated us fantastically, the food was delicious & hot, dinner was always served in a reasonable time. We had none of the problems the singles are complaining about.

 

And trust me...I was looking for things to not like about this cruise. After hearing all of the changes and cuts by Carnival and the negative reports I had stated several times that this would be my last Carnival cruise. So now - I am eating those words! Sure there were things I did not like like the lack of Caribbean music at the pool, that the volume everywhere is way too loud for reasonable people and the quality of entertainment has really gone downhill.

 

 

Cape cod thanks for responding on my behalf.

 

Pleas read my whole comment. First off it is my opion on the Valor.

 

It was not the group. Like I said I have down 3 cruises on her and 2 of the 3 were with a singles group of different sizes.

 

1st time was a smaller group of approx 200 I had a good time with my single friends but compared to other ships the Valor disappointed.

 

2nd time hmm we booked non singles cruise and again I had a good time with friends. You hope that things change But remembered quickly why I was not fond of the ship and thought at that point I would not sail on her again

 

3rd time and my last time. As I stated the quality of the food served was better but the service level in the dinning room and bar service and customer service outside of the room Stewart was lacking. The reason I did book again was to meetup with old friends and make some new ones.

 

I had a great time with the company I kept but Carnival Valor is a lot to be desired when you compare it to other ships under Carnival!

[Justacanadiangirl]

Canadiangirl, why do you keep going on this ship if you really do not enjoy it? Also wondering if this large group would cruise another ship, do you think things will be any different? Do you think its the large group that throws things off, or is it the staff and ship itself? I am not flaming or forming an opinion, just asking.

 

Thank you for asking.

 

Honestly I think it is the leadership on the ship. Staff Morale is low compared to other ships. I have done 12 cruises in the past all but 1 on Carnival. And 10 out of 12 were with a singles group of various sizes. From 150ish to 620 ish. The only difference in the size of the group is being able to meet most of the people. We all come from different backgrounds with different likes and dislikes so you never find all of the group together at one time except maybe the first night dinner. Normally you will find smaller groups among the bigger group. So no I don't believe the size of he group played a role in it. As I stated Carnival would have filled the ship with other patrons.

 

Why did I go back.

 

1st time was a smaller group of approx 200 I had a good time with my single friends but compared to other ships the Valor disappointed.

 

2nd time hmm we booked non singles cruise and again I had a good time with friends. I had hoped that things change But remembered quickly why I was not fond of the ship and thought at that point I would not sail on her again

 

3rd time and my last time. As I stated the quality of the food served was better but the service level in the dinning room and bar service and customer service outside of the room Stewart was lacking. The reason I did book again was to meetup with old friends and make some new ones.

 

I had a great time with the company I kept but Carnival Valor is a lot to be desired when you compare it to other ships under Carnival!

[CapeCodCruiser]

Cape cod thanks for responding on my behalf.

 

Pleas read my whole comment. First off it is my opion on the Valor.

 

It was not the group. Like I said I have down 3 cruises on her and 2 of the 3 were with a singles group of different sizes.

 

1st time was a smaller group of approx 200 I had a good time with my single friends but compared to other ships the Valor disappointed.

 

2nd time hmm we booked non singles cruise and again I had a good time with friends. You hope that things change But remembered quickly why I was not fond of the ship and thought at that point I would not sail on her again

 

3rd time and my last time. As I stated the quality of the food served was better but the service level in the dinning room and bar service and customer service outside of the room Stewart was lacking. The reason I did book again was to meetup with old friends and make some new ones.

 

I had a great time with the company I kept but Carnival Valor is a lot to be desired when you compare it to other ships under Carnival!

 

Thank you for asking.

 

Honestly I think it is the leadership on the ship. Staff Morale is low compared to other ships. I have done 12 cruises in the past all but 1 on Carnival. And 10 out of 12 were with a singles group of various sizes. From 150ish to 620 ish. The only difference in the size of the group is being able to meet most of the people. We all come from different backgrounds with different likes and dislikes so you never find all of the group together at one time except maybe the first night dinner. Normally you will find smaller groups among the bigger group. So no I don't believe the size of he group played a role in it. As I stated Carnival would have filled the ship with other patrons.

 

Why did I go back.

 

1st time was a smaller group of approx 200 I had a good time with my single friends but compared to other ships the Valor disappointed.

 

2nd time hmm we booked non singles cruise and again I had a good time with friends. I had hoped that things change But remembered quickly why I was not fond of the ship and thought at that point I would not sail on her again

 

3rd time and my last time. As I stated the quality of the food served was better but the service level in the dinning room and bar service and customer service outside of the room Stewart was lacking. The reason I did book again was to meetup with old friends and make some new ones.

 

I had a great time with the company I kept but Carnival Valor is a lot to be desired when you compare it to other ships under Carnival!

 

I did not respond on your behalf - just relating MY experience. I spent a LOT of time with about a dozen people and frequently ran into another 40 or so from the roll call - we all had a great time and did not have the same experience as many of the singles. For at least 4 nights we had 8 or 10 at dinner and still had excellent service & food served hot. I did not experience low morale with ANY of the staff - all that I spoke with were quite happy - 2 were in the last weeks of their contract and had already re-signed.

 

Most if not all that I've heard that had a less than stellar time on this cruise were from the singles group.

 

Just my experience.

[Surfwench]

Oh good heavens.... just googled my upcoming cruise on the Breeze... and singlescruise.com came up! I had no idea... now I'm going to have to do some real soul searching... do I want to be on a cruise with a group as large as singles.com?????? I understand from all the posters on this thread they are a very polite well behaved group that Carnival security took an inexplicable dislike to.... :(

[bruce925]

Very naive, very opinionated. Very incorrect. So you are suggesting nobody book through a travel agency? Or are you suggesting only single people should never book through a travel agency? That is business. Nothing is free.

 

 

You group cruisers do understand that you are paying for others to cruise for free right? When booking a group which I think is a minimum of 8 or 9 cabins there is 1 cruise fare for free. So the people organizing this "group" of 620 - say that is divided by 2 people in a cabin so 310 but you know some cabins are holding more so say there are 280 cabins booked. That is like 31 FREE cruise fares, maybe more. But they don't want 31 people to sail free so they get Suites with that and are living the great life on your dime. Then there are the Amenity points awarded - that they get to decide how those are used. Could be a free cocktail party or a beach bag but YOU are paying a premium for those. Add in that you feel as though security is targeting you - what if you skipped the "group" booking (organizers won't like the end of the gravey train). Then everyone has to pay to sail, you get a better rate AND the cruise line isn't targeting you as a group. Yet you could all still meet up? Just a thought.

[Jane2357]

Very naive, very opinionated. Very incorrect. So you are suggesting nobody book through a travel agency? Or are you suggesting only single people should never book through a travel agency? That is business. Nothing is free.

 

Of course I'm not suggesting that people shouldn't book through a travel agency. I responding to people claiming that their group was targeted by security and what I'm saying is don't book as a group, just all book individually on the same cruise. And I'm not wrong about the group booking as I have been the one in charge of a group. If I get 8+ cabins to group book and I'm the head - then I'm going to qualify for some a free cruise fare. So if you have a group of 600+ - there are a whole lot of free fares going to someone - and the group is paying a premium. I've seen threads on cc where people went on family reunion cruises only to find out that some of their own family members got to cruise for free - and it caused pretty hard feelings. So sorry but I'm not the naive or incorrect one - opinionated - I'll give ya that one:p

[sharecruises]

Of course I'm not suggesting that people shouldn't book through a travel agency. I responding to people claiming that their group was targeted by security and what I'm saying is don't book as a group, just all book individually on the same cruise. And I'm not wrong about the group booking as I have been the one in charge of a group. If I get 8+ cabins to group book and I'm the head - then I'm going to qualify for some a free cruise fare. So if you have a group of 600+ - there are a whole lot of free fares going to someone - and the group is paying a premium. I've seen threads on cc where people went on family reunion cruises only to find out that some of their own family members got to cruise for free - and it caused pretty hard feelings. So sorry but I'm not the naive or incorrect one - opinionated - I'll give ya that one:p

 

Oh please...why don't you go over to the "cc group cruises" threads and remind them that the "leaders" are getting a "free cabin"???

 

For singles...a group works well...assures them that they are seated with other singles, have people to go to the shows with, go on excursions with.

 

The cruise in question had 600...and yeah lots of "free fares">> what is it to you?? That is a large company...they had "hosts" along who devoted much time and effort to hosting the events, introducing people, passing out wristbands, keeping crashers out, running events. The company is a travel agency..in business to make money. Have a problem with that/? Last I looked Carnival is not a charity...John Heald doesn't work for free, nor do the "hard working room stewards and waiters" that everyone here worries so much about LOL

 

The "free cabin" and commissions the travel agency gets also means they get perks...the group cruisers get wine, cocktail parties or other group amentities.

 

Really unless you are single, or been on these sorts of cruises, or know about them, why spread misinformation?? I promise I won't post about what games to bring for toddlers or how to plug in a c-pap machine cause I have NO idea...not my realm of experience. Fair enough?

[nitro2448]

Very naive, very opinionated. Very incorrect. So you are suggesting nobody book through a travel agency? Or are you suggesting only single people should never book through a travel agency? That is business. Nothing is free.

 

Why would you go through a TA? What real benefits do you get from a TA? To each his own, use them if you want, but I never would.