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Travel agent vs DIY?

adanaccruisers

By adanaccruisers,
in First Time Cruisers

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scapel

scapel

Posted
Posted
We do the research ourselves to choose the cruise we want to take. Our research also includes which TA (online, brick & mortar, large wholesale club...) will give us the best deal. The basic fare is the same across the board because, as other posters have stated, the cruise lines do not allow them to discount. However, the TAs will frequently offer OBC, excursions, bottles of wine, etc. They also run interference for you if there are problems, issues, etc and will answer and and all questions you may have.

 

After we have chosen our cruise, we call the TA to book it.

 

I agree with that.

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scapel

scapel

Posted
Posted
Do you think the cruise lines 'protect' the best cabins per category to sell direct and let TA's sell the next to best rooms?

 

I booked my first cruise via telephone to RCL. The 2nd one I booked on board EOS. I would think since the cruise line is gaining on the transaction they would do something to be competitive to the TA's?

 

I booked a cabin while on board a Celebrity ship once because they said the cabin I wanted was not available. I had it assigned to my local B&M agent.

On a whim while looking on the internet, I just happened to put some info in and got a call from an online agent agent. I told her what cabin I wanted and if she could get it I would book it. She called back in a couple of hours and had it. My B&M couldn't do that. She also got it $200 cheaper than my B&M. I would pay $100 more to keep the business local, but my B&M couldn't deliver the cabin I wanted and would not come down on the price at all.

This person became my new travel agent for about the past 10 or 15 years.

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griffy116

griffy116

Posted
Posted
Some cruiselines no longer allow travel agents to offer discounts or incentives.

 

so booking privately looking for a deal is no longer a good reason to book using an agent.

 

Like the above poster stated-- you lose control of your booking...if you book using a travel agent if you have a question you will need to wait until the agent is available. The cruise lines will not speak to you regarding your booking.[/quote

Our agent is always available, even if HE is on vacation through email, even if HE is on a cruise. He can't offer a discount, but we always get an onboard credit from him and a nice treat is waiting in our cabin when we check in..usually a nice bottle of wine. He makes sure he checks all the ins and outs. We had a family vacation where he actually called me to tell me we would come out cheaper by getting an additional inside cabin for a couple of our teens...which gave us additional room and another bathroom. Only use one that specializes in cruises.

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SeagoingMom

SeagoingMom

Posted
Posted

I have gotten the feeling from reading a lot of posts on this and other threads on this topic that having a good TA can be very advantageous. Having an inferior one, not so much.

 

So what I want to know is, how to find a good one? I guess I could just start with an internet search and see what happens.

 

How many of you who use TA's use local brick and mortar ones and how many use online ones?

 

How many experiences does it take to find out you haven't chosen a very good travel agent?

 

We can't use CC to find travel agents -- is there a cruise travel agent dating website? You know, "TA Match dot com?" or "TA Mingle?" ;)

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paul929207

paul929207

Posted
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I use an internet TA that I found by asking people who there TA was when they said they got a good deal. Some of the names I got turned out to be not so good, but I gradually found some that gave a decent discount off the Princess fare. The one I am using gives me a 10 to 15% discount plus some OBC.

 

Everything I have asked for she has delivered.

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Cuizer2

Cuizer2

Posted
Posted
I have gotten the feeling from reading a lot of posts on this and other threads on this topic that having a good TA can be very advantageous. Having an inferior one, not so much.

 

So what I want to know is, how to find a good one? I guess I could just start with an internet search and see what happens.

 

How many of you who use TA's use local brick and mortar ones and how many use online ones?

 

How many experiences does it take to find out you haven't chosen a very good travel agent?

 

We can't use CC to find travel agents -- is there a cruise travel agent dating website? You know, "TA Match dot com?" or "TA Mingle?" ;)

 

I found my TA when he offered a ship tour. He left the business and I was transferred to a different TA who didn't take to long to prove she and I would not get along. I was transferred to a different TA and she and I are doing great. This is a brick and mortar agency.

 

As to how do you find a good TA, first you ask lots of questions. If you get the use car sales pitch, look elsewhere. Look for membership in a cruise travel professional organization such as:

 

American Society of Travel Agents

Association of Retail Travel Agents

Cruise Line International Association

National Association of cruise-Only Agencies

Virtuoso Member (this is by invitation only and yes, my TA is a member)

http://www.virtuoso.com/

 

Conte Nast Traveler publishes a list of top agent once every year.

 

It doesn't take long to figure out if your agent is interested in keeping you as a customer or is just interested in making a buck.

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Cruisin' Chick

Cruisin' Chick

Posted
Posted

Since this is the "new cruisers" part of the board, I'm going to assume the OP is new to cruising. In that case, someone who hasn't been on a cruise is better off having a professional help them. Ask friends and family members who have been on cruises if they have a good TA to recommend.

 

Those online companies have phone operators taking your calls, not cruise specialists. Many of them probably have never seen an ocean, must less been on a cruise.

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internetwhiz

internetwhiz

Posted
Posted

We scope out our own cruises. We call and make the reservation with a TA and always get perks. On an upcoming trip it's free gratuities for two and dinner for two at a specialty restaurant. Yes, there are minor inconveniences but the hundreds of $'s saved makes up for it.

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Cuizer2

Cuizer2

Posted
Posted
None of my bookings have been with a brick & mortar TA. Assuming I've already decided on a ship and itinerary, what services could one have performed for me?

 

The good ones will be there for you when things don't go according to plan.

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internetwhiz

internetwhiz

Posted
Posted
None of my bookings have been with a brick & mortar TA. Assuming I've already decided on a ship and itinerary, what services could one have performed for me?

 

Free gratuities. Dinner for two in a specialty restaurant. Perks!

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calliopecruiser

calliopecruiser

Posted
Posted
None of my bookings have been with a brick & mortar TA. Assuming I've already decided on a ship and itinerary, what services could one have performed for me?

 

Most of the benefits is support if something goes wrong - a kind of insurance. Any perqs they can offer (like OBC or excursions) are bonuses.

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  • 6 months later...
wisdom13

wisdom13

Posted
Posted

Unless you have a trusted agent or travel company that you know on a personal basis, it's always best to book travel yourself.

 

Be aware that travel promotions such as "cash back" after your travel is complete is usually just a trap for booking. You'll likely never see the "cash back". Sorry!

 

Happy Cruising!!:)

 

*13 and counting*

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speed4theneed

speed4theneed

Posted
Posted

My first cruise was booked through a travel agent which turned out to be a plus. It was a family reunion cruise that we had about 40 of us attending. The ta was able to get us some significant discounts plus quite a few perks such as upgrades and comp packages.

 

My following two cruises have been booked by myself, and I was able to save significantly on both over a ta by doing some basic research (it also helped that I had cruised before and knew what I wanted, what I didn't, and what I needed and could do without).

 

So I'd say group size is something to take into account.

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Hlitner Excellent Advice! Rare

Hlitner

Posted
Posted
Most of the benefits is support if something goes wrong - a kind of insurance. Any perqs they can offer (like OBC or excursions) are bonuses.

 

Not so sure we would agree. The "perks" we have received have been as much as $3000 (on a single cruise) which is one h*&^ of a bonus :). We have seldom booked any cruise without getting at least 7% of the cruise cost in the form of OBCs, prepaid gratuities. We would agree with you (and some of the other comments) that having an independent TA to help work out issues is a good thing. We generally use very high volume agencies (these are the ones with the best perks) who have some clout with the cruise lines.

 

Hank

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internetwhiz

internetwhiz

Posted
Posted
Not so sure we would agree. The "perks" we have received have been as much as $3000 (on a single cruise) which is one h*&^ of a bonus :). We have seldom booked any cruise without getting at least 7% of the cruise cost in the form of OBCs, prepaid gratuities. We would agree with you (and some of the other comments) that having an independent TA to help work out issues is a good thing. We generally use very high volume agencies (these are the ones with the best perks) who have some clout with the cruise lines.

 

Hank

 

Same with us! High volume, great perks. So far, no kinks to work out.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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TedC

TedC

Posted
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On recent BCN to Rio cruise on Regent Seven Seas Mariner I had $1,600 OBC plus a 5 pc rebate from TA. Did my Xmas shopping on ship = bought watches for six grandchildren and still couldn't spend all the OBC - Regent is all inclusive so not much to spend on except stuff in ship store.

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