Booking through Royal or other agents?

[Fnigro07]

Do you prefer booking your cruise through Royal Caribbean or other travel agents and why?

 

Does certain websites/agents have better deals?

[ehfl]

Other than maybe a bottle of wine sometimes, I don't think there's any major price advantage to going through an agent. It seems that adding more parties to a transaction only increases complexity, and the opportunity for error. Worse, if there is a problem each party can blame the other.

 

There have been a lot of stories here about problems with miscommunication or errors on the part of an agent. While this can happen when booking direct as well, at least there's no finger pointing, and you know exactly who to go to for a resolution.

 

Travel agents, like caboose operators, blacksmiths, and slide-rule manufacturers had their place at one time. But "disintermediation" is not just a buzzword. It makes sense today to deal directly with the provider in order to reduce complexity, and ultimately reduce costs.

[stevea36]

Other than maybe a bottle of wine sometimes, I don't think there's any major price advantage to going through an agent. It seems that adding more parties to a transaction only increases complexity, and the opportunity for error. Worse, if there is a problem each party can blame the other.

 

There have been a lot of stories here about problems with miscommunication or errors on the part of an agent. While this can happen when booking direct as well, at least there's no finger pointing, and you know exactly who to go to for a resolution.

 

Travel agents, like caboose operators, blacksmiths, and slide-rule manufacturers had their place at one time. But "disintermediation" is not just a buzzword. It makes sense today to deal directly with the provider in order to reduce complexity, and ultimately reduce costs.

 

I don't know what TA you deal with, but most give a lot more than a bottle of wine sometimes. I usually get around 10pct of my fare back in OBC and the like. Yes, I did get a bottle of wine once, but that was directly from RCI for booking with them!

 

Steve

[SamFritz]

We strongly prefer to book directly with Royal. The one time we booked with an agent there was constant confusion. Every question or adjustment required us to spend time on the phone with both the agent and with Royal. Getting even the smallest matters addressed was a major project.

 

To add insult to injury, while on the cruise that we had booked through the agent we booked a future cruise. That booking was automatically given to the agent. After two months of requests to the agent, they finally released the booking to Royal. Now Royal says, "We have a record that they have released the booking to us, but we don't have a record that we have received the booking." WHAT!!!! Then they said it's probably just an IT glitch. They'll have it worked out in a month or so. REALLY?

 

In my experience, travel agents are unnecessary middle men who complicate the booking process rather than facilitate it.

 

 

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[nyc12345]

I don't know what TA you deal with, but most give a lot more than a bottle of wine sometimes. I usually get around 10pct of my fare back in OBC and the like. Yes, I did get a bottle of wine once, but that was directly from RCI for booking with them!

 

Steve

 

I get similar amount in OBC from my TA too. :D

[FunInTheSun0303]

I guess I have mixed feelings, our first cruise we booked thru a TA , second cruise thru the cruise line and this cruise coming up in February, we booked with the same Travel Agency. But we got the promo of $100 OBC, nothing more did she offer us. Kinda of bothered me a bit. I mean we have used them before for a booking. I dont know sometimes the advantages of booking with the cruise line or a TA? I think sometimes the TA doesn't want to offer much is it because they loose comission?

[danielsumner]

We always us one of two online cruise agencies. The one I use the most usually has the best price that can be found and they always include free travel insurance and a bit of OBC. I'm leaving on Sunday on the Freedom. Booked a couple weeks ago. My Online agency was $200 bucks cheaper than the RCCL site and I got free travel insurance and $30 OBC for the same cabin.

[SamFritz]

It has been my understanding that Agencies are not allowed to undersell Royal's list price. They can provide other incentives, but they can't sell for less than Royal.

 

 

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[FunInTheSun0303]

Lucky you, my TA has never give us any incentives, kinda upsetting.

[silentbob007]

It has been my understanding that Agencies are not allowed to undersell Royal's list price. They can provide other incentives, but they can't sell for less than Royal.

 

 

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They cannot advertise lower prices. However, they can have lower fares, especially if they book a large block of cabins at a discount and then parcel them out.

[jan15]

SamFritz-I am very curious-what is your profession that you feel so strongly about putting down all travel agents

[silentbob007]

Lucky you, my TA has never give us any incentives, kinda upsetting.

 

My experience only, but my local brick and mortar TAs do not discount or provide perks. Online TAs work in volume and can provide those things but are not well suited to holding your hand if you have lots of questions or want the personal touch. I don't begreudge TAs who offer service over perks, but I am also fine with doing all of my own legwork in terms of travel.

[Ashland]

I completely agree with those above that book directly....Less of a chance for errors...and if something needs immediate attention..no one is a better advocate for me than myself ;):)

[pennielz]

We always book with Royal directly. We used to book online but, prefer doing it on board or over the phone. We've gotten nice on board credits and great rooms. And if want to make change, absolutely no problem when we call Royal and ask for a change.

[ryanc78]

I am shocked that the majority prefer to book directly with the cruise line. We routinely book through an on-line agency and have never had a problem. Not only that but they have every available cabin visible on-line in realtime which makes picking the cabin that's right for you very easy.

 

For perks they always throw in complimentary gratuities, some amount of OBC, and any offers RCL is offering through their reservations team.

 

Seems like an easy decision to me?

 

 

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[danielsumner]

I am shocked that the majority prefer to book directly with the cruise line. We routinely book through an on-line agency and have never had a problem. Not only that but they have every available cabin visible on-line in realtime which makes picking the cabin that's right for you very easy.

 

For perks they always throw in complimentary gratuities, some amount of OBC, and any offers RCL is offering through their reservations team.

 

Seems like an easy decision to me?

 

 

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I so agree. I don't have any cruise questions that I can't find the answers for online. I don't need to have my hand held, I'm a big boy now. If I book with RCCL, in the end I do online check in and print my DOCs and sail away. If I book with my online agency, in the end I've gotten a much better rate, I do online check in and print my DOCs and sail away.

 

I remember one time on a Holland Ship. I think we paid around $1400 total for a balcony for the both of us. The people in the cabin next door asked me what we paid, they had booked directly with the cruise line about the same time I did with my online agency. The couple almost fell out because they had paid over $3500. It pays to shop, a cruise is like shopping for a new car, You should never pay sticker price, but some folks do.

Edited October 31, 2014 by danielsumner

[bighairtexan]

I also book through a Cruise only TA. The very least I get (cheapest balcony during the early part of the BOGOHO sale when it was actually a sale) was $100 OBC and dinner for 2 in a Specialty restaurant.

 

 

 

I've gotten pricing that was exceptional when they booked a large block (which some agencies do on more than half of the RCI and Celebrity sailings). Pricing even better than I get through the casino loyalty club. Pricing even better than later on in the BOGOHO sale. And if I book through the TA and find better pricing thru the Casino Royale, then my TA gets that pricing and still gives me perks.

 

Downside: they're not open on Sunday and after 10PM. Upside when I've had issues, the TA goes to bat for me. I've never lost out when I've wanted to change cabins or for a price drop. Granted they don't hold my hand, or notify me of a price drop but neither does the cruise line when you book directly through them.

 

I do my own legwork. I check w/ a "foreign" travel site that lists most of the available cabins (more than they show on RCI anyway), select my 1st 2 choices and contact the TA, usually by email and ask what they're offering. On RCI and Celebrity I've always gone w/ them. ON Princess, a couple of times all they offered was $50 OBC and that wasn't worth it so I booked thru the cruise line.

[SamFritz]

SamFritz-I am very curious-what is your profession that you feel so strongly about putting down all travel agents

 

 

I'm a teacher. I'll just say that my experience with a travel agent was a huge turn off. I might consider using one for some other type of vacation, but for a cruise I just found the agent to create interference.

 

So I don't mean to put down all travel agents for all scenarios. I've just had a bad experience that has turned me off to them for my cruise vacations.

 

 

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[Tanker]

I have booked with travel agents many times, but prefer to book directly with RCCL. I like the option to go directly to RCCL for changes. RCCL agents have been extremely easy to work with and have always provided fantastic service. We do book onboard a lot when we know the ship/cruise/cabin we want and on a few occasions, we have transferred our booking to a travel agent. I have gotten some onboard credit, a bottle of wine, flowers, water, etc., but prefer to deal directly with RCCL. Good luck on whichever choice you make.

[Coralc]

Early internet we used to book with TA's. The end of that was a misquote by the agent when we upgraded from OV to a balcony.

 

She quoted us a price, we paid it, and then we waited for the invoice....which came by mail back in those days. We didn't receive it. She called and said she had misquoted and wanted more money. We refused.

 

We attended an administrative hearing at the agency and we received the balcony cabin at the quoted price. I think they took away the bottle of champagne, though. :rolleyes:

 

I don't mind disagreeing with the cruise line when I need things done, or changes or price drops. I don't like disagreeing with a TA, when I expect things to be corrected or changed promptly. If the answer to something is 'No', then I would rather hash it out with the cruise line....As Ashland mentioned, I prefer to be my own advocate when I need to get things done. :D

[renza]

We always book through an online agency. Have too. On our oasis cruise the June we have both cabins gratuity paid and on board credit. $500 savings. Never had a problem and we cruise every year. Crazy to book through Royal with no incentives.

 

 

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[Vitamin_Sea]

we always check every possible place that gives us the most OBC.

 

THe winner is always an online travel agency.

 

Plus, there never has been any problems/ issues.

 

You still do the online check in online

Edited November 1, 2014 by limoguy1

[Vitamin_Sea]

Lucky you, my TA has never give us any incentives, kinda upsetting.

 

You are not shopping around. TA vary big time on what they give.

 

trust me, a little shopping will get you OBC.

[wyldkarma]

We have a United Airlines Explorer Master card and book through United Airlines website. They have a separate cruise travel agency and we get a minimum of 10,000 bonus travel miles with every cruise we book, plus more points for the total cost of the trip. Those add up fast and we get to fly free to or from many of our cruise ports. We booked a flt to Australia early this year, 1st class using 45000 frequent flyer miles each that we racked up by booking our cruises through United Airlines. Works for us.

[Coralc]

We have a United Airlines Explorer Master card and book through United Airlines website. They have a separate cruise travel agency and we get a minimum of 10,000 bonus travel miles with every cruise we book, plus more points for the total cost of the trip. Those add up fast and we get to fly free to or from many of our cruise ports. We booked a flt to Australia early this year, 1st class using 45000 frequent flyer miles each that we racked up by booking our cruises through United Airlines. Works for us.

 

The person I spoke with at that agency said that they don't honor cruise line price drops.