Benefits of booking through a TA

[maz48]

Hi. Apart from our first ever Cunard cruise, which was a last minute cheap booking though a TA, we have always booked direct with Cunard. Are there any benefits to using a TA for booking early? I know some do regularly but not sure why.

[Ray66]

I know of three online travel agents who undercut Cunard's prices all the time and not specifically for early bookings.

Just to mention, it's against CC rules to name travel agents on here.

[maz48]

I was going to put on my original post that I wasn't after any recommendations, but it kind of looked a bit brusque so I didn't. So I am not asking that. I know a few, so don't need any more.

[cruiseluvva]

Having a good relationship with a TA is important to us. If things go well - all well and good. But when there a problems, a good TA will really fight your corner and we have been EXTREMELY grateful for this on a couple of occasions.

 

Ours has cruised for many, many years and knows all the ships personally, so can make recommendations.

 

For us, saving a few pounds is less important than the service we get - and the peace of mind, knowing someone is there ready and able to help if necessary.

[PORT ROYAL]

Hi. Apart from our first ever Cunard cruise, which was a last minute cheap booking though a TA, we have always booked direct with Cunard. Are there any benefits to using a TA for booking early? I know some do regularly but not sure why.

 

For us it is Cunard direct. Have a great Cunard personal account handier who takes care of everything for us. Never a had a problem, and any slight concern is resolved promptly. Can't see any reason to use a TA.

[Chunky2219]

I can't recommend our TA enough, Well, I couldn't, if I were allowed to name names.

 

Always cheaper than the Cunard prices, always willing to sort peripheral stuff out and also on the look out for low cost, last minute upgrades for me. I can't see any possible benefit to going direct to Cunard or any other line.

 

 

.

[NavyPanda]

I know of three online travel agents who undercut Cunard's prices all the time and not specifically for early bookings.

Just to mention, it's against CC rules to name travel agents on here.

 

I am also aware of three British travel agents which discount all Cunard fares whether these are Cunard Fare, Early Saver or indeed Saver fares.

 

Two of these travel agents seem to offer a set percentage discount on all fares as they appear on the Cunard website. One offers 2% discount and the ability to book online (A close friend of ours has actually done this and confirmed that it all went well). Another, which I haven't used, seems to offer a 5% discount on all fares, however you have to 'phone them to continue the booking, so I'm not 100% sure if they aren't lowered to attract then bumped up during the call.

 

The third travel agent operates differently, they don't discount on 'Cruise Only', but when you buy a package as advertised on their website, including hotel stays at departure and/or destination, flights and of course the cruise, they offer a total price significantly below the Cruise package price from Cunard, even when they have subsequently gone onto 'Saver' fares. This seems to only be case with fly cruises however. I have been one of these packages myself, and they are genuine.

 

I was wondering, Ray, if you are able to work out using 'your' travel agent's websites and Cunard direct, to see if they offer a fixed percentage discount or if its more variable? Like I said before 5% is the best I've seen, but not actually had experience of receiving, 2% I know for sure exists and can be booked entirely online. It will be interesting to see if the %'s roughly match?

[quandrea]

We usually book directly with Cunard and later transfer the booking to our TA. that allows me to do the fiddly leg work of picked by a cabin, comparing voyages, etc. We would call it tire kicking here in Canada. Once I'm settled I offer it to the TA and she sweetens the deal. For our Canada New England this fall she added in a shore excursion in Quebec City. For our two World Cruise segments in 2017, she threw in paid gratuities for both cabins and will do the itinerary planning for our time in Australia. She has good deals on flights too. If she couldn't add to my deal I wouldn't transfer.

[laktex]

For us it is Cunard direct. Have a great Cunard personal account handier who takes care of everything for us. Never a had a problem, and any slight concern is resolved promptly. Can't see any reason to use a TA.

 

I do believe (that is wrong - I know for a fact) that through a TA it is possible to make very significant cost savings, especially when there is a package involved. Even the upgrade on the airfare has proved a significant saving. My opinion would always be to make comparisons and certainly never ignore what a TA may have to offer. Cunard do need TA's to fill their ships.

[Ray66]

NavyPanda,

Sorry I've never worked out the actual percentage of savings from certain online travel agents. If I can't book the cruise online, I get the TA to phone me and make them pay for the phone call. The price has been the same as what is shown online.

 

There is a Deals button above ^^^ which gives quotes from some TA's.

[alc13]

I'm curious about TAs for a slightly different reason. We get email or postal mail notices from Cunard with offers that are better than what shows on the website at the same time. Are those offers available through TAs? Or only directly from Cunard?

 

We are in the US, in case it matters.

Edited March 15, 2016 by alc13

[babs135]

Having a good relationship with a TA is important to us. If things go well - all well and good. But when there a problems, a good TA will really fight your corner and we have been EXTREMELY grateful for this on a couple of occasions.

 

Ours has cruised for many, many years and knows all the ships personally, so can make recommendations.

 

For us, saving a few pounds is less important than the service we get - and the peace of mind, knowing someone is there ready and able to help if necessary.

 

I can't recommend our TA enough, Well, I couldn't, if I were allowed to name names.

 

Always cheaper than the Cunard prices, always willing to sort peripheral stuff out and also on the look out for low cost, last minute upgrades for me. I can't see any possible benefit to going direct to Cunard or any other line.

 

 

.

 

Are these on-line TAs or the High Street variety? I'd love to find a shop with knowledgeable people who I could then have a face-to-face conversation with. Sadly, so far I've had no luck. Maybe I've been looking in the wrong place or even the wrong branch of shop :confused: I'm sure that with the growing number of Brits who now go cruising that there is an opening for specialist cruise shops. I know there are a few, but them seem very far apart. If there are any in my neck of the woods of Manchester I would like to know. I understand you can't give out names, but at least it would help me to keep looking. Google has not been very helpful.

[cruiseluvva]

Our TA is an on-line cruise specialist and based hundreds of miles from us, but while we aren't able to speak to her face to face, she always has time to answer any queries or make suggestions over the telephone.

[maz48]

We usually book directly with Cunard and later transfer the booking to our TA. that allows me to do the fiddly leg work of picked by a cabin, comparing voyages, etc. We would call it tire kicking here in Canada. Once I'm settled I offer it to the TA and she sweetens the deal. For our Canada New England this fall she added in a shore excursion in Quebec City. For our two World Cruise segments in 2017, she threw in paid gratuities for both cabins and will do the itinerary planning for our time in Australia. She has good deals on flights too. If she couldn't add to my deal I wouldn't transfer.

 

We do this when booking with Disney Cruise Line. Book direct and then transfer to a USA TA. But I haven't seen that ability here. You then get OBC from both sources. I do think that is changing though, not sure.

[Chunky2219]

Are these on-line TAs or the High Street variety? I'd love to find a shop with knowledgeable people who I could then have a face-to-face conversation with. Sadly, so far I've had no luck. Maybe I've been looking in the wrong place or even the wrong branch of shop :confused: I'm sure that with the growing number of Brits who now go cruising that there is an opening for specialist cruise shops. I know there are a few, but them seem very far apart. If there are any in my neck of the woods of Manchester I would like to know. I understand you can't give out names, but at least it would help me to keep looking. Google has not been very helpful.

The one I use is on-line, cruise only (although they'll sort out air connections, etc.) I'm what they call "time rich" so usually entertain myself by looking for the best possible deal but I've never managed to beat them and TBH sometimes don't even bother trying.

 

They are nearby to our home and I've visited the place, but now I just deal by telephone. As soon as I call, someone knows my name from the incoming number. On the off chance that it rings a little too long and I put the phone down, someone spots it and phones back anyway within half an hour. I have a named TA, just leave a message for her to ring back if she's already on the phone. Always helpful, always quick to get a reply back. But let me give you a few examples of the degree of service......

 

1. We cruised with some friends, one of whom had had a serious medical problem and insurance was a problem - a call got me an e-mailed list of specialist insures who will cover even centenarians and people with terminal conditions.

 

2. If I spot a price reduction on a cruise, I just make a call and it's sorted the cheapest possible way.

 

3. She's got a diary entry to chase up checking for an upgrade on a particular cruise when/if they suddenly come up.

 

4. Last year, serious medical issue myself with final payment date looming. Tried to give our cruise away to someone else but the Cunard rules prohibit it. She got us a short time extension on final payment in which time I could see another specialist and decide whether to transfer our booking to a later cruise within 12 months at no extra cost. Result - we continued with the cruise but booked the later one as well!

 

5. Got a phone call about 3 weeks before a cruise asking if we wanted to go to Q1 for a fairly modest price. We jumped at it. On the cruise, my wife is looking over our massive Q1 balcony and from a Q1 below she hears a very familiar accent. It's a chap who turns out to live about 2 miles from us and got the same phone call from the same TA.

 

6. Wanted to make advanced special dining bookings on a forthcoming Celebrity cruise at times not available on line. Phone call, job done.

 

7. I was looking at a penthouse booking on one of the smaller premium lines and picked a cabin. I got a call back saying, "Don't pick that cabin, it's not the best view and is overlooked but # NNNN is available and it's the best in that category with extra space outside"

 

I don't imagine you'd get any of that on the high street but it's a long time since I've used one so things might have changed. I do hear that the high street big boys will haggle down to an unbeatable price if you are aggressive enough though.

 

My only complaint is that their website search facility used to be good but now it's rubbish. I wrote to the main man, who apologised and said they'd fix it but two years later it's still rubbish. So I do all my searching on the Cunard site including picking the cabin we want then pick up the phone to the TA and get a better deal.

 

Sadly, all I can tell you is that they are not Manchester area.

 

 

 

.

Edited March 18, 2016 by Chunky2219
typo

[babs135]

Very impressive Chunky. We've never really built up rapport with a ta, although there is one firm we've used more than any other. Perhaps the answer is to be a bit more bold and ask straight out what can they do for us to make us 'loyal customers'. My late mum used to say 'if you don't ask the question, you don't know the answer'. I'm thinking she was right.

 

Right now I'm watching two cruises for the end of the year - DH and I slightly disagree on which one (could be the fact that there is a big price difference between the two :D), but I'm hopeful we will be able to book something.

[Solent Richard]

Hi. Apart from our first ever Cunard cruise, which was a last minute cheap booking though a TA, we have always booked direct with Cunard. Are there any benefits to using a TA for booking early? I know some do regularly but not sure why.

 

You pays your money and takes your chance.

 

Travel Agents will entice you with a small increase of On Board Credit or similar pecuniary offer but it is worth noting that all my Cunard upgrades have come when I have booked direct, including this...

 

http://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/11/21/solo-trans-atlantic-live-blog-day-2/

 

A Britannia Club upgrade from an Atrium view.

[Solent Richard]

Very impressive Chunky. We've never really built up rapport with a ta, although there is one firm we've used more than any other. Perhaps the answer is to be a bit more bold and ask straight out what can they do for us to make us 'loyal customers'. My late mum used to say 'if you don't ask the question, you don't know the answer'. I'm thinking she was right.

 

Right now I'm watching two cruises for the end of the year - DH and I slightly disagree on which one (could be the fact that there is a big price difference between the two :D), but I'm hopeful we will be able to book something.

 

I did once then they let me down. Loyalty to a TA didn't count.

 

They promptly lost 'thousands' in commission over the next three years.

[majortom10]

To be honest we shop around and book the cheapest as they basically all do the same job. I know what I want when I book so don't really need their advice and currently since the changes in commission when all Carnival corporation ships used to charge the same price whoever you booked with there is now some leeway so its a matter of ringing around TA's and finding the cheapest.

[david,Mississauga]

Having a good relationship with a TA is important to us. If things go well - all well and good. But when there a problems, a good TA will really fight your corner and we have been EXTREMELY grateful for this on a couple of occasions.

 

Ours has cruised for many, many years and knows all the ships personally, so can make recommendations.

 

For us, saving a few pounds is less important than the service we get - and the peace of mind, knowing someone is there ready and able to help if necessary.

 

Thank you; you said exactly what I was going to say. So many people look upon a travel agent only as someone who will save them $20 or £10 or give them a bottle of wine.

 

My cruise specialist TA has over 40 years experience and thanks to his contacts we were able to take a crossing on the last year of the QE2 that was sold out long in advance with a huge waiting list. There was another voyage we would not have been able to take without his diligent hard work and knowledge. The bon voyage gifts are appreciated, of course, but really they are not important.

[Cosmic Rays]

The one I use is on-line, cruise only (although they'll sort out air connections, etc.) I'm what they call "time rich" so usually entertain myself by looking for the best possible deal but I've never managed to beat them and TBH sometimes don't even bother trying.

 

They are nearby to our home and I've visited the place, but now I just deal by telephone. As soon as I call, someone knows my name from the incoming number. On the off chance that it rings a little too long and I put the phone down, someone spots it and phones back anyway within half an hour. I have a named TA, just leave a message for her to ring back if she's already on the phone. Always helpful, always quick to get a reply back. But let me give you a few examples of the degree of service......

 

1. We cruised with some friends, one of whom had had a serious medical problem and insurance was a problem - a call got me an e-mailed list of specialist insures who will cover even centenarians and people with terminal conditions.

 

2. If I spot a price reduction on a cruise, I just make a call and it's sorted the cheapest possible way.

 

3. She's got a diary entry to chase up checking for an upgrade on a particular cruise when/if they suddenly come up.

 

4. Last year, serious medical issue myself with final payment date looming. Tried to give our cruise away to someone else but the Cunard rules prohibit it. She got us a short time extension on final payment in which time I could see another specialist and decide whether to transfer our booking to a later cruise within 12 months at no extra cost. Result - we continued with the cruise but booked the later one as well!

 

5. Got a phone call about 3 weeks before a cruise asking if we wanted to go to Q1 for a fairly modest price. We jumped at it. On the cruise, my wife is looking over our massive Q1 balcony and from a Q1 below she hears a very familiar accent. It's a chap who turns out to live about 2 miles from us and got the same phone call from the same TA.

 

6. Wanted to make advanced special dining bookings on a forthcoming Celebrity cruise at times not available on line. Phone call, job done.

 

7. I was looking at a penthouse booking on one of the smaller premium lines and picked a cabin. I got a call back saying, "Don't pick that cabin, it's not the best view and is overlooked but # NNNN is available and it's the best in that category with extra space outside"

 

I don't imagine you'd get any of that on the high street but it's a long time since I've used one so things might have changed. I do hear that the high street big boys will haggle down to an unbeatable price if you are aggressive enough though.

 

My only complaint is that their website search facility used to be good but now it's rubbish. I wrote to the main man, who apologised and said they'd fix it but two years later it's still rubbish. So I do all my searching on the Cunard site including picking the cabin we want then pick up the phone to the TA and get a better deal.

 

Sadly, all I can tell you is that they are not Manchester area.

 

 

 

.

All very interesting, thanks!

How do you deal with point 2 though, without the need to cancel and rebook which is the problem I have at the moment with Celebrity and my TA? I'd need to cancel the air element too and flight added is now very expensive............

[Chunky2219]

All very interesting, thanks!

How do you deal with point 2 though, without the need to cancel and rebook which is the problem I have at the moment with Celebrity and my TA? I'd need to cancel the air element too and flight added is now very expensive............

Sadly, Celebrity have changed their policy. Before, if the price went down you got the price drop. I even got two drops on one cruise, the second one cost me a £15 admin fee and I had to provide an e-mail to confirm that the TA wasn't pocketing the money, but it all worked a treat and I save loads. It was a good reason why I was happy to book early with Celebrity.

 

Now, they've gone more Carnival Group and you don't get the drop. But because the deposit (UK) is only £150 it's still worth cancelling and re-booking, whereas with Cunard a 15% deposit kills it. I saved over £1k on our forthcoming Celebrity cruise when the deal changed to buy one, get one half price.

 

The sooner we get the same booking conditions in the UK as they do in the US the better. But don't hold your breath.

 

p.s. I always book air travel separately using a web screen scraper for the best deal. I've never found it to be good value to buy it included with a cruise, although that doesn't help you at all I'm afraid.

 

 

.

[Cosmic Rays]

Thanks for your reply.

I'll have another look and see whether it's worth all the hassle and the apparent very unfair rules and regulations here in the UK v US as we are doing a b2b - Med. then transatlantic repositioning. We'd need to change staterooms too I guess which is a nuisance because I am sure there wouldn't be much co-operation by Celebrity in doing this!

[majortom10]

Thank you; you said exactly what I was going to say. So many people look upon a travel agent only as someone who will save them $20 or £10 or give them a bottle of wine.

 

My cruise specialist TA has over 40 years experience and thanks to his contacts we were able to take a crossing on the last year of the QE2 that was sold out long in advance with a huge waiting list. There was another voyage we would not have been able to take without his diligent hard work and knowledge. The bon voyage gifts are appreciated, of course, but really they are not important.

 

As far as the UK is concerned I have phoned 5 different online cruise TA's and the difference for the same grade of suite is £266 so a fair saving for the same product and well worth shopping around. Unfortunately don't know what Cunard price is because they will not give me a price until new brochure for 2017/18 goes on sale.

[tv24]

We love, love, love our TA. He is not usually able to get us a fare any lower than what is offered by the line, but he is often able to negotiate upgrades and OBC, far beyond what the lines offer directly. And he is fun to work with. It amazes me that the cruise business is one of the very last parts of the travel industry that is so travel agent dependent. It works for us! I find that I get exhausted trying to work the cruise shopping system on my own, while I have no problem finding hotels, rental cars, air travel, tourist apartments, all on my own.