Does booking with RCI direct give any benefit?

[CarolynFH]

We’re planning to book the April 22 sailing of the Liberty OTS and trying to decide whether to book through RCI or an agency. Does booking direct with RCI bring any benefits? Are prices for drink and internet packages different depending on how we book? Anything else to consider other than bottom-line price and OBC? Thanks!

[dplusd]

Only benefit of booking direct with RCI is you will have total control over your booking. Pricing for on board items like specialty restaurants, drink packages, etc. is the same booking direct or with a TA. A TA may be able to offer better group pricing and/or other benefits like OBC.

 

We tend to book direct with RCI and transfer the booking to a TA during the first 60 days for some added perks. If you are high maintenance...meaning you frequently look for price changes or room changes, then I would book direct with RCI so you can contact them directly.

[Ashland]

Only benefit of booking direct with RCI is you will have total control over your booking. Pricing for on board items like specialty restaurants, drink packages, etc. is the same booking direct or with a TA. A TA may be able to offer better group pricing and/or other benefits like OBC.

 

We tend to book direct with RCI and transfer the booking to a TA during the first 60 days for some added perks. If you are high maintenance...meaning you frequently look for price changes or room changes, then I would book direct with RCI so you can contact them directly.

I have always booked directly with RCI and I couldn't be further from "high maintenance"..... just not interested in a 3rd party being involved or a few extra perks .... not worth it to me in the long run. JMHO

[Clarea]

We’re planning to book the April 22 sailing of the Liberty OTS and trying to decide whether to book through RCI or an agency. Does booking direct with RCI bring any benefits? Are prices for drink and internet packages different depending on how we book? Anything else to consider other than bottom-line price and OBC? Thanks!

Another advantage of booking direct as opposed to many travel agents is 24/7 customer service, so anytime you see a price drop (rare as they might be), you can call and get the lower price. With some agencies, if you see a price drop on the weekend, you might have to wait until Monday to call, and by then the price drop might be gone.

[Iowa_Vike]

Always booked direct with RCI. DId aTA once with Carnival but felt like I had no control over choices. Booking direct for me is the way to go. Skip the middle man.

[jchiefs13]

I too like having control and not needing to work things through a middle man (price drops, other requests like for a pack and play in the room etc). Now, I have once or twice booked a last minute cruise where it was already into the final payment window. At that point I don't mind looking to see if I can snag an extra perk from somewhere. However, when you then book a next cruise onboard they try to assign that to whomever you used and it's a pain in the butt to switch it.

-Judy

[Optifire]

I always book directly with RCCL. Years ago I used a TA and when I had seen that the price of the cruise had come down drastically (savings of $500.00 for my husband and I) I called the TA and told them. They checked on it and said that RCCL would not allow me to have it. I called RCCL directly and asked them why and they said I could have the discount, but it is up to the decision of the TA to give it to me. When I called the TA back, they still maintained that it was RCCL that was blocking it. I never received the discount and it was too close to the sailing to cancel. I would loose more money then the discount was worth so I was stuck. So for that reason, I have booked my own reservations directly with the cruise line ever since. I have control of the reservation. If I am up at 1AM and see a price drop, I call RCCL and they are happy to give it to me. After I book the cruise with RCCL I watch the cruise price everyday on the internet and as soon as I see a lower price or an added On Board Credit appear, I call to have it added to my account. It is fun to watch it and makes the time pass quickly. I have found that booking a cruise like a year or so ahead will give you some good price drops and added on board credits as the cruise gets closer.

,

[marci22]

If you will be booking past final (90 days) I would probably use a TA because you are most likely going to take this cruise. The one I uses usually gives free gratuities for the first two in the room and some amount of OBC based on the cruise price.

 

If the cruise is a long time in the future, I usually like to book it direct. This way I can cancel, change names, request price adjustments, without having to go through the TA.

[scott2165]

I tried to get a travel agent on an upcoming cruise was unable to get anyone to beat the price posted on the RCCL website. OBC was the same as well.

 

I've had no issue booking directly each time I've cruised. It's nice to be able to log on and see your balance and purchased extras as well as shop for what you want to add at any hour of the day.

 

I just can't seem to find the benefit for us to use an agent on a cruise. I could see using one for a land vacation, but a cruise is so easy to set up yourself.

[gerelmx]

TA denied to us the Silhouette B2B and Eclipse B2B2B discounts, if I call to RCI/Celebrity they say you need to call your TA, next booking will try directly

[Shippy]

We are Diamond Plus and have ALWAYS booked through an internet agency and gotten a better deal. Always had great service.

The only exception... a few times, including the other day...we booked through Club Royale. This is Royal's casino club. If you are a member, you can always call them to see if they can give you an additional discount.

[cruisegoal100]

Would never book direct with cruise line because their insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. As you get older something to consider. Also we have always received extra money or perks from TA.

[Clarea]

Would never book direct with cruise line because their insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. As you get older something to consider. Also we have always received extra money or perks from TA.

You can book direct with the cruise line and still get third party insurance.

[Nemomof3]

We have only booked with a TA once it was a group cruise so it was our only option to be in the activities. I called 2 or 3 times with questions and it always took over 24 hours to get a response. Maybe because she knew we couldn't change but either way I prefer to book direct so I can call for price changes and get an answer Now not when they get time.

[NotTheBatesMotel]

We’ve used a TA the last couple times (& also for my wedding cruise) but we usually book past final payment/close to the sailing date. Although I do enjoy controlling the reservation, I enjoy the perks (ours typically gives a free bottle of wine to the stateroom and OBC). I was still able to book shows on Allure, excursions and drink packages without calling her.

[parrotfeathers]

I'm one of those who would rather book on my own and have control over my reservation. To me it is worth giving up whatever a TA offers.

[CarolynFH]

Thanks, everyone! Your replies were very helpful! Now we're booked - and I'll probably be asking more questions soon!

[OKCcruiser8]

We have always booked with a TA & had great results. We use AAA travel & never get charged an extra fee. Our TA watches the pricing every day & always gets us a price drop, at some point. We've never once felt like we weren't in control of anything we did. She's booked excursions for us & soda & drink packages. She prints off all our cruise documentation & boarding passes a month before our cruise. All we have to do is swing by & pick it up. Great perks like OBC & complimentary champagne have always been included. On our last cruise, we also received complimentary chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us because the RC rep had walked in while we were making final payment. One big advantage to booking with a TA is not having to deal with RC reps over the phone. With as many complaints as I see on CC about them, that makes it more than worth it to me.

[JillL]

Another advantage of booking direct as opposed to many travel agents is 24/7 customer service, so anytime you see a price drop (rare as they might be), you can call and get the lower price. With some agencies, if you see a price drop on the weekend, you might have to wait until Monday to call, and by then the price drop might be gone.

 

To comment on the "rare as they might be" comments... we booked our cruise in August, it has dropped four or five times already. Albeit, small amounts each time but a total savings of $350.00. I prefer to be able to call directly (for the aforementioned reason).

[Clarea]

To comment on the "rare as they might be" comments... we booked our cruise in August, it has dropped four or five times already. Albeit, small amounts each time but a total savings of $350.00. I prefer to be able to call directly (for the aforementioned reason).

That's great to get so many price drops. I've not been so fortunate. I prefer to send one email to my travel agent and have her deal with Royal.

[2Long2NxtCrz]

I know I'm late to the party, but maybe my experience will help you a bit?

 

I'm kind of a control freak and, since I'm in the transportation industry, I'm very familiar with travel. So I started booking everything myself directly with RCI. I was satisfied that I got the best price available (I'd check online prices through other sites as well), so everything was good.

 

Then, last year, for our 30th anniversary, hubby and I booked a 12-day Med cruise and we worked with a RC Travel "Specialist" when we booked. She was very accommodating and promised anniversary gifts in the room upon arrival and a few other things that never materialized. I feel as though once they got our money, they no longer cared about our business. And, since, we were given our flights by a dear friend using his frequent flier miles, they made no money there, either.

 

I was just quite put off by the promises and the lack of follow through.

 

I stumbled across a travel agent that I've now worked with for myself on three upcoming cruises, including for a friend who is coming along on our family cruise in June and recommended her to a co-worker. So far, she is brilliant. She is actively watching our cruises for price drops and has more than once contacted me with lower fares (but the non-refundable nature didn't make it desirable for me). We've gotten extra OBC and I can still be my usual control freak and book drink packages, entertainment, and excursions online with RC (when their website is working). So, for me, it's a win-win.

 

And, our TA encouraged me to book my next cruise while on board to take advantage of the amazing offers they have and then transfer them to her. It's what I've done and plan to keep doing.

 

I hope that helps!

[JMG]

We also fall into the book direct group!

 

Our last cruise was booked with an internet TA because they were the only ones that offered the stateroom category that we like to book. Okay fine. We were booked. We were told that we could purchase insurance with them and it would be a third party insurance, XYZ. Great.

 

We were not totally happy with the stateroom location but when we booked..it was all that was available. Later, things opened up...the TA refused to help us get a better location...obviously, the new location was not in "their inventory'! So, we had to settle for what we got upon booking.

 

Less than a week before the cruise we got an email from the TA suggesting that we go online and do the online check in. Seriously? Is this not something that a TA would do for you Obviously...NO! It did not matter since I had done the online check in a few weeks ago!

 

There was snow the day we were to fly to Miami....we had complications that cost a few extra bucks but we made it to Miami and were able to board the ship. All day long we were thinking of the "what if's!" Fortunately, we did not have to fly to the first port and stay in a hotel and wait for the ship.

 

When we returned from the cruise we contacted the TA to ask about how to file a claim with the insurance co for our trip interruption costs. We were given the phone # for XYZ. XYZ asked us for our policy#. Ohhh...okay look on your credit card statement, it should be written there....Ahhhh. No. So we called the TA back and got a different person that told us that they had purchased our insurance through RCI! WHAT !!! A total misrepresentation of what our "TA" had previously sold us.

 

As it stands..we have asked RCI if their insurance will cover our trip interruption expenses and we are still waiting for an answer. Fortunately...we did not have major expenses...

[paper1122]

We considered booking though AAA but even with their added perks their prices were higher then booking direct.

[riclop]

No you get less.

[Pumbaamd]

We book direct with RCCL, usually on board, for many of the reasons posted above. On weekends when TA's are closed, we've seen price changes and new/better cabins available. Often a JS will open up for just a few $$ more than a regular balcony. Grab those quick. They will be gone by Monday a.m. Works quite well for us to call and make the changes.

Rick and Deirdra.