To TA or not to TA..that is the question

[Warm Breezes]

In recent years I have found a TA that gets me a lower rate plus about 10% OBC for our NCL cruises so I book with him. I have been getting Casino Rates on our CCL cruises that my TA cannot beat or give any OBC on so for those cruises I have been booking directly with CCL on-line. Having said that I joined a FB group for our next CCL cruise and when I decided to book another room for my kids I booked through a TA that created the FB group so they could get the benefits she was offering through her group she had going (the kids could not get the Casino deal I got on my room). In doing this that TA is including DH and I in some of her group only benefits as well.

 

So to TA or not to TA....depends on the situation and my research.

[gymbomb]

Why do you use a TA vs booking direct? I was warned by NCL that you won’t be eligible for an upgrade if you use a TA. They also told me if the cruise is canceled by NCL they give incentives and the TA sometimes keeps them.

 

Anyone with experience?

 

 

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I use a travel agent for several reasons. I've gotten upgrades (paid, with the system they had prior to the bidding thing). I've had a cruise cancelled and my TA was really helpful in getting our reservation switched to a different ship that still worked with our timing and keeping the valuable promos we had. If better promos or prices come out after we book, our TA will update our reservation to get them. Keeping incentives is NOT an issue if you use a respectable agent. Our is also a friend from a long time ago, so an additional reason for us is supporting a friend's small business, but over the years she/her agents have helped us with enough things that we see the value in continuing to use her.

[BostonGal35]

i like to be in control so i prefer to book direct with my PCC at NCL who is fantastic.

[Stealthdog]

I've used a TA every time. Usually get an additional perk (grats, excursion, dining) and/or OBC from the TA.

[Shoppie124]

I just talked to a TA. I was told because they are giving us a discount on the room, we don’t get latitudes points for the trip. It’s a Haven suite and they gave us around $600 off. Anyone ever hear of this?

 

 

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[buddylover]

]I find that the TA and NCL price to be similar[/color] -- so know your price before you book. The only thing the TA is good for is any additional discount they can offer. I think their commission rate is between 10-15% of the cruise cost.

 

The problem with the TA is if you need anything change' date=' they will have to call NCL on your behalf to do it..like a middleman so it can be annoying.[/color']

Right, I am under the same impression.....I don't believe that TA's can charge a different price from the cruise lines for the cruise itself. What a TA CAN DO is offer 'incentives' (like prepaid gratuities, OBC etc) that may not be offered by the cruise lines. But for sure, you do lose 'control' over your booking and ALL changes must be handled via the TA for you with the cruise lines. The cruise line won't talk to you or make any changes for you. We have done it both ways, it depends - if the 'perks' are good enough, we use the TA, if not we book direct and have a little more 'control' over our booking IMHO!!

[CruisingNole]

I don't think any of the cruise lines allow independent TAs to undercut the direct cruise line fare quotes.

 

NCL allows it. When pricing an NCL cruise, I always pull the price from the website and then immediately ask my TA to do the same. His dollar amount is always less. I then give him my credit card info and he calls NCL on behalf to make payment. Charge on card is directly from NCL.

 

RCCL is different. They do not allow a TA to give a cheaper price. BUT, they allow the TA to offer incentives like OBC.

 

Not sure about Carnival.

[graphicguy]

NCL allows it. When pricing an NCL cruise, I always pull the price from the website and then immediately ask my TA to do the same. His dollar amount is always less. I then give him my credit card info and he calls NCL on behalf to make payment. Charge on card is directly from NCL.

 

RCCL is different. They do not allow a TA to give a cheaper price. BUT, they allow the TA to offer incentives like OBC.

 

Not sure about Carnival.

 

Interesting. Just to keep everyone honest, once I choose a cruise, I usually look at 2-3 different sources and NCL to compare pricing and incentives.

 

I’ll have to keep an eye open for fare discrepancies.

 

So far, I haven’t seen any differences in the fares between NCL and the TAs.....just the incentives.

 

To the poster who has a TA telling them they can’t have Lattitudes points, I think that sounds a bit fishy. NCL gives you the points, not the TA. Don’t see how they can take them from you.

[steveweese]

i like to be in control so i prefer to book direct with my PCC at NCL who is fantastic.

Me too . Ours is the best. I would follow them to another line.

 

I have great one at Carnival also.

[ECCruise]

I kind of see it like you need to appear in court, whether for a charge or some other issue.

 

Do you "control the situation" by representing yourself or do you "give up control" by availing yourself of an attorney?

Even beside the fact that my TA(s) have saved us literally tens of thousands of dollars over the years, I prefer to have a third party represent me should a need arise (which it has several times in our cruising history).

 

Booking direct just doesn't make any sense, IMHO. But its great for the cruise line.

[islesdave]

Everyone sells cruises for the same price, whether it be direct from NCL, large online TA's or local, home-based or store-based TA's. As someone who knows a couple of very good home-based TAs with clients all over the country, they are worth their weight in gold. They do allow clients to bid on upgrades and agree that any TA that keeps clients' $ isn't going to be in business long. Travel guides and magazines say the average family vacation takes about 60 hours to plan.

Advantages

- Access to group space/incentives/extra perks. For example: I'm sailing in a studio cabin on the Bliss 1-19-19. My TA has group space on the ship and moved my FIT into the group space. My DSC and gratuities for the drink package are taken care of as being part of the group space (almost $200).

- Knowledge/Expertise.

- Clout with tour operators/cruise lines. If something was to go wrong with your vacation, there are people at NCL who the TAs have access to that the general public does not. They're more likely to handle issues promptly. I have seen the TA's message board, and posts with issues spread like wildfire. NCL is more likely to listen to a complaint coming from an agent who's a member of a community of 5000+ agents than an individual.

- Assistance with flights/hotels/other pre/post cruise plans.

 

 

Disadvantages:

- The TA must make changes on your behalf with NCL (or other cruise line/tour operator)

 

If you're interested, you can PM me and I'll forward you their contact info.

[pghflyer]

I have booked 2 NCL balcony cruises in the last few months and the "fare" on my invoice from my TA (one of the biggest agencies in US) was much lower on both itineraries from what was currently on the NCL website. The "free at sea" service charges were exactly the same, the taxes and fees were exactly the same, the NCL promo OBC was exactly the same.... the only differences were my lower fare, my extra OBC from my TA, and the notice that I wasn't eligible for the NCL upgrade program.

 

As I mentioned on the other thread I often have my agent drop things offered on the NCL site (distinctive voyages offers that don't interest me) in exchange for lower cruise fare. I have yet to see a way to do that on the NCL website.

Edited July 31, 2018 by pghflyer

[Toofarfromthesea]

 

If you're interested, you can PM me and I'll forward you their contact info.

 

This is a violation of the TOS.

[phl1331]

I use a TA mainly because my credit card offers cash back to book through them. I just login and go to their website and book myself. Fees are identical to NCL, but after sailing I get a credit, usually 10%, cash back to my credit card. I’ve had them send free dinners as well.

 

 

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[ray98]

Its free money. I usually save 6-7% by booking through a TA.

[Oldgoat61]

Why do you use a TA vs booking direct? I was warned by NCL that you won’t be eligible for an upgrade if you use a TA. They also told me if the cruise is canceled by NCL they give incentives and the TA sometimes keeps them.

 

Anyone with experience?

 

 

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I have used a TA for a number of years (at least 7 yrs), and I ALWAYS get the Latitude points that I should get. As far as the upgrade, on my last cruise on the Bliss, I was offered an upgrade, let your TA know you would like the offer (if you use one). I have also had a cruise cancelled, and NCL gave us two options, another cruise on the same ship, but a different itinerary, or our money back.

If you decide to use a TA, call several to find out how much experience they have had, and how long they have worked for that comp.. I learned this thru first hand experience. My TA always gets me additional perks, above and beyond what NCL is offering at the time. I can't give you their comp name, but it matches CC, and it is 6 letters long.:D

[CruisingNole]

Everyone sells cruises for the same price, whether it be direct from NCL, large online TA's or local, home-based or store-based TA's.

 

100%, absolutely, incorrect.

[CruisingNole]

The cruise line won't talk to you or make any changes for you.

 

They won't change your fare or cabin number, but they will change dining preferences, cancel things like water packages, etc.

 

In my experience, typically my only interaction with my TA after booking is to make final payment. Also one time there was a price drop a few weeks before the sailing, and he got me a free upgrade.

 

I suppose if you're "high maintenance" and need to constantly make changes and special requests to your booking, perhaps a TA is not for you. But for me, the minor inconvenience of taking 30 seconds to send an email and saying "process final payment" (he has my card on file) is worth the hundreds of dollars I save.

[Toofarfromthesea]

I just talked to a TA. I was told because they are giving us a discount on the room, we don’t get latitudes points for the trip. It’s a Haven suite and they gave us around $600 off. Anyone ever hear of this?

 

 

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How strange, you talk to NCL and reportedly they give you an answer that is complete nonsense.

 

Then you talk to a TA and reportedly are given an answer that is equally nonsensical in a different direction.

 

How strange.

[don't-use-real-name]

I just talked to a TA. I was told because they are giving us a discount on the room, we don’t get latitudes points for the trip. It’s a Haven suite and they gave us around $600 off. Anyone ever hear of this?

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I haven't heard of any shenanigans of that order - but if wouldn't amaze me that it goes on.

The fare discounts perks promos have no bearing on this.

 

You get -1- point for every night on the cruise.

You get -1- additional point every night in a Suite or better class stateroom (Haven).

Finally you get -1- more point for the Latitudes Rewards cruises

 

This is independent of all other deals OBC promos perks upgrades industry discounts bottles of beer on the wall

champagne bubbling in bucket etc.

 

The Latitudes Rewards Points are NCL's way of getting your attention for a return cruise and your business.

These representatives of NCL it's PCC and the industry TAs sure have a way with misconstruing information

making that return business questionable !

 

Good thing there is good-ole CC here for advice and past history information.

 

If your TA PCC or even NCL is giving misinformation time to find another agent or make another call for that

second (ah er third) opinion.

[newmexicoNita]

I've seen this statement many times from different cruisers and I'm curious. Do you make a lot of changes once you've chosen a cruise? How often do you need to contact NCL after you've booked a cruise?

 

I always use a TA & very rarely have a reason to contact them except when I want to make a payment. The few times I have made a change, it was a paid upgrade and a cabin change request which was handled more quickly than it would have taken for me to call NCL myself.

and they know where to call and who to talk with. I just have a hard time understanding why anyone would choose to not use a TA. Most, if they charge anything, it is very little. I have never heard of one that charges for making changes. I was surprised to hear someone refer to that. Our agent does charge $20 but she is absolutely outstanding. I have no idea how much money overall she has saved us.

 

Our experience just to clarify a few things some others have posted:

1-for anyone to claim you will not get your latitude points is crazy: of course you will.

 

2- only NCL offers TAs the ability to charge a lower rate: that also is false. No TA can offer a lower rate, but most have group space and that is why their prices are lower than NCL> This makes no difference what line you choose. Now, there are some Travel agency companies that take out more group space than others and I am sure some agents do not tell you why you are getting a lower rate or special perks.

Edited August 1, 2018 by newmexicoNita

[vince_g]

i like to be in control so i prefer to book direct with my PCC at NCL who is fantastic.

 

I like to save money, which is what my TA does for me. We saved $385 pp on our next cruise using a big box TA. Also got an extra $175 OBC from the TA. For that kind of money, I don't mind having a middle man involved. My TA has always responded promptly to any issue I had.

[CruisingNole]

I like to save money, which is what my TA does for me. We saved $385 pp on our next cruise using a big box TA. Also got an extra $175 OBC from the TA. For that kind of money, I don't mind having a middle man involved. My TA has always responded promptly to any issue I had.

 

Agreed. I always prefer to be in control but if going through a middle man that causes minor to no inconvenience will save me hundreds, I'm willing to let him/her take the reigns.

[vince_g]

I always deal with the same agent, and she does a great job. She even will add your reservation to a price drop tracking system, and get you any price drops that occur. This past April I wanted to pay for my next cruise a couple months early to get NCL MC world points for an upgrade. She advised paying in full would make me ineligible for price drops. This is something I would not have known, so I can say she also provides good advice. With the amount of money we saved over the NCL price, I didn't care. I feel confident the price will not drop from $1,549 to the $1164 we paid.

 

They charge no up front fees, but you will pay for changing cruises or cruise dates, or if you cancel. I can live with that. I imagine a lot of people book and cancel cruises all the time, but that is not me.

[don't-use-real-name]

The TA I work with gives out all the usual perks bonus OBC and stuff that goes with reserving a

reservation on NCL +PLUS+ added airline mileage from a major air carrier. Miles are doubled

tripled with certain cabin categories.

There is a small agency fee for doing each booking - all the other services are free.

Nice that this agency is a 24/7 operation for getting the best up to date information to keep up

with the changing cruise fares promos perks etc.

Now of course the TA agency can't be named - but it would not be hard to find out - key word

MILES

It is a plus to deal with a TA that takes frequent travel industry discount trips to know first hand

of the many cruise lines that are out there and what they have to offer in accommodations.