Price difference between travel agent and carnival website

[Evoevy1]

Ok so we asked a ta for some cruise prices and the price difference  is dramatic online for the same cruise is around 900 for balcony at her price it is 1300 can you help me understand why the dramatic price difference? We want to go as a group so we thought doing it through a ta would save us a headache but the prices are so different 

[navybankerteacher]

13 minutes ago, Evoevy1 said:

Ok so we asked a ta for some cruise prices and the price difference  is dramatic online for the same cruise is around 900 for balcony at her price it is 1300 can you help me understand why the dramatic price difference? We want to go as a group so we thought doing it through a ta would save us a headache but the prices are so different 

There is so much difference between “book” prices and what you actually pay - whether direct with the line or through an agent.   Of course a TA might initially mention a slightly higher price so she could come across as a hero for actually getting you a lower one - or giving you a big on board credit.   The only way to really compare is to simultaneously deal with both - pressing for real figures for the same accommodations.

[RocketMan275]

28 minutes ago, Evoevy1 said:

Ok so we asked a ta for some cruise prices and the price difference  is dramatic online for the same cruise is around 900 for balcony at her price it is 1300 can you help me understand why the dramatic price difference? We want to go as a group so we thought doing it through a ta would save us a headache but the prices are so different 

Are you sure they're quoting the same class of cabin?  Balcony prices vary based upon location on the ship.  Higher costs more.  More central locations cost more.  Obscured v. partially obscured v. not obscured.  Also Carnival has multiple options:  first to the fun; etc.  

 

Best you ask for a written quote detailing specific balcony categories, etc.

[MCC retired]

There is no rate that you can book on a cruise line website that can't be booked and enhanced by any TA ?

Must be some misunderstanding with what is being compared here.

 

Edited June 12, 2019 by MCC retired

[Evoevy1]

That’s the thing she doesn’t show us any of that she just says that’s the price carnival gave her doesn’t give us any details on what part of ship or anything at all I feel like something is off I did a mock booking online for mid floor balcony and it’s was around 900 and hers is set at 1300 

[MCC retired]

5 minutes ago, Evoevy1 said:

That’s the thing she doesn’t show us any of that she just says that’s the price carnival gave her doesn’t give us any details on what part of ship or anything at all I feel like something is off I did a mock booking online for mid floor balcony and it’s was around 900 and hers is set at 1300 

 Find another TA , you found a dummy or just an order taker .

A Good TA does not have to call CCL for prices , it is all done using their TA booking site . Pricing details  available immediately .

Edited June 12, 2019 by MCC retired

[ontheweb]

You beat me to it by a few minutes. Shop around for another TA. Hard to believe that a TA could not even tell you where on the ship the booking would be.

[Evoevy1]

That you all so much I knew something was odd definitely going to look for someone else 

[Robinsoncruiseso]

Also, a TA should be able to take an “option” or hold a particular cabin and give you an exact price. Be sure to compare apples to apples. Look for the category of cabin to be the same. 

[geoherb]

Here's hoping you find a good TA. I'm not loyal to one particular one. For my upcoming cruises, I went with an agency that was offering a better price than booking directly with the cruise line plus some onboard credit.

[donaldsc]

You need to see what is included.  Perhaps one does not include taxes and fees.

 

DON

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sure glad that we have a TA that gives us good prices -- and she always makes certain that she gives us the taxes and port fees as well as any perks that she is able to offer.

 

Hope you find a good TA.

[ontheweb]

14 hours ago, Evoevy1 said:

That you all so much I knew something was odd definitely going to look for someone else 

And come back to let us know how this works out for you.

[Luckiestmanonearth]

We are currently using a TA that’s not very good but we have no choice as we are using a cruise certificate that we bid on and won at a silent auction.

 

We had interest in booking Celebrity for 2020 and as we were going through the booking process, it was painful as the TA didn’t understand Celebrity bookings and was learning as we were going through this (very frustrating the TA didn’t bring more to the table)

[KmomChicago]

For Carnival I have not found TA prices to be better than booking on Carnival direct. For Royal I have. There are also online agencies that allow you to compare side by side and some private agents with YouTube or blog ads claiming only be able to get you great deals for various lines they specialize in. Have not used but maybe worth a try.  If you visit YouTube to see video tours of your chosen ship you may find one from a pro.

[Warm Breezes]

When I call my TA I have already done the preliminary work on-line.  I already know the details of what I want right down to the cabin # and on-line price for that cabin on the cruise line website including port fees and taxes.  I then get my TA to price that cabin for me.  If he has a group on that cruise he can usually get me a discounted group cruise rate plus OBC.  Normally he gets me a OBC of 10% of the cruise fare...unless I have a casino package offer from the cruise line.  Then he usually can't beat that rate or give me OBC.  When I get a great casino rate package, I don't even bother to call him now.  I just book it myself on-line.  I've never gone to my TA with a group wanting to cruise before, but I am positive my TA would come up with a lower group than what was offered on-line.  If I were you, I would be looking for a new TA....but do your research first so you know if you are getting a better deal or not.

[SantaFeFan]

Many are suggesting finding a "good TA". With CruiseCritic forbidding us to name TAs, I am at a loss as to how to find them. What are suggestions for finding those TAs?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[RocketMan275]

10 minutes ago, SantaFeFan said:

Many are suggesting finding a "good TA". With CruiseCritic forbidding us to name TAs, I am at a loss as to how to find them. What are suggestions for finding those TAs?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Ultimately, it comes down to this.  Ask people who they use.  Call TA and ask about their policies including discounts.  It's basically detective work.  Or, you can do what I did which was to read CC and watch for people who make mistakes and who do mention their TA by name.  Then call and ask.

 

BTW, internet searches are next to worthless since most TA cannot advertise prices lower than the Cruise Line rates.  You have to call.

 

Oh, and search for threads about TA.  Sometimes you'll find some good hints or you may actually find what you're looking for.

[Warm Breezes]

4 hours ago, SantaFeFan said:

Many are suggesting finding a "good TA". With CruiseCritic forbidding us to name TAs, I am at a loss as to how to find them. What are suggestions for finding those TAs?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

It took me a while before I found the one I used.  It may take some trial and error for you.  My suggestion would be to do your research first and know what you want and how much the cruise line is charging for it.  Then go to a site that gives you competing cruise quotes from different TA's, put in what you are looking for, get some competing quotes.  Read the reviews for those TA's and read their terms.  I used a couple different TA's before I found one that was consistently giving me the best deals, had good reviews, and worked well with me. 

 

Since you are doing a group deal, maybe not use the cruise are looking at but a couple other dates/ships to find a TA that is constantly giving you good rates and has good ratings and good terms.  Then call that one, or more than one TA if a few look good, without using the quote site you were doing your research on,  for your sailing date and ship you are looking at to see what kind of group deal you can get.  You could use this method to if you were looking to book just one booking too I guess.  I just used the quote site my first few times until I found my current TA that I liked a lot  and he told me if I get a quote from him through the quote site he loses a part of his commission to the quote site so I no longer use it now that I have found him and have been happy with his services.

[Warm Breezes]

4 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Ultimately, it comes down to this.  Ask people who they use.  Call TA and ask about their policies including discounts.  It's basically detective work.  Or, you can do what I did which was to read CC and watch for people who make mistakes and who do mention their TA by name.  Then call and ask.

 

BTW, internet searches are next to worthless since most TA cannot advertise prices lower than the Cruise Line rates.  You have to call.

 

Oh, and search for threads about TA.  Sometimes you'll find some good hints or you may actually find what you're looking for.

Internet searches are good if you use the quote sites getting competing quotes from different TA's.  Then it is not an "advertised" rate but a personalized quote.

Edited June 13, 2019 by Warm Breezes

[TxCityKat]

5 hours ago, SantaFeFan said:

Many are suggesting finding a "good TA". With CruiseCritic forbidding us to name TAs, I am at a loss as to how to find them. What are suggestions for finding those TAs?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

Check out the Cruise Critic article titled Finding a Cruise Travel Agent at https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=62