Travel Agent quetion

[DD]

Did you look at princess.com to see if one is available? Might just want to start there.

 

Personally in todays world it seems to me travel agents are really not needed anymore. You can do all your research and book anything you want online and for a better price. Half the fun is doing your own research.

 

Depending on which study you read, anywhere from 75% - 90% of today's cruisers use a travel agent. Apparently, you are in the minority. Furthermore, if you book directly with the cruiseline, you generally will pay more than you would if you booked through an agent. So, it's your choice, pay more or pay less. At least 3 out of every 4 cruisers sees the benefit of using a travel agent.

[DD]

Deleted...duplicate again!

[negc]

Did you look at princess.com to see if one is available? Might just want to start there.

 

Personally in todays world it seems to me travel agents are really not needed anymore. You can do all your research and book anything you want online and for a better price. Half the fun is doing your own research.

 

That's all well and good if you don't encounter any problems with your booking or with your cruise. If something unfortunate happens, who will best represent your interests in dealing with the cruiseline? Who will know which person in the cruiseline bureaucracy to contact to resolve your problem and whose business do you think the cruiseline values more, yours as a single customer, or your TA who may bring them thousands of dollars of business year in and year out? In today's world things are sometimes more complex than they appear on the surface and the experience and knowledge provided by a good travel agent can often prove invaluable. There is more to successfully booking a cruise than just finding the lowest price. Nothing about using the services of a good TA prevents you from experiencing the fun of doing your own research, but a good TA is a good resource for that research.

[sonomaphil]

Depending on which study you read, anywhere from 75% - 90% of today's cruisers use a travel agent. Apparently, you are in the minority. Furthermore, if you book directly with the cruiseline, you generally will pay more than you would if you booked through an agent. So, it's your choice, pay more or pay less. At least 3 out of every 4 cruisers sees the benefit of using a travel agent.

 

 

No, I don't book directly with the cruise line, prices are always higher than and travel website. I'm sure we will get into semantics over what is a travel agent and what is a travel agency. I think the OP wants an actual person to talk too. I found I can do it all online, no need to call an agent.

 

If you do some research you will find that by comparing online sites you soon will notice which are constantly less than the others. Cruiscompete.com is a great place to start research. Get a quote from them then try and call various so-called "real" or "land based" travel agents. 90 percent of the time their price is not even close.

 

When you do get a ***** quote, check out who they are coming from. The online discount agencies always beat "Joe's Travel of Long Island" and the such. And usually by a wide margin.

 

Once you have that ***** quote, go to that companies web site and check their price, not using the ***** quote. Once again 90% of the time the quote will be the same or very close.

 

You can call an agent if you like from the company that provided you the lowest quote but I find it easier just to enter my info in online and buy there. When I have use a "live" travel agent, inevitably they spell a name wrong or put in a wrong bedding type or the like. Little things I know, but when I'm in control these things don't happen. Now Princess sends out all the docs anyways, so what does the travel agent do besides take an order for me?

 

I don't need hand holding nor do I need to pay higher prices. Same holds true for hotels, car rentals and airplane tickets.

 

And I know I might have just opened up a can of worms. Sorry about that.

[takeavacation]

No, I don't book directly with the cruise line, prices are always higher than and travel website. I'm sure we will get into semantics over what is a travel agent and what is a travel agency. I think the OP wants an actual person to talk too. I found I can do it all online, no need to call an agent.

 

If you do some research you will find that by comparing online sites you soon will notice which are constantly less than the others. Cruiscompete.com is a great place to start research. Get a quote from them then try and call various so-called "real" or "land based" travel agents. 90 percent of the time their price is not even close.

 

When you do get a ***** quote, check out who they are coming from. The online discount agencies always beat "Joe's Travel of Long Island" and the such. And usually by a wide margin.

 

Once you have that ***** quote, go to that companies web site and check their price, not using the ***** quote. Once again 90% of the time the quote will be the same or very close.

 

You can call an agent if you like from the company that provided you the lowest quote but I find it easier just to enter my info in online and buy there. When I have use a "live" travel agent, inevitably they spell a name wrong or put in a wrong bedding type or the like. Little things I know, but when I'm in control these things don't happen. Now Princess sends out all the docs anyways, so what does the travel agent do besides take an order for me?

 

I don't need hand holding nor do I need to pay higher prices. Same holds true for hotels, car rentals and airplane tickets.

 

And I know I might have just opened up a can of worms. Sorry about that.

 

I am a TA and I agree with you -- you're not the client I want. You would drive me insane. However -- cruises, airline tickets and hotels are simple things to arrange. If you were booking a 3 week, several country trip thru Europe...you might need someone to help you. Someone that has great confidence that you aren't going to be standed somewhere - you will have a seat on the train, you will have a flight from destination A to destination B, there will be a private guide to escort you thru a site -- getting you to the really great parts before the crowds arrive. If you're spending 30K on your trip -- you'd probably want a little hand holding too. JMO -- but, my clients would back me up on this!

[sonomaphil]

I am a TA and I agree with you -- you're not the client I want. You would drive me insane.

 

Insane? LOL How so? All I'd do is tell you what to book, give you my info and then you'd never hear from me again. 5 minute phone call.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

No, I don't book directly with the cruise line, prices are always higher than and travel website. I'm sure we will get into semantics over what is a travel agent and what is a travel agency. I think the OP wants an actual person to talk too. I found I can do it all online, no need to call an agent.

 

If you do some research you will find that by comparing online sites you soon will notice which are constantly less than the others. Cruiscompete.com is a great place to start research. Get a quote from them then try and call various so-called "real" or "land based" travel agents. 90 percent of the time their price is not even close.

 

When you do get a ***** quote, check out who they are coming from. The online discount agencies always beat "Joe's Travel of Long Island" and the such. And usually by a wide margin.

 

Once you have that ***** quote, go to that companies web site and check their price, not using the ***** quote. Once again 90% of the time the quote will be the same or very close.

 

You can call an agent if you like from the company that provided you the lowest quote but I find it easier just to enter my info in online and buy there. When I have use a "live" travel agent, inevitably they spell a name wrong or put in a wrong bedding type or the like. Little things I know, but when I'm in control these things don't happen. Now Princess sends out all the docs anyways, so what does the travel agent do besides take an order for me?

 

I don't need hand holding nor do I need to pay higher prices. Same holds true for hotels, car rentals and airplane tickets.

 

And I know I might have just opened up a can of worms. Sorry about that.

 

 

can I assume that when you refer to travel agents you are referring to brick and mortar places?

 

I agree that brick and mortar places can't compete with the large online volume agencies since the b & m places are usually doing business in their area where they are located and with their overheads and lower volumes can't compete as far as pricing goes.

 

Online large volume agencies and agencies that deal with ***** are still travel agents whether you want to admit that or not.

 

I know..."semantics".

 

Bill

[DD]

I'm with Bill, semantics....

 

Online agencies ARE real travel agencies, whether brick & mortars like to admit it or not. Research the onlines -- they are normally divisions of, or owned by, large travel agencies. It's just another way of doing business. Their agents typically have a high bar to hit before their hired. The online agencies don't just take Joe Consumer off the street and hire them. You have to be an agent with several years experience before many online agencies will even look at your resume. Whether you're using an agent from down the street or an agent from an online agency, you'll save money over going directly to the cruiseline.

[Susie51]

DeRon, what did you mean by "lol"? Do you think it was a mistake to book directly through Princess?

 

I like being able to talk to someone directly about my questions instead of waiting for a travel agent get back to me.

[ssantow]

I found this quite interesting:

The average "agent" from an online mega-agency (I could list them here but the post would just get deleted) gets a total of two or three hours training and most of that is on how to fill out the computer form. A CLIA certified travel agent has hundreds of hours of training and years of experience.

Would you rather have a hospital orderly or a qualified surgeon doing your brain surgery?

I could easily research and book on my own, and just maybe save a few pennies, but I prefer to know that when (not if) things go wrong, I will have a competent professional making sure it is fixed and fixed right.

Nope, I'll stick with a travel agent any day of the week. They represent me and get paid by the cruise line. What a deal.

[Toto2Kansas]

Stan, I thought YOU WERE a travel agent?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

DeRon, what did you mean by "lol"? Do you think it was a mistake to book directly through Princess?

 

I like being able to talk to someone directly about my questions instead of waiting for a travel agent get back to me.

 

if you find that it is worth $100 on up to deal directly with the cruiseline then I don't think you made the wrong choice.

 

I like having an advocate in case there are snafus.

 

I like saving my hard earned money even more.

 

Bill

[cruzzers]

All good points here! We ALWAYS find better deals with our TA. We usually book onboard with Princess and transfer it to the TA. We were even told by Princess on our last cruise that we would want to book through our TA because they already had a large group booking rate going. WE book early with Princess and do our homework and research and transfer it to our TA. Easy as pie and we save lots of money that way.

[ssantow]

Stan, I thought YOU WERE a travel agent?

 

Sue SHHHHHHHHH... you are not supposed to mention that on these boards.

[DeRon]

Are all of the agents at Princess Commodores?

That was my what I was "LOL" about. It hit me as funny. Wouldn't all Princess people be "commodores"? Maybe not.

[Karen Lynn]

Commodore here! Ha, have to love that Title! My 15 minutes of fame!

 

So, though I like to think I am pretty proficient on Princess, I still sell all the other Cruiselines as well! I must consider the needs and type of passenger, where they have been, where they want to go, what they want from a cruise and on and on. Because I did an online training course does not mean that PCL is right for everyone!

[ssantow]

That was my what I was "LOL" about. It hit me as funny. Wouldn't all Princess people be "commodores"? Maybe not.

 

I really doubt all TA's have taken the full course so, no they are not all Commodores. Here is an outline of the required courses that one must pass in order to achieve each of the ranks on the way to Commodore.

 

Of cource I suspect the way the boards have been acting that this table may not show up properly

 

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTSCOURSES PER RANK

First Officer 4 required 1 elective 5 total

Staff Captain 2 required 4 elective 11 total

Captain 3 required 4 elective 18 total

Commodore 3 required 3 elective 1 final course 25 total

 

Here is a list of the courses

 

Dining Options

Onboard Experience

Destinations

Customer Service

Fleet

Australia, New Zealand & Asia

Alaska Cruises & Cruiseruisetours

Caribbean

Europe

Hawaii & Tahiti

New Itineraries 07 & 08

Princess Groups

Onboard Future Cruise Sales

Promotions & Marketing

Direct Marketing

Selling Luxury Travel

Weddings at Sea

Agency & Guest FAQs

Special Services & Gifts

Selling Skills

FlightChoice, Transfers, and Princess Travel Care

Voyage Preparation

POLAR Online

Princess.com - A Selling Resource

Princess eTickets

Canada & New England

Mexican Riviera

Panama Canal

South America

Princess Cruisetours

Princess Captain's Circle

C.R.U.I.S.E - Onboard Customer Svc

Youth & Teen Program

Graduation Course

[Karen Lynn]

Working on my Cunard Academy now I am reminded how much work this all was/is seeing this thread and it all laid before me!

 

LOTS to remember...

[DD]

I found this quite interesting:

The average "agent" from an online mega-agency (I could list them here but the post would just get deleted) gets a total of two or three hours training and most of that is on how to fill out the computer form.

 

That's just not true anymore. Perhaps at one time it was but it's not today's reality. I've been on both sides. I've been brick & mortar and I've been online. They each have their distinct advantages both from a customer perspective and from an agent perspective. One is not better than the other -- they are just different business models. My professionalism and customer service skills were the same regardless of the selling environment. If you come in to my office and talk to me or if you contact me over the phone & via email, I'm going to treat you with the same competent and ethical level of professionalism.

 

Try applying for a job at an online mega-agency. You must have, at minimum, several years experience in the industry. If you're not an experienced agent, don't even bother submitting a resume. They don't take people off the street and give them "two or three hours training". If you're not already a competent travel agent, there are plenty of other people who are who apply for that same job with the online agency. That's today's reality. It's a myth to think that TAs who choose to work for an online agency are not "real" TAs.

 

For what it's worth, one of the things that I liked most about working for an online agency was the level of professionalism among my coworkers. It was an environment where education and training were valued and mandatory. While working for the online agency, I was inspired to get my ECCS and CTA because I wanted the same levels of education, certification, and professionalism that I saw in many of my coworkers--many of them had their MCC, ECC, CTA, or CTC. Last time I checked, in 2006 there were fewer than a couple dozen agents in the US and Canada combined that had earned their ECCS from CLIA--I earned it. The ECCS is CLIA's pinnacle certification, certainly not something that an agent with "two to three hours training" could attain.The CTA is another mark of professionalism that many agents never invest the time or money in to complete, yet I did. My sales last year put me in the top 10% of travel agents nationwide according to a study done by The Travel Institute. Does that challenge your perception of online agents at all?