Booking direct versus using a TA

[whatawonderfulworld]

For all of my previous cruises I've booked directly through the cruise line. My brother returned from a 20 day HAL cruise yesterday which he had booked directly as well. However some of his fellow passengers, who had booked through a travel agent indicated they received on board credits, bottles of champagne, etc.

 

Now this has both of us wondering if there is a difference between booking direct or going through a travel agent. I try to be an educated consumer, gather my information and then make my reservation. I admit that I'm a real freshman at this, which is why I come here. Many of you have years of experience in booking.

 

So I come here with this question - what is your preference, and why, when booking - going direct or using a travel agent?

 

Thank you in advance for your responses.

 

Ciao,

 

W A W W

 

p.s. I tried to use the "search" function up top, all to no avail.

[mikenjane]

I'd say use a TA. We've always saved $200-300 and received an upgrade, bottle of wine, or some little perk.

[DiannaInVA]

What you can do is book directly with the cruise line but do NOT make your final payment right away. This way you can control your reservation (change rooms, upgrade, get price decreases, etc) up until final payment.

 

Find a travel agent you like (that gives perks like OBC). The one I use gives a credit ($50 for reg room, $100 for balc) upon final payment.

 

Once you find a travel agent that will give you something and doesn't cost any money (ask, about both), you can transfer your reservation to them before final payment.

 

However, once they have control of your reservations, if you notice the price has gone down, you'll need to contact them to have them call your cruise line. This could be a problem if you can't get a in touch with them during the lower price...then the price increases again before you can contact them.

 

I plan on doing that for the cruise I have in Apr of next year. I'll have control of it until next Feb, then right before final payment, I'll send it to my TA, and get a $100 credit and a bottle of wine. I'm not too worried about price going down at that point since that trip is rare, and will probably be sold out.

[texasnana]

i have used travel agents in my town... all 5 of them and never got a perk on my other travel trips ( not cruise) so what do i ask a TA do you give me perks to book???? or do i go out of town to one that you all use to get those perks??

[woodmill100]

The American Travel Agents must be fantastic. We don't get anything like that here in the UK. They just take your money and run.

[DiannaInVA]

i have used travel agents in my town... all 5 of them and never got a perk on my other travel trips ( not cruise) so what do i ask a TA do you give me perks to book???? or do i go out of town to one that you all use to get those perks??

 

Not sure...my TA belongs to a nationwide auto/travel agency. It might be only the big agencies that can afford the perks.

[goofysmom99]

We had a horrible TA who had been good at one time, but had become argumentative and uncooperative. They also instituted a hefty cancellation fee, which finally broke the camel's back. We found our present TA by word of mouth from these boards. Everytime I noticed a post about someone's good experience with a TA, I tried to contact that poster. I emailed several folks and found out who they used. We chose the one that seemed to have the greatest following. After our first cruise with the TA, we then received OBCs for future bookings. Sometimes I make the reservations directly with the cruise line and transfer them, sometimes directly with the TA. If it's the middle of the night when I see a cruise and/or cabin I really want, I book online and transfer it the next business day. On our last cruise, we had $200 from Celebrity for making our reservation while onboard a previous cruise, $250 for owning stock, $200 from our TA, and $300 from Celebrity for a cancelled port. We'd never had such a large OBC. . .we didn't have to pay for a thing! Used all the OBCs for our tips and cash in the casino, which we then used ashore.

 

Also, this TA contacted us by email in Barcelona, 2 days before our cruise in November, wanting to know if we'd like an aft balcony that had just opened up! No one has ever done that before for us. And on another cruise last Fall, after we had made final payment, we received a credit on our charge card for $575. . .we had no idea that they'd lowered the price, but she did and took care of us. So we're quite happy for now. If her service ever wanes, we'll change again, but, so far, so good.

[Jill SC]

We've booked through an internet site and found that certain cruise lines at certain times will offer shipboard credits or perks.

[pegjl]

Everytime I noticed a post about someone's good experience with a TA, I tried to contact that poster. I emailed several folks and found out who they used. We chose the one that seemed to have the greatest following.

Can I ask whick TA you are using?

[Mike11]

We use a TA. I have a very experienced TA that I use to book everything. I find a good deal on a cruise on the internet, and the TA usually matches it. The travel agency that I use, and that he owns, has been in the family for years. If he cannot match the price, he comes very close. I value him for his experience and his advice, if not the lowest price. If a problem occurs, its his problem, not mine. He handles it. He also provides such things as on-board credit, bottles of wine, and complementaty specialty restrauant reservations. He may not provide the absolutely cheapest price, but he provides a competitive price with extra perks. And, I can sit down and discuss our next trip face to face.

[NCJennifer]

I either book through an on-line travel agency or the cruise line directly. For our upcoming cruise, the on-line travel agency beat everyone else's price by over $200 pp!! I would rather use a local TA, but only if the price is comparable.

[GOODGAME]

I have been very frustrated by RCCL/Celebrity in the past year. They have started inforcing a policy they claim is years old. Once the reservation belongs to a travel agent, they will tell you absolutely nothing about a reservation. This was fine as long as the cruise line could be trusted to do the reservation correctly. When I am paying over ten thousand for something, I think they should talk to me if I ask. Is this true for all cruise lines?

[lovely12no]

Hi. I sure would appreciate knowing who your fine TA is. What is the appropriate protocol for sharing of this type of information? Thank you kindly for your assistance! Susan ..... My email is giffer2u@verizon.net

[POOHISME2]

I book direct through cruise line, get my cabin then swith the reservation to the TA who will offer the lowet price and the best OBC and perks. ;)

[EggDropErin]

I use a TA. I like having someone local to meet with face to face and to fight my battles should any arise (which thankfully they haven't). My TA is able to get our price reductions, change our rooms, etc. I know her well and trust her, so it's a lot easier for me to deal with her than to deal with a stranger over the phone.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We always book through a travel agent that we have known for over 20 years. However, her company no longer gives gifts since 9/11. But we stay with her as she knows us and what we want. Also if a problem does arise, then we can talk directly to her or go and see her.

[adrenalinjunkie]

The American Travel Agents must be fantastic. We don't get anything like that here in the UK. They just take your money and run.

 

 

I did book my next cruise through a local TA , and got a discount. I had only phoned them to ask about insurance, before booking the cruise, and they came back to me with such a good offer I booked with them straight away! :D

[haligonian37]

I've only ever booked two cruises, both with HAL, but through a TA. She's an agent with a national automobile agency that happen to have an office within a 5 minute drive from my workplace.

 

She was very helpful with the booking of my first cruise and called me within a week of arriving home to invite me to come in to the office to share the details of the cruise. She's always very attentive when I call, e-mail or drop in unexpectedly, which I did with my second booking (less than a week off of my first cruise). For example, I emailed her first thing Thursday morning with a cabin change request and within a few hours she had arranged it all with no problem. I really enjoy having the option of face-to-face interaction, it just makes for a more comforting experience.

 

But I think it's a subjective thing. I'm sure some people enjoy having no personal contact as much as I and others enjoy the opposite. I say just go with what makes you the most comfortable.

[k9bordr]

RUTH, MIKE, BRANDY & SCOOTER

Finding a good TA is proving to be a real challenge for us (novice cruisers). Have searched these boards for "good TA" info and we, as well, would like to know how to get in touch w/yours as we are planning one of the longer Alaska cruises for this yr. Thanks in advance, Brad

[Plant]

Hi Brad,

 

It's against the board rules to recommend any TA. If you put your email addy in your post you may get some answers, but be aware that the answers could be from TA's!

 

My TA is wonderful, but if I posted her info here she wouldn't be able to sleep :D !

[k9bordr]

Plant, thanks. Occured to me (after posting!!) that must be why Ruth & Mike were not swamped w/requests. We will find a good TA sooner or later. I'm glad to be a member and have learned a lot perusing these boards.

Cruising has become our favorite kind of vacation. Brad

[cruzbums]

I am not going to go into a lot of detail but we had a situation on one or our cruises which turned out we had to leave the ship because of a some medical supplies that were delivered to the ship were misplaced by someone on the ship and we couldn't sail without them so had to leave the ship.

 

Anyway to make a long story short the cruise line claimed it wasn't their fault and the insurance company said it wasn't covered by their policy when I called them.

 

My TA went to work and the cruise was replaced plus. Sometimes a TA can talk to people that can get things done.