Yeah Carnival and Royal Caribbean- Pricing-

[loriann]

My TA informed us that they will still discount Carnival, but RCI will not allow them to discount future cruises. To make up for RCI pricing, they are offering free insurance.

Who is your TA?

[tef43]

Customer service from Travel Agents win again.

And exactly what is that? Please explain what a TA can do for me that I cannot do myself in this day and age?

 

The "mystique" of travel agents has long dissipated. It's a do-it-yourself world anymore.

[Velvet1153]

I did all of the research on the Exotic Mexican Riveria cruise, comparing prices on Carnival, Priceline/Orbitz, Expedia, etc. I finally found a very good price on a guaranteed balcony stateroom on Orbitz that couldn't be matched on Carnival or the others. Orbitz is the only site that offered us the Senior discount (Age 55+) which saved us over $200.

 

I took this price to my TA at AAA and asked if she could match it. She not only matched it, but saved me the $20 fee Orbitz would have charged me. In addition, she found me travel insurance for less than half of what Carnival is charging. My TA had to ask for the discount but once she did, the price dropped! I guess if you called Carnival yourself, you could get this discount, but it didn't offer it on their internet booking site!

 

I normally do all of my travel arrangements online, but I think I will check with LuAnn, my TA in the future and see if she can always match or beat my best price.