Should I Book through HAL or TA?

[Chelly]

Do veteran HAL cruisers book directly through HAL or through a travel agent? I'm finally ready to book, but don't know where the best bargains are. The advice here is wonderful.

[schwabby]

I would advise you to use a TA. I have never found rates cheaper through HAL than through a TA.

 

Schwabby

[pokeyjones]

Do veteran HAL cruisers book directly through HAL or through a travel agent? I'm finally ready to book, but don't know where the best bargains are. The advice here is wonderful.

 

When we booked in Feb. for our upcoming cruise, we found the rates to be good with the Online TA that sponsors "The Amazing Race". The earlier part of that month, if you booked using a valid MC, they would give an additional OBC. As there was already an OBC being offered, the minimum OBC came up to $300 for an oceanview or better, up to $500 (not valid on casino or gratuities). The online rates with HAL were more. However, some Mariners like to book while on a cruise, as they offer a minimal deposit, and, you can work with a personal cruise consultant. In a softer market, a HAL personal cruise consultant might be able to get you a better priced upsell, leaving you in line for a better upgrade, the closer you get to the date of sailing.

[Jemima]

...However, some Mariners like to book while on a cruise, as they offer a minimal deposit, and, you can work with a personal cruise consultant...

 

Onboard bookings can be with either your TA or direct or can later be transferred to your TA. None of this applies for OP, since they haven't cruised yet.

[azkcruizers]

I would compare prices with an online agency and with HAL. I booked with an online agency because they were almost half the price of HAL direct. You never know. Just remember that the online agencies usually do not have the same level of customer service as HAL direct. For half the price it was worth it to me though. You may try a website for CRUISE that COMPETE dot com to give you the best price and see what you get. Just punch in your info and they will email you offers from different agencies.

 

Karen

[Rutland Gate]

We have used HAL's Cruise Consultants for the last six years and have been very satisfied. Our former TA was not very responsive, and is now out of business.

[jimandtoni]

Find a good LIVE travel agent/agency near you and use them...they will watch out ( if they are GOOD!) for any changes in your flights or cruise including discounts or changes in fares. I don't even use online agents anymore....I like to talk to a real PERSON face to face!!

[Randyk47]

We use a TA for all of our cruises. I've tried a number of times to see if HAL could come close to the prices my TA was offering and even with the Mariner "discount" the TA was always a significantly better deal. Having said that I'd add that it does come down to the level of service you want or need and how much you're willing to pay for that service. We book our own flights, hotels, rental cars, etc., and need little to no help. All we need is a TA to book the cruise and get us the documents.

[Chelly]

I am grateful for the thoughtful advice. I've just gotten a quote from HAL and have requested a quote from the cruise specialists I used years ago when traveling as a couple. Is the responsibility on me to watch for price reductions?

[Randyk47]

I watch my own cruises for price changes. Some TA's will do that for you, some will not. I've either done a good job with my research and initial booking or bad luck or whatever but I've never had a cruise drop below what I got it for in the first place. In fact, I've seen more go up than down. Now that was up through last year and with the economy the way it is there's a chance that cruise lines will have to cut fares so being watchful might be especially worthwhile.

[Djptcp]

Just having been royally burned by the demise of Cruise Value (whom I used for a number of years to book cruises), I am going to book directly with the cruise lines from now on. In this economy, who knows who is going to stay in business. Fortunately, I had booked our Noordam cruise next week directly with HAL. However, the three cruises I booked for 2009 were through Cruise Value. I have had to make the final payment twice now for the Jan. cruise, but the May cruise is ok as we hadn't made a final payment. Carnival gave me some paperwork to complete in order to tranfer the bookings from the now defunct Cruise Value to myself. I cancelled the Princess Panama Canal cruise for Nov. because I would have had to transfer my booking to some other online agency and I just don't trust them right now. DH and I are going to book a Panama cruise with HAL instead, probably while on our cruise next week.

[Randyk47]

I think it would be hard to find any fault with anybody who now wants to book directly with the cruise lines rather than through a TA. I especially feel bad for fellow CC'ers who got burnt by the CVC demise. Luckily, or unluckily depending on your point of view, my wife and I can't cruise for almost a year because of work requirements. I unfortunately think we haven't seen the end of the failures of many businesses, large and small, and I don't see TA's, land or web based, as exempt from the hard economic times we most probably will go through over the next year or maybe even years. Since we're kind of forced to sit out the next year we're just taking and wait and see approach. Not to be all gloom and doom but I can't help but wonder what the cruise industry will look like say two years from now. I'd not be surprised to see the smaller lines disappear or consolidate or somehow get restructured and even significant adjustments by the major lines.

[Opinions]

I have booked our last 4 cruises online with 3 different online agencies...In all cases I instantly recevied a booking number and then checked with the cruiseline...All payments were made directly to the cruiseline...I checked the credit card web sites to verify this...I will not panic and book directly with the cruiselines if their prices are higher.

[GeriatricNurse]

I would advise you to use a TA. I have never found rates cheaper through HAL than through a TA.

 

Schwabby

 

 

I agree 100%

[StarTrkGeek]

Just having been royally burned by the demise of Cruise Value (whom I used for a number of years to book cruises), I am going to book directly with the cruise lines from now on. In this economy, who knows who is going to stay in business. Fortunately, I had booked our Noordam cruise next week directly with HAL. However, the three cruises I booked for 2009 were through Cruise Value. I have had to make the final payment twice now for the Jan. cruise, but the May cruise is ok as we hadn't made a final payment. Carnival gave me some paperwork to complete in order to tranfer the bookings from the now defunct Cruise Value to myself. I cancelled the Princess Panama Canal cruise for Nov. because I would have had to transfer my booking to some other online agency and I just don't trust them right now. DH and I are going to book a Panama cruise with HAL instead, probably while on our cruise next week.

 

Just remember that cruise lines can go bankrupt too. Remember Premier Cruise Line and Renaissance Cruise Line? The important thing is to have insurance that covers bankruptcies.

 

However, just a note about travel insurance. Even though travel agencies and cruise lines utilize major insurance companies, there are two issues to be aware of:

 

1. These insurance companies sell a variety of different levels of policies, from economic to high-end. The economic policies do NOT include pre-existing health conditions or bankruptcy of either the travel agency or the cruise line. Most of the travel agencies and cruise lines sell ONLY these low-end policies. In order to obtain a medium-level or high-end policy, you must buy the policy DIRECTLY from the insurance company.

 

2. Many travel agencies and cruise lines do not pay the insurance company until final payment for the cruise is received. Therefore, if the travel agency or cruise line goes bankrupt before the insurance company is paid, then you will be left without any insurance coverage.

[PatsyAnne]

Although I book all of my other travel (air, hotel) myself, I use a travel agent to book cruises. The one time I made reservations directly with the cruise line (while I was on a cruise), I was unable to get their errors corrected myself, and my TA handled the problems for me. Our TA is experienced, conscientious, and has earned our trust.:D Otherwise, I might feel differently.

 

Trish

[FoxyTerrier]

We used HAL directly on our first cruise I know we over paid.

 

We now use a web site where you create a profile about what you are looking for - can be very open or very specific. This site then puts your specifications out to bid where you can compare the different prices for the same cruise and they prices will vary greatly.

 

If you want more information I can email you the site.

[TargetsMom]

 

However, just a note about travel insurance. Even though travel agencies and cruise lines utilize major insurance companies, there are two issues to be aware of:

 

1. These insurance companies sell a variety of different levels of policies, from economic to high-end. The economic policies do NOT include pre-existing health conditions or bankruptcy of either the travel agency or the cruise line. Most of the travel agencies and cruise lines sell ONLY these low-end policies. In order to obtain a medium-level or high-end policy, you must buy the policy DIRECTLY from the insurance company.

 

2. Many travel agencies and cruise lines do not pay the insurance company until final payment for the cruise is received. Therefore, if the travel agency or cruise line goes bankrupt before the insurance company is paid, then you will be left without any insurance coverage.

 

I'd like to correct a couple of serious mis-statements here. I am an independent agent with Dugan's Travels, which has over 700 agents.

 

Two of the most popular insurance companies are Travel Insured and Travel Guard. TI does not cover pre-existing conditions with their basic ("Lite") plan, but they do cover them if you purchase one of the three higher-end plans within 14 days of making your first payment for your cruise. TG covers pre-existing conditions with ANY of their four plans, if you take out the policy with 15 days of making your first cruise payment.

 

I (and, I'm sure, most of the other agents at Dugan's) offer clients all four levels of coverage. We explain what you get with each plan and let the client decide which he or she prefers. And we do not wait months to purchase the plan. We purchase it immediately. To do otherwise would deny the client the benefit of the pre-existing condition waiver that he is paying for.

 

It is absolutely not necessary for a traveler who is going through an agent to purchase insurance himself, regardless of the level of coverage he or she desires.

 

Kathy / TargetsMom

[GeriatricNurse]

Do veteran HAL cruisers book directly through HAL or through a travel agent? I'm finally ready to book, but don't know where the best bargains are. The advice here is wonderful.

 

 

We only book through a brick & mortar TA!

[GeriatricNurse]

I would advise you to use a TA. I have never found rates cheaper through HAL than through a TA.

 

Schwabby

 

 

 

I agree 100%!

[haligonian37]

Although I book all of my other travel (air, hotel) myself, I use a travel agent to book cruises. The one time I made reservations directly with the cruise line (while I was on a cruise), I was unable to get their errors corrected myself, and my TA handled the problems for me. Our TA is experienced, conscientious, and has earned our trust.:D Otherwise, I might feel differently.

 

Trish

 

I couldn't agree more. My TA has been invaluable in solving problems and going that extra mile for me. While I don't get a huge discount (mostly because I'm a solo cruiser) from HAL's prices by using a brick & mortar TA, they always have promotions going on. My last cruise, I received a complimentary bottle of champagne, a $75 OBC and a couple of cards for discounts for HAL products onboard. She has gone to bat for me so many times, I feel very grateful to have found her.