Travel agency or direct with line

Is it better to book with an agency or direct with the line? Internet with an agency shows the same cruise and stateroom $600.00 cheaper than booking direct with line.

Is it better to book with an agency or direct with the line? Internet with an agency shows the same cruise and stateroom $600.00 cheaper than booking direct with line.

Many many many threads on this topic on CC. The search feature is very helpful.

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I always use a travel agent because I get some kind of perk with them (lower fare, onboard credit, a bottle of wine, dinner in specialty restaurant, etc.) Just be sure that you are using a trustworthy travel agent and I avoid ones that charge for changes or cancellations.

I use a TA that works in a travel agency that I can go and see her or call her any time.

Love the extra perks she gives us which usually includes some shipboard credit among other things.

Princess and a few other lines allow a TA to discount fares. So we have found one that gives us a nice discount off the listed fare.

There's no right or wrong answer to this. I book with a TA when they beat the cruise lines' price or perks. Just be aware what you are getting/giving up by doing this. If you book with an agency the cruise line will not talk to you. If you have questions about your booking, want to change cabins, or see a price drop you must go through your TA. This is only a problem if you get a TA that is hard to get ahold of.

Also the TA can impose fees the cruise line doesn't. They can charge a booking fee and cancellation fees that you normally wouldn't have to pay.

Don't want to discourage you from using a TA, just make sure you go over everything before you make the booking.

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Is it better to book with an agency or direct with the line? Internet with an agency shows the same cruise and stateroom $600.00 cheaper than booking direct with line.

This often happens because the TA is not showing the taxes/fees included in their total. Make sure this is the final price.

Book with a travel agent, particularly if you are new to the wonderful world of cruising.

An experienced agent will help you select a cruise that is appropriate to what you would like to experience. They can help you select a stateroom that is within your price range and ought to meet your expectations as to possible noise, vibration, and motion that you would willing tolerate. The price that they quote might be less than the cruise line's web site's price--and often is--and some additional perks may be added by them as well. And, if "problems" occur, an experienced agent knows how to resolve the problem as promptly as possible.

Personally, I would never use an online travel agency. (It's too impersonal for me. I know many use and enjoy their services.) I have used local travel agencies for face-to-face contact in my early years of travel. (And, I still like that as well.) But, I have grown comfortable with using an agency on the West Coast. I have a specific agent with whom I work, I can speak with her, I can e-mail her and receive prompt replies, and the agency has a support staff that backs up my agent and has been of direct use, i.e. benefit, to me as well.

The only way to get last minute upgrades is to book directly with cruise line. On our last cruise we were upgraded from balcony to suite for $500 two days before the cruise. Again a TA does not get these last minute deals because as said the cruise line will not talk with you if you use a TA.

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The only way to get last minute upgrades is to book directly with cruise line.

 

 

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My personal experience says this is not quite accurate. I work only with a TA and she has called me with cruise line upgrade offers.

Maybe it depends on the cruise line?

Not sure about all cruise lines but this is how it was explained to me on my last cruise with Norwegian.

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Not sure about all cruise lines but this is how it was explained to me on my last cruise with Norwegian.

 

 

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If an Onboard NCL Rep is doing the explaining of course?

As a former Cruise Specialist TA I have never heard of any rate that was only offered by booking Direct .

TA's always have access to available rates and can often do better .

12 cruises and we have booked all of them directly with the cruise line. No problems at all and we watched for price drops and almost always got a few.

The only way to get last minute upgrades is to book directly with cruise line. On our last cruise we were upgraded from balcony to suite for $500 two days before the cruise. Again a TA does not get these last minute deals because as said the cruise line will not talk with you if you use a TA.

 

 

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This is not true. Maybe depends on the TA? We usually use one and have gotten calls for upgrades.........

Not sure about all cruise lines but this is how it was explained to me on my last cruise with Norwegian.

 

 

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Norwegian has a new upsell program that some TAs do not participate in. So, your experience and explanation were probably accurate, but not representative of all cruise lines or all TAs