Thinking of not using a travel agent anymore

I have a cruise with Carnival booked through a travel agent for this Feb. I have no complaints with this travel agent but at times I find it frustrating having to go through her for everything. I am thinking of booking another cruise for Aug./17 but I am worried that she will be able to see this new booking. I don't want to offend her, it's just that I am comfortable booking our cruises on our own now. Does anyone know how much information travel agents have to cruises that are not booked through them?

Thanks in advance.

I have a cruise booked with a travel agent in August 2016 and I booked one for February 2017 that I do not believe she can see. I say this because I asked her about cruises for this time period and she is still trying to get me to book even though I have already booked direct through Carnival. I would feel bad but I get tired of having to go through her and her info is often incorrect. [emoji19]

I'm pretty sure a TA only has access to the booking you have with them, I don't think they can see any other bookings. And I completely understand not feeling the need to use a TA. I used one for my first cruise, but after that I felt comfortable enough booking the next few on my own. I only use a TA now if I can get at least $100 OBC with a booking, then it's worth the inconvenience. If not I just book on my own.

I've gone on many cruises and always booked them ourselves directly. this last cruise, we wanted something more upscale, so we handed a $95 fee over to them hoping it would be returned in other benefits. Big waste, and we will never use them again. Everytime we want to change something we have to track them down to do it and it takes forever. Certainly if there is a benefit of a travel agent, we haven't experienced it.

I've gone on many cruises and always booked them ourselves directly. this last cruise, we wanted something more upscale, so we handed a $95 fee over to them hoping it would be returned in other benefits. Big waste, and we will never use them again. Everytime we want to change something we have to track them down to do it and it takes forever. Certainly if there is a benefit of a travel agent, we haven't experienced it.

I haven't heard of having to pay a travel agent. Typically they take the commission from the bookings as payment in my experience. Now, you often can't get the best prices (indeed the prices for Carnival cruises through a TA I've contacted are more expensive than Carnival.com directly), but they shouldn't add a fee on top for their services.

If I'm just booking a cruise, maybe with a hotel along the way, I won't bother with a TA. If I want a 2 week tour of France complete with flights, hotels, train tickets, tours, etc., I'll definitely lean on a TA even if I pay more. There's no way I could arrange all that, while a TA does that daily.

I've gone on many cruises and always booked them ourselves directly. this last cruise, we wanted something more upscale, so we handed a $95 fee over to them hoping it would be returned in other benefits. Big waste, and we will never use them again. Everytime we want to change something we have to track them down to do it and it takes forever. Certainly if there is a benefit of a travel agent, we haven't experienced it.

Wow, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with your TA. We didn't pay our TA a dime and still got pretty good OBC for booking with them. I just felt bad because the price of the rooms kept going down, and since I booked a past guest rate and not ES, I kept contacting her to upgrade our room. We went from a cove balcony and eventually ended up in a spa balcony! But every time I contacted her, she seemed happy to help. I'm glad we've found a good TA we really like, I wish they were all this good.

I have a cruise with Carnival booked through a travel agent for this Feb. I have no complaints with this travel agent but at times I find it frustrating having to go through her for everything. I am thinking of booking another cruise for Aug./17 but I am worried that she will be able to see this new booking. I don't want to offend her, it's just that I am comfortable booking our cruises on our own now. Does anyone know how much information travel agents have to cruises that are not booked through them?

Thanks in advance.

For various reasons I have engaged several different travel agents within the past decade or so. With each of them I have a BUSINESS, not a personal, relationship. Whether your travel agent is professional in her attitudes and the way she conducts her business, or is emotionally on the level of a girly-girl 8th grader, either way I wouldn't worry about her "feelings." To quote the Godfather, "It's just business." Make a business decision.

Unless your TA is a family member or a friend, why would you care if she sees you booking on your own? You are under no obligation to book with the same TA

I hoped my TA couldn't see my other bookings because I didn't want to offend or hurt her feelings. It's like going to the hair salon and getting your hair done by the lady who sits right beside the lady who used to do your hair. Lmbo. That's how I feel anyways.

I only use a TA if they can save me a significant amount of money or have a great OBC, otherwise I book myself. We saved quite a bit on 2 cabins on our cruise coming up in a few days, so it was worth it to use her

I hoped my TA couldn't see my other bookings because I didn't want to offend or hurt her feelings. It's like going to the hair salon and getting your hair done by the lady who sits right beside the lady who used to do your hair. Lmbo. That's how I feel anyways.

I agree. And the TA would care as she works on commission and it is money out of her pocket. She may feel that she has not done a good job or offended you.

Luckily she can not see unless you give her you booking number

Have fun.

Oh and long story but I fired my TA and went with another I found online and they gave us $250.00 OBC.

First TA charged $80.00 docking fee and there was no OBC even though we had 5 cabins and was working towards 8.

A TA can see that you have another booking easily if they search but can not access that reservation at all.

Perhaps TA has not shown OP any appreciation ($) and taken you for granted . Don't give up on TA's , find a good one that shows appreciation .

I've gone on many cruises and always booked them ourselves directly. this last cruise, we wanted something more upscale, so we handed a $95 fee over to them hoping it would be returned in other benefits. Big waste, and we will never use them again. Everytime we want to change something we have to track them down to do it and it takes forever. Certainly if there is a benefit of a travel agent, we haven't experienced it.

Sorry, but IMO paying a fee to a TA for handling your booking was your first mistake. While there are those who charge fees not charged by the cruise lines for originating, modifying, or cancelling a booking made through them, why pay that? They are compensated for their efforts by the cruise lines for each booking and if the cruise line doesn't charge a fee, why should they?

There are many very good TA's that don't charge these separate fees. We have used one for over 20 years and have never had any fees assessed for any changes or cancellations made or services provided for managing our bookings.

Their value to us is in the service provided in handling our bookings. She checks for price changes and issues them without prompting when available, does all of our check in, sets up our dining requests, etc. Saves us a lot of effort.

With the internet and telephone no need to us a TA at all. We book cruises, air, hotels, car services, travel insurance you name on our one. Way ahead doing so, totally control of our books, don't pay any cancellation fees for example, when fares go down, usually get the cheap fare if before final payment, don't care OBC with TA... learned a long time ago this was the best approach for us.

I'm a TA and I'll tell you we cannot see what other bookings you may have, only the bookings we "own".

I had a great TA for many years .Nobody could compare with him .He retired 8 years ago and in that time I have used about 15 TA's .

I'm TA , and FYI We can only see the bookings we made. We charge a Service Fee (50.00) for check in services. And we provide all the information to get to the port/ parking, etc. Also include the papers/boarding passes/luggage tags.

I have a cruise with Carnival booked through a travel agent for this Feb. I have no complaints with this travel agent but at times I find it frustrating having to go through her for everything. I am thinking of booking another cruise for Aug./17 but I am worried that she will be able to see this new booking. I don't want to offend her, it's just that I am comfortable booking our cruises on our own now. Does anyone know how much information travel agents have to cruises that are not booked through them?

Thanks in advance.

I have done it both ways... but let me tell you that my experience is when there were issues the cruise line took care of the people who booked through them first. then threw us a bone. Seriously bent over backwards for two different people we met, but we had booked through Amex and you could see them looking at the computer and like saying to themselves... nope, not our problem if you booked through them. After that experience, I'll never book through an agent again.

In general, if the TA is not providing you with a tangible perk (beyond your best cruise line deal) valued at least at 7-10% of the cabin price (as OBC, gratuities, cash back, etc.), you need to find a different TA.

Also, make sure that TA is a top producer for your preferred line. If you've got a problem, the cruise line listens first to the person who may be booking the big bucks. On your own, you're a rounding error in their bottom line.

We haven't used an agent for years, trying a number of different agents was frustrating, not returning calls quick enough to take advantage off various offers, filling out cruise personalisation information wrong, not processing payments promptly, all just got too much.

We now book direct, have a dedicated consultant with our lines of choice not had a problem since, best thing we ever did.

We charge a Service Fee (50.00) for check in services.

That's crazy! :eek:

I've used 3 different travel agents during the past 9 years and never, ever have I been charged any "fees." My favorite agent gives me 12-15% discounts on cruise fare, generous OBC, other gifts and great service. I can't believe anyone would use a TA that charges THEM. :cool:

I have a cruise with Carnival booked through a travel agent for this Feb. I have no complaints with this travel agent but at times I find it frustrating having to go through her for everything. I am thinking of booking another cruise for Aug./17 but I am worried that she will be able to see this new booking. I don't want to offend her, it's just that I am comfortable booking our cruises on our own now. Does anyone know how much information travel agents have to cruises that are not booked through them?

Thanks in advance.

Unless the TA is a family member why do you care? Using a TA makes it more difficult to manage your cruise. Even if the TA could see your cruise, and they can't without the booking number, you have no obligation to them or to continue to give them business.

Think of them as a department store. Do you always shop at the same one or do you spread your business around? Of course you spread it around and don't fell bad about it, and you don't worry about offending one or the other.

This is a business you are talking about not a personal relationship. If she gets offended that is her issue not yours.

I'm TA , and FYI We can only see the bookings we made. We charge a Service Fee (50.00) for check in services. And we provide all the information to get to the port/ parking, etc. Also include the papers/boarding passes/luggage tags.

and there you have a reason not to use a TA!

Shame on your agency.

If you visit CC enough you will read of many problems that were solved by having a TA , and many problems where poster was on their own to resolve .

Of course submitting problems to be solved here on CC is a big help , a Good TA who is a Cruise Specialist (qualifications very important) ,has cruise line contacts that a direct booker doesn't have .

And yes , many TA's charge no fee's . Always "interview" your TA before booking.

I'm TA , and FYI We can only see the bookings we made. We charge a Service Fee (50.00) for check in services. And we provide all the information to get to the port/ parking, etc. Also include the papers/boarding passes/luggage tags.

There are some people who are completely computer illiterate and want someone else to give them information that is readily available. Most of us on this board are pretty independant and don't need this basic help. Good for this agent who can find such dependant people or folks who are used to having an assistant at work do all this for them.