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Why use a travel agent?


Barrycat
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We are now planning our sixth Windstar cruise. On all of our past cruises we have made our cruise arrangements directly through the Windstar representatives by phone. When not using the company excursions we have made our own arrangements with help from various internet sites. All of these arrangements, both flights, cruise, and land have worked out well and we have been comfortable doing this on our own in addition to other non cruise vacations.

My sense is that a number of people rely on travel agents for all of this. Besides the obvious benefit of less hassle, is there a cost or other benefit in using a travel agent? I appreciate any comments.

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Hi Barrycat. We've done it both ways, sometimes because I don't have time to do it myself, sometimes I think the TA can get extra perks for us. A trip I have booked later this year the TA did for us and because she books through a large organization was able to get a deal for insurance that was half of what I could have gotten on my own. The trip we're doing next month I did directly with WS and thought they took extremely good care of my requests. So I guess it depends. As for tours, flights, etc, I always do those on my own. I haven't seen any price difference either way. I think if things went bad like the Pride thing a TA might be able to reduce the hassle. Toss up? I interested to hear other responses.

 

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Thanks sb44 for your comments. Your response mentioned insurance, something else we have never participated in, so far a good choice.....fingers crossed. I am curious for any comments on how widespread the purchase of travel insurance is.

My guess is there will be two response classes, one like us who have been lucky with no insurance, and a second group, those who have had insurance and suffered the misfortune of needing to collect

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Unfortunately we had to use it when my mother was given a diagnosis of less than 10 days left after 1 1/2 years of remission. We were able to recover 100% of cruise and airfare. I have been in P&C insurance business for years but not travel insurance. Whole other business but that experience taught me a great deal. I use an agent who is incredibly smart and honest. When I showed him what kind of deal the TA had for our fall trip he told me to grab it. If you read all of the craziness when the Pride hit whatever it hit, some insurance coverage was there, some not. I would never buy it from cruise line but won't go without. We are in our 70's and anything can happen. And crazy things like the ash that kept people from flying to Europe a few years ago. I've heard so many stories. You are lucky and hopefully continue to be. It's just a peace of mind thing with me.

 

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We started getting travel insurance for WS when my father had Alzheimers. We can afford a cruise with WS we can not afford to lose the money. Since we are in our mid 60's early 70's, we just think it is wise. My sister's husband was diagnosed with cancer about one month before sailing they received 100% back with ease. It is a small price to pay for a piece of mind. Be warned read the fine print. We purchase independent insurance not ship or Amex Platinum ( too ecpensive ) . Imagine have to cancel for some horrible reason and losing all that money as well! Happy Sailing.

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For what it's worth,and from someone living in the UK,I would never dream of travelling without full insurance cover.

As a UK citizen,we have a card which entitles us to basic emergency care in EU countries but would not cover us to be flown back to UK for specialist treatment .Nor does it cover for 'world wide' travel.I should hate to be in some out of the way place without it or in the USA where I know that the cost of medical care can be huge.

We take out an annual policy which we renew each year to cover medical,travel delays,loss of luggage,theft and many other things.It's not cheap,especially as we are now in the 65+ age group and on medications but for peace of mind is certainly worth it.

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A TA can provide you with additional amenities that a cruise line won't.

 

Also they can cut through red tape with the cruise line.

 

And most importantly should something go wrong they can be your advocate with the cruise line.

 

Aww with most professions, there are outstanding, excellent, very good, good and poor agents. The key is to find a strong one.

 

Keith

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We've always used a TA, mostly since he did the booking for our first itin, which was a club-related trip. I just kept calling him.

 

I don't know if we ever got the 6-8% savings mentioned by another poster, but certainly haven't paid more. TAs still get a commission on cruises (unlike air tickets) and make their money that way. He knows our preferences, he has direct access to cabin availability and remembers all the discounts we're entitled to.

 

Our last trip was booked after he sent us a "WS is having really good deals in inclusive packages right now" message. He can arrange insurance through Allianz, a well-respected company, at lower prices that WA and for better coverage.

 

Finally, he tracks all the billing, due dates, etc., and sends reminders when I need to make a payment etc.

 

But, he really stepped up when WS cancelled our 12/26 itin on the Pride on 12/23 (3 days before departure and in the middle of Christmas madness.) Before we heard anything from WS he was calling and emailing me, giving advise as to how to best proceed, etc. When it came to rebooking we were ahead of the curve and he negotiated a lower price on the replacement while also keeping our amenity package intact even though that was not currently being offered.

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Sounds like great service. Our TA also sends our reminders for payments and monitors fare changes. As for insurance, the best case I can make for "why" aside from having to cancel because of illness, would be the experience of our friends three years ago. He fell on a ship in the Mediterranean and fractured his hip. Had to be taken to a small island hospital, transferred to a larger hospital, had complications and needed a medivac flight to the US. Imagine all of that. Plus private insurance and Medicare either have no coverage outside of your state or the US depending on your plan or the coverage is very limited. If you don't want cancellation coverage you can buy medical with evacuation only.

 

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I would never travel without insurance and always use a TA, the same one we've used for the past 20 years or so.

 

When a cruise line bumped us to the next sailing, she was there to handle all the details PLUS get us reimbursed (from the cruise line) for all of our out of pocket expenses, including cancellation fees from air/hotel/tours pre and post cruise that we had booked.

 

When cruise line sale blitzes happen (she told me day after Christmas is like Black Friday) she goes through ALL her bookings to see if the rates have dropped. She saved us $700 pp on a cruise. And remember, when she does this she not only doesn't get paid for the effort, she loses money because her commission goes down. But she's a TA who cares about her clients and that's why we always book with her ... even if it something I could book on my own ...in those cases she picks up an easy percentage and I know that she'll have my back covered when I need it.

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Here's an article that can help if you are looking for a cruise travel agent:

 

Finding a Cruise Travel Agent

 

I agree with the part about planning is a good portion of the fun. I do still use an agent but she's a personal friend so plan to stick with her, even though many of these requirements may not quite fit. One issue mentioned in the article that I would stress is that if you are new to cruising, you would want to find an agent that has actually cruised the ship/line that you are considering. If you long for a river cruise but your agent books the main stream mega liners, he/she can certainly book it for you, but so many of the pieces you would want to know about, may not be at his/her finger tips. Thank you for the very well done article, Walt.

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...One issue mentioned in the article that I would stress is that if you are new to cruising, you would want to find an agent that has actually cruised the ship/line that you are considering. If you long for a river cruise but your agent books the main stream mega liners, he/she can certainly book it for you, but so many of the pieces you would want to know about, may not be at his/her finger tips...

 

Correct.

 

It's like going to a Jiffy Lube to diagnose a transmission problem. Their people may know something about transmissions but a transmission expert would be a better choice considering the cost involved.

 

Our first river cruise (in 1994) was booked through our "main stream cruise line" agent mainly because we couldn't find any agencies with river cruise experts, so we did our own research. I learned a lot and passed along my insights to our TA.

 

However in 1995 when we booked our first Windstar cruise (a 14 day Med cruise on Wind Spirit) our same TA had been on Windstar (and Windjammer and Star Clippers) and was a font of information.

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Correct.

 

It's like going to a Jiffy Lube to diagnose a transmission problem. Their people may know something about transmissions but a transmission expert would be a better choice considering the cost involved.

 

Our first river cruise (in 1994) was booked through our "main stream cruise line" agent mainly because we couldn't find any agencies with river cruise experts, so we did our own research. I learned a lot and passed along my insights to our TA.

 

However in 1995 when we booked our first Windstar cruise (a 14 day Med cruise on Wind Spirit) our same TA had been on Windstar (and Windjammer and Star Clippers) and was a font of information.

 

Since I love doing my own research, I'm not as concerned about whether my agent will know about the cruise line I'm traveling, but not everyone DOES want to dig for all the information that they can find and then yes, that agent is going to be very important and having experience on the line you are booking would make a big difference.

 

I like your Jiffy Lube example, btw. :-)

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have always done my own bookings and have been happy with the results. I thought that I would see what dealing with a TA would advantage me. I used a TA that was recommended by a very frequent cruiser and I found just the opposite from the experience of the poster that saved 6-8%. The TA did toss us a crumb of a per cabin on board credit, but considering the size of their possible commission, it was a crumb. Granted I do have the time and inclination to do my own research and contact with the cruise company and others may not, but I really don't need an intermediary collecting 10- 15% for little effort for something I am capable and enjoy doing myself. That's just me.

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If I book with a TA and the price drops before final payment, will I be able to take advantage of the drop? I understand Windstar does this.

 

Thanks for all your help.

 

Barbara

 

A TA can provide you with additional amenities that a cruise line won't.

 

Also they can cut through red tape with the cruise line.

 

And most importantly should something go wrong they can be your advocate with the cruise line.

 

Aww with most professions, there are outstanding, excellent, very good, good and poor agents. The key is to find a strong one.

 

Keith

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  • 2 weeks later...
We are now planning our sixth Windstar cruise. On all of our past cruises we have made our cruise arrangements directly through the Windstar representatives by phone. When not using the company excursions we have made our own arrangements with help from various internet sites. All of these arrangements, both flights, cruise, and land have worked out well and we have been comfortable doing this on our own in addition to other non cruise vacations.

My sense is that a number of people rely on travel agents for all of this. Besides the obvious benefit of less hassle, is there a cost or other benefit in using a travel agent? I appreciate any comments.

 

I, too, usually booked directly with the cruise lines until I tried a TA for an Oceania cruise. Understand that the cruise price will be no different than that you purchase through the line since TA's commissions come out of the line, not you.

 

In the case of the Oceania cruise, my first on this line, the agent advised me six months in advance to get ready for new add-ons, upgrade offers, etc. at about 60 days and in. Like clockwork, I get a call from the TA about new offers, new perks and an upgrade. In the end, I got bumped up from an ocean view to a concierge balcony for $100 pp. Since the upgrade included a complementary bottle of $50 champagne and free laundry service at the concierge level, it struck me as a free upgrade several levels.

 

So, I would agree with other posters. It depends. But larger agencies, who are big suppliers for various cruise lines, have the experience of knowing in advance the tendencies and how to take advantage of the offers as your cruise nears its sail date. In my case, my TA claimed that when Oceania shuts down for the evening, they shift incoming calls to their agency. That's how close is their relationship.

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I have used a major airline website to book my last couple of WS cruises, after having booked directly and having booked with a large TA firm. I have been very happy as I "collect miles" on this airlines as a "hobby" and have taken advantage of special offers for bonus miles. Honestly, I collected over 100,000 miles in just 2 WS cruises and now always fly Business to Europe. I've built a relationship with my agent and she was able to help me take advantage of a price decrease after final payment via a room upgrade and generous onboard credit. I honestly think I could not have done this on my own.

 

As for insurance, I had never purchased it until a few years ago. I had put together a WS cruise Barcelona to Lisbon with lots of time in Europe before and after the cruise. Less than a week before we were to leave it was determined I needed surgery and I had to cancel. Everything was covered and I think I was only out $50 and cost of insurance. I have purchased insurance ever since. I can't imagine what I would have done if we were already on our trip and this had happened. I'm no longer willing to take the chance.

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  • 1 month later...

We have booked our own cruises and recently started using a TA that we met on a cruise. She usually offers us OBC as a courtesy for our business or all fees paid in a specialty restaurant. It is nice knowing that she is always checking for additional promotions or drop in cabin price before final payments are due. She even prints off our luggage tags and sends them to us!

 

Having worked as an RN in a major trauma center is one reason we always buy travel insurance. If you've never considered it, guess what the price might be if you become seriously ill and must be transported by fixed wing aircraft home or to the nearest major hospital? The price can be astronomical compared to what you spent on the cruise even if it's only close by in the Caribbean. We just booked Dreams of Tahiti for 8/2017 and immediately purchased travel insurance, with previous medical conditions waved due to purchase being made within 10 days of initial cruise deposit. Hope we never need this insurance but won't travel without it.

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A helo ride five miles as a trauma alert after a car accident will run you $5-15K. I can't fathom what an air ambulance costs for an international repatriation. Other than hopping over the border to Canada by car where my BCBS covers me at out of network rates, I have never left the US without travel insurance that included medical repatriation. My insurance for the French Polynesia cruise was very expensive due to the costs of getting us home in case of a medical emergency.

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I never travel without travel insurance. I can afford a nice cruise with WS but I can not afford to lose the money. Generally the insurance is between 5-7%. Of your total cost. When we crossed the Pacific on the Spirit we took extra for air emergency while crossing it was for an additional $ 50,000 pp and for that the cost was an additional $ 6 pp. I did not increase the mecical while in Tahiti because I know France has one of the best if not the best medical care in the world and we knew a doctor in Tahiti. I felt I would be well taken care of. I look forward to my trips and travel insurance just takes the worries away. Life and health is between the tick and the tock being insured adds to my comfort. Happy Sailing

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We always buy but never through cruise line. Found a true expert a couple of years ago and only deal with him. I'm in the P&C insurance business but knew nothing about travel insurance ins and outs. He has given me an education. We now buy policies that only require payment after final payment on trip with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and plenty of evacuation options. Travel insurance is fairly compicated when you really examine the policy provisions.

 

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