How do you book your cruise?

[cntrymum]

Hi - have previously booked through a travel agent but just wondering how everyone books their cruises? Are the online agents reliable? Do you get a better deal with them or direct with the cruise line or go for the better service with your local travel agent???

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

I book thru online TAs and have never had a problem. I find a significant different in price when you take the OBC into account.

[cntrymum]

Excuse my ignorance Paul - but what is OBC??? :eek:

[paul929207]

Sorry, OBC is On Board Credit. Money that is put on your onboard account to cover things you sign for on the ship. Things like beverages, excursions and tips. Some TA's will give OBC of amounts like $50, 100 or 200 for booking with them

[lweber40]

For the first time, I went through a TA to book a cruise with Carnival. However, when I go onto Carnival's website, none of the paid amounts show up. For instance, it doesn't show what I've paid down, or even that it's paid in full. When I called Carnival they say that when you go through a TA that none of that shows online. And to make matters worse, Carnival won't really talk to me about anything to do with payment/dollars. They said I must go through the TA for EVERYTHING.

 

My question is - what if someone hired a "bad" TA, and they didn't put all the money on the cruise payment -- they kept some or all of it. How would you know that there was a problem?

 

I'm really confused about this and will never book through a TA again because of this.:( I don't like not seeing where I stand and not seeing evidence of what I've already paid. There are so many "internet TA's" around...

 

Does it work this way for everyone?

[kevloe]

I've always booked with an online TA according to the best price I can find, and the cruise doesn't show up with the cruise line until l've made the final payment, and the TA transfers the booking to the cruise line. We've cruised with Carnival, NCL and Princess. But if you're paid in full, I'm puzzled why it doesn't show up with your cruise line.

[lweber40]

Let me clarify. After booking with a TA, the booking immediately showed on Carnival's site but nowhere did it show the money that I had paid down or what the balance was. And now that its paid off, that doesn't show anywhere either. The only difference I can see is that it does let me print my boarding pass.

 

Anyone else have experience with this? How DO you know if your TA has paid all that the cruise line required?

[Friend100]

I booked my HAL cruise through an online cruise agency and I saw my credit card charged payment to HAL directly, and I saw my booking online in HAL site (but without the monetary info), and I got confirmation email from my online TA payment was made.

[Alrana Eris]

I do it myself and love the thrill of the hunt.

[AllyGirl13]

I always book it myself directly with the cruise line. Never had a problem.. With a travel agent, I had problems. I did the math!

[geospyder]

I research what cruise I want next, book it on board during the current cruise and then transfer it to a TA. For example on my last cruise I booked a cruise and got a free upgrade, $300 OBC and only had to pay $200 down. I then transfered it to a TA and got prepaid gratuties and another $250 OBC.

[burchan]

After 20 cruises in 6 years I have come to understand what is the best way to book and save. It also depends on cruise line and their pricing in Australia. My favourite cruise line is Celebrity. Their pricing is in line with US pricing and the difference in price for cabin type is more reasonable. All my best cruises have been with Celebrity. I book direct with cruise line by phone or online. I book early if price is right. Royal Carribean is my second choice for destinations, prices and booking direct. Princess cruises online booking is impossible. Prices are a lot higher for Australians, stateroom show as sold or pricing is not available but in America all is available but you are not allowed to book there. Cunard is the same, can't book in America at American prices. For Australians pricess are published prices and that is double what Americans pay. My first cruise was with NCL in Hawaii and it was a good cruise. Problem is that NCL and Carnival cruises are missing from our geographical location. As far as booking with travel agents I avoid TA in Australia because of huge price difference but will book with USA travel agents when cruise line allow it.

[Hawaiidan]

find and compare several travel agents, some have on line adverts but have real businesses.

 

I found one in michigan and I live in Kona hawaii !!!! and have used her for 15 years. Getting 7 to 20% off the lowest fare from any online or the line its self Some agents will , even though it is not permitted, give you a " handsome check" after final payment and part of their commissin !

 

 

Never, ever,:eek: book from the line direct unless you like paying full list price/

 

call no less than 5 agents and shop

[vivavegas]

I always book directly with the cruiseline. From that poing on, I research everything myself. Love the thrill of it all:)

[Jimbo59]

Your credit card payment must be to the cruise line, not the travel agent. Ask the agent if the payment will be to the cruise line. If the agent says no, find a different agent.

[neptuno]

Your credit card payment must be to the cruise line, not the travel agent. Ask the agent if the payment will be to the cruise line. If the agent says no, find a different agent.

 

Good advice. Just booked NCL through an online TA. Deposit showed up on my credit card charged by NCL, so far so good, but I realized the TA had doubled my deposit. So, now I have to get half the deposit refunded from NCL. Also, read the fine print in the contract. TA said deposit was fully refundable up to 90 days prior, when the fine print said 120 days, or lose 25% of total fare or deposit, which ever is greater. So now I know why he charged me the double deposit. Nice....

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We always us a TA...

[fantasy1029]

Taking my second cruise in August and have booked both on Carnival's website. Easy peasy!

[febtober]

Every time I've called a TA for info a cruise (usually NCL or Carnival), they've stated that they can't get me any sort of discount on the room, although they can throw on a little OBC. I think the last one I looked at was on Carnival and the price through Carnvial's website and booking through the TA was exactly the same, although the TA could get me a $75 OBC.

 

For $75, I'd rather just book directly through the cruise line. I don't have to worry about a third party missing a deadline or messing up paperwork, and if I have an issue, I don't have to wait for their "normal business hours" to contact them.

[cirman52]

If you can, book a future cruise while taking a cruise. On a Celebrity cruise last year, i booked a btb, same ship, for this fall. Got a better cabin, plus $950.00 in OBC. ( amount will vary according to grade of room & length of cruise s ). I then transferred it to an online agent who is pay for our tips for both cruises.

Ask & you should receive. Also, ask your fellow cruisers for a travel agent referral.

[sj25]

19 cruises and only 2 times did we use a TA and both times was not happy with service. So have come to just booking myself with the cruise line.

[Cheekyrn1]

I do all the comparison shopping myself and then book thru our frequent flyer program so that I get a ton of miles for free business class flights to Europe

[3DBeach]

My first 3 cruises i booked directly through the cruise line (RCI & NCL) for my upcoming cruise i booked through CAS (casinos at sea) which is through NCL's player's card. They give you discounts/comps based on you play on your previous NCL cruise.

[NeoVega]

I used a website that gets quotes from different travel agencies. Google "cruise" "compete"

 

The quotes were all the same, but the amounts of OnBoard Cash was different. I chose the TA who offered the highest OBC.

[paul929207]

I used a website that gets quotes from different travel agencies. Google "cruise" "compete"

 

The quotes were all the same, but the amounts of OnBoard Cash was different. I chose the TA who offered the highest OBC.

We sail Princess, and see different quotes from TAs thru that service. They also offer different OBC. I find there is often 10% or more difference between the quotes