Cruise Line, Travel Agency or Other

[Larrysgirl1984]

Hi Everyone, I'm planning my first cruise to the Caribbean and I was wondering is it best to book directly with the Cruise Lines or a Travel Agency etc? Where do you think you can get the best deals?

[cb at sea]

Check with both..you don't HAVE to book right away! Compare prices! We used a TA for our 1st cruise, but since then, we book our own..I like "owning" my booking. If you go thru a TA, any changes or requests have to go through that TA, as they "own" the booking until you board.

[Larrysgirl1984]

Thanks so much for your response. I'm researching away.

[paul929207]

We use a TA. She usually gives us about 15% off the cruise line fare. In addition, we get some OBC from her.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Thanks so much for your response. I'm researching away.

 

 

There are a million threads on this in CC. If you do a search, you'll find that a cruise specialist TA, who is a top producer for the line(s) you are considering, will provide significant OBC on top of the best deal you can get from the cruise line. Sometimes, even more importantly, that top producer (who may book in excess of $1 million/year) can work wonders that wouldn't even net you (alone) a return phone call.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Flatbush Flyer

[Keith1010]

I would find a good TA (ask friends for recommendations) as TA's can provide amenities that cruise lines won't.

 

Also should something go wrong a good TA will be your advocate with the cruise line to get the problem resolved.

 

Keith

[dramirez]

For your first cruise you might want to go with a travel agent as they can give you guidance if you have not travelled a lot. They can help to steer you towards the best cruise line for you, as well as give you suggestions on the best itinerary for you.

 

No matter what you do, have fun planning your cruise!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

It took us a while, but we have been lucky to have a TA that we have used for over 25 years. We can call her any time and she had resolved some last minute problems that crept up.

I do book our own hotels and air.

[Host Walt]

Guideline reminder:

 

"Touting of your personal cruise agent or cruise line "personal cruise consultant" (or any other venue by which you purchase a cruise) is not allowed on our message boards...

 

This means you should not ask about someone's travel agent, nor should you respond in kind."

[Host Walt]

Hi Larrysgirl1984 and welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Here's a potentially helpful reference:

 

How to book a Cruise

 

And I agree with those who say that half the fun of a cruise is the anticipation and planning.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Host Walt

[NMLady]

I would find a good TA (ask friends for recommendations) as TA's can provide amenities that cruise lines won't.

 

Keith

 

I always laugh when people say to ask friends for recommendations for a good Travel Agent. No one that we know uses a travel agent for any reason, not flights or anything else. In fact, very few of our friends go anywhere except by car. And the few who do fly always book their own flights. We do not have any friends who cruise. And somehow we have never thought to discuss travel agents while on a cruise.

[carolky460]

We are getting ready to leave for our first cruise next week! A couple good friends recommended a TA for us & have been very happy with all that was included in our price, it also included the hotel resort near the port that has a shuttle service. We would have been clueless.

Best of luck! :)