Travel Agency bookings

[staygulf]

For many years we have booked our cruises through an online agency. However with the extremely fluid pricing policy of most cruise lines these days, it seems that the prices offered by agencies are exactly the same as those offered by the cruise lines on their websites.

 

Is there any reason why we should bother using agents. What is your experience with booking direct with a cruise line? Does it make any difference?

 

Confused.

[Scriv]

I prefer to book direct with the cruiseline, but by phone and through our Personal Cruise Specialist.

 

I don't like going through a middleman and I like to make all arrangements and discuss features and issues directly with the provider. On the rare occasions I have gone through an agent for other types of holidays, I have never really been satisfied and 2 out of my 3 agents used went bust. So I also feel safer with the holiday owner/provider direct.

 

I know other people disagree and use TAs because they get great discounts and other benefits. I however have never been able to find and have never been offered these special discounts or treatment. And I know that people get discounts by phoning and by haggling, but I am no good at that and also hate doing it.

 

When booking, so many other intangible things matter to me more than just a discount of a few % and I find that in booking direct with my PCS I get the attention and knowledge and also an understanding of my wishes that I am looking for with peace of mind for my bookings.

 

I also feel very confident of help from him if there is an issue.

 

Horses for courses.

Edited January 13, 2016 by Scriv

[jeanlyon]

I definitely get a better deal through my agent. The cruise price is the same and then he gives us a discount, about 5%. So I would always use an agent. We don't haggle at all. It is always just given. He has access to all the cabins and as we travel with a friend, we like cabins next door to each other. He is extremely knowledgeable about all the ships as well.

Edited January 13, 2016 by jeanlyon

[shallwe]

I go direct online but via a cashback website. The discount is probably not quite as good (4.2% at the moment) but if I need to make a change (as I did for both my last and my upcoming cruises) then I find it easier to deal direct.