Role of travel agent

[quandrea]

Should a travel agent assist with transfers? Mine won't and it seems odd to me. We need air to hotel. Hotel to port. Port to airport.

[MCC retired]

Yes, a TA Cruise Specialist should do all of that .

Find a real TA .

[pepperrn]

Hi quandrea,

 

In the UK transfers are usually part of the Cunard "package" (along with flights (and hotel stays) where applicable); all charges are included in the price we pay.

 

The one time I booked a cruise, flights and hotel separately... I had to come out of the airport terminal and go to a taxi rank (luckily it wasn't a long walk, the taxis were conveniently parked close to the exit) to take me to the hotel.

Then, a few days later, on the morning of sailing, I left my hotel (on 7th Ave in Manhattan) and asked the hotel doorman right outside to get me a taxi to take me to Redhook so I could board QM2.

On my return from my cruise I again took a taxi, this time from the Redhook terminal (where the taxi rank was close to the terminal, only a short walk) to the airport.

The taxis were not expensive I seem to remember.

 

This worked very well for me as taxis are widely available. Is this something that you've given any thought to doing as your TA seems unwilling to book the three separate taxis in advance for you? (although I would have thought a good TA would offer a transfer service frankly).

 

Alternatively, many people here have favourite car services they recommend; a search of this board would find some company names and contact numbers/websites I'm sure.

 

I hope this helps, have a great time on board.

Edited August 16, 2016 by pepperrn

[Bell Boy]

Should a travel agent assist with transfers? Mine won't and it seems odd to me. We need air to hotel. Hotel to port. Port to airport.

 

Travel Agent ? not too sure if you are in the UK or overseas . You need to be using a reputable 'Cruise specialist' who will help you.

These days, some of the local high street travel agents (in the UK) are, one minute offering their customers, Week- End breaks in Malaga or Ski package holidays in Austria ;) no idea or experience of the Cruise industry .

[quandrea]

Hi quandrea,

 

In the UK transfers are usually part of the Cunard "package" (along with flights (and hotel stays) where applicable); all charges are included in the price we pay.

 

The one time I booked a cruise, flights and hotel separately... I had to come out of the airport terminal and go to a taxi rank (luckily it wasn't a long walk, the taxis were conveniently parked close to the exit) to take me to the hotel.

Then, a few days later, on the morning of sailing, I left my hotel (on 7th Ave in Manhattan) and asked the hotel doorman right outside to get me a taxi to take me to Redhook so I could board QM2.

On my return from my cruise I again took a taxi, this time from the Redhook terminal (where the taxi rank was close to the terminal, only a short walk) to the airport.

The taxis were not expensive I seem to remember.

 

This worked very well for me as taxis are widely available. Is this something that you've given any thought to doing as your TA seems unwilling to book the three separate taxis in advance for you? (although I would have thought a good TA would offer a transfer service frankly).

 

Alternatively, many people here have favourite car services they recommend; a search of this board would find some company names and contact numbers/websites I'm sure.

 

I hope this helps, have a great time on board.

 

Thank you. We are a large party so I think I'll book a car service ahead. It's easy enough to do. I'm using Dial 7 in NY and will research Quebec a bit more.

 

Travel Agent ? not too sure if you are in the UK or overseas . You need to be using a reputable 'Cruise specialist' who will help you.

These days, some of the local high street travel agents (in the UK) are, one minute offering their customers, Week- End breaks in Malaga or Ski package holidays in Austria ;) no idea or experience of the Cruise industry .

 

We are in North America. She is a cruise specialist. I think she is upset with me for assertively pursuing compensation for price drops. She is my spokesperson so it's meant extra work. I've booked many trips with her. We have another booked for next year and this gives me pause. Not sure how to proceed.

[carolina-cruiser]

I don't know if I will ever use a travel agent again to book my cruise. I felt we were "taken for a ride" price wise, and once locked in with him I was told I couldn't take advantage of any price reductions Cunard offered. I know better now and we have already booked another Cunard cruise directly so that we can take advantage of special offers. I ended up making our flight arrangements (we have frequent flyer miles), hotel reservations, and transfer arrangements as well. I came out find less expensive but equally good accommodations and transfer services. Dial 7 was an excellent transfer service, both from LGA to Brooklyn, and back to LGA after returning to Red Hook (we did EB and WB transatlantics). Our hotel in Brooklyn, The Aloft, was reasonable, and arranged our taxi from the hotel to Red Hook. No hitches anywhere. We were pleased.

[quandrea]

I don't know if I will ever use a travel agent again to book my cruise. I felt we were "taken for a ride" price wise, and once locked in with him I was told I couldn't take advantage of any price reductions Cunard offered. I know better now and we have already booked another Cunard cruise directly so that we can take advantage of special offers. I ended up making our flight arrangements (we have frequent flyer miles), hotel reservations, and transfer arrangements as well. I came out find less expensive but equally good accommodations and transfer services. Dial 7 was an excellent transfer service, both from LGA to Brooklyn, and back to LGA after returning to Red Hook (we did EB and WB transatlantics). Our hotel in Brooklyn, The Aloft, was reasonable, and arranged our taxi from the hotel to Red Hook. No hitches anywhere. We were pleased.

I wonder if she isn't miffed that I have done some things myself. Booked air on my own using a voucher I had. Booked our own NY hotel. We are five and I needed very specific accommodation. I've since booked my transfers with Dial 7. I wish I wasn't booked with her for next year. Wondering how to remedy that.

[carolina-cruiser]

Maybe you could cancel the cruise with your agent, then rebook yourself. I would have done it if I had known then what I know now. I think our agent was looking out for himself and not us so live and learn.

[Underwatr]

Do you have an elite level credit card (Signature Visa, Gold Amex, something like that)? The nicer cards (even those without annual fees) offer concierge services where they'll help book stuff like transfers. I have no idea of any fees involved. Usually I'm the concierge when we travel. :)

[Solent Richard]

Travel Agent ? not too sure if you are in the UK or overseas . You need to be using a reputable 'Cruise specialist' who will help you.

These days, some of the local high street travel agents (in the UK) are, one minute offering their customers, Week- End breaks in Malaga or Ski package holidays in Austria ;) no idea or experience of the Cruise industry .

 

Good afternoon Bell Boy.

 

For my next trans-Atlantic my TA offered a great deal on Queens Grill, New York Hotel and air fare.

 

The deal was actually outside the standard Cunard programme including a longer stay in New York.

 

Transfers were offered at an additional cost which I had no issue with. I opted for my own arrangements in order that I had more flexibility with my time.

 

The fact is that loyalty to one TA is no longer worth it. It's a big world out there and just as we switch insurers and utility providers regularly, why not travel agents.

[Cosmic Rays]

Travel Agent ? not too sure if you are in the UK or overseas . You need to be using a reputable 'Cruise specialist' who will help you.

These days, some of the local high street travel agents (in the UK) are, one minute offering their customers, Week- End breaks in Malaga or Ski package holidays in Austria ;) no idea or experience of the Cruise industry .

 

I totally agree - and some of the travel agent staff are so young they may well have never seen a cruise ship never mind been on a 'facility visit' or have experience of a cruise and life on board!

Not their fault of course, but for cruising you really need an experienced specialist cruise agent who has experience of the industry and knowledge of the many different cruise company profiles - also advising and doing the A-Z in readiness for your cruise experience..........

[Cosmic Rays]

Good afternoon Bell Boy.

 

 

 

The fact is that loyalty to one TA is no longer worth it. It's a big world out there and just as we switch insurers and utility providers regularly, why not travel agents.

 

You are right - I now have three agents who I use - it's 'horses for courses'..........

[Oldcruiser99]

Hi all:

 

I am a licensed travel agent in Canada. It is not my main income. More of a hobby. I book a bit for friends in an office which specializes in cruises.

Previous posters have raised some good points. A good agent should be able to do everything for you if they are motivated. The problem is that there is little or no money to be made helping clients with air fare or hotels. That's why some less dedicated agents will want to just book your cruise and then forget you.

It shouldn't be that way. If you aren't getting full service, then find someone else. When you do find a good agent, stick with them. There are still benefits. In my case our office can often offer lower prices than the cruise lines by buying cabins in bulk or offering a $50 room credit which comes out the office profit, not the travel agent's.

An agent should care about you. They should check in with you when you are ready to depart and then again when you return. They should care about saving you money.

[Adammara]

We use a internet based TA, she used to work for Celebrity, but was made redundant When Celebrity moved most of the bookings to far of land. She was an experienced cruise and had had also worked for on the the UK top travel companies. She always got us price reductions and great cabins and deals. She looks after us very well, and is available 7 days a week. Far more cruise knowledge than any of the local TA's staff.

[Solent Richard]

I totally agree - and some of the travel agent staff are so young they may well have never seen a cruise ship never mind been on a 'facility visit' or have experience of a cruise and life on board!

Not their fault of course, but for cruising you really need an experienced specialist cruise agent who has experience of the industry and knowledge of the many different cruise company profiles - also advising and doing the A-Z in readiness for your cruise experience..........

 

That sums up so many of these online agents. A handful of ship visits, a Facebook profile, and they are the world's experts.

[Solent Richard]

You are right - I now have three agents who I use - it's 'horses for courses'..........

 

Good morning Colin.

 

Thank you for your kind comment.

 

Over the years I have found that a lot of UK agents operate at different levels of business with different cruise lines. Many of their customers, on many UK forums, fawn over the level of service they get and become blinkered to what is really available.

 

At the end of the day it's all really about the bottom line: and the higher the level one cruises the greater can be the savings.

 

Happy cruising.

[cruiseluvva]

Our cruise agent is exceptionally good and somehow manages to work miracles, when miracles seem impossible. She "takes on" the cruise lines and fights her client's cause.

 

I would book nowhere else!

Edited August 18, 2016 by cruiseluvva

[david,Mississauga]

... I'm using Dial 7 in NY and will research Quebec a bit more.

...

 

 

One problem I have noticed recently is that many providers of travel arrangements (most airlines come to mind) no longer pay commission to travel agents. So many TAs suggest you make your own bookings or they will charge a fee if you insist they do it.

 

There is no need to make advance arrangements for travel to or from the airport in Quebec City. Taxis have a flat rate of $34.25. Cunard is charging $60 per person for the transfer. That is steep considering transfers for a further distance such as Southampton - Gatwick or Brooklyn to Newark cost the same or even less. When I booked a transfer from Brooklyn to EWR it was only $48. (All the rates I have quoted are in Canadian funds.)

Edited August 19, 2016 by david,Mississauga

[quandrea]

One problem I have noticed recently is that many providers of travel arrangements (most airlines come to mind) no longer pay commission to travel agents. So many TAs suggest you make your own bookings or they will charge a fee if you insist they do it.

 

There is no need to make advance arrangements for travel to or from the airport in Quebec City. Taxis have a flat rate of $34.25. Cunard is charging $60 per person for the transfer. That is steep considering transfers for a further distance such as Southampton - Gatwick or Brooklyn to Newark cost the same. When I booked a transfer from Brooklyn to EWR it was only $48. (All the rates I have quoted are in Canadian funds.)

 

Thank you for this. So it seems I'm squared away for New York and I will just get a van or SUV that will hopefully be waiting in Quebec.