Help appreciated regarding Travel Agents in Australia

[Sweetpea72]

Hi Fellow Cruisers

 

I'm in Australia and wanting to book a cruise with Celebrity. Are there any advantages booking through a travel agent rather than direct? Would you recommend using a specialist cruise TA, or does it not really matter?

 

Thank you for any help you can give me :)

[MicCanberra]

Hi Fellow Cruisers

 

I'm in Australia and wanting to book a cruise with Celebrity. Are there any advantages booking through a travel agent rather than direct? Would you recommend using a specialist cruise TA, or does it not really matter?

 

Thank you for any help you can give me :)

 

The guidelines say we cannot mention TAs directly but there are plenty of online agencies as well as the bricks and mortar types.

In my experience, the best thing to do is to shop around, check out what each TA offers, try and compare apples with apples, and compare with going direct as well. Things to look out for with Ta differences can be what is and what isn't included and especially check out their details, like deposits (amounts), final payment due dates, cancellation policies, etc and go with whatever one suits and is best value for you.

[Pushka]

My issue with using TA's is that the charge a cancellation fee even when the cruiseline doesn't. If you know what you want then I'd book direct.

[Porky55]

My issue with using TA's is that the charge a cancellation fee even when the cruiseline doesn't. If you know what you want then I'd book direct.

 

 

Agree with Pushka, I enjoy being able to manage my booking myself by booking direct. That way as soon as all your cruise documents, baggage labels etc become available you can access them yourself other than having to rely on the practices of the TA agency. You can also book your own onboard needs and any excursions then change your mind if you like. I found Celebrity great to deal with and if needing to phone them, you are also in charge of that. From my limited experience I've found a TA, in Australia won't find you a better cabin or get you a better price than the line is offering. Good luck :)

[windsor26]

Agree with Pushka, I enjoy being able to manage my booking myself by booking direct. That way as soon as all your cruise documents, baggage labels etc become available you can access them yourself other than having to rely on the practices of the TA agency. You can also book your own onboard needs and any excursions then change your mind if you like. I found Celebrity great to deal with and if needing to phone them, you are also in charge of that. From my limited experience I've found a TA, in Australia won't find you a better cabin or get you a better price than the line is offering. Good luck :)

 

 

 

 

Hi I see they have just added you as a post to our Rollcall for the Golden Princess on 6th September. Please join nus if they are correct.

[bedrick]

I have used several Australian travel agents both online and bricks and mortar and have found them to be extremely unhelpful and inexperienced with regard to cruises. They have nowhere near the level of expertise and customer service the USA agents offer. I now book direct with the various cruise lines and find it far less frustrating to have control of the booking myself instead of waiting days for response from Australian agents once the booking is made and they have their commission. The cancelation and deposit conditions are also far more favourable when booking directly with the cruise lines. The only times I have been happy using an agent is when I have been able to get a great deal using a USA agent who had a thorough knowledge of cruises and ships, no cancelation fee, the ability to reduce the price to match any price drops after booking and incredible customer service. Unfortunately it is not always possible for Australians to use USA agents.

[Sweetpea72]

Thank you so much all of you for replying!

 

I rang a couple this morning and it seems that they are much of a muchness...I think after researching online and reading CC I have all the information I need to book.

 

 

Sorry Windsor26 I am not on that particular voyage, although it sounds very nice :)

 

 

Thanks again, it has really helped me decide. Now, where's that credit card ;)

[MicCanberra]

Thank you so much all of you for replying!

 

I rang a couple this morning and it seems that they are much of a muchness...I think after researching online and reading CC I have all the information I need to book.

 

 

Sorry Windsor26 I am not on that particular voyage, although it sounds very nice :)

 

 

Thanks again, it has really helped me decide. Now, where's that credit card ;)

Excellent, glad we could help.

[lucymorgan]

I book direct with the cruise line or at least courtesy hold a booking and then ask my travel agent what she can do to take over the booking. She always gives me a small amount of onboard credit and a better price. She belongs to an Australia wide agency but has the ability to do this. She knows I am low maintenance.

 

I cannot change my stateroom, the date of the cruise or cancel but I can pretty much do everything else with the cruise planner.

[Sweetpea72]

That's interesting Lucy, neither of the ones I rang this morning offered any kind of extra over and above what the cruiseline offered. But then I didn't ask so maybe I need to become more assertive :D

[Aus Traveller]

The first question I would ask a TA is whether they have a cancellation fee on top of that of the cruise company. You are not planning to cancel when you book and you might have travel insurance, but there could be a circumstance not covered by the insurance that causes you to cancel. You don't want to find that you are hit with high charges from the TA even if, for instance, you are able to get a full refund of your deposit from the cruise company. I understand that the TA has done the work in placing the booking and cannot be expected to work for nothing. One TA I spoke to said they charged $50. I think that is quite OK and wouldn't cover their costs, but others are much higher.

[MicCanberra]

The first question I would ask a TA is whether they have a cancellation fee on top of that of the cruise company. You are not planning to cancel when you book and you might have travel insurance, but there could be a circumstance not covered by the insurance that causes you to cancel. You don't want to find that you are hit with high charges from the TA even if, for instance, you are able to get a full refund of your deposit from the cruise company. I understand that the TA has done the work in placing the booking and cannot be expected to work for nothing. One TA I spoke to said they charged $50. I think that is quite OK and wouldn't cover their costs, but others are much higher.

Some are 10% which is very high.

[Sweetpea72]

Well, I've booked it directly online so fingers crossed I won't have any regrets :) Very excited to be cruising again!

[Aussieflyer]

Well, I've booked it directly online so fingers crossed I won't have any regrets :) Very excited to be cruising again!

I'm sure it will be fantastic. Like most others who relied here, I look around but generally end up booking direct. Price is about the same and the final payment date is usually much later (some TAs have final payment a month or more before it is required by the cruise line - makes me think that they are using my money to bolster their bottom line).

[Sweetpea72]

I'm sure it will be fantastic. Like most others who relied here, I look around but generally end up booking direct. Price is about the same and the final payment date is usually much later (some TAs have final payment a month or more before it is required by the cruise line - makes me think that they are using my money to bolster their bottom line).

 

Thank you Aussieflyer, they certainly didn't quote prices that were out of this world, just pretty much what was online. I know some people rave about their TAs, so there must be good ones out there. I'm just happy now that I've made the decision and booked :D now to count down the days!

[Porky55]

Hi I see they have just added you as a post to our Rollcall for the Golden Princess on 6th September. Please join nus if they are correct.

 

 

Hi windsor26 - that's correct, I've been on there quite a few times now, you must have just missed my charming self :-)

[ozdevil]

I am looking at booking my 1st cruise... oh hang on i did do a week cruising or navigating the murray river in a 17ft boat once under the experience of myself but nothing like jumping on a cruise boat except if ya call The Spirit Of Tasmania a cruise boat lmao

 

myself and my partner are looking at doing a cruise to New Zealand and becuase so many cruise ships heading over to the land of the white cloud its a bit overwelhming to say the least in what to expect

 

 

reading up on these boards is not really helping as some show very negative towards each vessel that sails across the Tasman

 

 

I thought ovation of the seas at first

golden Princess

diamond Princess

Celebrity Solitice

 

 

and then thought i might just do it all in my 17ft bath tub like i did The Murray.......only kidding to chicken ****e to across the Tasman in a bath tub would do it in a 20 footer no worries

 

 

 

 

but would it be good for cruise virgin to head into a TA and talk about it, not necessarily booking through them

 

 

 

 

I am confident to do it myself but i dont want to do something i could have paid for before departing when the time comes like the tipping etc drinks packages etc etc

[lucymorgan]

That's interesting Lucy, neither of the ones I rang this morning offered any kind of extra over and above what the cruiseline offered. But then I didn't ask so maybe I need to become more assertive :D

 

 

Yes you need to ask and also go into the ta premises if possible and build a relationship. No one will offer. It doesn't have to be too assertive either - just a low key question and repeat custom. [emoji3]

 

Nevertheless I used to book direct and it too has its advantages.

 

Enjoy your cruise [emoji924]

 

 

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[Sweetpea72]

Thanks Lucymorgan, I hope to have a few more cruises in the future so maybe a good TA may win me over :)

 

Ozdevil, every time I do the crossing on the Spirit of Tas I tell myself it's a cruise just so I don't feel like I'm missing out haha

[Lanwood]

I think the key theme here is "finding" a good TA. If you can find one, it's gold and worth it!!

 

Generally the prices are the same for the agent than you find yourself online. Although I do notice that she can often get better OBC and little extras on her system from time to time than the cruise line offers online. She also gets the sales on her system faster than online, for example - on my upcoming cruise the online price was $600 more pp for our cabin than the TA price, and the TA was also able to get us an extra $400 OBC than online. The website was updated with the new sale price 3 days later (albeit with not as much OBC)

 

She can also have some cabins up her sleeve available where the cruise line is showing sold out, that have been allocated to her TA.

 

The extra little surprises we find in our cabin on each voyage, such as wine vouchers, or specialty dinner vouchers etc from the TA, as a thank you for your custom, are always appreciated - and wouldn't have been there if booking online ourselves..

 

But the biggest asset for us with our TA is not just her extensive knowledge of the industry in its entirety, but is her ability to go in and bat for us directly with the cruise line if ever there is a problem or issue regardless of how big or small.....and gets results (being previous management for Princess, Cunard and P&O before being starting a TA helps here).....

 

So I say

- if you can find a good TA - hold on and don't let go.

- if you can't find a good TA - you're better off on your own and do it yourself....

[Sweetpea72]

Good advice Lanwood. Those little extras would be very well received. I was a little bit rushed for time this booking; next cruise I might look around a bit more and see if I can find a good TA!

[Aussieflyer]

Yes, the little extras are nice but you generally won't receive them until you have become a 'valued' client of a TA. How long this takes (and how much you need to spend to get there) can vary.