Do you use a travel agent or book with NCL direct?

[scapel]

On ‎7‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 11:04 AM, S.S.Oceanlover said:

 

Were the TA's charging you a booking fee or something?

 

In 27 years of cruising I've never seen a TA that was more money.:confused:

 

Bill

Bill,

I have been cruising since 1975 but only 51 cruises. I always use my TA. If I see an advertisement that seems to be cheaper than what she is offering me I communicate with her. Usually she can explain it to my satisfaction. When you have been satisfied for this many years, I just continue and hope she stays in good health.

[Nola26]

On 7/25/2018 at 8:39 PM, richard k said:

I always use CAS get a better deal and get free water bottles from the casino.

Same here, first cruise was from a land based casino and the rest are either CAS discount or land based casino complimentary. Those cruises can be managed like a direct booking with NCL in that I can do most anything with the website or a call to customer service. There are times when there's a pricing issue and that has to go back to the Casino at Sea desk.

[QTsKid]

I guess I don't understand what y'all mean by not having control when booking with a  travel agent. I've done direct and through travel agents, and have never felt like I couldn't make changes. The first TA acted like she was working miracles because she gave us $50 OBC and had some streamers put up for our anniversary. Most recently I priced out a cruise (Joy, June 2019) and then I looked on facebook for a group that was for the ship I wanted. The TA running that group priced out the same cruise and saved us $200 per person, got us 4 specialty restaurants for a group instead of the 3 I was able to book, gave us $200 OBC, paid gratuities for Dining and Drink packages,  and price watched for us. Able to get  us a full haven upgrade for less than the minimum bid we could do. so yeah, having a good TA has definitely been helpful for us 🙂

[bonvoyagie]

I started with NCL back before they started doing their own booking - either online or via PCCs. You had to use the brick and mortar TAs. I had a friend who was a TA and we started with him. He also loved to cruise and gave us great tips on what to expect on our first cruise. He is now approaching retirement but still has a small agency. While he does no better on price than online - he has arranged flights, hotels, transfers etc. and has taken the headache out of several of our cruises. With him, if I have an issue I do not have to spend hours on the phone with the call center at NCL - he has a more direct line and gets correct answers.

 

I don't care for the PCCs they seem to come and go and from what I have heard on CC - hit or miss as to how well they are working for you ( and not them).

 

Large TAs can and do book large blocks of rooms on which they get a discount - some of them pass the savings on to you, Others just pocket the difference.

 

Now that I have a few cruises under my belt - I do the research and let my TA make the booking. I usually arrange my own air, hotels, etc. If he decides to gift me OBC it is because of business I have referred to him.

 

I have not tried any of the big box TAs and probably never will.

[scapel]

On ‎4‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 12:28 AM, bonvoyagie said:

I started with NCL back before they started doing their own booking - either online or via PCCs. You had to use the brick and mortar TAs. I had a friend who was a TA and we started with him. He also loved to cruise and gave us great tips on what to expect on our first cruise. He is now approaching retirement but still has a small agency. While he does no better on price than online - he has arranged flights, hotels, transfers etc. and has taken the headache out of several of our cruises. With him, if I have an issue I do not have to spend hours on the phone with the call center at NCL - he has a more direct line and gets correct answers.

 

I don't care for the PCCs they seem to come and go and from what I have heard on CC - hit or miss as to how well they are working for you ( and not them).

 

Large TAs can and do book large blocks of rooms on which they get a discount - some of them pass the savings on to you, Others just pocket the difference.

 

Now that I have a few cruises under my belt - I do the research and let my TA make the booking. I usually arrange my own air, hotels, etc. If he decides to gift me OBC it is because of business I have referred to him.

 

I have not tried any of the big box TAs and probably never will.

What is a "big box" TA?

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, scapel said:

What is a "big box" TA?

 

Big. Box refers to large discount stores that sell large quantities of toilet paper, as an example.

 

We aren’t allowed to mention travel agent sites or names here at CC.

[Goldconnection]

I am an absolute control freak. Would never think of handing off control of my cruise to anyone. I book everything for DH and myself and have had great results. 

 

Note: Two or three times I toyed with using a travel agent and the price and perks were no better than what I could get for myself and I maintained control of my cruise. And yes I stay on top of price drops for all aspects of our vacation. I have the time and don't view it has work. I look at it as saving money something I enjoy doing. 

 

This is what works for me. There is no righ or wrong way of doing this. Just enjoy your vacation no matter who does the booking.

[OHRiverRats]

I used to book directly with cruise line, but switched to using a TA. I only do that to get OBC, prepaid gratuities or whatever perk they may have available. I book on the TA's website and select my own cabins. I ask very little of the TA. Once they send me an email that my cruise has been booked, I go to the cruise line website to book dinners, shows, etc. If I have any problems or need to make changes I call the cruise line directly. I would love to find a good TA that would actually watch prices for me, but haven't figured out who those are yet!

[bonvoyagie]

Actually there is no incentive for any TA to watch for lower prices - they get paid on commission based on your cruise fare.

[MikeWallace442]

2 minutes ago, bonvoyagie said:

Actually there is no incentive for any TA to watch for lower prices - they get paid on commission based on your cruise fare.

 

I would figure maintaining customer loyalty is an incentive.  For instance, if I get a customer to come back and I get 10 dollars in commission for 10 more cruises then that is better than just getting the larger commission up front and not have them return.

 

But I am not working in the industry so what do I know.

[yearsofcruising]

Been using the same guy at NCL for yrs. He takes my charge card and books everything..Cabins where I want..Specialty restaurants..shows n even complimentry mdr's on the bigger ships ...it does pay off when on the bigger ships and traveling with 4 cabins, 8 people n grandkids.. My thoughts..thxs

[scapel]

On ‎4‎/‎8‎/‎2019 at 12:16 PM, graphicguy said:

 

Big. Box refers to large discount stores that sell large quantities of toilet paper, as an example.

 

We aren’t allowed to mention travel agent sites or names here at CC.

Thanks for that clarification. MY TA has been able to upgrade my cabin for me when I wanted forward viewing cabins. I would not have the time or knowhow to find these cabins if they came available. She just found me one on NCL. When I say upgrade, I am talking about her finding me a cabin that I didn't know was available. I just pay the extra cost and extra insurance. I am not referring to free upgrades.

[graphicguy]

39 minutes ago, scapel said:

Thanks for that clarification. MY TA has been able to upgrade my cabin for me when I wanted forward viewing cabins. I would not have the time or knowhow to find these cabins if they came available. She just found me one on NCL. When I say upgrade, I am talking about her finding me a cabin that I didn't know was available. I just pay the extra cost and extra insurance. I am not referring to free upgrades.

That works.

 

I use an online TA who I use that offers me OBC, perks and the lowest fare if I book through their site.  If I need to have one of their Agents book it for me (like helping me choose a cabin) then they charge a little more, maybe don’t offer as much OBC, etc....but, they offer that sort of assistance, too.

 

Personally, I like the control of looking at what I want, chasing down a cabin I like (and any associated deals that accompany that cabin), finding the right itinerary, the right ship, the right  fare, etc.  But, that’s just me.

 

The downside?  If I choose a bad cabin, on an undesirable part of the ship, that’s on me.  No one to blame but myself.  But, I’ve got a pretty good feel for cabin types and where they’re located on the ship....whether they’d be to my liking.  At the end of the day, every time I book, I get the price, perks, location, type, itinerary, etc that I had a hand in from beginning to end.

 

When/if there are “snafus”, my online TA has been very good at getting everything taken care of for me, however.

[pghflyer]

I have used online agencies for 100% of my cruises and never booked directly, although I always got quotes from them. I am happy to give my business to whoever gives me the best bottom line deal, and it has always been an online agency. I have saved many thousands this way. I give up no control and still pick my own rooms and have flexibility to make the same changes I would had I booked with the cruise lines directly.  

[chavisc]

On 7/25/2018 at 8:26 PM, NancyW12 said:

It also depends on what class of cabin you are looking to purchase. I travel solo in the cheapest cabin on the boat. usually when I consider a TA, they can give me the same price as NCL and a $25 OBC- not worth it to give up the ability to purchase spa passes, book my shows. etc. If one was staying in the Haven with multiple people, they are spending 10-20x my cruise price and would get perks to match that.

Why would you be giving up the ability to book spa passes and shows?  You should still be able to log into your NCL account and do that no matter how you book, right?

[Birdie And Sue]

If you are willing to do a little leg work (keyboard work) you can almost always do at least as well booking directly with NCL as any TA can get you AND you do not have a TA stuck between you and NCL.

[Cruise Junky]

TA. I just got $500 off the NCL price. The only thing I’ve ever booked direct are dinky 3 dayers where it’s not worth bothering my TA. 

[Markanddonna]

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

On 7/26/2018 at 4:38 PM, Maniacal Cruiser said:

I

Scenario A : Book direct.

1 If I need something I call NCL directly.

2 We discuss the options and I make a decision.

3 End of story.

 

Scenario B : Book with TA.

1 If I need something I call TA.

2 TA eventually calls NCL.

3 TA calls me back with information.

4 I have questions for NCL that I ask the TA.

5 TA eventually calls NCL.

6 TA calls me back with answers.

 

(4,5,6 repeat endlessly)

Good description of what happens. We booked a 12 night Italy, Greece, Turkey and Israel cruise about a year ago. In that time, the price has gone down about five times. I placed the call to the cruise line, they were very pleasant and efficient in lowering our fare. That was it! I doubt any agent would have been so diligent in calling me to alert me that the price has dropped and I would have been in the Scenario B cycle.  That happened several years ago with an agent who returned my call too late and the price was back up. 

I

 

 

 

On 7/26/2018 at 4:38 PM, Maniacal Cruiser said:

 

 

 

 

[phillygwm]

On 7/26/2018 at 8:28 AM, PelicanBill said:

We have booked with agents and direct. The problem with agents: there are not that many good ones out there, that do these things being posted here. They are GOLD when you find them. Even tried a friend who is an agent and got completely average results. They had a $100OBC and no booking fee, but, did not do anything else and did not watch for price drops. When a price drop happened, she was not at work for 2 days and nobody else wanted to touch her booking. So we're back to direct booking so I can call 24 hours if I need to. I do price check with online agencies to see if there is any big difference but it is never more than a couple hundred dollars.

This about sums it up in my experience.  

 

I book through the Casinos at Sea for myself but have helped friends book through a TA as well as through PCC.  I've not had the pleasure of working with a truly great TA.  PCC's are generally fine, but the downside is that I've spent a good amount of time on hold trying to get additional info or make changes with NCL.  

[phissy]

On 5/31/2019 at 10:40 AM, chavisc said:

Why would you be giving up the ability to book spa passes and shows?  You should still be able to log into your NCL account and do that no matter how you book, right?

You don't.  Once you have a NCL reservation number, you log into My NCL and click on your reservation then click on Explore and Plan.  You can book all your onboard items online, directly with My NCL.  If you are new to NCL, you have to set up a Latitudes account and NCL account. 

 

[Ryanryanryan]

Travel agents are useless.  I can always get a better deal than a travel agent.

[rgd1213]

44 minutes ago, Ryanryanryan said:

Travel agents are useless.  I can always get a better deal than a travel agent.

I would be curious on how you get a better deal?  I can see if you think that using a TA is not worth the money saved over booking direct, but I always get a better price using the big box travel agent considering on-board credit and a gift card.  

[Markanddonna]

I believe you can get a slightly better or similar deal for modestly priced cabins and much more generous perks for the suites and Haven cabins. You can still book excursions and other features, but can't change the basic reservation if you have an agent. 

[Seany527]

delete

Edited June 3, 2019 by Seany527

[cksv]

I always book through the large online travel websites. Their offers are always better than booking directly on NCL's website. I typically get onboard credit and prepaid gratuities, plus I usually get 10% cashback for clicking a link on a cashback site that refers me to the large online travel site. However, I do agree that it's nice to book direct with NCL because when issues arise you're not playing telephone, but having that convenience is usually not worth giving up $500+ in perks for me.