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

[delaware32]

I have booked both ways and while not written in stone ,I prefer because booking directly . As with everything, it may be because of the person you're working with . Our PCC is great and really keeps on top of things .

[krazykohns]

I price shop but have always come back to booking directly with my PCC. She’s been great and always helps me get the best room location. I also like knowing that if the price changes, or promos come up, she’s a quick email away to help me adjust it. This has t always been the case with travel agents we’ve used.

[Cardex]

I also like having control of my reservation. I almost always use my NCL PCC. My next cruise final payment is due soon so I decided to check prices. I found an online TA who price was $1000 less than what my PCC could give me. I did ask him if he could match the price but he couldn't. I will keep the same cabin category and perks. I am thrilled to give up control to save $1000!

Edited July 27, 2018 by Cardex

[rgd1213]

I've always booked directly with NCL on previous cruises, but for my upcoming Bliss cruise, I shopped around and ending up booking through a .com agency. So far a good experience! They were able to book me a Guaranteed Balcony that included the perks at a lower rate than NCL Sail Away Rate...and added an additional $75 OBC. I ended up with a BA mid ship cabin which if I booked directly with NCL would be about $800 more without the OBC. Makes me wonder how much I have lost on the past cruises booking directly with NCL!

[Cardex]

Makes me wonder how much I have lost on the past cruises booking directly with NCL!

That's exactly what I thought too!

[KarlChilders]

I've always booked directly with NCL on previous cruises, but for my upcoming Bliss cruise, I shopped around and ending up booking through a .com agency. So far a good experience! They were able to book me a Guaranteed Balcony that included the perks at a lower rate than NCL Sail Away Rate...and added an additional $75 OBC. I ended up with a BA mid ship cabin which if I booked directly with NCL would be about $800 more without the OBC. Makes me wonder how much I have lost on the past cruises booking directly with NCL!

I think maybe it always pays to check both. On our last cruise, I checked two online TA's and they were both over $100 more than direct with NCL, but we were booking within final payment time, so maybe that makes a difference.

[MandyMommyof2]

I usually use Casinos as Sea because I am receiving a comp from a land based casino or receiving 20% discount from casino affiliation. But I recently booked a cruise for my sister (who does not gamble) and I booked through a "senior" travel agency where the single cabin rate was less than what I priced on NCL. She also received additional $200 OBC from the agency. But it was not seamless, I was on the phone over a three day period finalizing the details. There was no dedicated TA so that was one part of the problem and then NCL was not aware of their own DoubleUp CruiseNext promotion.

Hi Socalev,

Quick question for you about Casinos at Sea. A few weeks ago, my husband was given one of the VIP certificates, do you know if this has to be booked through the 800 number or can we use our TA to book and still get the discount? Not our first cruise, by no means, but his first CAS. Thanks!!

[Warm Breezes]

for those of you booking with TA's and getting a significant savings or benefits, what cabin class are you booking and for how many people? Trying to compare my solo experience to y'alls.

 

Balconies for 2 and I get approx 10% of my total cruise fare in OBC from the TA.

[PATRLR]

you are correct and he is full of, you know what. Of course he gives examples of things we should not do, but do anyway. That is quite different from doing something that can result in fines, losing a license etc. I think I have a pretty good idea how the system works: I am a retired agent and 2 or my 3 kids are retired airline employees, one retired as a VP. I can only add, I would never want to do business with a company that is breaking the rules and down right shady. And I certainly would not come on a public forum and tell the whole world about it.

That last line is a key point and usually an indicator of someone who is full of it.

[RaiderDuck]

When looking at a cruise, I'll check both the cruise line's direct website and our favorite online TA's website. If the TA offers us something more (like extra room cash or free prepaid gratuities or whatever), we'll use them. If not, we'll just use the cruise line's website.

 

For example, on our upcoming 15-day NCL cruise, booking through NCL directly would have given us two perks and $60 cruise cash. Booking through the TA gave us the exact same cabin at the exact same price with three perks and $240 cruise cash.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I think maybe it always pays to check both. On our last cruise, I checked two online TA's and they were both over $100 more than direct with NCL, but we were booking within final payment time, so maybe that makes a difference.

 

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

[KarlChilders]

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

No, but there had just been a price drop on the NCL site, maybe the TA's just were lagging on getting the update, not sure. It wasn't much but they were more. On the previous trip the TA we used, which was one of the ones here, was dead on the same price as NCL with an extra $25 or 50 OBC.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

No, but there had just been a price drop on the NCL site, maybe the TA's just were lagging on getting the update, not sure. It wasn't much but they were more. On the previous trip the TA we used, which was one of the ones here, was dead on the same price as NCL with an extra $25 or 50 OBC.

 

They should always be at least the same. Like you said maybe they were lagging.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.:)

 

Bill

[Toofarfromthesea]

True....ONLY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

 

But then again people cannot take drinks onboard most cruiselines, people cannot take surge protectors onboard,

people cannot or are not supposed to block balcony doors from closing, people are not supposed to smoke on balconies, people are not supposed to hog chairs, people cannot take food ashore from ships, people are not supposed to share drinks, people are not supposed to save theater seaats......yada, yada, yada.....

You get the drift.

 

Yup, you are not a rules follower.

 

Got it.

[vince_g]

Can you please come to the point and stop beating around the bush?

To qualify for the interline rates, the Interline agencies require a scanned copy of your ID card and last payslip, or a letter from the airline/cargo/ international courier company (on their official letterhead), stating that you are a present or retired employee.

The airline/cargo/international courier company should still be operational.

 

It's actually the cruise line that requires a copy of the ID or the letter of employment. I would imagine they are pretty strict about this. Somehow I have doubts that he paid 3400 for 10 cruises. Keep in mind this is the same person who kept posting that the DSC was going up August 1st, and that isn't happening either.

[vince_g]

We have purchased cruises direct as well as through an online big box agency and most recently with a brick and mortar agency that gives us an obc in addition to the same price as buying direct.

 

As the PP suggested, shop around!

 

Yes do shop around. Some of the online agencies have group rates. I paid about $335 per person less than NCL fare for my upcoming 12 night cruise. The agency also kicked in $175 OBC.

[newmexicoNita]

It's actually the cruise line that requires a copy of the ID or the letter of employment. I would imagine they are pretty strict about this. Somehow I have doubts that he paid 3400 for 10 cruises. Keep in mind this is the same person who kept posting that the DSC was going up August 1st, and that isn't happening either.

yes, it is the cruise line and you are right about his pricing. In fact the interline rates for cruises are not very good anymore, especially on NCL and Carnival. They are probably not worth the bother.

 

The cruise line normally requires the ID proof within a few days of booking the reservation.

 

Of course he is full of it. I am a bit surprised he is still posting what appears to be false information. Let's see how long before he comes back with another story.

[njkate]

NCL direct, I've yet to find a stellar TA, hate hate waiting for return calls, it's not worth it to me for the extra OBC, and difference in price if there really is any is minimal. Gave up on TA's years ago

[drsel]

NCL direct, I've yet to find a stellar TA, hate hate waiting for return calls, it's not worth it to me for the extra OBC, and difference in price if there really is any is minimal. Gave up on TA's years ago

Giving up on online TAs is a big mistake. My online TA has now stopped giving OBC, but gives a direct discount instead, which is slightly more than the combined discount + cash card given by the big box TA.

I don't ever have to wait for any phone calls, nor do I have to make any calls.

I get email replies in 5-10 minutes, believe it or not!

And also reminders for final payment well in advance of the due date.

[drsel]

yes, it is the cruise line and you are right about his pricing. In fact the interline rates for cruises are not very good anymore, especially on NCL and Carnival. They are probably not worth the bother.

 

The cruise line normally requires the ID proof within a few days of booking the reservation.

 

Of course he is full of it. I am a bit surprised he is still posting what appears to be false information. Let's see how long before he comes back with another story.

I checked the Interline discount (for an inside cabin) on the Interline agencies and found that it's just 5% of the base fare, the same discount that is given to the Military, Police, Firefighter and EMT for an INSIDE cabin.

However, for balcony and above, the Military, Police, Firefighter and EMT get a 10% discount on the base fare (excluding port fees, taxes, insurance, gratuities)

[phillygwm]

I have done a few cruises with Norwegian and plan on using them in the future. I have one payed up for October. I've always booked direct with NCL either online or via an NCL cruise consultant. Would I get something more if I booked through an agent? I like Norwegian, just not sure whether I should try an agent next time. Advice?

 

Like most everything else in life: It depends.

 

I always book through NCL Casinos at Sea because I get better offers/comps. However, I've traveled with friends who went the travel agent route. Their agent was terrible and gave them bad information, but I suppose a good agent count add value, especially if you were doing something last minute or needed special accommodation of some kind.

[Peachypooh]

The first two cruises I went on I used a travel agent. I was new to cruising then and needed help. The first agent said he would pick the best ship that met my needs going to Bermuda. It was an OK price but the ship was not a good fit for us. The second cruise was a Western Caribbean and we booked with an agent and she got me upgraded from a balcony guarantee to a sky suite on Celebrity for an amazing price.

 

That said now that I am an experienced cruiser and cruise exclusively with NCL I just book my cruises myself online. If I need to change something (I changed my cabin on the Breakaway recently) it was a direct phone call and it was done. As for pricing I keep an eye out myself for price drops and have always been accommodated by NCL as long as it was before final payment. I did see a pretty good OBC one time by a big name wholesale club but they don't have the hours NCL does so I decided it just wasn't worth it.

 

Do what fits your needs and personality.

[drsel]

a pretty good OBC one time by a big name wholesale club but they don't have the hours NCL does so I decided it just wasn't worth it.

Don't have the hours ? You can book online 24x7.

If you are an experienced cruiser, you don't need to ask questions on phone. You can always email the online TA anytime.

[Oldgoat61]

I use both NCL, and a TA. First I find the cruise I want, the cabin I want, and call NCL to book. Once I have the reservation, I call my TA, and transfer the reservation to her within 60 days. Any and all NCL perks go with the reservation, plus whatever the TA offers. My TA always sweetens the pot with OBC, or gratuities, but usually OBC, $400 OBC on my last 14 day cruise. As far as making reservations.....for excursions, I call NCL and set a reservation once they open up, this way I don't pay until I take the excursion. For specialty dining, I usually call once they open up, although I am going to try using the online process for my next cruise.

The reason I call NCL first is because I have quicker access to a rep. to get the cabin I want/or one that is available in the category I desire.

It is important to get a TA that has experience/knowledge, that way the questions/concerns you might have can be answered quickly. :D

[newmexicoNita]

I checked the Interline discount (for an inside cabin) on the Interline agencies and found that it's just 5% of the base fare, the same discount that is given to the Military, Police, Firefighter and EMT for an INSIDE cabin.

However, for balcony and above, the Military, Police, Firefighter and EMT get a 10% discount on the base fare (excluding port fees, taxes, insurance, gratuities)

yes, I can remember when we used to get 25% or more off on many sailings. I have been on both ends, as a travel agent and as a parent of airline employees. To me, what they are giving now isn't worth the hassle and yes, we can still get our discount as our daughters are retired employees.