Better to book directly or with travel agent?

[torybruno]

I’ve always heard of people getting price drops, just wondering which way is better to book that we may score a price drop?  
 

Any certain cabin type to book for this as well?

 

thanks in advance!

[Hlitner]

When it comes to price drops, it is incumbent on the cruiser to constantly monitor pricing (on HAL's web site or a cruise agency web site) and promotions.  If you see a significant drop (or positive change in amenities) contact your PCC, cruise agent, etc. and ask about getting your reservation "rerpriced."

 

While some agents will give their clients a "heads up" regarding changes, most will simply depend on the customer (that would be you) to inform them of changes.  I should add that since DW and I usually have 5 or 6 cruise bookings (often with 5 or 6 different cruise lines) I spend about a half hour, twice a week, checking on the various bookings for price/amenity changes.  It is not only a "labor of love" but will often save us thousands of dollars every year.

 

Hank

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

When it comes to price drops, it is incumbent on the cruiser to constantly monitor pricing (on HAL's web site or a cruise agency web site) and promotions.  If you see a significant drop (or positive change in amenities) contact your PCC, cruise agent, etc. and ask about getting your reservation "rerpriced."

 

While some agents will give their clients a "heads up" regarding changes, most will simply depend on the customer (that would be you) to inform them of changes.  I should add that since DW and I usually have 5 or 6 cruise bookings (often with 5 or 6 different cruise lines) I spend about a half hour, twice a week, checking on the various bookings for price/amenity changes.  It is not only a "labor of love" but will often save us thousands of dollars every year.

 

Hank

Just a caveat about finding lower prices---be sure to know what may disappear. If the lower price is not part of the same booking deal, things may disappear that were on the original booking. For instance, if the original had OBC and the new lower price does not provide the same OBC, it might not really be lower. Or another example is the new booking may require a higher deposit. If you do not pay the extra for the deposit, you can lose the booking. We had one of those once when a lower price was found, and then paid the extra deposit after being warned by our TA. It was worth it, but not if we had not known and increased our deposit when we opted for the lower price.

[Hlitner]

8 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Just a caveat about finding lower prices---be sure to know what may disappear. If the lower price is not part of the same booking deal, things may disappear that were on the original booking. For instance, if the original had OBC and the new lower price does not provide the same OBC, it might not really be lower. Or another example is the new booking may require a higher deposit. If you do not pay the extra for the deposit, you can lose the booking. We had one of those once when a lower price was found, and then paid the extra deposit after being warned by our TA. It was worth it, but not if we had not known and increased our deposit when we opted for the lower price.

For us, it does get a bit complicated since we usually have multiple bookings with different cruise lines.  In our case, we have a couple of excellent cruise agents (that handle all cruise lines) so its just a matter of sending a quick/short e-mail to our agent asking her to look into the options,  We usually will hear back within a few hours and either of our favored agents will lay out all the options along with her suggestion.  Since we generally take longer cruises they also can involve the option of whether to book under a single booking number (i.e. one long voyage) or multiple booking numbers (back to back to back, etc).  Our agents also look at those options since it can make a big difference on longer voyages.

 

Hank

[OlsSalt]

We believe in corporate welfare. Once we make our booking after checking out various  options upfront, we are done with spending any more time on it. Part of our own "vacation planning".

 

The only later reconsiderations are up-sell offers that may come in closer to departure time. But we already have a set per diem value up front, so we can easily accept or reject any latter in-house upsell offers. 

 

Since we are among the much-maligned HAL cheerleaders, we always leave our cruises feeling over all we got more than our monies worth no matter what our final costs. 

[Ken the cruiser]

Just a curious question if I might in an attempt to understand the "Club Orange" option better. If you initially book one of the cheapest veranda cabin categories, say VF, then purchase Club Orange and are able to get a free upgrade to one of the most expense Veranda categories, say VB, is it even possible to refare the booking after that? 

[crystalspin]

6 hours ago, torybruno said:

I’ve always heard of people getting price drops, just wondering which way is better to book that we may score a price drop?  
Any certain cabin type to book for this as well?

Cheerleader here. I use a Personal Cruise Consultant (HAL employee assigned to me). I have to watch the promos and run dummy bookings every so often as Hank described above, though, then give her a call or email to set up a call.

 

Aspects I haven't seen mentioned here. (1) You MUST have a refundable deposit to refare. There are two fares with refundable deposits: Advantage Fare, which you must call and ask about. I guess that would be true every time you want to check for drops. This is a bare-bones fare with a refundable deposit. The other is the "Best Value" Have-It-All fare you can see on the website. (2) There must be available cabins in your category (and I believe sub-category) to refare your own cabin. This is because refaring is actually cancellation/rebooking without putting your cabin in danger of loss.

 

So about your second question, if you book the top category suite, it is more likely that it will sell out! There are more standard verandahs, oceanviews, and insides obviously, with Vista Suites in the middle. But I have seen Vista Suites sell out! (sub-category Aft Vista Suites always sell out)

 

To contact your PCC (or get one) call 1-800-355-3017 and stay on until it gives you the opportunity to talk to a person (have your mariner number handy). Or enter their extension if you can find it on most emails! 

 

I have no experience with Guarantees or Club Orange and re-fares.

[KAKcruiser]

Yes you can refare with Club Orange.  It is just very complicated.  The category that you pay for is the controlling price.  So if you pay for a VF and get upgraded to a VB, the refare is based on VF.  However, you have to get an agent who understands this. Most of them insist that the VB is controlling and you have to get transferred to a resolution specialist to make it work. 

[ontheweb]

6 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

Yes you can refare with Club Orange.  It is just very complicated.  The category that you pay for is the controlling price.  So if you pay for a VF and get upgraded to a VB, the refare is based on VF.  However, you have to get an agent who understands this. Most of them insist that the VB is controlling and you have to get transferred to a resolution specialist to make it work. 

Wouldn't it be easier to do this with a travel agent who has contacts with the cruise line? Wouldn't that be better than being told you cannot and then hoping they will actually transfer you to to a resolutions specialist?

[Hlitner]

53 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Wouldn't it be easier to do this with a travel agent who has contacts with the cruise line? Wouldn't that be better than being told you cannot and then hoping they will actually transfer you to to a resolutions specialist?

This is the kind of issue that is easily handled by a decent (emphasis on "decent") cruise agent.  I know, for example, that one of our two favored cruise agents, routinely handles lots of HAL bookings (including when we have booked HAL).  When she calls HAL, it will usually be to discuss multiple bookings (from various clients) and she speaks to different HAL staff then PCCs and the reservations clerks who handle individuals who call the toll free number.  

 

For those not familiar with working with good cruise agents here is how this would work.  If I spotted a significant price drop (I do not bother with small drops) I simply send an e-mail to my cruise agent, mention the booking #, that a saw a price drop, and would she please check it out.  If I have special amenities or Club Orange with the current booking, I will mention to the agent that I want to maintain those amenities (which includes CO).  She will usually get back to me within a few hours and explain whether she did reprice and if there were any issues.  All very simple (for me) and it takes less than 1 minute to send that e-mail.  While I am pretty good with dealing with cruise issues, my agents are true professionals (with various industry designations like MCC, CT, etc).  There are times when using a professional does result in benefits.

 

Hank

[Real NHDOC]

When it comes to doing the club orange upgrade I have found it's easier to use a PCC with HAL since they understand the system better than most TA's do.  I always ask first if CO is available on the particular cruise (because they do limit the capacity) and if so then book the lowest category (usually a guarantee) in a class then tell the PCC which cabin I want and they handle it all.  For example, on a recent booking on Nieuw Statendam I booked a guarantee OV and bought CO and then upgraded to a forward facing Spa OV on deck 10. CO costs less than the published fare difference so we got CO and the highest grade cabin for less than the cost of booking the Spa OV alone. 

 

CO is really only worth booking on the Pinnacle class ships, IMHO, because they have separate CO dining rooms.  Buying CO on the other ships does get you the "cut the line" at the dining room and the CO entree' but not much more. 

 

Having said that, if we're doing a booking that doesn't involve a CO upgrade I usually use a TA because you always get more perks that way (OBC, cash back, etc).  But remember to always ask your HAL PCC what group rates are available (those are generally the rates shown by the TA's online) and you can get them through HAL too if you ask.  But also be aware that while they can save you money they are often nonrefundable fares.  Nothing is for nothing with HAL so you do give up some flexibility when you book the less costly fare. 

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

This is the kind of issue that is easily handled by a decent (emphasis on "decent") cruise agent.  I know, for example, that one of our two favored cruise agents, routinely handles lots of HAL bookings (including when we have booked HAL).  When she calls HAL, it will usually be to discuss multiple bookings (from various clients) and she speaks to different HAL staff then PCCs and the reservations clerks who handle individuals who call the toll free number.  

 

For those not familiar with working with good cruise agents here is how this would work.  If I spotted a significant price drop (I do not bother with small drops) I simply send an e-mail to my cruise agent, mention the booking #, that a saw a price drop, and would she please check it out.  If I have special amenities or Club Orange with the current booking, I will mention to the agent that I want to maintain those amenities (which includes CO).  She will usually get back to me within a few hours and explain whether she did reprice and if there were any issues.  All very simple (for me) and it takes less than 1 minute to send that e-mail.  While I am pretty good with dealing with cruise issues, my agents are true professionals (with various industry designations like MCC, CT, etc).  There are times when using a professional does result in benefits.

 

Hank

Yes, as others have said a truly excellent TA is worth more than just whatever discount or OBC that can be provided. I once had absolutely contradictory information from a cruise line (Princess) over whether they did or did not have a transfer from London to Dover. I called our TA. He then called the representative he worked with at the cruise line and put us on a 3 way call. After ascertaining the correct information, he said to his representative would he stay on the line and answer any questions I had about the cruise. And then the 2 of us had a pleasant conversation wiht him answering any questions I had.

[Toofarfromthesea]

7 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Wouldn't it be easier to do this with a travel agent who has contacts with the cruise line? Wouldn't that be better than being told you cannot and then hoping they will actually transfer you to to a resolutions specialist?

 

What???  And not be in control of your booking?

[ontheweb]

2 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

What???  And not be in control of your booking?

Yes, still waiting for someone to explain why having to call the cruise company as opposed to a TA gives one "total control".

[Sea42]

6 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

CO is really only worth booking on the Pinnacle class ships, IMHO, because they have separate CO dining rooms.  Buying CO on the other ships does get you the "cut the line" at the dining room and the CO entree' but not much more. 

I disagree with this. The ability to upgrade your cabin is really the big draw for us with CO. Yes, the separate dinning room was nice but not the most important  feature of CO. The expand room service menu and tender priority also are a plus.

I've used our TA for booking the 3 cruises where I booked CO. I just send her an email with a screen shot of what I want to book and which cabin I want to upgrade to (along with a second choice) and she handles it.