How to find Travel agent for Cruises

[Cruising1122]

Do you use Travel agent for Cruises or depends or book directly with cruise?

 

Any suggestions how to find Travel Agent for Cruises?

 

Google search will get you all over the places. Thanks

[shof515]

due to forum rules you can not post travel agent names

[Cruising1122]

Ok thanks, Some general idea. Local (mom and pop shop), regional or affiliated with big box store etc. You can name your travel agent as ABC and how did you find them?

 

I know some people like them and some don't. Not sure how to find cruise specialist travel agent?

[Pitzel]

It really depends.

When we took our first cruise, we had NO idea what we were doing and used a local in-person agent to help us walk through the process.

Since then, we have used warehouse club travel programs when those programs were offering particularly good perks or gift cards as booking incentives, we have gone through certain websites that allow you to get competitive bids from a number of different agencies, and we have used an online agency that came recommended to us from a friend.

I don't think we have ever booked directly with the cruise line, though. We will often price things out through the cruise line, but we have always found a better offer (more OBC, a better price, free gratuities, specialty dinners and wine, etc.) by going through some sort of agency.

[www3traveler]

For my cruises (37 and counting) I use the same hometown travel agency.  My agent knows what I like and do not like.  I would not travel anywhere without his assistance and advice.

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

Personally I would say that you should phone your local NCL office and ask for a PCC.   With luck you will get a good one!!

[graphicguy]

I think it's sort of a "try them out until you find a good one".

 

I would make a list of what you're looking for.

 

-Do you need someone to hold your hand through the booking and planning process?  Small travel agency is best for that.

-Are you looking for price and perks?  Only need a booking agency?  Big box and large internet discount agencies for that.

 

If you want to deal directly with NCL, a Personal Cruise Consultant with NCL probably is your only bet.  Understand, they can not vary from published prices and can not offer many of the perks a travel agent can.  But, they will walk you through all the choices you have for dates, ships, itineraries, cabins, excursion choices, etc.

 

It's kind of a "try and buy" scenario with all the options.

 

 

[RocketMan275]

Since CC won't allow mentioning TA by name, talk to  your fellow cruisers on  your next cruise.

[CaptainBazz]

25+ cruises booked directly with the cruise line...never had any issues...but it all depends if you are comfortable doing that or would prefer to talk to someone knowledgeable (hopefully) in the industry. 

[cruiseny4life]

When you find someone/agency to be your travel agent, be sure to interview them. Have a few questions that are important to you. It'll help determine the level of service and temper any expectations:

 

- How quickly will you respond if I have a question?

- If I have an urgent request, what is the best way to contact you?

- Have you completed training in said destination/cruise line. Any agent can book you something. Great agents actually know the product they are selling.

- How long have you been a travel agent and what do you wish your clients would ask about?

- Will you help me if a part of my trip doesn't provide commission? FYI - most, if not all, flights have no commission. 

- How do you expect payment? Will you pay using my credit card info? Do you pay with an agency card? How do you protect my payment information?

 

That's a very quick starting point. I'm sure there are others that I'll think of later or that others can chime in with. 

[RocketMan275]

38 minutes ago, CaptainBazz said:

25+ cruises booked directly with the cruise line...never had any issues...but it all depends if you are comfortable doing that or would prefer to talk to someone knowledgeable (hopefully) in the industry. 

Since it's easy to get a 8% discount with a TA, just think how much money  you've lost by booking direct?

[shof515]

2 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Since it's easy to get a 8% discount with a TA, just think how much money  you've lost by booking direct?

the only way to get that discount is if if the TA has a group rate for that specific sailing and they may not have a discounted group rate for all sailings

 

I have book with TA in the past and only few had group rates with a slight discount but overall pricing is the same with TA and direct 

[RocketMan275]

Just now, shof515 said:

the only way to get that discount is if if the TA has a group rate for that specific sailing and they may not have a discounted group rate for all sailings

 

I have book with TA in the past and only few had group rates with a slight discount but overall pricing is the same with TA and direct 

No, that is a cruise critic myth.  TA do not have to have group rates to offer discounted fares.  The TA can decide to use part of their commission to fund the discount.  

 

My TA, who I've  used for many  years, offers an 8% discount on all cruises.  I'm sure they don't have group rates for all cruises on all cruise lines.

 

Therefore, the pricing isn't the same.  The TA price is 8% less than the cruise line booked direct price.

[RocketMan275]

12 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

When you find someone/agency to be your travel agent, be sure to interview them. Have a few questions that are important to you. It'll help determine the level of service and temper any expectations:

 

- How quickly will you respond if I have a question?

- If I have an urgent request, what is the best way to contact you?

- Have you completed training in said destination/cruise line. Any agent can book you something. Great agents actually know the product they are selling.

- How long have you been a travel agent and what do you wish your clients would ask about?

- Will you help me if a part of my trip doesn't provide commission? FYI - most, if not all, flights have no commission. 

- How do you expect payment? Will you pay using my credit card info? Do you pay with an agency card? How do you protect my payment information?

 

That's a very quick starting point. I'm sure there are others that I'll think of later or that others can chime in with. 

Those are very good suggestions.  Consider that your potential new TA is applying for the job of being your new TA.  It's a job interview.  

I would add one thing, ask about their pricing.  What perks do they offer?  Discounts, OBC, rebates, etc.  BTW, most cruise lines do not allow TA to advertise reduced rates.  Therefore internet searches won't disclose their prices, you have to call and  ask in person.

[cruiseny4life]

36 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Those are very good suggestions.  Consider that your potential new TA is applying for the job of being your new TA.  It's a job interview.  

I would add one thing, ask about their pricing.  What perks do they offer?  Discounts, OBC, rebates, etc.  BTW, most cruise lines do not allow TA to advertise reduced rates.  Therefore internet searches won't disclose their prices, you have to call and  ask in person.

Great point! I know your TA offers 8% off. Other TA's may have differing offers for different cruises/land/etc., but definitely a question that should be asked!! Can't believe I forgot that one. 

[rebeccac]

You can also find a lot of TAs by searching on TikTok or YouTube.  Watch their content and if you like them, you can try them out.  

[RocketMan275]

10 minutes ago, rebeccac said:

You can also find a lot of TAs by searching on TikTok or YouTube.  Watch their content and if you like them, you can try them out.  

Finding a TA isn't difficult.  Finding a good TA that discounts required personal contact with the TA.

[cruiseny4life]

Told you I'd think of another question to ask!

 

- What happens in the event you (the travel agent) is hospitalized, quits, etc. Is there someone that will continue to service the trip? In my case, I have a host agency that backs me up, so if I croak, my clients would still be able to contact someone in the event of my untimely demise. Make sure any agent you utilize has this backup too (and I'm not advertising for me - only friends and family get the pleasure of dealing with me. Y'all know too many of my secrets haha). 

[dexddd]

7 hours ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

Personally I would say that you should phone your local NCL office and ask for a PCC.   With luck you will get a good one!!

Local like next city over?  In US it used to be like Miami or Phoenix.

[dexddd]

We use a large TA through a Military site who gives money off.  Not as good as pre shutdown, but something.  Not a group booking deal.

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

@dexddd

 

Local as in country of origin etc; we have to deal with the Australian office

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

We use a large TA through a Military site who gives money off.  Not as good as pre shutdown, but something.  Not a group booking deal.

If that's the travel agency working trough mwr, proceed with caution.  There were multiple posts about that agency pre-covid.  It was a ripoff despite it's affiliation with MWR.  BTW, I just did a mock booking on that site and it was $700+ more than booking direct with NCL.  (Haven Room)

[Pitzel]

5 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

No, that is a cruise critic myth.  TA do not have to have group rates to offer discounted fares.  The TA can decide to use part of their commission to fund the discount.  

 

My TA, who I've  used for many  years, offers an 8% discount on all cruises.  I'm sure they don't have group rates for all cruises on all cruise lines.

 

Therefore, the pricing isn't the same.  The TA price is 8% less than the cruise line booked direct price.

This!

The TA that we most often book with often offers 10% of the cruise fare back in OBC plus a bunch of other perks (such as additional OBC or pre-paid DSCs). Since the OBC is refundable credit, I can cash it out on board if I don't plan on using it for other things. For an upcoming sailing, I calculated that we are getting almost 15% of our total cruise price (including taxes and fees) back in OBC or pre-paid DSCs.

[RocketMan275]

5 minutes ago, Pitzel said:

This!

The TA that we most often book with often offers 10% of the cruise fare back in OBC plus a bunch of other perks (such as additional OBC or pre-paid DSCs). Since the OBC is refundable credit, I can cash it out on board if I don't plan on using it for other things. For an upcoming sailing, I calculated that we are getting almost 15% of our total cruise price (including taxes and fees) back in OBC or pre-paid DSCs.

Excellent.  Your experience disproves another CC myth, ie, that booking through a TA does not save you money.  

[schmoopie17]

Our TA routinely offers cash back or OBC. Every other month, or so, they also include paid gratuities on balcony and above.

 

We also have an NCL PCC but he can't offer anything special, except immediate help/service.