Travel Agent Pros and Cons

[Stout Drinker]

We booked our cruise with a travel agent. He's a friend who really isn't an active agent but is associated with a local agency though he now lives in another state. Prior to booking he gave us a lot ot advice so I figured why not let him some commission out of the deal. The booking price was the same.

 

If it wasn't with a friend I would have really preferred dealing directly with NCL. It would be easier doing the final payment or dealing with them with questions etc.

 

What is the advantage of using a travel agent vs directly booking with a cruiseline?

 

Thanks

[sailaway211]

We are going on our 15th cruise this week. We have always used online travel agents and have gotten the best service and prices. We have never found it necessary to use an agent that we see in person. We also do several land trips per year using online agents. I had a deposit problem with NCL this trip and my online agent got my $50 pp air (non refundable deposit) back. The cruiseline has never been able to beat the other quotes that I get. Maybe others have had better luck with booking directly with the cruiseline Because you know your agent as a friend, if the price was right, that is a great option. Have a great cruise.:)

[Down-Unders]

We booked our cruise with a travel agent. He's a friend who really isn't an active agent but is associated with a local agency though he now lives in another state. Prior to booking he gave us a lot ot advice so I figured why not let him some commission out of the deal. The booking price was the same.

 

If it wasn't with a friend I would have really preferred dealing directly with NCL. It would be easier doing the final payment or dealing with them with questions etc.

 

What is the advantage of using a travel agent vs directly booking with a cruiseline?

 

Thanks

 

 

Booking online and direct with cruise lines, saves me hundreds of hard earned dollars.

[family cruisers]

I have done both and will now only book direct or use an online agency, Our "old" travel agent booked our cruise one year and a disney trip as well , looking back later and doing my own research she made a NICE commission and we got a bottle of wine sent to us for our cruise. I've cruised more since then an we save $$$$ doing our own research and then booking either with the cruiseline direct or with an online agent.

 

We do have a friend who is now a cruise agent and will most likely be booking all future one's with him if the price is right.

[98Charlie]

We have used one specific agent at one of the major travel agencies exclusively for our last 15 or 16 cruises.

 

The few times that we have had a problem with a cruise booking, she has been the one to get it straightened out. She has never let us down.

 

It's a lot easier to call her and have her be on the phone with the cruise line than for one of us to spend the day on eternal hold for the next person who may or may not be able to help us.

 

Charlie

[98Charlie]

I have done both and will now only book direct or use an online agency, Our "old" travel agent booked our cruise one year and a disney trip as well , looking back later and doing my own research she made a NICE commission and we got a bottle of wine sent to us for our cruise. I've cruised more since then an we save $$$$ doing our own research and then booking either with the cruiseline direct or with an online agent.

 

We do have a friend who is now a cruise agent and will most likely be booking all future one's with him if the price is right.

We've had friends and family that have used local TA's and had similar experiences; top shelf pricing and a comp bottle of wine or OBC. Some of these TAs have little or no cruise experience. (There was a recent thread where a TA had suggested that the client should book a cabin on the Port side of the ship so they could see more of the land when they were docked:confused: :confused: :confused: )

 

Having said that, I do believe that there are good local TA's who are a benefit to first time or infrequent cruisers. The good ones will help get them on the right ship/line/itinerary/cabin catagory and find them a decent price.

 

Of course, the problem is finding the good one:rolleyes:

 

Charlie

 

Charlie

[smeyer418]

My experience with TA's differs from the ones above. I save money by using the TA. In fact I get the same rate or better than the cruise line and free reputable insurance(before someone asks I know the insurance carrier's rep). The problem is to find a professional TA(as in pro). Some times the TA knows less than I do...as do the booking agent for the cruise line as well. I have the same problem with airline tickets. Also when there is a problem a good knowledgeable TA is invaluable as I am a mere cog in the cruise line's firmament while a TA may have many bookings now and in the future and the cruise line will do more to keep the TA happy than little ol' me.

Finally as in every profession there are many con artists out there that are useless.

[honeydog714]

my TA usually saves us quite a bit, she researches like you would not believe but it is more than that, she does everything, books us shuttles, finds us good cheap clean pre/post hotels, sends us destination guides, when we go to disney she makes all our dining arrangements up front, she always is checking for price drops, it is like having your own personal assistant. Yes we always get a gift, sometimes it is an on board credit, sometimes wine, a few times the romance package but even if she gave us nothing I would be happy she is always looking out for my best interests. And to the other person quoted who's agent "made a nice commission and they only got a bottle of wine" why shouldn't they make money? When you go to work don't you get paid? How many weeks do you give your boss a bottle of wine for the pleasure of working for him? sorry for me it is not all about the money but the great service I get.

stepping away slowly from the microphone to dodge the flames- Blake

[usernamealreadynuse]

My TA always gives me a 10% discount off the current price. I still check with some of the big online agencies though to make sure I'm getting the best price as group rates are sometimes even less than the discount. I have always been able to get a better price from someone other than direct with the cruiselines.

[family cruisers]

I do agree with you. Theres good and bad in everything. Luckily for us we've never had a problem (hope I don't jinx myself now) so I cannot compare. I always go for the best price . I thought our t/a was quite knowledgable but didn't feel she gave us a good deal afterwards. Live and learn right. Now I try and do as much of the research work myself as I can, check different websites for selection & price and then I / We decide.

I'm not bashing Travel agents at all so I hope you didn't think that.

We've had friends and family that have used local TA's and had similar experiences; top shelf pricing and a comp bottle of wine or OBC. Some of these TAs have little or no cruise experience. (There was a recent thread where a TA had suggested that the client should book a cabin on the Port side of the ship so they could see more of the land when they were docked:confused: :confused: :confused: )

 

Having said that, I do believe that there are good local TA's who are a benefit to first time or infrequent cruisers. The good ones will help get them on the right ship/line/itinerary/cabin catagory and find them a decent price.

 

Of course, the problem is finding the good one:rolleyes:

 

Charlie

 

Charlie

[Mekamax]

A GOOD travel Agent is worth their weight in gold!!! But a bad one is just that... Agent can watch prices, call the cruise line (which can have you on hold for a while) handle any problems with the cruiseline and help with other arrangements. I have not gotten a price that was higher with the travel agent I am using now as a matter of fact you can get even better deals with a good ones that takes care of you.. Debbie

[nycruiser80]

After reading these boards I see a lot of confusion with Travel Agents vs Cruise line direct. As a travel agent we get EXACTLY THE SAME PRICE the cruise lines give you when you book direct. The cruise line pays a travel agent a percentage (usually 10-15%) of the cruise fare minus taxes and non-commissionable cruise fare.

 

So if you book direct you are on your own and if you book with a GOOD travel agent you have an advocate and a Good agent is genearly unbiased (no one is 100% unbiased). I will be honest with my clients and tell them things I know from my many cruises and things I know of happening in the industry. Reservation agents at many of the major lines will not be this unbiased.

 

A good example of this was when Celebrity Cruises withdrew a ship they had called the Zenith from Bayonne, NJ to Bermuda. This ship had limited children facilities on board yeat had a fairly organized child program. Celebrity had many families booked on the Zenith's Bermuda cruise for the summer. Months before the summer Celebrity announced the Zenith would leave the fleet and replaced the ship with a former Renessaince Cruise Line ship (this is a cruise line not in business any longer). This replacement ship did not have any child facilities and really offered a different cruise experience than the Zenith so much so Celebrity (at the last minute) developed a new line called Azamara Cruises. When people, who booked direct, called the Celebrity about the change the majority of their agents told them that this ship is comparable to the Zenith and that they would have children activities. Now the Azamara ship is a bit more deluxe but for people who were looking for "broadway" calibur shows and children facilities would not find that on Azamara. Would a Celebrity agent tell these people that they should cancel their bookings and book the Norwegian Crown to Bermuda since they have dedicated children facilities and more of a mainstream cruise experience? Should NCL be compared with Celebrity - no. But my point is a GOOD agent would say to their client that the ship Celebrity has substituted does not fit your family so my professional suggestion is to look elsewhere. Celebrity or any line would not do this. This is where a GOOD travel agent is your advocate.

 

Besides a GOOD agent also has a local representative that represents each cruise line. In times of trouble these contacts could really help a situation.

 

What the cruise industry wants to do is make people book direct just like the airlines have. Because it all comes down to what I discussed above. The ailines did not like that people would come to an agency and want a flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale and the travel agent would look at their reservation system and say on American the rate is $210 but on Jet Blue the rate is $150. They dont like this, they want you to develop brand loyalty and use one airline. You may think that you have the ability to go on expedia, and travelocity and compare prices. You can BUT I have found that some flights once in a while are not always all listed and if you notice the airline charges these big online agencies fees that is why at the end there is a small fee when you book. The airlines in a perfect would want you to book on their website and develop brand loyalty just as the cruise lines are doing.

[Fishbait17]

Once NCL improves their customer service, I will stop using TAs. Fortunately, I AM our TA, so it really isn't much of a decision right now :D . But seriously, the good points of a TA: The same, or sometimes better pricing (if the TA offers a kickback or bonus, plus a gift often). Someone else to sit on hold for hours (have you called NCL lately with a question?). Someone who knows the cruiseline often BETTER than the direct line agents (re: Family Pricing fiasco). Someone to fight the battles that have inevitably appeared after booking the cruise. The only downside I have found so far is that I have booked as a TA, then later found out I qualified for Casino Rate (17% off). I could not apply the discount to my reservation (but I found a way around it for one booking). For upsells it seems to make no difference in our bookings, we have been offered them both direct and thru TA.

 

Robin

[98Charlie]

I do agree with you. Theres good and bad in everything. Luckily for us we've never had a problem (hope I don't jinx myself now) so I cannot compare. I always go for the best price . I thought our t/a was quite knowledgable but didn't feel she gave us a good deal afterwards. Live and learn right. Now I try and do as much of the research work myself as I can, check different websites for selection & price and then I / We decide.

I'm not bashing Travel agents at all so I hope you didn't think that.

It certainly is true that the more information/research/knowledge that you have on your own, the less you need from a TA.

 

Just like any group of professionals, TA's have their all stars and bad apples. The problem for first timers is finding a good one.

 

Charlie