Do we need a TA for RSSC?

[cac&mjn]

Will we have to get a TA or can we book directly through the company? TIA!

[KenBT]

As a Travel Agency Owner you can do whatever you like to- use a TA or book directly with RSSC.

 

You will have fun on your cruise- I just got off the Mariner 05/27/08 sailing myself and had planned to go back on July 9th but was too late- and good

I didn't now my father and I are SICK.

[wripro]

You should use a TA no matter what line you are booking. It's always important to have someone in your corner should there be a problem. Plus TAs can sometimes get deals the cruise line will not give you directly.

[NC&KY]

You may want to shop around a little. One TA who was highly recommended was going to charge me A LOT more than I could have gotten booking the cruise directly with Regency, but I found another highly recommended one who matched the Regency-posted rates. I went with the TA for exactly the reason wripro mentioned--if a problem develops (and fortunately one has not), I want a pro in my corner who can advocate for me. And huge bonus--I discovered several weeks into the process that the TA is giving me $750 in credits towards excursions, massages, etc. So I got Regency's rates plus $750. Go with the TA.

[shorton]

Definitely go with a TA, one that's experienced with Regent. There's a lot of money involved, and you want somebody who knows all the in's and out's (insurance, etc.).

[jhp]

Absolutely go with a TA, but find one who concentrates on Regent, as they can not only give you the best deals, but expert advice as well, for anything from advice on port excursions, as well as group discounts if they happen to be hosting a cruise that interests you.

[Travelcat2]

Just want to "echo" the above posts. Going with a TA that is familiar with Regent is really important!:)

[cac&mjn]

As far as TAs go who do you use? Is it safe to go with the online TAs that are on CC for RSSC? i am SO new at all this....thanks for your help :)

[NCCruzQueen]

Do some research and find an agent that specializes in Regent cruises.

[dfb]

RSSC has a list of recommended TAs. By the way, CC does not allow us to recommend TAs on this board, just so you understand that we are not being coy with you. Debbie

http://www.rssc.com/agentsearch/

[Wendy The Wanderer]

As Debbie says, we cannot recommend TA's. If you google "luxury regent cruise", you will get some interesting hits, poke around and see what you find.

[Host Dan]

I agree with the above posters. I personally use a luxury cruise specialist when booking Regent or any of the other luxe lines... It really pays off in the end! BTW Notice that the 2 similiar threads started by the same OP have been merged.

 

Host Dan

[cac&mjn]

Thank you ALL so very much!!!! :D

[BILLP1]

I booked next years cruise while on the Mariner this past April. I then shopped around when I got home and used an agent that I have used before. His price was $1400 less then the fare that I was given while on the Mariner. With one phone call I was able transfer the booking from Regent to my agent..

[Dolebludger]

In past years, I used a TA for all my travels. Very unfortunately, airlines, hotels, and resorts have simply stopped paying any TA commission, so I can't use a TA for non-cruise travel. And for that, it is really a big problem to set up without help -- especially since the airlines abandoned "ticket offices" and started charging more for reservations made by phone. But the last bastion of the benefits TA are allowed to give us consumers is cruise travel, and thank heavens for it! Even though even some cruise lines have tried to deprive us of this service by prohibiting TAs from directly selling cruises for less than the direct sale price, many TAs are still able to give us a better deal than the lines posted price through credits, rebates, group pricing, and the like. In addition, many TAs will still look for and get us the best deal on air and hotel associated with a cruise booked through them. And that takes a big burden off our backs.

 

The benefits of TAs going to bat for us when a cruise line fouls up has been well mentioned above, so all I'll say is that cruise lines (like all in the travel industry) are known to be reluctant to make their errors right. TAs have been a great help to us in this regard.

 

As someone said above, we can't recommend specific TAs on this board. Good because one that is right for me might not be one that is right for you. But generalizations can be made -- so chose a TA where you have a specific person assigned to you, so you don't have to give the full background of your situation every time you call about your specific problem/opportunity.

[linda_22003]

We have used the same 'boutique' TA for our Regent cruises, and one perk we've had is belonging to the "Virtuoso" group through them. This got us very nice complimentary shore excursions.

[NCCruzQueen]

We have used the same 'boutique' TA for our Regent cruises, and one perk we've had is belonging to the "Virtuoso" group through them. This got us very nice complimentary shore excursions.

 

Linda, I've gone on the Virtuoso excursions and most of them have been quite good. Virtuoso offers the excursion, or in some cases, a shipboard credit. That is a nice option.

 

My TA offers a "Rewards Check" which is sent with our travel documents.

 

There are a lot of great perks out there to be found.