Online vs. TA

[Celmar]

I'm just wondering what the general opinon is regarding booking a cruise online directly with the cruise lines vs. a online service or a TA. We've booked our cruise in June on the RCI website. Is there more benifits one way or the other?

[davispigeon]

I found it easier to get "special" requests handled when I used a TA rather than online. For instance, it was easier to get table assignments together with friends who had booked separately, the upgrade was a cinch. The TA can also take care of airport transfers, excursions, hotel room, etc.

It's hard to get hold of "real" people with some Internet booking sites, but the RCI phone line is pretty good (based on my one and only phone call to them).

On the other hand, I have often been able to find better deals by myself.

[VABeach]

I get prices and iteneraries off the internet, then call the cruise line direct to book. 1) I don't like putting my CC number online - secured or not. 2) I'm talking to a real person who works for the company and has access to answer ALL of my questions right then. With a TA you have to wait until they have time and can get back to you. They handle every detail, even table assignments and always meet any price "special" I have found on any web-site. If there is a problem, I don't have to go throught a whole list of people (who none of which want to take responsablity for) to get it fixed. I also know the advice they are giving me is probably the most accurate and they are not getting it mixed up with another company. I book EVERYTHING that way, hotels, cars, air, cruises, you name it.

[dougp26364]

In the past, I'd been able to get better prices through large online agencies that would rebate a portion of their comission in order to make the sale. supposedly those days are over for RCI and only a very few TA's can get lower prices by being a favored provider (large producer). Since the next cruise I'll be shopping for won't be be until the summer of 2006 at the earliest, I haven't had the opportunity to test the market yet.

 

As far as booking direct vs TA on points other than price, if you book through a TA all transactions must be handled through that TA. The question then becomes do you trust that TA to handle your buisness without screwing something up? Of course, the same can be said about booking direct through RCI, do you trust them, or yourself, not to screw something up?

 

I've shopped, read about and booked enough cruises that I feel I can handle things myself and, all things being equal, will probably just book directly through RCI unless I find an advantage to using a TA. Things have changed and I no longer really know for sure what will work best for us.

[Cruiser Forever]

I have always used a TA. One of the 800 agencies that are cruises only. Never had a problem and would book with them again. I don't think I would book directly with RCI. That's just me.

[Coralc]

We have been on 9 cruises, 7 with RCI and have always used various travel agents, both online and local agencies. We wanted to book Mariner for Fall of 05 onboard our recent (Oct.) Monarch cruise, so I had requested a quote from our favorite online TA prior to sailing. I always mention to our TA what discounts we will be using, coupons, platinum balcony, etc. We received a pretty good quote, and she is a "key account" agency.

 

I was surprised when we completed the onboard booking process, and the discounts had been applied, that the RCI price was within $5 of the quote. So, we will try leaving the booking with RCI this time, and see how it goes. It doesn't really seem to matter much, pricewise. The alternative would to be to look for value added things like Costco gift cards. :)

[Celmar]

I really appreciate all of the input. I've just been curious after reading all of the posts. Wondering if I did the right thing or not. But I guess I won't know until the cruise itself and see how things go. I just figured that after looking around and speaking with a fairly large TA (nation wide) and finding that I was getting the same price online with RCI that I would have more control handleing everything ourselves. We booked 5 JS cabins for a family celebration and wanted to make sure that we have a great time. If it was just DH and I it really would not matter.

[dougp26364]

So your finding that the TA price in your case is the same as bookiing directly with RCI then? I wonder how much TA business they're going to kill off with this new policy? If the price is the same, I'll probably just start going directly through RCI myself rather than through a TA.

[Celmar]

Doug,

 

Yes, I found that the price we were quoted through the local TA office and the price online was the exact same. I also found that after looking on a number of online travel services (expedia, travelocity, and a few cruise only sites, etc.) that they were also the same price for the same cabin.

[bUU]

I think a lot of the low-service and no-service travel agencies are indeed going to be killed-off by this policy, as you speculated. I doubt it will affect full-service travel agences, except perhaps positively, as they're likely to be in a position to provide better service than even RCI itself, being specialists in providing customer service, whereas RCI has to split its attentions between a variety of disciplines, including customer service, provisioning, ship maintenance, ship operations, etc.

[Celmar]

About the only thing the TA could offer was that she would hook us up with 5 other cabins so that there would be 10 in all which would make a "group". She said this would give us "group" bennies ... whatever that is.

[jkrislc]

I find a knowledgeable TA is invaluable. However, the only problem is that everything has to be handle by the TA at his or her speed. For instance, I know my cruise air has been booked for an upcoming cruise, but the cruiseline wont give me the information because I'm not the TA. As a result, I have to wait for the TA to call the cruise line to the request the information. Had I booked it myself, I could get the information whenever I wanted.

 

That being said, I have benefitted greatly from having a good TA as he is aware of what is going on in the cruising industry, fleet changes, etc.

[Celmar]

JK,

 

I've noticed that you've been on the Monarch twice before and are getting ready to go again. What is your overall feeling about the Monarch? We booked 5 JS's. Do you know anything about those?

[jkrislc]

JK,

 

I've noticed that you've been on the Monarch twice before and are getting ready to go again. What is your overall feeling about the Monarch? We booked 5 JS's. Do you know anything about those?

 

I really like the Monarch. In my first review of her, I stated that I would feel comfortable recommending her to a newbie cruiser. She's big enough to offer many of the amenities of the other ships. However, I will also admit that she's a bit more crowded than some of the newer ships.

 

The second time I cruised her was to take my mom and brother on their first cruise. I got a great rate and figured I could "risk" three days in case they hated it. This time around (next week), I got another great rate and am going with a friend who has never cruised before. He's excited to be going on his first cruise, and it ended up being an affordable reunion (more so than Vegas).

 

I don't know anything about the Junior Suites. Given that the cruise is short, I've opted for the cheapy cabins each time. Although, I ended up in ocean views both times. This time I'm in an inside, which I've had before. I'm the type who doesn't care too much about the cabin, even though I've been in full suites and junior suites before. I let the itinerary dictate the cabin for me. For example, in Alaska a balcony was a must, and I was upgraded to a minisuite and loved it. In Hawaii next month, we're in port over night two days and on excursions most of the daylight hours that I opted for an ocean view; I just couldn't justify the expense of a balcony given the few hours we'd be able to enjoy it.

 

Any specifics questions you have in mind?

[Celmar]

We are taking our daughter and her best friend (both will be 18 by then) have you noticed that there is plenty for them to do at that age without getting caught up in the Party scene?

[Ocean Boy]

I have used the same TA to book three cruises now. They have a real builing and answer phones as well as having an internet site. I was considering booking directly with RCI this time, since pricing is the same with the end of rebates, as it would give me more control over the booking. I, however, decided against this for a couple of reasons.

 

First, the TA I use is a big cruise agency and if something goes wrong I think I'd rather have them fighting with RCI than having to do it myself. But more importantly, they have always done good by me in the past as far as pricing goes. Now that they can't rebate I didn't feel it was fair to "punish" them by booking with RCI myself in light of what they have done for me in the past. If it were going to cost me more to use a TA it would be a different matter but for the same price they are welcome to their commission. I rather like taking care of people who have taken care of me. There is nothing wrong with returning a favor. And again, RCI being a large corporation with not always the best customer service, my TA is welcome to do the fighting for me if the need arises.

[jkrislc]

We are taking our daughter and her best friend (both will be 18 by then) have you noticed that there is plenty for them to do at that age without getting caught up in the Party scene?

Celmar,

 

It really depends on what your daughter and her friend like to do. There are a couple of dueling piano shows each evening, the Circuit (night club), the Broadway-style show, etc. All were entertaining; some more than others.

[Celmar]

Sounds great. I'm sure they will have a lot of fun no matter what. Even if it's just hanging out by the pool. They both play in USD Symphony so I'm sure that anything musical will be of interest to them. Thanks for your imput.

 

Do you think it would be to our benift to transfer our reservation to a TA or just go ahead and leave it directly through RCI? We've already paid the full amount so I'm not sure what more a TA could do for us.

[jkrislc]

Sounds great. I'm sure they will have a lot of fun no matter what. Even if it's just hanging out by the pool. They both play in USD Symphony so I'm sure that anything musical will be of interest to them. Thanks for your imput.

 

Do you think it would be to our benift to transfer our reservation to a TA or just go ahead and leave it directly through RCI? We've already paid the full amount so I'm not sure what more a TA could do for us.

 

I'd leave it where it is personally. I booked directly and asked my TA if he'd like to have it transfered to him for the credit. He said he'd be willing to handle it for me as a past customer, but that the commissionable fare is usually too low to make it worth while when booking with a coupon at low prices. However, if you have a special request, numerous cabins, etc. it might be in your interest!

[Celmar]

JK,

 

Thanks for the help and input. I really appreciate it. I see you're from the SD area. We went down to the Port on Tuesday just to see the Monarch as it was pulling out of port. We really can't wait! :)

[jkrislc]

I love seeing ships in port in SD. I hope we get more of them on a regular basis. HAL and Carnival are doing their part!

[Celmar]

Yes they are a beautiful sight. I'm hoping our next cruise can be a 7 day out of SD.