Thread: Travel Agende yes or no?

When you book a cruise, do you use a Travel Agend? Can he/she give better Deals? What are your experience?
Somewhere I read never to book by Cruiseline direkt....
Regina

For sure, find a good travel agent! The ones at the cruise lines are only order takers and don't have the actual travel experience that travel agents have.

A good travel agent should be able to answer your questions from first hand experience and they should keep an eye on your reservation for any changes that might occur. Also, if you should have any problems with your booking the travel agent works for YOU to get it fixed. The cruise line agent works for the cruise line.

Also, most travel agents can give you an onboard credit or bottle of wine or any of a number of perks that they have access to. The cruise line rarely has any little gift for you.

I always use a travel agent and feel very confident that my travel needs are being met without me having to worry about anything.

I would say book through a travel agent, you should get a better deal and if you geta good one they will look out for your best interest and make sure you don't miss out on any price drops.

Obviously, I'm prejudice on the matter, but knowing what I know, if I weren't in the business I would always use an agent.

As was stated, and as you alluded to, you never want to book directly with the cruise line. They are simply order takers - most of which have never been on a cruise ship - and they represent the cruise line. An agent will be able to not only assist you with the best deals, but also provide you with personal indepth information about cruising, the ports, and any other questions you might have. They represent you and have your best interest in mind. So should any problems arise, they'll be on your side.

Pete

Sound advice for sure. I would only add that the relationship you have with your TA will only be as good as the willingness of both parties to work together to find the right solution to your vacation needs. It is a give and take process and takes time to develope properly because it is all based on trust.

Use an agent! Lee

Thank you all, thats what I thought too.
When we booked our first 2 cruises we had a TA.
She was very good. But then she stopped working - and her Replacement - lets say it so:
she was just not eager to keep us as Customer.
She booked our 3. Cruise, but we had not really the feeling to be in "good hands". There where no
e-mails or calls to make sure, that everything is
ok, or that we have all Papers since we are aus Germany etc. So - I didn't feel the Love.....
So we tried AAA this time - for our Cruise on
Princess Ruby, but again the Customer Service
is very impersonal. There are no Questions about preferences or special likings.
But when I read now all your comments - than
I see, that our Expieriens with our first TA was actually how it should be.
So I go TA hunting.
Thanks again!