Is it better to book travel for a cruise with the Cruise Line or a travel agent?

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Lew

I prefer to use a TA. You have someone handy to complain to if something goes wrong with your cruise.
It doesn't really matter which you use TA or cruise line, the price for the cruise is much the same.

The advantage of a TA is that you may be able to get a discount, on board credit, or a better grade cabin and you have someone who you can contact easily if you have any enquiries or problems.

The disadvantages, sometimes the TA arranges a cheaper package that the one you would have with the cruise line. No transfers and a cheaper hotel.

The cruise line arranges everything from the airport to the cruise ship. If you are doing an overnight before going on the cruise, it's usually a 5* hotel.

Disadvantages: if you get the cruise line to arrange air transport, you can be travelling at weird times to odd places because they do not necessarily arrange direct flights, they always go for the cheapest option.

If you book your cruise with a TA, all communication with the cruise line has to be through the TA.

The best way I have found, is to find the best price for your cruise on the cruise line website, then search all the other cruise holiday sites, to see if you can find a better deal (discount, on board credit, upgrade). Then go to a travel agent and see if he can better the best deal you could find.
If they want your business, they will come up with something.
If you TA can't or won't better the deal you have found, you can book the cruise yourself either on-line or with the cruise line.

stepmiller2

Your best bet is to book with a travel agent, but one who specializes in cruises. They will usually have group booking which get preferred pricing. These prices will be lower than the pricing the cruise ship will offer you for a direct billing. Don't be fooled by the lower price guarantee most cruise lines offer as these have an exception for groups. If you do not want to be part of a group then the next best pricing arrangement is directly with the cruise line.

Dave Holman

There is simply no downside to using a TA...we get our commission from the Cruise Line, and you don't get any sort of discount for going direct to them.
Besides which, if you develop a relationship with a specific TA (rather than just shopping for the cheapest price), a good one will not only get you a better price, but will let you know when something you might like is coming up, and let you know about Groups, where, along with a great price, you might get some extras like OnBoard Credits and such.
Again, this is not something I waste time doing for just anyone who calls me shopping for a cheap deal, but my repeat clients get better prices, better service and all kinds of extras that the Cruise Line or an anonymous website just won't do for you

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

If you know exactly what you want including which cruise line, which date, what type cabin, which cruise itinerary, which dinner seating, what to pack, what to wear, how and when to get to the cruise port, and have a good idea of how much things will cost, OR, if you have cruised multiple times before and know quite a bit about the whole process of booking and paying, then you will likely be OK booking yourself on line. I have been on many cruises and do it myself all of the time.

BUT, if you need answers to the majority of the "which" questions above and in general need help picking a cruise, then use a travel agent. Agents DO NOT charge for their services as they get commission from the cruise line. I did my first several cruises with an agent until I earned the process.

johnrklinger

I normally eithor book with the cruise line or through an internet agency. The prices are the same no matter who you book with, however some agencies will give you other perks like on board credit, room upgrades or free insurance. I usually start off with www.cruisecompete.com to see who can give me the best deal. Using a TA has pros and cons. I would use one, if I was an inexpeinced travler or was also trying to book flights, transfers, hotels etc. The downsides to using a TA, especially an internet TA is that if you book through them, the cruise lines will not talk to you at all, so if the agency is not ethical or not competent, then you are sol. if you book directly with the cruise line then you can work directly with the cruise line for any changes, issues etc. The best place to get info about cruises in my opinion is www.cruisecritic.com

definitley a travel agent they always find you the best cruises for your needs and they give you discount prices also alot of cruise lines give you free gifts on one of my cruises i had $150.00 shipboard credit per person and on another of my cruises we got shipboard credit and everyone who was over the age of 21 got a free bottle of wine of their preference so make sure you book with a cruise line travel agent

Tim & Diane D

As a travel agent I am of course going to say a Travel agent. More specifically a Cruise Travel agent. Why you ask? Because with us you will get personalized customer service from the time you first call to after you return from your cruise and are preparing for your next cruise. The price you pay will be the same. Our services are free to you.
If you book through the cruise line and need questions answered you will get a different person to talk to every time you call. With us you will get one of two people and both of these two people have lots of experience in cruising. See our web site @ www.myvacationcenter.com
Our phone numbers are listed and there is a connection to our blog.

Tom Cruise

A travel agent can always get you the best deal and also help you with any personal needs such as medical etc and the cruise lines are usually very business like and not very personable.Also a Travel agent will usually comp you a free bottle of wine or fruit basket and will follow up with you after the trip.

Kristina L

I tend to be a do-it-your-self kind of girl, and I usually do all my own research and booking. One of my favorite cruise on-line sights is VacationToGo. I can window shop all I like and many times they offer on-ship credit, upgrades or some sort of incentive to book through them. And I tend to like my free stuff :)

stargirl

Travel Agent because they can get you awesome deals, discounts, and upgrades.

Time travler

I also used a travel agent the first few times. I have also used vacations to go and I have booked right on the ship on a sea day. If you are on a cruise with Princess, you can give them $100 per person to either book your next cruise or just as a deposit for any future cruise within 4 years. So, like tinker toy said, the first few times, use a travel agent. Either way, you pay the same price, but with vacations to go, they have fantastic deals. You just have to know exactly what you want.

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