What others are saying about using a travel agent vs booking themselves.
Most Travel Agents have been trained by the cruise lines. They know the product, the onboard experience, the destination, and all the ins and outs of getting the best fare for you. It's your vacation, so why spend hours and hours researching and comparing when a competent Travel Agent can do it for you. They know the ships, the decks, where the ... See more best cabin locations are, the menus, and shore excursions. They hold group space on most sailings that booking direct wont offer you, so an agent can give you onboard gifts and onboard credits in most cases. Some of them have a strong relationship with the cruise lines and can help get things done that you wouldn't be able to do. Should something happen, they can jump on the phone and move more mountains then you the consumer could. They know when discounts will become available before you do, and if you're already booked, can offer you the latest and lowest fare that booking direct wont offer you. Some agencies have enough people booked on a cruise that they offer onboard gifts, cocktail parties, and upgrades.
Discount
Saved over $1,000.00 on our Panama Canal cruise through a travel agent. Saved at least that much on our Hawaii cruise in 2011. Got more onboard credits also. Gave my Captain's Circle guy a call and he would not meet the lower prices we got. Strange way to do business I think.
Going through a travel agent you know that all the t's are crossed and the i's dotted, I would not do it any other way particularly for overseas travel.
As far as I can tell, cruise lines add the travel agents costs into their prices. So when you book thru a travel agent, the TA has the option of knocking some money off the cost of the cruise. They may also offer additional onboard credits or other perks. I have never gotten a cheaper price from the cruise lines. The TA price is always cheaper or the same. So to me, this means the TA's commision is already built into the price.
