Frequent cruisers and travel agents

[happy cruisers 2]

Many years back, we used travel agents for various trips and cruises.  Recently though, doing multiple Royal Caribbean cruises, we just search the web site for cruises and select on our own -- sometimes using Air2Sea if we need to fly or arrange transfers.  Now we are realizing that we might be able to save some money (or get added perks) by getting a travel agent involved.  I guess the questions are these:  Do you frequent cruisers use a TA all the time or most of the time?  Is it truly a mistake (price-wise) to find and book cruises ourselves?  If we decide to find a TA, do you recommend a reputable agent in our neighborhood/city or is it just as good to deal with a large group such as MEI, that is in another state?

[steverk]

I always use an agent. If you have a good one, it's not only easier,  but larger ones, like Cruise Planners or MEI, create corporate groups.  If you can get in one, they're a good deal.

[OCSC Mike]

45 minutes ago, happy cruisers 2 said:

Do you frequent cruisers use a TA all the time or most of the time?  Is it truly a mistake (price-wise) to find and book cruises ourselves?  If we decide to find a TA, do you recommend a reputable agent in our neighborhood/city or is it just as good to deal with a large group such as MEI, that is in another state?

I don't know if 3-4 cruises per year is frequent but I began using a TA when prices started going crazy and I would never book on my own again. Just to be clear though, my TA doesn't find me cruises, I find my own then ask if he has a group rate or any other promos.

If your TA has group rates and OBC like good ones do, yes, it's a mistake to just book yourself, price-wise.

I've only ever used 2. One was with MEI and I have nothing but good things to say about him. I see no reason why your TA would need to be anywhere near where you live. As long as they respond to e-mails promptly, that's all I care about.

[twangster]

I don't cruise very much anymore, just five or six per year, but when I was a frequent cruiser every cruise I booked had a TA involved with it.

[Matt]

I use a travel agent every single time. 

It’s not about booking the cruise.  It’s about who’s there to fix it when a problem occurs.

[wordell1]

The reason frequent cruisers typically use a full service TA is that there are many things that can go wrong with your bookings - the most notable being cancellations.  Having a TA makes that experience much less of a hassle.  

I used to book my own cruises until the Covid cancellations forced me to spend a huge amount of time on the phone dealing with cancellations and FCC's.

Dealing with a cancelled 2024 Panama Canal cruise required a simple email to my TA.  I use MEI.

TA's cost nothing and you can still book on your own and then transfer the booking if you prefer.

[smokeybandit]

You can find travel agents/agencies that will get you nice perks.

But the key aspects of a good travel agent is reservation management. In a way like insurance, you probably won't ever need their services after booking. But when you do, you really do.

[Doug_Texas]

I went from self booking to using a great TA (MEI).  I'm OCD so it was difficult at first.  Now I find my cruise on the web and email the TA the ship, sail date, and cabin class I want and "poof".  I'll never go back to self booking.

[USCG Teacher]

Just seconding literally every post prior to mine.  I have enough hassles in my life, having the ability to offload one of them for $0 is a no-brainer to me.

[Ryan79]

2 minutes ago, Doug_Texas said:

I went from self booking to using a great TA (the RCL Blog sponsor).  I'm OCD so it difficult at first.  Now I find my cruise on the web and email the TA the ship, sail date, and cabin class I want and "poof".  I'll never go back to self booking.

I’m the exact same. I am/was a total control freak when it comes to planning anything. After trying to make reservation changes on my own a few times, I went the MEI route and won’t go back. My TA, Fox, is a great agent and a great guy who takes my frustrations away when I need him!! 

[SMOKEY0202]

Travel agent all time.  Way see i am way too busy in my life to do and keep track of booking with price drops etc.  Obviously travel agents are the expects and not me.  A good travel agent listens to what your style and budget involves and handles situation small or big.  Why put more unnecessary stress on my plate.

Just had major situation 3 weeks ago in Puerto Plata with ceiling crashing from pipe burst.  Travel agent handled it top notch and even was compensated more than expected by property and then helped file travel insurance claim. 

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

I will join in on the TA All The Way crowd but I will also note that all TAs are not equal.  Many, many, many people start looking for a TA and are attracted by OBC or free goodies (specialty dining, etc.).  Be careful !  Those that hand out trinkets are not always the best "reservation managers" as @smokeybandit put it.  I'm not suggesting that all big box agencies are awful, but some are.  If you are looking for personalized, responsive and reliable service, I recommend a TA NOT from one of the big box/online agencies.  We have used MEI in the past and highly recommend them.

[Sweety]

I use a TA all the time. I remember once she call me in the middle of the night to tell me about an amazing deal.

[CanHardlyWait]

3 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I don't know if 3-4 cruises per year is frequent but 

 

2 hours ago, twangster said:

I don't cruise very much anymore, just five or six per year,

Guys, LOL.....By the standards of folks not regulars on here that's frequent. LOL.

I did two this year and I know most folks would think that's frequent. LOL.

[OCSC Mike]

4 minutes ago, CanHardlyWait said:

Guys, LOL.....By the standards of folks not regulars on here that's frequent. LOL.

I did two this year and I know most folks would think that's frequent. LOL.

Fair point, lol, just didn't know what the OP was using as a baseline.

Only 2 for me this year as well (it was very close to being 1) and I've never actually done 4.... I was being optimistic for next year.

[WAYNO]

We've cruised 7 times in the last 12 months.   Prior, we've cruised on an average, 3 or 4 times per year.   Does that make us frequent?  If so...

It's been many years since I've used a travel agent.  On an upcoming cruise, airfare was exorbitant and constantly changing.  I gave MEI a try.  They were quick to respond, but the choices offered to me were few, and more expensive than I had already found.  I think I am not the kind of traveler travel agents are interested in.  Guess I still don't need a travel agent. 

[Traveling Mike]

I like doing the research and I know what I want so I have used Costco Travel the last 5 years.  Costco Travel gives you a Costco Car when you finish your cruise.  They also have some cruises with extra perks.  All of the travel agents are paid by the hour, so they do not mind spending all day with you.  If there is a issue it is easy to get to a manager to take care of you.  What you do not get is someone that will recommend where to go and what to do.  Some of the agents are very experienced and other do not know anything about cruising.  They are also big enough to have direct computer connection to the cruise lines to make most of the bookings and changes themselves.

[OCSC Mike]

12 minutes ago, Traveling Mike said:

Costco Travel gives you a Costco Car

A car? My guy is good but he can't compete with that.

[Carlyn3]

I am only able to cruise once or twice a year and still prefer using a travel agent. I started using MEI because of these boards and highly recommend them! I am still able to obsess over planning and researching but with the confidence that I have support if needed.    

[OCSC Mike]

47 minutes ago, Carlyn3 said:

I am still able to obsess over planning and researching

I think there's a misconception by a decent number of cruisers that if you know what you're doing, what you want, and like to plan/research on your own, there is no use for a TA in that case... and that couldn't be further from the truth.

[DoomSlayer]

If it is a normal cruise booking that I am paying for, I always use my Travel Agent and appreciate their effort in making it a magical trip.  I also get OBC and other special vouchers from the Travel Agent most of the time making it worth my while.

For casino comp cruises, I started booking them myself when I learned my Travel Agent does not get a real commission from them.  Also, casino comp cruises are usually low risk to me since they are typically free minus port fees and taxes, so I am ok taking the risk of booking it myself/

[JimnKathy]

6 hours ago, Matt said:

I use a travel agent every single time. 

It’s not about booking the cruise.  It’s about who’s there to fix it when a problem occurs.

I concur.

There are just so many potential moving parts with cruising.

It's a true blessing to have an experienced travel agent help maximize our time and fun.

[SMOKEY0202]

I cruise at least 4 a year then add land escapes and those quick getaways so for me, a travel agent who is knowledgeable and reliable is a must.  I have used big firms before but at times felt just another file folder in their cabinet and didn't listen to my budget or needs.

My agent is like Dr on call.  I refer to her as Dr travel 24 7.  No matter time she always checks on her clients to make sure arrives with text and thru out vacation.  Also like openness to say nope you won't like that option or it's expensive right now.  I hate when people are pushy or pressure to say this is only option.

 

 

[happy cruisers 2]

So, I realize "frequent" cruisers means different things to different people.  Maybe I should have said "Experienced" cruisers.  Thanks for all of your input!  I think we've been fortunate to have our past cruises go quite smoothly, even though we booked them ourselves.  You've convinced me, though, that we should work with a TA.  My biggest issue is finding lower costs, not so much the extras we'll get once on board.  Plus the fact that the agent can work on any problems that arise.

 

[Linda R]

11 hours ago, Matt said:

I use a travel agent every single time. 

It’s not about booking the cruise.  It’s about who’s there to fix it when a problem occurs.

I agree

[Linda R]

12 hours ago, happy cruisers 2 said:

Many years back, we used travel agents for various trips and cruises.  Recently though, doing multiple Royal Caribbean cruises, we just search the web site for cruises and select on our own -- sometimes using Air2Sea if we need to fly or arrange transfers.  Now we are realizing that we might be able to save some money (or get added perks) by getting a travel agent involved.  I guess the questions are these:  Do you frequent cruisers use a TA all the time or most of the time?  Is it truly a mistake (price-wise) to find and book cruises ourselves?  If we decide to find a TA, do you recommend a reputable agent in our neighborhood/city or is it just as good to deal with a large group such as MEI, that is in another state?

I cruise a few weeks a year.  And have been cruising since the 80's.  Just turned Pinnacle this year.  I always use a a travel agent.  I research cruises and choose the ones I would like to book and pick the stateroom I want.   I mostly book a cruise as soon as it becomes available to get the best rates.  My travel agent is in Seattle area, where I used to live.  I now live in Montana and still use her.  She has been my TA over 30 years.   Mostly she has helped with issues/problems I may come across with cruises.  Any problem she is right there to take care of it.   Faster and with more knowledge than I have.   Saved me lots of money and many hours of time.  She can also help with any transportation I need, hotels, and tours.   I highly recommend using a TA all the time.   They can save you so much time and money.   

[Midwest Cruiser]

I have always booked our cruises on my own and through Priceline(has been good to work with so far). So far so good, I have a dedicated person with their email and phone number to figure out issues(which we haven't had). We are not against TA's, this has just worked out the best for us so far granted all of our cruises have departed and arrived back in the US, now if we were to do any other departure destinations outside of the US I would book through a trusted TA.

[happy cruisers 2]

On 11/18/2023 at 9:18 PM, Linda R said:

I cruise a few weeks a year.  And have been cruising since the 80's.  Just turned Pinnacle this year.  I always use a a travel agent.  I research cruises and choose the ones I would like to book and pick the stateroom I want.   I mostly book a cruise as soon as it becomes available to get the best rates.  My travel agent is in Seattle area, where I used to live.  I now live in Montana and still use her.  She has been my TA over 30 years.   Mostly she has helped with issues/problems I may come across with cruises.  Any problem she is right there to take care of it.   Faster and with more knowledge than I have.   Saved me lots of money and many hours of time.  She can also help with any transportation I need, hotels, and tours.   I highly recommend using a TA all the time.   They can save you so much time and money.   

Congratulations on reaching Pinnacle, Linda R !!  Once we complete our 3 (so far) cruises in 2024 we'll be close to D+ but I really don't see us ever getting to Pinnacle.  Maybe the Ultimate World Cruise (or multiple segments) would do it??!  We used to live in Seattle also.  Have been gone for 12 years now.  Thanks for your tips!  We're in the process of looking for an agent.

[BrianB]

I guess I can be considered a frequent cruiser. I’m also a retiree and have the time to manage my own reservations.

I don’t mind checking my bookings every day to see if there have been any price drops. Same with any Cruise Planner purchases. I’m pretty well versed dealing with RC agents when I call. For example, I know when to politely end a call and call another agent when I feel I’m not getting the right answer. They really try but sometimes they are mistaken, or misunderstanding, or not completely informed. I know to call resolutions if I have to. I know my casino cruises can only be serviced by the casino agents so I call them directly. I have an excellent source of Royal-related information at my fingertips……….here!

I usually book en mass onboard so I only pay $100 deposit and get the OBC (depends on cruise length…but typical seven night is $100). It’s helpful to me that NextCruise can check cabin availability on b2bs, which is my preferred cruising itinerary. Easier than me going back and forth trying to lock in the same cabin on each leg.

I don’t know if I lose anything (reduced deposit and/or OBC) if I transfer a NextCruise to a TA. Honestly, I’ve been considering checking out a TA to see if it’s worth it to me. The one thing I’m wary of is I would no longer ‘own’ the reservation and would depend on the TA for any and all adjustments, changes or re-pricing…many of which come and go quickly. Although the trade-off would be an expert that can handle any problem that arises.

So far, I guess I’ve been pretty lucky. No major issues that I couldn’t handle quickly and satisfactorily. But, thanks to all your comments…ya got me wonderin’!

[Jill]

I’m breaking in a new TA from MEI as my old one, who I love dearly, will be “retiring” in 2025. I wanted to stay with MEI so she got me in with a new one for our fjords cruise in 2025 with Celebrity. 4 couples and she got us in a group booking that saved us over $800 per couple compared to booking ourselves

I normally book my own cabin online, then transfer it to the agent. Covid and the whole FCC mess earned my agent a set of Angel wings and a halo! 
 

We’re starting to check off those bucket list cruises and several are out of Europe and I want an agent here at home that can help me if things go sideways 

[Linda R]

1 hour ago, happy cruisers 2 said:

Congratulations on reaching Pinnacle, Linda R !!  Once we complete our 3 (so far) cruises in 2024 we'll be close to D+ but I really don't see us ever getting to Pinnacle.  Maybe the Ultimate World Cruise (or multiple segments) would do it??!  We used to live in Seattle also.  Have been gone for 12 years now.  Thanks for your tips!  We're in the process of looking for an agent.

Where in Seattle area did you live?   I lived in Isssaquah.  Moved there in 80's on plateau when no one lived there!  haha

[happy cruisers 2]

5 hours ago, Linda R said:

Where in Seattle area did you live?   I lived in Isssaquah.  Moved there in 80's on plateau when no one lived there!  haha

We started in the U District up in the Green Lake and Ravenna area.  Then we moved to Tukwila, Kent and Federal Way.  Lastly, and the best, we were in West Seattle.  Beach Drive and Harbor Avenue.  We had friends in Issaquah.  Great memories.  Nice area to live in at the time.

[AshleyDillo]

On 11/18/2023 at 9:42 PM, happy cruisers 2 said:

My biggest issue is finding lower costs, not so much the extras we'll get once on board

You can shop around for a TA with no commitment or cost to you. Find the one that has the price/perks that make sense for you.

The TAs that are affiliated with a larger travel consortium often have better pricing because the consortium will grab group space on cruises as soon as the bookings open which locks in the pricing at that time. 

It only costs time to ask for pricing!