Planning a trip.... Should I...?

Question

Me and my boyfriend are planning a Eastern Caribbean 7 day cruise for the beginning of November. Being our first big trip together, we want it to be perfect.

Should we go threw a travel agent or just use the Carnival website? If we go threw a travel agent, how much more will it cost us?

Is it too late to book it at the beginning of August?

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Answer 1

I would price it from carnival site then go to a travel agent or discount website to see if you can get a better deal. When booking my cruises I've noticed that the cruise lines tend not to budge from there advertised price, but I often find deals of various prices when I shop other sites.

If the ships aren't already booked you should still be able to get something for early August.

Also as long as the cruise departs from and returns to a US port incl territories you do not need a passport. Passports for sea travel are not needed until January 2008. If you are flying directly to a Caribbean island that is not a US territory then you will need a passport or proof of application.

Gratuities can be removed during ship check-in.

Answer 2

It is possible that if you go through a travel agent you may get more bang for your buck.    all inclusive deal . It may be a bit more expensive but you will know for sure what you will receive along the trip.  Food, drinks. etc...It would be wise and check both ways to be sure.

Answer 3

Travel agents do not charge for booking cruises because the cruise line pays them a commission of about $300 for each cabin booked.  I know because I have been to travel school and know the procedures.

The best thing for you to do is look at the cruise line web sites to help you decide where you want to go, which cruise itinerary, based on when and where the ship goes.  The web sites will describe not only the order of ports,  but the tours that you can take at each stop, be it just going to the beach or touring an attraction, or just shopping.

You are likely too late for August but if you are not you will pay a premium price for the cruise.  Cruise lines give the biggest discounts for early bookings.  The closer you get to departure date the more the price and the fewer cabins available.

Also, do not lock yourself into a particular date, like the first week on November only, because the prices of cruises can vary by hundreds of dollars each week.  So just be flexible and if you want  a "deal" go when the price is lowest.

You mentioned Carnival Cruise line and that is the budget line that most young folks who want to party party go on.  But I have been on Princess, Celebrity, NCL and Royal Cabibbean many times and the people there have just as much fun.  They have a good time but you just do not hear them all over the ship making noise and stumbing drunk.

Once you decide where you want to go, you can look for a deal yourself or have a travel agent do it.  But after you have done your research and made some decision you can tell the agent what you want And you will have a better idea whether the price you are given is really a deal.

Then if you do not lie what the agent find just find it yourself on line and you can boo it and do all of the necessary paperwork right on line. I do it all of the time, have 3 cruises booked that way right now.

My suggestion is for you to go on a RC or NCL ship rather than Carnival and book a balcony cabin, it will be more romantic.  These lines have better cruises, food, service and staffs.,

Answer 4

If it is your first cruise then I recommend you do use a travel agent.  However, interview the travel agent first.  If the travel agent does not ask you a lot of questions and just recommends one cruise line, go to a different travel agent.  A good one is worth his/her weight in gold.  A bad one can cause headaches.

I am sure there are still some August cruises to the Eastern Caribbean available for booking.  However, do you both have passports?  If not, don't book the cruise.  There is a long delay to get the passport and booking for an August cruise now will require full payment, and that is not refundable, even if you cannot go because you don't have your passport.

Answer 5

I go through a travel agent that works on commission and it doesnt cost me anything.  Check with one by you because if it doesnt cost you anything def. do it.  They get everything ready and follow up on any problems you have.  My parents jsut went through carnival and carnival forgot a lot of things like the insurance papers.  Also the names were wrong which is a problem for security so it wasnt good.  I've gone 6 times to a travel agent and it goes so smoothly.  They know everything there is to know about cruises.  August might be pushing it.  Also it would be more expensive then if you booked now

Answer 6

You should check different websites first, so u will know the going prices. fall sales are available now.  it is not to late to book for August, but it will cost more than in Sept.  

It will be a little more if you go thru a travel agent.

Answer 7

Not too late. Book online

Answer 8

use a travel agent since it is so late, you will probably be able to find one and since the cruise line wants to fill up the ship the prices should be really cheap

Answer 9

go to a agent they work for the cruise lines  no fee to you

Answer 10

Call Carnival and go through the Personal Vacation Planners

we use one, he is the best, very helpful and will watch your cruise to get you and upgrades that are not available with other bookings.  on our first cruise we booked the lowest deck just to get on the ship and he got up up to the Empress deck for no extra price  

since then we only pay for the lowest deck and are never on it due to upgrades and past quest deals

Answer 11

Carnival has people called personal vacation planners who are more than helpful. I've been on seven Carnival cruises and have never needed a travel agent. If you sign up for an account at the carnival web site, one of the vacation planners will contact you via email. You can either book your cruise yourself and then get your questions answered by a VP afterward, or you can call them up toll free and they will walk you through it. In short, there is nothing a travel agent can do, that one of the Carnival people cannot. Except adding a travel agent's fees, of course.

You'll probably have travel agents answer this question, telling you that their experience is what makes them better. Hogwash. Don't buy it. The Carnival VPs all go on cruises as well, so they can answer ANY question you might have.

It's not too late to book for November at the beginning of August. In fact, you might get a better deal because pricing depends on how full the ship is for any cruise. November is off-season, so you'll already save some cash there. Also, if you or your boyfriend are or ever have been in the military, you get a great discount.

Just my two cents! Hope you enjoy your cruise!

Answer 12

My advice to to price it both ways it won't cost you anything to have a travel agent price you a cruise, and you are not obligated to buy a cruise if you get a quote on Carnival .com. You can still book for the beginning of August, but you had better do it right away if you are going to do it. Good luck.

Answer 13

The best prices that I have found overall are from  www.cruisequick.com.

HOWEVER they do not hold your hand. What I mean is that you need to know what cruise you want, what ship, date and category. You cannot call them, they do not answer a phone.

They are internet based only, completely legitimate, and offer a bonus or discount that most other agents don't offer.

They work on a flat fee profit and are completely automated.

They do answer emails promptly.

Their site explains how they work. I have used them for years, without any problems.  They offer free price quotes via email that include all port fees, taxes etc.

Happy Cruising !

Answer 14

Ok, I've cruised a couple of times on different lines (not Carnival) and my Travel agent was great. No fee for her. We got shipboard credit as well, check out different agents (also check with your credit card company - they may have a merchant partnership which can also save you money).

My best advise is to let whoever is booking your cruise do the airfare and any pre/post days on land as well. It will be well worth it to know that you won't miss your boat if there is a problem.

Answer 15

Learn from my mistakes. Do not go through an agent. Go directly with carnival. In the longrun you will not save any money but you will have theoption for things such as taking gratuity off as well as other things that an agent cannot do.