Travel agent OR through internet?

Question

okay so if i book a cruise, is it better to book through a travel agent or over the internet. where are the rates cheaper? some people say that through the travel agent they have other specials that go along with the cruise like a category upgrade, but the internet has that too.. does anyone know any good websites that offer upgrades or specials that go along with booking? or does anyone know a good travel agent to go too? for toronto region

Answer 1

I have actually heard both ways. My friends get good deals through a travel agent. But I myself see thousands of options on the internet & have gotten decent deals that way as well. Personal choice I guess. Good Luck.

Answer 2

NEVER USE A TRAVEL AGENT - you are paying 2 people this way.  The agent and the cruise line, hotel  or resort.  All 3 of these have vacancies all the time and will practically give the rooms away just to get you there.  There is a dirty little secret out there that travel agents don't want you to know.  Check out www.timelessgetaways.com, this is a great wholesale travel company.

Answer 3

I am booking my next cruise through the Internet.

Answer 4

If you have never taken a cruise before, I would say without question an agent.

Who cares about rates  It's worth the extra money, to actually talk to someone and have someone you can go to in case things don't go as planned.

Answer 5

I used a travel agent.  But I've heard it's a hit or miss as to whether your travel agent can actually guide you to the right cruise, get discounts, work on upgrades, etc.

Whoever you get as a referral in Toronto is a good starting point, but do some homework on your own...then when you can better "interview" a travel agent to see if you would be better off.

Answer 6

We have a group of 8 people so we went through a travel agent for simplicity sake to assure we would be at the same dinner table, etc. The price I am paying for my next cruise through the travel agent is the same exact price quoted on rccl.com

Last time we used the same travel agent and got room upgrades, $100 shipboard credit, wine, and chocolate covered cherries in our stateroom.

Answer 7

Become a travel agent and book your own travel. Its easier than you may think. Send me an email and I'll get you set up to be your own agency.

Think of the upgrades you'll get for being in the business!!!

Otherwise book through the internet, a good site for this is http://mercrete.worldventures.com

Answer 8

book through an agent for large groups

a great website to use is www.prosperoustravel.net

you can choose upgrades and much more!

Answer 9

I found that there are certain travel agents that deal specifically in cruises that can get better rates than the non-specialized agent.

My last cruise I booked through Bruce Travel (they are in South Florida).  It was worth the long distance call to book through them.

Answer 10

agents are for those who aren't sure what they want to do or need assistance..............the best is to just use the net!

Answer 11

I got and get the info myself on-line and book by phone directly with line myself. We use Carnival and the vacation planer we use is always able to get us upgrades and let us know the best deals and any sales too. I have not fond any site that offers it cheaper, some look like it but in the end add the higher fees in the end, that make it more than going to Carnival itself.

Answer 12

I always book through a PVP at Carnival.  He gets me the best prices, better than the disount cruise sites.  As an example, I booked a seven day Western Caribbean cruise, and I checked with several cruise sites and travel agents.  The travel agents were all at least $100 more, and the discount travel site that guaranteed the lowest price was over $600 more.  He has always gotten me upgrades after I booked.  We have had to change our plans, and he just transfers all of our info and payment to our new cruise with just a phone call.  I have not seen anyone yet who will beat the service that he has given me.

In fact, I just checked my Sept cruise at booktickets4less, and they have it for $50 more than it is at Carnival's website.

Answer 13

Just a suggestion, if you find a website you want to book through, call them first to be sure you are getting the cheapest price.  Sometimes, you can get a lower price by calling the online site, because there are now restrictions on how low they can advertise fairs at.

Also, once you find the best price/option offered.  Call carnival direct.  Sometimes they can give you a better price/upgrade that what is on a website, but not always.  Oh, this assumes you are booking with Carnival, but other lines may do the same thing.

I have booked 2 of my cruises over the internet.  The third one, I was about to book at an independent travel site, then called Carnival (A Personal Vacation Planner - PVP), and actually found out they were offering a better deal over the phone, so I went with them.  Either way, they were pretty close to each other.  I have never used a travel agent, but I guess they are good to go through if you do not wish to do the searching yourself.

Final note - if you do book through Carnival (or another line directly) do not take them up on their offer to book your flight for you.  You will often pay the same or more for your flight, and are usually left running to the port (or from the port) for you plane.

Answer 14

Internet.