Our last few cruises I booked myself because of an awful experience with the TA I was using. Still not sure if she could have really done anything or not to remedy the situation. She has since retired so I need to find a new one. Any suggestions?
Thanks

Why do you need a TA to book a cruise?

AllyGirl, I sent you a private message with a couple of suggestions.

Hi Ally. You can locate a CLIA-certified cruise counsellor by going to the CLIA website and using the search engine on the lower right. (CLIA = Cruise Line International Association.) I recommend those affiliated with CLIA due to their expertise in the industry. Good luck with your search! (Does this mean you're booking soon?)

Thanks everyone. Like I said before, I usually book our cruises directly with the cruise line but I like to use a TA if we have to fly. We normally book next years cruise while onboard.
Not all of us are fortunate enough to live in Miami!

We book a lot of cuises (cruise more than 70 days a year) and finally figured out that there is no reason to have any loyalty to TAs. Most have become simply order takers (not a bad thing) and I have delt with few who have extensive travel experience (we have been onmore than 60 different ships). Over the years we have developed our own short list of 5 on-line TAs (we would add more if needed) and we simply go with whoever has the best price for a particular cruise. We have never (and I emphasize never) seen a price on a cruise line's own web site as cheap as a price offered by some TAs. The pricing often depends on whether the TA has a group booking, is in a consortium that has some kind of special incentive with the cruise line, etc. But, our savings can often run into the thousands of dollars on a single cruise by simply shopping around. As to service, as long as my TAs do their job we are pleased. If they fail to do their job, they can count on losing thousands of dollars in future commissions (a good incentive). One TA recently charged me a $25 fee for rebooking a cruise to obtain us an $800 savings. That TA will never get our business again and I told their owner that they could have their $25, but could also kiss goodbye any future business (and the commissions). Travel is simply a competitive business and keeping that in mind will get you the best prices and generally the best service.

Hank

Hank that's quite a post. You start by saying you have no reason to have any loyalty to any T/A. Then go on to later say that one got you $800. in savings for a fee of only $25. And that you read the riot act to that agent and the owner of the agency and would not use them again. I don't know the details of the fee but it sounds like a pretty sweet deal to save $800. for a fee of $25. Loyalty with some agents gets you perks. Some agents go to bat for you when the wheels fall off.

I have paid from my own pocket for upgrades when I had a loyal client get to the ship and discover their cabin was next to a pressure washing engine they use in the middle of the night to clean the outside of sea spray. That made sleeping in the cabin they booked with me unbearable and the cruiseline refused to do anything about the situation. I recently did the same when a cruiseline, without disclosing that their guarantee cabin could be upgraded to a bunkbed for two couples in their 70s and 80s. I don't think I'm the exception to the rule when it comes to providing the service loyal clients expect and going above and beyond when the rare and unexpected happens. I do it, I know of other agents in my office that do it. I'm certain there are many, many agents I don't know with other agencies that do it. Our agency pays thousands weekly to resolve issues that were agent error or in some cases cruiseline error and no fault of the client. The cruiselines don't have the best record of resolving issues, even the ones they create. Most are innocent mistakes by those new to the industry or system but even veteran agents are human and can make errors that should be fixed so as not to inconvenience any client, but for the loyal client it may be that there will be something beyond the fix for their inconvenience and to keep them a loyal client.

Knowing your philosophy about never being loyal to any agent or agency, price is the only factor of any consequence, I'd still take your order as you call it. But as for perks or going above and beyond in such situations I'm not sure you'd appreciate it anyway so I'd try to fix the issue. I would not put your cabin difference for the fix on my Visa or ask the agency to do so. I'd likely get a survey in the end to me and the owner criticizing my performance. I hope you never have a situation that would require an extrordinary agent to resolve. If you ever do I'm not certain they'd be sympathetic to your situation if they read the post above.

Cheers, Neil

The decision on having a dedicated agent as opposed to doing it yourself depends on personal comfort zones, expectations for service, price, and other things.

I value loyalty and therefore have used the same agent for over 10 years. Her prices have typically been in line with other booking options, sometimes less, sometimes maybe a little more. Overall, average. I would never toss her over the side just because I could get the same cruise someplace else for a little cheaper. Why? Because she takes care of me. I don't have to do anything other than provide cabin choice, dining choice, and a credit card number. The prices goes down and she gets the new rate for me. She gets specials for me that have onboard credits. I am not going to ignore that service because Agency X can do the cruise for a hundred bucks cheaper.

Now, if I could get the cruise for $800 cheaper and my agent couldn't match it, she'd be the first to tell me to jump on it and there would be no hard feelings. And I've not booked every cruise with her, because some have been group cruises just like our upcoming cruise-chat cruise. In those instances, I have always let her know about it because that is the right thing to do in what is essentially a long-term business arrangement, and it also shows loyalty works both ways.

quote:

I usually book our cruises directly with the cruise line but I like to use a TA if we have to fly.

Really? Doing my own air on-line is the easiest part of it, especially since the airlines have pretty much killed off any financial motivation for an agent to do air.

Dave I guess that booking air thing has been a little out of my comfort zone. But I keep coming here & am learning alot that I didn't know. It looks as though I will become my own TA after all! Would love to get the 10% as well...

I've "played" at being an agent a few times over the past few years. I've booked my own cruises a few times and done some for friends and co-workers - all under the guidance of my agent, using her agency credentials. I wanted to get some practice to see if I wanted to become a cruise agent. I've decided I will, although the date keeps falling back as other things get in the way. For me it will be a part-time thing, working with my current agent. Hers is an all phones and internet agency - no storefront. Hence she is in Texas and I am in Alabama, but it won't matter.

Some ask me why I just don't do all my own cruise bookings. I guess I am lazy since it has been easier to shoot an e-mail to my agent telling her what cruise I want, which cabin, which seating. Usually within a couple hours I'll get an e-mail back with a copy of the booking. She can do it faster than I can. Of course this was when I was working full-time. I've recently retired, although I am going to work a couple months as a consultant at my former employer.

Well, enough rambling....

There is no one answer fits all for this. If someone feels okay booking direct with a cruise line, then go for it. I just think they may be compromising more personalized service that an agent can provide.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Beers:
The decision on having a dedicated agent as opposed to doing it yourself depends on personal comfort zones, expectations for service, price, and other things.

I value loyalty and therefore have used the same agent for over 10 years. Her prices have typically been in line with other booking options, sometimes less, sometimes maybe a little more. Overall, average. I would never toss her over the side just because I could get the same cruise someplace else for a little cheaper. Why? Because she takes care of me. I don't have to do anything other than provide cabin choice, dining choice, and a credit card number. The prices goes down and she gets the new rate for me. She gets specials for me that have onboard credits. I am not going to ignore that service because Agency X can do the cruise for a hundred bucks cheaper.

Now, if I could get the cruise for $800 cheaper and my agent couldn't match it, she'd be the first to tell me to jump on it and there would be no hard feelings. And I've not booked every cruise with her, because some have been group cruises just like our upcoming cruise-chat cruise. In those instances, I have always let her know about it because that is the right thing to do in what is essentially a long-term business arrangement, and it also shows loyalty works both ways.

Great post Dave! You're the perfect client and have the perfect agent. Someone who will value your business and who's service is a value to have and as you said a relationship. Certainly if there were a substantial difference for a booking through another agency no agent worth having would expect their client to pay significantly more for their cruise. You handle the situation the right way and with integrity. I applaud your loyalty and agree with every word of your post.

Cheers, Neil

Thanks Neil. My agent really is a fireball. Look at my upcoming Alaska cruise as an example. I initially reserved it as an individual booking. About a month later I got an e-mail from my agent saying she had enough interest from other clients to block out some group space on the same cruise and she was changing my booking over to the group - which saved me some money, plus we get a small onboard credit perk. I didn't have to lift a finger.

Dave, that's exactly the kind of thing reciprocal loyalty can get you from a good agent. Occasionally I'll get a call from the folks at the cruiseline I know well, letting me know they are releasing cabin assignments for the guarantees. Sometimes they have higher category cabins that didn't yet sell and they'll give me a crack at contacting my clients already booked and offering them the upgrade for a tiny difference. Later they will send out a fax to every agent with a similar offer. Gives the cruiseline a chance to make a little something on a cabin they're going to randomly give as a comp upgrade. When it happens it gives my clients a chance to take the random out of the equasion and get the upgrade for a fraction of what the higher cabin would have cost. Not all the lines do this but I get about a dozen calls a year. Making relationships with a few well placed people at each cruiseline is a benefit for experienced agents just like it is from agent to client. If I have more than one client booked on that sailing, the ones who book with me regularly are the folks that get the call with such an offer. Most times there is no benefit to having an agent for experienced cruisers who know what they want. Occasionally there is a benefit like your group situation. Onboard credit is a wonderful thing!

Cheers, Neil

quote:

Sometimes they have higher category cabins that didn't yet sell and they'll give me a crack at contacting my clients already booked and offering them the upgrade for a tiny difference.

I've had that happen too. Usually it is more urgent a phone call from my agent instead of an e-mail, because the window on getting the upgrade is small and we needed to move quickly and couldn't think about it too long or the upgrade cabins would be gone.

I think there are many more pros than cons in being loyal to a travel agent. I may not have as many cruises under my belt as Hank, but I'm not a newbie at cruising. I've seen and heard enough to encourage others to find a GOOD travel agent that specializes in cruises. Airline tickets are another issue; I always book my own tickets.

Sonny

I love this site! Thanks for your commentary, I really learned a lot. I have been using an on-line site and was not aware of the services a loyal travel agent could provide.

I am also impressed that no names were used, rather good, solid advice that is impartial...great stuff everyone!


Free Cruise Clocks

quote:

Most times there is no benefit to having an agent for experienced cruisers who know what they want. Occasionally there is a benefit like your group situation. Onboard credit is a wonderful thing!

Cheers, Neil

Even experienced cruises can benefit from using a cruise specialist travel agent. Is the internet or cruise line reservation agent going to tell them why they might what to look at a balcony on a higher deck versus the lower decks on the Golden Princess? Does the internet make recommendations on what cruise lines are better in Alaska and why? If the internet and booking direct is so wonderful why do websites like cruise-chat exist? A travel agent will answer all those questions.

Exactly why I would like to find a replacment TA. I can't always check for price breaks...

quote:

If the internet and booking direct is so wonderful why do websites like cruise-chat exist? A travel agent will answer all those questions.

Well, I would suppose it all depends on what you like to do and the time you have to do it. Personally, I have enjoyed doing all of the research etc involved with booking my vacation. Now we shall see if I have a good time in May! Not only did I shop for cruises, I shopped different online TAs to see who had an extras since the prices seemed to be the same across the board. I finally booked my cruise through Sam's Club (yes Sam's Club) because I get a $50 or $100 gift card when I return. I thought that was cool. And I booked my flight directly with the airline because no one else offered the exact flights I wanted.