Best Way To Book Your Future Cruise ? Cruise Line Direct Or Agent?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- What is the best way to book a cruise at this time? I look at 6 key reasons for booking a cruise with a dedicated cruise travel agent over the other options available to you, including booking a cruise direct with the cruise line. With the world of cruising and travel changing fast and rules and certainty in flux, I explore why a cruise agent will be less stressful, ensure you get the best price and ensure you stay on top of changes to your advantage.
Some examples of independent cruise travel agents:
UK :Sarah Bolton www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/s...
USA - Becky Tessier www.lhtravel.net and www.lhtravel.net/Page/MeetourA...
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Other Videos in my Cruise Shutdown Series:
1: What should you do with bookings: • Cruise Shutdown Questi...
2: Cancellations and refunds: • Cruise Cancellations A...
3: Cruise Lines Finances and refunds: • Cruise Line Bailout, F...
4: When Cruising Will Really Start Up: • When Will Cruising Rea...
5: How cruising will change: : • Will People Want To Cr...
6: Will people cruise again: • 7 Big Ways Cruising Wi...
7: Best Cruises For Return To Cruising: • 7 Best Cruises For You...
8: Biggest Hurdles Facing Cruise Lines: • 7 Hurdles Cruise Lines...
9: Future Cruise Credits or Cash Refunds: • Why You Shouldn't Take...
10: Best Way For Booking A Cruise Now • Best Way To Book Your ...
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers aims to help you make more of your precious travel time and money on land and when cruising the oceans or rivers of the world. To help you, in every video I draw on my first-hand tips and advice from travelling every month for over 20 years and 77 cruises at time of making this video.
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I am not an experienced cruiser, just one for me and most likely, never again except for Alaska. However, I found having an agent a real plus. She understood the options better than I could ever figure out, provided upgrades and credits and I felt she was with me all the way to make the event a positive one.
Evelyn Grammar You might not be a experienced cruiser, but you sure a SMART one! Those are the exact reasons I always use a travel agent on just about all of my 50+ cruises.
Such a great channel. I have learned so much from you about cruising and am planning to go on my first cruise soon. Gary, you’re an inspiration and I hope that one day I will see you on one of the cruises I’m on. Thank you again and safe travels! 😊
I'm always for supporting agents! Especially if they work hard on TH-cam to bring info and updates! Support!
Excellent information. Even though I'm a details guy, this video confirms some things are just better handing off the task to cruise focused professionals.
Thank you for the good info! Enjoy your videos!
Excellent channel Gary thanks for all the information. Greetings from across the Irish sea stay safe and hopefully you'll be enjoying some cruises ASAP
Thanks I like booking with TA. The one I use tracks and books flights etc. she does all the work for me in comparisons and also makes suggestions.
Thanks for the travel agent shout out! We can often get group pricing that is cheaper than booking the public price direct with the cruise lines. That's not all across the board though. Magic Apples is correct that you can get great service with booking through the cruise lines too. Plenty of options depending on what travelers want! Another great video Gary.
Interesting
We have sailed for many years and always booked direct with Royal, never have they not given the price reduction when the price has been reduced - also you can achieve more if you have booked direct with them they always have wee gifts from them in our state room and several del during the length of the sailing all our requirements have been met including Dinner Time and Seating preference! Service from them via phone and email has been nothing but excellent!
Magic Apples How exactly do you achieve more if you book directly through Royal Caribbean? My wife and I are Diamond + and have booked both ways and always get extra perks when we use a TA.
@@vancelewis8597 D+ too :) we get free stuff all the time even had a couple of free upgrades ~ one very nice from inside cabin to one with a balcony and this was a transatlantic as to what you get via TA since we have never booked via one have no idea what you deem to be extra perks. what we have received over the years are meals in specialty restaurants with no charge / wines (no charge) also received OBC so very happy with the service :) and to date do not see the need to use a travel agent. Hope we get back to cruising soon but have a feeling it will be a good few months yet !
To each His/Her own, but quick question: HOW LONG WERE MOST PEOPLE ON THE PHONE TRYING TO CANCEL/REBOOK, ETC, WITH SAID VENDOR DURING THIS PANDEMIC? If I had a dime for every call people were making to do so, I would be...
Magic Apples some of what you are saying sounds like general promotional items meaning you would get those items like free specialty dining or even upgrades whether you book direct or with a travel agent. Whatever promo the cruise line is offering a travel agent gets too, this applies to North American travelers . If you get a good travel agent they offer additional promotions on top of what the cruise line offers like free gratuities or more onboard credit. It’s all personal preference some just like to have the “control” of booking direct and will give up additional perks from a travel agent to have that control. I have worked in travel for over 20 years and you don’t save any money by booking direct, again this applies to the North American cruise market. Travel agent get the same access to cabin availability as you would get booking direct. I always tell people, any way you book a cruise someone is getting paid to book it for you. Whether it is a travel agent or booking direct over the phone someone is getting a portion of your cruise fare. Even if you book all online on the cruise lines website their IT department needs to get paid to maintain their booking engine.
@@andreamcleod5377 Made the one call to RC and was dealt with straight away length of call was def under 10 mins
When I decide to book a cruise, I already know about the line, the ship, the ports, the deals.
So a TA is pretty much worthless for me.
I call the line directly and always get prices below what is posted online, and get cabins not listed online.
@@Ms.Mimi.Speaks Yes you can get upgrades. I have only Cruised once and it was direct after I did all of the research. I was able to take my wife on a cruise in 2013 Holland America MS Veendam, Vista Suite Navigation Deck, total cost of the entire trip which includes both of us on a plane, suite on ship, train from Boston to Buffalo, limo from Buffalo to home in Ontario and excursions etc. was around $3000(probably less). It all started as a joke I made where I was wondering if one could do a cruise for under $2000. I did my research as a game checking deals, and was able to do it. I then decided that having just been married the previous September that I SHOULD take my wife on a cruise vacation. Having established that I could take the cruise for $2000 in a spartan way, I decided to up the budget to get quality but still get value for my money by finding deals.
How I did it was I booked in February an inside Cabin for a Cruise that was on sale due to it being slightly off season. I believe the Cruise started May 11 2013for Canada New England. As it came close to the cruise, the cruiseline gave us a free upgrade to a better inside cabin. We were then offered an upgrade and we didn't take it. A bit later we were offered a better upgrade deal, to a Vista Suite for $149pp. This brought our total to $847.32 per person, or $1694.64 for both in a Vista Suite. The Cruise started in Quebec City and we lived in a rural area north-west of Toronto, so we had to get there and back. We took a plane from Porter Airlines from Toronto to Quebec City which cost $320.96 for the two of us. We bought a amtrak train roomette from Boston to Buffalo for $201.00 which was a good sale. In Buffalo I had hired a limo to meet us and take us home to Ontario. That was from Aces Limosine and cost us $325, the train was late(I didn't realise they are always late) so I tipped the driver an extra $50 for waiting. That brings us to $2591.60 + there was a tip on board and a few private excursions and we had never ate lobster before so decided to have a big lobster dinner in a lobster town(Bar Harbor, Maine) so the total would be around $3000 or so. So you can get a good deal through lots of research and booking direct with places. It's more work, but if you don't want to do any work or if you can't do the work then you hire an agent to do it for you.
It's very good to know. But you did two things that I may not be able to.
First you researched very well and made a thorough and comparative analysis.
Second you didn't make any mistakes that are of any consequence.
I don't think I can do that!
We called Celebrity after we got a great deal with CruCon and they said they couldn’t compete with the deal. So I agree with Gary. 👍🏻
Good to hear
Interesting thanks
I was supposed to cruise the Baltic with Princess this June, my first ever trip to Europe. Although I researched for a year, I still chose to book through a local travel agency. That proved to be the right choice, as they have handled all my COVID cancellations.
Shame you had to miss out this time better luck next time
I only book Princess, so I use a Princess Vacation Planner. He takes care of everything for me including changes, additions, he watches for fare reductions, etc.
Hi Gary I love watching your shows. You're one of those that makes a lot of sense. What travel agency did you use? I canceled my cruise for northern Europe this October and I booked another one for the Baltics in June 2021. Should I go through with the cruise? Thank you so much.
BOTH..... get emails from RC of their weekly/monthly promo, when the right one is available for your situation (bogo, C&A bonus, 60% off, obc, kids sail free, wave season) book on website and pick your desired cabin, contact your TA and give confirmation # so they may transfer booking to them, reap benefits from RC and TA. Mine gives $150 obc & a complimentary specialty dining for every 7days. ( 14 days x2, etc)
I always book thru CruCon. I can always get the same price as the cruise line and have additional OBC and/or gratuities included. Great service and never an issue.
Hi Donald, can you book via CruCon if you are based in the UK for cruises out of the USA? do you know? I am never very clear....
@@alihunter5246 - don’t know the answer. Contact Crucon.
Very good tip. Luckily I did it this year for the first time. It was a bundle with hotels trains flights cruise etc. All refunded because it was a package, even though it was only the cruise that was cancelled
Great video - very helpful!
Thanks. Appreciate you watching
Chris I have found from the two cruises I went with the agent once I booked it was very hard to get to spoke to anyone they don’t want to know you And when I did get to speak to someone he was so rude I never even got to speak phone put down.The same has happened again for this years holiday I won’t be booking with a agent again will go through a travel shop that I can walk in to speak to someone .I have really enjoyed your travel tips so interesting many thanks
I work with a specific agent through Carnival. He's very helpful. Do you suggest that this is a good idea or do you recommend another agency like Cruises International
Gary,
I love your videos. I went on Cruise Critic's Cruise Tracker. It gave me the current average price for a cabin category. But that was just an average of many different offers from different TAs and other sources. 1. How can I use an average price to negoiate a lower rate with the cruise line ? 2. is there a way using Cruise Critic;s price tracker to get alerts about fares lower than the one I currently have ? plus the current price that they list doesn't say if it has the promotion package that I have ? Thank you
As a lawyer I advise you book when the virus has cleared and the bankruptcies are over . Otherwise you are asking what happened to your deposit.
What bankruptcies are you referring to?
Darling , the crash that is coming this year will impact many industries including cruising. Ships really aren’t going out in August. The second wave of illness is coming.
When everything stabilizes that’s the time to go cruising. Plan to keep busy at home through winter / spring.
Trying to get your deposit stuff unsecured in bankruptcy court back never really happens. You’ll get a great deal when travel opens up all over the world.
Our April cruise was canceled by cruise company in March and we still waiting more than 2 months for refund. Do you think we have good chances to get our money back?
bessamemucho not sure what state you live in or what cruise line. You have to make a demand or file against them. It’s tough out there.
As a coalman, I am saying "buy a tent". You'll lose less money when it goes pear-shaped.
Hey Gary, I would like to book a cruise for April 2021 for my two teens. I am having the hardest time trying to book a budget friendly cruise for 5 nights. I am so overwhelmed could u recommend a GREAT cruise agent for either Royal Caribbean or Carnival? Thank you.
What the advantages in using the on-board "Future Cruise" sales staff. I often have no real idea when or where I'll go next.
Do you have any suggestions on how to find a great cruise agent?
I book directly through carnival and Norwegian .Great deals and pricing. We use the same guy all the time and book a year a head and pick our room.
We can cancel before final payment is due and get our deposit back.
Do you have his email?
Never ever ever again would I use a TA to book a cruise. I tried it for 1 year and it was the absolute worst experience of my life. The TA was always busy and would get to us at his or her convenience. Now booking direct, you always have a cruiseline rep at your disposal throughout the whole business day. The only incentive we got from using a TA was the insurance was cheaper; other then that prices were the same across the board.
Thanks for the tips, I always thought travel agents to be way too expensive. I was looking for agencies online but I only found British or American ones. Do you know if there are restrictions for other Europeans to contact them? Or will they help me even though I'm from a completly different country?
@@Ms.Mimi.Speaks Thank you for your answer. I'm from Germany and besides the major travel agencies I couldn't find any independent ones
I always use a travel agent. I have been working with her for years.
My travel agent was amazing but she retired :(
Gary, what are your thoughts on the potential of agents going bankrupt and how that could impact a cruise booking.
My understanding is that the booking should still be honoured by the line. This was the case when the large Thomas Cook agency went bust in UK, and then also depending on the country bookings through agents covered by things like ATOL which guarantees bookings.
Half the fun for me is planning and researching my cruises so don’t use a TA. I used one once when I first started cruising and they charged a lot more than what I could get online. They said they didn’t see the price I was seeing but it wasn’t’ rocket science, it was published on the cruise line’s website. I guess I lost some trust there though I understand I cannot form a good opinion either way from one bad experience. There are probably lots of great experiences with travel agents that people have had and three shoiuld continue using TA if that is there thing - I just love the whole process of booking myself.
I'm with you on that Cathy
Cruising is wild. The days of pre booking seem over. What’s the rush to handover money.
Actually, to get those last-minute deals is better to talk directly with the cruise company.
I have not used a Travel agent for flights, hotels, cruises, or anything since 1998.
I can read and I have internet.
Question regarding travel agents. I was going to do the booking myself but my husband wanted to book with the travel agent which I wasn't entirely opposed to.
My problem was he didn't pick the most appropriate travel agent. I don't think. They mostly focus on Disney packages. Disney cruises. Disneyland, etc.
So the first day I noticed that even though I hadn't been charged, there were some things shown as purchased (Wi-Fi, a canned drink package for the room and something else.). I asked the travel agent if she had done that because I didn't know what it was and she had no knowledge of it but said she would look into it.
I gave her a week which I thought was reasonable. Let me say right here now so you can judge if that's reasonable, this was about 2 weeks ago and our cruise isn't until July.
When I called her she got a little snippy with me and said I have people who are leaving now that I have to resolve their problems. Your cruise is months away and it can wait. She said "I will get to it as soon as I can."
Additionally, we booked the cruise without choosing any kind of drink package because we wanted to look them over. My husband and I do not drink alcohol. So we wanted to really look at them and see which package had the most things that we did want. We wanted to add it up and see which one was the most reasonable price, or if we should do alcarte. Well finally we decided. I texted her and told her which one we wanted and she said great. She would take care of it. Two weeks later it still wasn't on our account. When I called to ask her about it, I got the same response. Your cruise is months away. There's nothing to worry about.
Well there was. In that two weeks that she didn't get it done, the cruise line raised the cost of the drinks package. Granted it was only about $10 more per person per day and there are two of us. So we're talking about about $140 increase. For no reason other than she didn't take care of it. I realize it's not a large sum of money. And I don't like to be petty. But I felt like, she wasn't really the travel agent I would ever use again in the future.
Then I asked her about airline flights and transfers and she sent me the links to do it myself.
Ummmmm is that normal? I mean if I have to go and do each of these things myself, what's the point of having a travel agent?
Even my husband, who is very kind, very thoughtful and very easy going was really annoyed by this agent. He rarely gets upset about anything. I've been in restaurants where we had horrific food and worse service and he's still gave them a 20 to 25% tip, just because he thought that maybe they were struggling or having a bad day and maybe this would turn things around for them. That's just the kind of man he is. My reason for telling you this is that it takes a lot to upset him. But after about the 4th incident he asked me if we could cancel the travel agent? I told him I didn't know. I said I would just go ahead and keep booking things myself and we would have a great trip no matter what.
Turns out you can't necessarily do that. The drinks package was still not bucked so I tried to do it myself and the website would not allow me to because I had a travel agent. Only the travel agent could do it.
As nicely as possible I told the Princess Cruise representative what was going on and that I really wanted to get the drink package booked and she said all she could do would send me a form to remove the travel agent. Then I could do it on my own.
So my question is, if I requested this, what exactly happens? Does she know I complained? Does she lose her commission? Will this affect her ability to book Princess cruises for other customers in the future? I don't want to cause this one on a lifelong amount of problems. I just would like to have her removed peacefully.
Should I? Or am I just being overreactive?
Honestly,. Part of the reason I'm thinking of going through with it, is your stories about your last cruise and how the airlines and hotels became a mess. I don't feel for one second that I could count on this woman to do anything. I think I would just be stuck and have to do it myself.
Who do you suggest in the US? California? For an agent? 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Could u recommend an agent I'm in the UK like you
I received an email offer from Holland America recently. It was the best one I’ve seen so far. The interior cabins are free. Yes, you read that right, free. All other cabins including verandas were very low. The competition for our cruising dollars is just beginning.... I’m going to look at your reco for a travel agent. Thanks for the tips..... One other question. I haven’t used a travel agent for decades. I’m wondering if they add on their commissions to the rates or do the cruise companies, airlines, etc pay them out of listed prices? Should we expect to pay more through a travel agent or are the commissions buried in the price? Thanks!
Hi Tom, our first cruise was last year to Bermuda on Celebrity Summit through a group from a Connecticut TA. Was great. But for this year and next year, we booked with two different agencies. The one for this July 26th to Bermuda is horrible. I scour Celebrity pricing weekly and I found two reductions that I informed my agent about. The agency for next year, again Celebrity to Bermuda, she told me about lower pricing being Captains Club member, saved me $ here and there on different things. Both agencies prices are exactly the same as direct with Celebrity to the penny. However we're getting $425 extra OBC in addition to the $300 from agency perks. So you make it better for exact same price. Greetings from Connecticut.
Bob Krakovich , thanks for the info!
Call a travel agent, like AAA. Why would u book through a wholesaler?
I Didn't know travel agent could do all process if cancellation was requested. 15 years ago, I booked the cruise Pride of America for party of three 1 month prior cruising day throgh travel agency. I planned to go with my 80 years old mother. Within 24 hours it was booked, I was infirmed that my mother was not able to go. I called Travel agent to delet 1 person and requested refund for 1 passenger. The agent gave me phone No of Cruise line to call by myself. One rep. of Cruise line said it was able to cancel because it was canceled within 48 hours of bookking. It would be charged $200. I was told to call back next day. When I called back as instructed, another rep. anwered the call, but said it was not refunded. I continued to follow up for refund in next few weeks even I was on board first 2 days on ship. I did not enjoy at all. On third day of trip, I had confirmation that $200 was deducted from refund. This was ok to me, but irresponsible travel agent made me feeling bad.
Maybe a stupid question. Does anyone know any good cruise agents as such. I don't understand the term cruise agent lol
Correct! Also, does any really use a travel agent at all anymore, unless your company requires you to. I generally find I know much more than the agent does.
Not sure if I’m allowed to mention but I always book with Bolsover Cruise Club. Fabulous people, great advice re cabins etc. I understand if you need to remove this post
For the uneducated, it's pronounced "Bozer"....
The only thing you have to watch atm is insolvency of the cruise agents. There has been one in Australia that has gone insolvent, and one that has announced they are no longer taking bookings. If a company goes insolvent it can be difficult to get your money back. So I would certainly be careful with travel agents of all kinds at the moment.
we went to flight centre and was going to book a cruise they wanted $3.500 pp so we had a look online and booked our cruise and it only cost us $1.500 pp for the same as the flight centre, can you tell me why there is such a bit difference in price.
I book directly
Its my money
I don't trust travel agents
What is the difference between a travel agent and a cruise agent?
My travel agent sat on hold for five hours yesterday with Celebrity and never got to speak to a person.
WOw - That sounds like really good proof of an agent's usefulness!
If I were going to cruise, I would insist on knowing about the cruise lines' plans for hospitalization of sick patients along the way. Are the ports of call on record as being willing and able to accept patients who need onshore medical care. That would be my first question. My second would be about sanitation and distancing measures being done on board.
Call your doctor first
lol....
No way should you be booking through an agent in this climate. In the event of a refund they are the last to give you your money back. I’ve experienced this twice during the past year. So much hassle.
We have used an agent for years. You make one call to one person and he does all the work.
From cruises to hotels to transportation he does it all. If there is a problem an email or phone call and several hours the issue in solved.
If you have questions on anything he will get me an answer.
Are you an agent? D
i'll just book direct so the cruise lines makes more money by not having to pay an agent. I own shares in the cruise lines so what goes around comes around :)