Best way to book?

Gosh, I know this is an open ended question. I'm going to ask anyway.


What is the best way to book a cruise? Online through the cruise
company's website, a local travel agent or a non-local travel agent or
an online consolidator (orbitz, travelocity etc)?

I haven't been on a cruise lately and haven't visited this newsgroup
in a couple of years. We're trying to plan a quick adults-only
get-a-way and I'm just not sure who to to through.

CRB

Use your local travel agent (I don't care who it is) but check the
online consolidator (orbitz, travelocity, etc.) as a sanity check
before you book.

Carol1235 wrote:
Gosh, I know this is an open ended question. I'm going to ask anyway.


What is the best way to book a cruise? Online through the cruise
company's website, a local travel agent or a non-local travel agent or
an online consolidator (orbitz, travelocity etc)?

I would book with a travel agent who specialises in cruises. I used to
use a local TA, untill I got to know some TAs from the RTC group cruisess.

I would use travelocity, orbitz etc for research and to give you an idea
of what you should have to pay for your cruise.

sue

"Carol1235" wrote in message
...
Gosh, I know this is an open ended question. I'm going to ask anyway.


What is the best way to book a cruise? Online through the cruise
company's website, a local travel agent or a non-local travel agent or
an online consolidator (orbitz, travelocity etc)?

I haven't been on a cruise lately and haven't visited this newsgroup
in a couple of years. We're trying to plan a quick adults-only
get-a-way and I'm just not sure who to to through.

CRB


If you know exactly what you want I would shop online & get some prices
before you go to any TA. If they can meet you online price then book it.
I've found that the TA's I've dealt with in the past cannot so there fore I
book on line & have never had any problems. There are loads of web sites to
check...
http://www.bestpricecruises.com/
http://www.allaboardtravel.com/pages/Home.aspx
http://www.cruiseshopping.com/
Check them all. Sometimes a particular site has better prices that the
others.

"Carol1235" wrote in message
...
Gosh, I know this is an open ended question. I'm going to ask anyway.


What is the best way to book a cruise? Online through the cruise
company's website, a local travel agent or a non-local travel agent or
an online consolidator (orbitz, travelocity etc)?

I haven't been on a cruise lately and haven't visited this newsgroup
in a couple of years. We're trying to plan a quick adults-only
get-a-way and I'm just not sure who to to through.

CRB


First off, do online research yourself to understand what the cruises are
currently selling for. Remember that the TA's might discount the costs under
the cruise lines asking price. The exception to that are RCI owned products.
The only way they can cut those rates is by sticking you into a group
booking which some may be able to do. You can then either use a larger
agency or a smaller local one. The choice is your but understand that many
smaller agencies cannot serve you properly and some of the larger ones you
are just a number! Here are some "Don'ts" though
Don't book with anyone that can only be contacted through the Internet. (You
need to talk to a live person and contact him immediately in an emergency)
Don't book with anyone that wants a check or cash or does not use your CC to
DIRECTLY pay the cruiseline. (If they tell you that they are going to charge
you and then pay the Cruise Line or asks you to make out the check to their
Agency, hang up or walk out.)
Don't book with anyone that says they can ALWAYS provide you the best price.
(Because of regional Specials, group cruises, or any other of a number of
promotions, NO AGENCY will always be the cheapest.)
Remember that the lowest price is not always the best price. The key is
researching your cruise and comparing apples to apples and having this
information at your fingertips. Ask people who have been on cruises if they
have any recommendations, good or bad. There are many websites that have
forums where people are willing to help other cruisers but understand they
should not be allowed to advertise or promote any one agency.
Jim

Personally I check out vacationstogo.com and the cruise line to get a
feel for the prices etc. Then I go to my local TA who specializes in
Cruises. I tell her what I'm looking for and what price I've been
offered.

They've never matched it, but have always been close. Mainly $100-$150
over 'the best deal'. I book with them all of the time.

They keep track of my booking, and if the cruiseline changes anything
they go to bat trying to get an upgrade, or servince improvement like
on-board credit or fruit in the room on arrival. (They know what we
like :-).

On year NCL tried to change our room #, from a quiet room midship to a
room right next to the elevators at the front. (Apparently they
'forgot' that the room was sold.) The TA caught that change and got us
moved back to the original room.

We've dealt with them for around 5 years now and treat us well. We've
never had a problem with our paperwork. It's good to know there are
and if anything goes wrong we can see them face-to-face.

Mate, you are paying way too much if you are paying $100-$150 above the
Internet prices! Now $25-$50 okay for a reliable TA and that should really
be an exception with your agent usually offering the same prices.
Jim


"Proveniebam" wrote in message
oups.com...
Personally I check out vacationstogo.com and the cruise line to get a
feel for the prices etc. Then I go to my local TA who specializes in
Cruises. I tell her what I'm looking for and what price I've been
offered.

They've never matched it, but have always been close. Mainly $100-$150
over 'the best deal'. I book with them all of the time.

They keep track of my booking, and if the cruiseline changes anything
they go to bat trying to get an upgrade, or servince improvement like
on-board credit or fruit in the room on arrival. (They know what we
like :-).

On year NCL tried to change our room #, from a quiet room midship to a
room right next to the elevators at the front. (Apparently they
'forgot' that the room was sold.) The TA caught that change and got us
moved back to the original room.

We've dealt with them for around 5 years now and treat us well. We've
never had a problem with our paperwork. It's good to know there are
and if anything goes wrong we can see them face-to-face.

You and the previous poster may have different opinions of the value of
the service provided. What is too much for you may not be too much for him.



jim wrote:

Mate, you are paying way too much if you are paying $100-$150 above the
Internet prices! Now $25-$50 okay for a reliable TA and that should really
be an exception with your agent usually offering the same prices.
Jim


"Proveniebam" wrote in message
oups.com...

Personally I check out vacationstogo.com and the cruise line to get a
feel for the prices etc. Then I go to my local TA who specializes in
Cruises. I tell her what I'm looking for and what price I've been
offered.

They've never matched it, but have always been close. Mainly $100-$150
over 'the best deal'. I book with them all of the time.

They keep track of my booking, and if the cruiseline changes anything
they go to bat trying to get an upgrade, or servince improvement like
on-board credit or fruit in the room on arrival. (They know what we
like :-).

On year NCL tried to change our room #, from a quiet room midship to a
room right next to the elevators at the front. (Apparently they
'forgot' that the room was sold.) The TA caught that change and got us
moved back to the original room.

We've dealt with them for around 5 years now and treat us well. We've
never had a problem with our paperwork. It's good to know there are
and if anything goes wrong we can see them face-to-face.