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Book directly with Carnival or use TA?
Question:
After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was given an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? Thanks Carol
Response:
Its been my experience that using a TA is the way to go,the prices will be close,the TA will handle details that you never thought of and will also keep you posted about price reductions or specials….
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was given > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > Thanks > Carol
Response:
Don’t do it! The only cruise I ever booked direct was with Carnival, and I found out later I was ripped off. If you don’t have an agent, I have one I would be happy to recommend. HB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was given > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > Thanks > Carol
Response:
We have yet to find a TA that is enthusiatic about keeping on top of our cruise and making sure we have the best price or any discounts. If we find the lower price on the Carnival Web site, we end up calling the TA to have them get us the lower price. We kind of think the same as the origional post. We should be able to book with the cruise line directly and we should get the TA’s commission, since we have yet to find a TA that really wants to work for their commission. Most TA’s seem to want the booking, but want to get by doing as little as possible to deserve the booking. Maybe others have TA’s that are excited about cruising and stay on top of things, but we haven’t found any local TA’s that do. Good luck
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Its been my experience that using a TA is the way to go,the prices will be > close,the TA will handle details that you never thought of and will also > keep you posted about price reductions or specials…. > After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was > given > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? > Do > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > Thanks > Carol
Response:
>s it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do >you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter?
I found it cheaper to use a Cruise Agency for my bookings than booking direct. You can book with the cruise line on Carnival and then have it transfered to a TA.You will then get the rate of the TA that you went to. Diane
Response:
I was glad to hear your comment about travel agents. I realize that this might not be the most popular opinion but I recently dumped my travel agent because I was doing all the work and she was getting the commission! Irene
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have yet to find a TA that is enthusiatic about keeping on top of our > cruise and making sure we have the best price or any discounts. If we find > the lower price on the Carnival Web site, we end up calling the TA to have > them get us the lower price. We kind of think the same as the origional > post. We should be able to book with the cruise line directly and we > should get the TA’s commission, since we have yet to find a TA that really > wants to work for their commission. Most TA’s seem to want the booking, > but want to get by doing as little as possible to deserve the booking. > Maybe others have TA’s that are excited about cruising and stay on top of > things, but we haven’t found any local TA’s that do. > Good luck > Its been my experience that using a TA is the way to go,the prices will be > close,the TA will handle details that you never thought of and will also > keep you posted about price reductions or specials…. > > After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a > follow-up > > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call > and > > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was > given > > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise > line? > Do > > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > > Thanks > > Carol
Response:
Diane, You indeed provide the best answer for those that would like to book online yet also have an agent handle any details that later come up. Also so far online booking rates that I have seen always include the commission anyway and in total. Most agents can readily give you a better price than the online booking direct with the cruiseline. What I did recently was just that. I booked a cabin online to insure that I got the particular cabin and pricing area I wanted. I then called my agent and gave him the booking res#. He reduced the price by $300 and took over the booking from the line. Cake and eat it to 
George in NY
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->s it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do >you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > I found it cheaper to use a Cruise Agency for my bookings than booking direct. > You can book with the cruise line on Carnival and then have it transfered to a > TA.You will then get the rate of the TA that you went to. > Diane
Response:
I used the same TA my first 3 cruises but after one of the parties (family) had to cancel several month’s before the last cruise we were charged $200.00 by the TA. Not the cruise line, even though we still had another cabin booked. Well when I booked my future cruise last April I went directly through Carnival and the cruise consultant I worked with was very helpful and changed my cabins and dates for me several times. He kept up on discounts and specials and applied coupons when they became available. They do not get commission and does not effect them to lower the price of the cruise. I am not sure of all TA’s do this but they lost my business and I plan on taking a lot more trips. I understand that their time is valuable but like most of you, I did all the work and gave the TA was reservation #. I have yet to find a TA that gives a lower price than Carnival, I am sure that there are some who have group booking or take less commission but not that I have found so far. Hope this helps. Now all you TA’s don’t go crazy on me. Just telling my experience. Candy
Response:
Candy, you got to do what is right for you BUT a cruise line will NEVER book and discount like a TA would, Why should they? But you do what you need, There is nothing like having a Good Travel Agent, and you help them feed their own family. — Susette Whitfield-ACC www.cruiseoutlets.com – A Vacation.com agency (800) 853-9515
Response:
I am currently shopping for the best prices on a Carnival Cruise and one particular TA has given me a quote that Carnival can not match. When I called them directly (the on-line price was higher than the TA quote), the person-to-person Carnival quote was higher than on-line! TA’s for me until they screw me. Alex Partridge
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Candy, you got to do what is right for you BUT a cruise line will NEVER book > and discount like a TA would, Why should they? > But you do what you need, There is nothing like having a Good Travel Agent, > and you help them feed their own family. > — > Susette Whitfield-ACC > www.cruiseoutlets.com – A Vacation.com agency > (800) 853-9515
Response:
What I do is shop around for the lowest price from several TA’s and I tell them up front that I am defiantly going to book a cruise with the lowest price agent. All of them come back and say that they are the lowest, but normally Cruise.com TA’s give me the best price and I end up booking with them. You can save at least $200 by doing your own air reservations. (Of course I suppose the amount saved depends on where your coming from.) If you are worried about bad weather delaying your flight then just buy travel insurance from the person you book the cruise with. (All agents have companies that they deal with for insurance that is cheaper then the cruise line) Just make sure they know that you want the air included in the insurance. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I am currently shopping for the best prices on a Carnival Cruise and one >particular TA has given me a quote that Carnival can not match. When I >called them directly (the on-line price was higher than the TA quote), the >person-to-person Carnival quote was higher than on-line! TA’s for me until >they screw me. >Alex Partridge > Candy, you got to do what is right for you BUT a cruise line will NEVER >book > and discount like a TA would, Why should they? > But you do what you need, There is nothing like having a Good Travel >Agent, > and you help them feed their own family. > — > Susette Whitfield-ACC > www.cruiseoutlets.com – A Vacation.com agency > (800) 853-9515
Response:
After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was given an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? Thanks Carol
Response:
Its been my experience that using a TA is the way to go,the prices will be close,the TA will handle details that you never thought of and will also keep you posted about price reductions or specials….
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was given > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > Thanks > Carol
Response:
Don’t do it! The only cruise I ever booked direct was with Carnival, and I found out later I was ripped off. If you don’t have an agent, I have one I would be happy to recommend. HB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was given > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > Thanks > Carol
Response:
We have yet to find a TA that is enthusiatic about keeping on top of our cruise and making sure we have the best price or any discounts. If we find the lower price on the Carnival Web site, we end up calling the TA to have them get us the lower price. We kind of think the same as the origional post. We should be able to book with the cruise line directly and we should get the TA’s commission, since we have yet to find a TA that really wants to work for their commission. Most TA’s seem to want the booking, but want to get by doing as little as possible to deserve the booking. Maybe others have TA’s that are excited about cruising and stay on top of things, but we haven’t found any local TA’s that do. Good luck
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Its been my experience that using a TA is the way to go,the prices will be > close,the TA will handle details that you never thought of and will also > keep you posted about price reductions or specials…. > After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a follow-up > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call and > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was > given > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? > Do > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > Thanks > Carol
Response:
>s it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do >you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter?
I found it cheaper to use a Cruise Agency for my bookings than booking direct. You can book with the cruise line on Carnival and then have it transfered to a TA.You will then get the rate of the TA that you went to. Diane
Response:
I was glad to hear your comment about travel agents. I realize that this might not be the most popular opinion but I recently dumped my travel agent because I was doing all the work and she was getting the commission! Irene
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have yet to find a TA that is enthusiatic about keeping on top of our > cruise and making sure we have the best price or any discounts. If we find > the lower price on the Carnival Web site, we end up calling the TA to have > them get us the lower price. We kind of think the same as the origional > post. We should be able to book with the cruise line directly and we > should get the TA’s commission, since we have yet to find a TA that really > wants to work for their commission. Most TA’s seem to want the booking, > but want to get by doing as little as possible to deserve the booking. > Maybe others have TA’s that are excited about cruising and stay on top of > things, but we haven’t found any local TA’s that do. > Good luck > Its been my experience that using a TA is the way to go,the prices will be > close,the TA will handle details that you never thought of and will also > keep you posted about price reductions or specials…. > > After filling in an info form at the Carnival site I received a > follow-up > > call from them that I was not expecting. I took advantage of the call > and > > ask for a price quote on a cruise that I might consider taking. I was > given > > an excellent price. Is it cheaper to go directly through the cruise > line? > Do > > you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > > Thanks > > Carol
Response:
Diane, You indeed provide the best answer for those that would like to book online yet also have an agent handle any details that later come up. Also so far online booking rates that I have seen always include the commission anyway and in total. Most agents can readily give you a better price than the online booking direct with the cruiseline. What I did recently was just that. I booked a cabin online to insure that I got the particular cabin and pricing area I wanted. I then called my agent and gave him the booking res#. He reduced the price by $300 and took over the booking from the line. Cake and eat it to George in NY
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->s it cheaper to go directly through the cruise line? Do >you save on the TA’s commission or does it really matter? > I found it cheaper to use a Cruise Agency for my bookings than booking direct. > You can book with the cruise line on Carnival and then have it transfered to a > TA.You will then get the rate of the TA that you went to. > Diane
Response:
I used the same TA my first 3 cruises but after one of the parties (family) had to cancel several month’s before the last cruise we were charged $200.00 by the TA. Not the cruise line, even though we still had another cabin booked. Well when I booked my future cruise last April I went directly through Carnival and the cruise consultant I worked with was very helpful and changed my cabins and dates for me several times. He kept up on discounts and specials and applied coupons when they became available. They do not get commission and does not effect them to lower the price of the cruise. I am not sure of all TA’s do this but they lost my business and I plan on taking a lot more trips. I understand that their time is valuable but like most of you, I did all the work and gave the TA was reservation #. I have yet to find a TA that gives a lower price than Carnival, I am sure that there are some who have group booking or take less commission but not that I have found so far. Hope this helps. Now all you TA’s don’t go crazy on me. Just telling my experience. Candy
Response:
Candy, you got to do what is right for you BUT a cruise line will NEVER book and discount like a TA would, Why should they? But you do what you need, There is nothing like having a Good Travel Agent, and you help them feed their own family. — Susette Whitfield-ACC www.cruiseoutlets.com – A Vacation.com agency (800) 853-9515
Response:
I am currently shopping for the best prices on a Carnival Cruise and one particular TA has given me a quote that Carnival can not match. When I called them directly (the on-line price was higher than the TA quote), the person-to-person Carnival quote was higher than on-line! TA’s for me until they screw me. Alex Partridge
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Candy, you got to do what is right for you BUT a cruise line will NEVER book > and discount like a TA would, Why should they? > But you do what you need, There is nothing like having a Good Travel Agent, > and you help them feed their own family. > — > Susette Whitfield-ACC > www.cruiseoutlets.com – A Vacation.com agency > (800) 853-9515
Response:
What I do is shop around for the lowest price from several TA’s and I tell them up front that I am defiantly going to book a cruise with the lowest price agent. All of them come back and say that they are the lowest, but normally Cruise.com TA’s give me the best price and I end up booking with them. You can save at least $200 by doing your own air reservations. (Of course I suppose the amount saved depends on where your coming from.) If you are worried about bad weather delaying your flight then just buy travel insurance from the person you book the cruise with. (All agents have companies that they deal with for insurance that is cheaper then the cruise line) Just make sure they know that you want the air included in the insurance. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I am currently shopping for the best prices on a Carnival Cruise and one >particular TA has given me a quote that Carnival can not match. When I >called them directly (the on-line price was higher than the TA quote), the >person-to-person Carnival quote was higher than on-line! TA’s for me until >they screw me. >Alex Partridge > Candy, you got to do what is right for you BUT a cruise line will NEVER >book > and discount like a TA would, Why should they? > But you do what you need, There is nothing like having a Good Travel >Agent, > and you help them feed their own family. > — > Susette Whitfield-ACC > www.cruiseoutlets.com – A Vacation.com agency > (800) 853-9515