Travel Web sites
Getting ready to book my Mediterranean Cruise - any suggested Travel Web sites that you feel comfortable booking from or do you go directly to the Cruise site OR have a favorite travel agent (sounds ancient) you have worked with??
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Have not cruised the Med yet but is in our near future (2020?). When we do book cruises, we use CruCon. We have booked 12 cruises through them now and have always had great service. Since I like to do all my own research, they work well for me, always there to answer my questions. They also have offered great perks (on board credit, drink packages, gratuities paid...). You should find that the cruise price at any TA or OLTA will be the same as advertised on the cruise line's site. The difference will be the perks the agent offers. Good luck!
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1 ReactionI should also add that you should never have to pay a travel agent. They are compensated by the cruise line.
Super helpful - thanks Deb!
Costco has great travel deals. I haven't booked a cruise through them (yet) but it's worth looking in to if you are a member.
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1 ReactionI always appreciate the information you provide, @debveerkamp! Your expertise is great! I will have to remember this if we book a cruise again in the future.
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1 ReactionHappy to help!
Whenever we cruise, I always call or online book directly with the cruise line that we're sailing with. This keeps you in control of your booking--if you book with a travel agent, that travel agent owns/controls the booking and sometimes the cruise line will only deal with the agent that booked the travel. This may mean that you need to go through the agent if you need to make changes or have concerns about your booking.
I believe that some/most/all? cruise lines have some sort of Personal Vacation Planner (PVP) that you can book with. This will act like a travel agent who is (I believe) a paid employee of that line. It's their job that you have an excellent experience with the booking experience and to answer all of your questions. As you develop a relationship with this PVP, they will get to know your preferences and they will watch out for you.
Thanks! Just curious...do you have a cruise line preference?
For most of our cruises, we have gone with Carnival simply because they were our first cruise line and we are used to them. We have gone with Norwegian a couple of times, and will be trying Royal Caribbean for the first time in a few months. I don't believe that Carnival currently offers Med cruises--they were practically giving them away when we did ours ($50/person/night).
I will add that if you go through some form of a PVP with the cruise line, when you call the reservation number, ask to be put in touch with one. PVPs are different from the agents who staff the national reservation number.