When planning a cruise, you have several booking options: directly with the cruise line, through a travel agent, or with a third-party travel website like Expedia.
Most of us are accustomed to booking travel online. While it’s easy to book most of your travel online these days, many cruisers still prefer to make reservations through a travel agent.
I’ll admit that for many years, I never understood the value of having a travel agent. Booking a cruise using a travel agent felt old-fashioned and unnecessary. As a type-A planner, I always preferred to be in charge of my own cruise reservations. I never trusted anyone else to handle my coveted vacation plans. I actually enjoyed the cruise planning process, meticulously planning each day of our itinerary.
For nearly two decades, I prided myself on booking cruises on my own. Growing up, my dad never utilized a travel agent either for our family vacations. Because we never had any issues booking cruises on our own, we didn’t feel the need to pursue a travel agent.
However, that changed a few years ago.
When I started working as a freelance cruise writer, I found myself booking cruises through a travel agent for the first time. The concept was foreign to me, and I was nervous about giving someone else the authority to manage my cruises. After a few cruises, I couldn’t believe how convenient and beneficial using a travel agent could be.
Now, I never book a cruise without consulting my travel agent. Even personal vacations are booked through a travel agent now. Here’s what changed my mind and why you should also consider using a travel agent.
Note: We work with MEI Travel for our cruise reservations at Cruise.Blog and highly recommend their services to others!
First, it’s important to know that using a travel agent is typically free
One of the reasons I avoided using a travel agent for so long was the incorrect assumption that I would need to pay for one. I always thought there was a fee associated with using a travel agent, as they would provide a service by sharing their expertise.
However, most travel agents are entirely free to use. This is because cruise lines provide a commission to travel agents for bookings. Once a client completes their cruise, the travel agent receives a commission on the reservation.
So, you do not pay a travel agent to book a cruise for you. If a travel agent is trying to charge you, this could be a red flag. I’ve never had to pay for using a travel agent, and I’ve booked dozens of cruises with one.
Second, booking a cruise can be more complicated than you anticipate
For many years, I exclusively cruised with Royal Caribbean and found the reservation process to be straightforward. Once I started venturing to other cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises, I realized booking a cruise could be confusing.
For example, Norwegian offers “More at Sea” pricing (formerly known as “Free at Sea”) when you book your cruise. This includes complimentary specialty dining credits, shore excursion discounts, drink packages, and internet minutes.
The different pricing structure was confusing to me. I was worried that I would choose the wrong option while booking my reservation. Further, I wasn’t sure what each option entailed. I would hate to pay for an add-on that I didn’t really need or want.
Instead, I reached out to a travel agent to inquire about pricing the cruise. She was extremely helpful and attentive. My travel agent sent quotes with a variety of prices and perks included, so I could compare the add-ons effectively.
Had I not worked with a travel agent, I might not have realized that Norwegian includes a drink package in their “More at Sea” fare. Guests only need to pay gratuities for the package, but the overall cost was minimal compared to other cruise lines.
Similarly, travel agents can explain cancellation policies, refundable deposits, and more cruise-related complexities. I’ve had to work with my travel agent multiple times to move or cancel sailings. I have peace of mind that my travel agent knows the policies extensively and I trust her guidance and expertise.
Travel agents can save you time by handling questions or issues with the cruise line
Working with a travel agent can be a huge time saver. Instead of spending hours on the phone with a cruise line, your travel agent can handle all of these questions, concerns, inquiries, or issues on your behalf.
When I first started using a travel agent, I was shocked by how much time I could save. I’m typically very proactive about repricing my cruises and monitoring for a better deal. This used to require calling the cruise line directly to inquire about price adjustments.
After securing my booking for the aforementioned Norwegian sailing, I discovered the price had dropped significantly. Instead of contacting the cruise line myself, I emailed my travel agent to see about adjusting the price. She was able to secure a cruise credit of $1,400 for the price drop!
Not having to deal with the cruise line directly saves you time. Think of a travel agent as your personal vacation assistant
In addition, travel agents can advocate for their clients with the cruise line directly. If you encounter any issues with your cruise, you can work with your travel agent to find a solution. With this, travel agents can often resolve issues in a timely manner if needed.
Finally, your travel agent will ensure your reservation is paid in a timely manner. You won’t need to worry about final payment dates, as your travel agent will take care of this for you. But, it’s important to note that you will need to pay for your cruise with your travel agent. They will handle the payments with the cruise line on your behalf.
Even better, travel agents can access exclusive group rates for cheaper fares
One of the biggest reasons I choose to work with a travel agent now is because I’ve saved thousands of dollars doing so. Because travel agents work with cruise lines to secure blocks of cabins on any particular sailing, they can pass on discounts to you. These are often referred to as group rates, and they’re typically cheaper than booking directly with the cruise line.
I recently cruised with Celebrity Cruises to Australia and Bali on a 15-night itinerary. After pricing an interior cabin on the cruise line’s website, I asked my travel agent to price the same itinerary.
My travel agent was able to access a group rate for the sailing for Celebrity’s “All Included” pricing. This is a more inclusive fare that provides a basic drink package and a standard internet package. Her fare was refundable and also included prepaid gratuities.
The best part? This group rate was more than $1,500 cheaper than the price quoted on Celebrity’s website—without any of the perks! Booking with the travel agent was a no-brainer, as we saved money and received these incredible perks.
In fact, my parents decided to move their preexisting reservation for a penalty to book through the travel agent as well. They were able to save hundreds of dollars and receive the same incredible perks on our 15-night cruise.
On the flip side, I had booked a previous cruise on Celebrity Apex to visit Norway. At the time, I wasn’t utilizing a travel agent, so I booked the sailing on my own. I paid $4,200 for the balcony cabin, which did not include any perks. After final payment, I asked my travel agent how much the same cruise would have been with her group rate. I could have saved money and received a drink and internet package. Lesson learned!
Along with cheaper fares, travel agents often provide booking incentives, such as onboard credit
When I started booking cruises with a travel agent, I was pleasantly surprised to see onboard credit typically applied to my bookings. This onboard credit varied between $50 and $150 depending on the sailing and the cruise line.
This onboard credit is used as an incentive to continue booking with a travel agent. As a budget traveler who cruises often, these onboard incentives can add up. I’m always happy to accept these incentives, especially when the cruise lines rarely provide these incentives anymore.
Travel agents aren’t obligated to provide any onboard credit or booking incentives. However, most provide some sort of credit or discount as a gesture of goodwill for continued business. These incentives could also include a bottle of champagne or credit to dine at a specialty restaurant during your cruise.
Read more: 17 hidden cruise ship extra charges you should know about
Are there any downsides to working with a travel agent for a cruise?
One of the biggest downsides of working with a travel agent is finding the right agent. Because anyone can become a travel agent, some are better than others. Having a good travel agent can make all the difference when planning your cruise. On the contrary, if you work with a subpar travel agent, you might not see the full value.
In addition, another potential downside is not having complete control of your cruise reservation. If you want to make a payment or adjust your reservation, you cannot contact the cruise line directly. Everything involving your reservation will be done through a travel agent. In this way, it’s important to work with one who is timely, responsible, and dependable.
However, this doesn’t mean you won’t have access to your reservation. You can still access the cruise planner or manager to book excursions, browse specialty dining, make reservations, purchase internet access, and more.
How can I find a good travel agent to book my cruise?
You’ll want to do some research before working with a travel agent for your cruise. Some travel agents work independently while others work under an agency or umbrella company.
Cruise lines can often provide preferred travel agents they recommend cruisers work with. These are often travel agents that handle high volumes of bookings, meaning they understand a particular cruise line very well.
You should also ask friends and family for their referrals for working with a well-established travel agent. Recommendations can be the best method for finding a good travel agent others would recommend working with.
Just like anything, some travel agents are better than others. Everyone has their own needs when it comes to cruising. Some travel agents take a more hands-off approach while others can help you plan every nitty-gritty detail.
Further, every agent has a different specialty and level of expertise. You should consider asking a potential travel agent specific questions about a cruise line, itinerary, or cruise ship. Consider working with an agency that specializes in cruising. If you choose to use a full-service travel agency, you should ask for the cruising department or cruising desk for your reservation.
Finally, not every travel agent works with every cruise line. Some have their preferred cruise lines that they work with exclusively. Similarly, some might specialize in luxury or premium cruising while others focus on mainstream cruising, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
