Most cruise lines offer an airsea program that allows you to purchase your cruise plus airfare in one neat little package. Bookings can be made online or over the phone with either the cruise line or the travel agent. They purchase tickets in bulk, taking advantage of group discounts, and. Never had any trouble with them, but booking through carnival i had problems. If i book that way will i still be able to view my reservation and or make payments through the carnival website. When youre ready to purchase your cruise, you can either go directly to the cruise line youve chosen, or you can book a cruise with a travel agent. It used to be that if you wanted to book a cruise, youd visit a travel agent or call up the cruise line.
Is it cheaper to book a cruise through a travel agent. Im making plans for a carnival cruise to caribbean in feb. She quoted me the exact same price and deals, and i felt as though i was more familiar with the current specials than she was. But are you able to pick your flights, and are they more expensive. The oncebooming travel agent industry has seen more than its share of changes in recent decades. Due to a suggestion that travel agents can sometimes offer perks unavailable directly through carnival, i spoke with a travel agent to compare pricing and offers. Why you should use a travel agent to book a cruise. The cruise line will not discuss it with you, nor will they make any changes you want. Log in now for helpful booking tools, rewards, and more. Every cruise line has a certain specialty, and a travel agent who takes the time to get to know you will find that perfect vacation. Or maybe, why should i use a travel agent to book a cruise when i can simply do it myself. Cruises when can i see booking that was done through a travel agent. Once added, select your booking found on the my cruise manager page then to the left select pay now scroll to payment preference, from here you can select pay full amount or other amount then select payment method under payment information and fillout billing address.
Get your login and password ready so you can follow along with tajuana and learn how to book groups with carnival cruise lines. When can i see booking that was done through a travel agent. Fly2fun travel protection is always included in the price. You can speak to a travel agent in person, which can be. As with any service, your agent may know a great deal or may know next to nothing. The travel agent must be able to provide the pin number this was provided by the direct at the time of booking. The contact information below is provided by our travel agents. Carnival does not verify that the contact information below is accurate or complete. Contact a carnival cruise travel agent to book your next fun vacation on a carnival ship. Please note that although carnival cruise line can pass requests for seat assignments, special meals and special assistance to the airlines, we cannot guarantee that all requests will be honored.
Visit to learn more about cruise deals and itineraries to popular sailing destinations around the world with aaa preferred travel suppliers, including royal caribbean, carnival cruise line, princess cruises, celebrity cruises, viking river cruises, disney cruise line, oceania cruises, amawaterways, and regent seven seas cruises. Is it better to book a cruise through expedia, or through. Also, if you book your cruise with a travel agent, youll have to carry out all communications with the cruise line through the agent, which can slow the process down and become frustrating. Experienced cruise agencies are often able to contract prices with the cruise lines long before the sail date. Book at least 4 days before your cruise begins or, at most, 321 days. Unlike many other sectors of the travel industry where travellers confidently book direct, most cruise passengers still book through travel agents. Have you ever asked, should i use a cruise travel agent to book my cruise. Reasons you should never book a cruise through a travel agent.
Booking a cruise through a travel agency is buying the cruise that is the best for you. One thing to note about booking through a travel agent is that if you want to ask any. In fact, when the cruise lines call center is closed your agent can still handle many of the changes you may have directly through online access to the cruise line database. Carnival cruise line has added a new program called be the hero. The travel agent will need to provide service with all the pertinent booking information which includes.
I was planning on booking through a travel agent because it is my first cruise and thought they would be able to help me with any questions i had. Call carnival at 18007647419 and book your cruise over the phone if you know your preferences and needs but arent comfortable with the internet, or simply dont want to use it for booking. A good travel agent who books lots of cruises on a particular line can often offer perks that you dont get booking directly through the cruise line. Most travel agents charge a fee, but they know the discounts you can get and can book air fare also. Even better, an agent will put in the legwork of sifting through travel insurance policies and point you to the plan that best suits your individual needs and itinerary, he adds. Booking through cruise line websites photo courtesy of. Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through. Cruise lines will almost always charge a bit more than booking a similar or sometimes exact same tour elsewhere. Air payment isnt required until your final cruise payment. Carnival cruise line group cruise training part 1 duration.
Does it cost more to book a cruise through a travel agent. You can do it on line or call carnival and work with their agents at no charge. Finally, if you book your cruise with a travel agent, youll have to carry out all communications with the cruise line through the agent. Book carnival cruise direct or through travel agent. For the best travel experience, we recommend that travel agentsguests contact. Booking directly with cruise line or through an agency. Finally, if you book your cruise with a travel agent, youll have to carry out all communications with the cruise line through the agent, which can sometimes slow the. You can change your flights without any penalties or service fees, prior to 60 days before cruise departure. If you know anything about the travel business you can book on line. Why travel agents and telephones still rule cruise booking. Should i use a travel agent or book directly with a cruise. Look for titles such as cruise specialist, or cruise counselor at an agency.
The 10 best sites to book a cruise avital andrews avital andrews, smartertravels editoratlarge, is a travel and lifestyle journalist who is also a contributing editor for aaas via magazine. Finding an australian cruise travel agent cruise critic. Travel agents from large agencies will have hundreds of groups on various cruises. Before you commit to one travel agent, make sure that. With all of that in mind a good question to ask is, should i book airfare on my own or through the cruise line. Occasionally, cruise lines offer irresistible deals and specials that are far cheaper than anything you can book through a travel agency. I have cruised many times but i recently booked a group through a travel agent for a carnival cruise next year 2015. Heres why you should use a travel agent instead of. They can book you into these groups giving you the group. Each supplier offers unique advantages and exclusive aaa.
Book through a specialty site, such as vacations to go, cruise cheap or through a travel agent who specializes in cruises. With travel agents, you can often also meet facetoface. I book through my discover card to take advantage of the 5% cash back benefit. Not every agent is perfect, of course, and even a good agent might not be right for you. Carnivals fly2fun air program carnival cruise line.
When an agent books a hotel room, cruise, tour, etc, this means the provider doesnt have to sell, market, or service the booking the agent takes care of all of that. As such, a travel agent may get a commission from the cruise line youre sailing with. The pros and cons of using a travel agent travel us news. Complexity of booking cruises was a major theme discussed at cruise line international associations clia cruise 360 conference in vancouver in june 2016. In fact, some cruise lines report that as many as 95 percent of their customers book through travel agents, while the average level throughout the cruise industry tends to be around 75 percent.
Any cruise travel agent can ask a series of questions and book you on a 7nighter out of portmiami. The best way to book a cruise in the bahamas via the company carnival, would be to via their website, or visit your local travel agent and ask specifically for the company carnival. Its worth checking prices however because there have been a few occasions weve found cruise lines. In short, it generally doesnt cost you money to use a travel agent, and in fact, the agent can very often help you save money on your trip more on that in that below. Book your cruise with a travel agent 6 reasons why you. Ive found expedia reliable for other travel transactions. Should i use a travel agent or book directly with a cruise line. Booking number guests name stateroom number sail date. You can still take those routes, but the cruise line websites make it simple to book your trip. Bottom line you should book your cruise with a travel agent if youre a first time cruiser, have a lot of special requests or want to get the best deals. The ease of online travel booking sites and companies like uber and airbnb are steadily cutting into travel agents profits. Several top cruise industry executives said they dont envy the job of todays travel seller. You may want to search the internet for a great agent or try your luck by calling back a couple times if you dont get a good agent the first time.
For those who like to book their own spa appointments, shore excursions, specialty dining, etc. A carnival cruise travel agent is a fulfiller of dreams, offering all the tips you need about our ships, activities, and destinations. A travel agent is vital in planning these special memories as they take the worry off of you and let you focus solely on the exciting events to come and what you shall pack, said jamie. Be the hero is an upgrade program designed specifically for those who book their cruises though a travel agent. Another attraction of booking a cruise over the phone through a traditional travel agency or walking into a travel agency office, rather than booking online through an ota, is that travel agents. Should i book airfare on my own or through the cruise line. The best way to find a really great cruiseoriented travel agent is a referral from friends or family. Find an agent who asks about your family, your interests, hobbies etc. When booking directly through a cruise line, the price usually increases as the sailing date nears however, when you use an agency like ours, that specializes in securing lower prices for your cruise, years in advance, you can save up to thousands of dollars. Carnival cruise lines, for example, a representative will only book you on a carnival ship.
Unlike when booking online, you cant book a cruise with an agent in the middle of night. Does it cost more to book my cruise with a travel agent. You can look on the website for the cruise line international association clia to find a cruisecertified travel agent in your area. They specialize in cruiseswith an emphasis on alaska. Are there any other benefits to using a travel agent to book a cruise. However, if youre either a first timer or a more experienced cruiser, the agent will help you interpret th. From what ive read, youll essentially be talking to a travel agent chase has contracted to book your cruise. How to book a cruise using chase ultimate rewards points. Carnivals new upgrade program for those who book cruises.
1549 464 7 1235 1322 1186 327 7 716 112 1461 39 982 844 1358 997 853 1236 562 1429 1030 260 1522 1213 1244 1085 1120 1250 824 423 864 1155 37 558 520 158 210 1311 187 615 1037 1446 643 962 1154 768 1262 699 600 998