Typically if a
Travel Agency is "giving" onboard credit, that is because the agency may have group space on that particular cruise, especially if it is an agency that specializes in particular lines. As a former travel agent, I will say that the agency that I was with did have a "booking fee", as well as a "cancellation fee". Reason being is the agency does not make any money at all if the client cancels the cruise, and often we would work for hours for the client just putting together the initial quotes , then there is the booking itself, then the time taken to answer any/all questions. Not to mention making any changes that may come about. This is not paid for by anyone.
Think about it... a cruise may be $300per person before port charges taxes and fees, average commission being 15% so that would be $45pp that the agency makes per person. Now, if you are a particular needy client that makes calls, requests, and did absolutely zero research, ties up the phone lines and blows up the email box constantly... that could translate to about $1 per hour that the agency actually made for your cruise. NOW... say you are a big spender and go with that balcony and now we are talking $800 pp before all the fun stuff is added... now the agent has made $120 pp and maybe you are also not a particularly needy person and only calls to book the reservation and never are heard from again...and maybe you knew what you wanted when you called so it was an easy booking. The agency is ahead of the game now. HOWEVER, then you have the wonderful person that calls, doesn't have a clue what they want, has to think/talk/think about it with anyone and everyone. Finally gets the reservation made, pays the deposit, makes changes several times, cabin location, category, even date... cruise is 2 years away... final payment is due, and now she has second thoughts, or has a new baby, or has friends who want to go and the ship is sold out, or even better... didn't think about it and didn't save the money needed for final payment and now cancels. For almost two years someone has worked with this person, and then there is NO INCOME for that work. THIS is why agencies are starting to charge booking fees, cancellation fees, change fees and such. It is not a new thing, maybe in the Disney world of cruising it is, but honestly a
Disney cruise is straight forward and a particular niche that many agents just do not want to get into. I myself took the training, and knew it was not going to be my cup of tea so to speak. I like variety. Back when I was an agent there were two ships, and not a great bargain dollar wise for my thoughts. Most clients found it to be more cost effective to take a week long Carnival Cruise or Royal Caribbean Cruise, then spend a few days at the parks rather than take a 4 night Disney Cruise, and they came out ahead in the dollar signs as well. Sure... Characters on the ship... they are at the parks as well... pools on the ships... yep all of them, don't want the casino, find don't go there. Want soda when you want it, bring your own... fireworks... see them at the parks... it wasn't that great of a show and was only 4 minutes long. Food was much better on the other cruise lines as well.
Options when making cruise reservations, book it yourself with the cruise line directly, or explore your options using an agent... book through one of the websites online... that is still using a travel agent, most of the time however they have limited training as they are sitting in a call center working their shift and not thinking about it when they are off the clock. I miss my days, sometimes think about getting back into it, then remember the threads like this that happen all the time where people want someone to do all the work, but they do not want to pay them for it.
And no fees whatsoever.
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