Travel Agent: Yes or No?

[sam_gordon]

Regarding the comments that with a travel agent you don't have "control" over your reservation or that the reservation "belongs" to the agent and not you: I've never experienced that. I'm able to log onto the RC website and make reservations, book excursions, etc., even though the reservation was made through an agent.

My understanding is the "control" is regarding changing/cancelling the cruise itself or adding/changing/removing passengers. If you booked through a TA, you can't go online or call Royal to cancel/change the cruise.

Show/dining reservations, excursions, "extra purchases" are all in control of the passenger.

 

[Brianstl]

One big way travel agents can save you money is through group rates.

 

[Frozen2014]

We always booked directly through Royal. I prefer having 100% control of my own booking. I watch prices daily (esp before when there were regular price drops) and would pick up the phone and call Royal to have our cruise lowered. Always got through. No issue. For questions or advice about things...there is tons of info these days on the internet about places for research, or even here or other cruise forums...so no reason for a TA for that (but we do mostly Caribbean and have one Alaska cruise coming up)

Having said that, for our last bunch of cruises we have booked through a travel sight. It's a known name . Our only reason for doing so is that the price was significantly less than Royal . Royal prices are going up and up and may get to a point where we cruise less...but this place is reasonable. The main downside, and it' a big pain, is they are hard to get in touch with. There have been a few times we've had to call. Sometimes it's quick and we get through after 5 minutes but other times, it's taken a whole Saturday morning. When final payment is near, we will pay it off early so that we don't miss it due to not being able to get through Luckily though, once you book with them, you still use the cruise planner for any excursions, drinks, dining, etc. WIth the huge price difference though, it's worth it to us.