How do you book your cruise usually?

We have a travel planner for more complex arrangements. Otherwise, I use United Cruises because of the bonus miles, which we have used liberally to cover airfare costs.

It is good to have specific agents when you book. They know what you want and know that you are serious about booking. I, too, find that I often get a better deal through my agent than through the cruise line. If not a better price, I always get extra perks and more onboard credit through my agent especially if it is a longer cruise.

I like to book through an agent. It doesn't cost more and you have someone to go to if something goes wrong. Also you get more onboard credit and perks.

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Funny, had I read this awhile ago I would not know what you meant. Just recently,HAL informed us that all correspondence and documents would go through our travel agent. She had some family emergency plus escorting a HAL cruise and last year we received all documents late. This year, she had to PAY HAL to have our documents come directly to us. She also had to arrange with HAL to deal on the phone directly with us. Who is paying for our cruise - us, not the travel agent. This is ridiculous!

We used to use a rep from the cruise line but lately, I have started doing it myself and even do it now for friends. I keep a portfolio for each trip and keep all documentation, payments, flights, hotel reservations, copy of passports, etc in there. That way I know exactly where all of my paperwork is the day of.

Frankly I think I missed my calling and should have been a travel agent for a cruise line. I really enjoy booking for myself as well as our friends!

I like to book directly with the cruise line. Hubby books through the airline to get frequent flyer miles.

Yes, I see the identical price no matter where it is for a cruise (Alaska on Princess currently). What I find is that the online travel agents throw in some things like onboard credit, so why not book with them? Do some folks think there is an advantage booking directly through Princess or whoever?

I have tried looking at prices on a lot of other sites and compare them to Carnival, but I come up with the same price on EVERY site. Am I doing something wrong or is it just the itinerary that I am looking at the there is no fluctuation in the price?

We used Vacations To Go to book our first 3 cuises and still use their newsletters to see what is available for specific itineraries. We have found the midsize ships of HAL preferable so now we book directly with them. On two occasions we found a better deal being offered through an online travel agency after booking. In both instances HAL matched the TA's pricing and upgraded our cabin on one of them.

I either book via the cruise line's website or my Carnival PVP. I really like talking to a live person, and I feel she knows the ship and recommends the best place on the ship to be.