Self booking Vs Using a Travel Agent

Do Florida residents generally get better deals directly from the CruiseLines? I have a second home in Florida and I was wondering if it would be beneficial for me to use that address to book my cruises.

We've booked both through an Online TA, and Directly through RCI. USUALLY, we get a better deal through the Online TA, But we've also gotten a few SCREAMING deals through the Cruiseline (ie: $125/person 5 day Western Caribbean, On Empress of the Seas, in an Oceanview room)

We've also found that the Online TA we use will price match Expedia, and some other online TA's, so when we get the Cruiseline.com price notifications, we call them up, and they adjust the price for us up to final Payoff date, and via OBC for anything between Final Payoff, and Sailing date.

The same story with me. Since I started to travel by own, I mean without parents’ supervision, I always book my trips without any travel agent’s help. It includes buying plane or train tickets, booking a hotel or an apartment on Airbnb and checking what places worth visiting in the place I’m about to go. Also, I think about certain activities to do there. For instance, recently I returned from Naples, Florida. I bought the plane tickets in advance thus I saved a lot of money. I was quite lucky to find a great deal on Airbnb for an apartment right in the middle of the town. I had access to all clubs, restaurants and sightseeings. The beach was a little bit far, but it wasn’t a big issue for me. The most memorable activities, which I did, was private boat tours Naples Florida. The island looks completely different far from the shore. The vacation was fantastic because I was free to do what I want and when I want.

The same story with me. Since I started to travel by own, I mean without parents’ supervision, I always book my trips without any travel agent’s help. It includes buying plane or train tickets, booking a hotel or an apartment on Airbnb and checking what places worth visiting in the place I’m about to go. Also, I think about certain activities to do there. For instance, recently I returned from Naples, Florida. I bought the plane tickets in advance thus I saved a lot of money. I was quite lucky to find a great deal on Airbnb for an apartment right in the middle of the town. I had access to all clubs, restaurants and sightseeings. The beach was a little bit far, but it wasn’t a big issue for me. The most memorable activities, which I did, was private boat tours Naples Florida. The island looks completely different far from the shore. The vacation was fantastic because I was free to do what I want and when I want.

The same story with me. Since I started to travel by own, I mean without parents’ supervision, I always book my trips without any travel agent’s help. It includes buying plane or train tickets, booking a hotel or an apartment on Airbnb and checking what places worth visiting in the place I’m about to go. Also, I think about certain activities to do there. For instance, recently I returned from Naples, Florida. I bought the plane tickets in advance thus I saved a lot of money. I was quite lucky to find a great deal on Airbnb for an apartment right in the middle of the town. I had access to all clubs, restaurants and sightseeings. The beach was a little bit far, but it wasn’t a big issue for me. The most memorable activities, which I did, was private boat tours Naples Florida. The island looks completely different far from the shore. The vacation was fantastic because I was free to do what I want and when I want.

We book our own cruises or rather I do. I'm the one that organizes it and my parents just pay their half. Like the Alaskan cruise I booked it all. Of course, my mother had a say in the excursions but the flights I found them (with my dad's help.) But the way I see it is my parents aren't gonna be around forever. So I might as well learn while their here to lead me in the right direction so to speak.

We use a TA and listen to her suggestions. The cruise and flight we book through the TA but the shuttles, hotels we take care of ourselves.

I was talking to my husband about this exact subject last night. I think moving forward I will not be using a TA. I sent her an email and asked her to process my final payment this evening for my cruise and she informed me that she is leaving town today and will not be able to process it until Monday. Now for most this would be no big deal however, I like to get things done when I want them done. She has no backup and honestly, she travels a lot so this happens quite often. DH agreed that it is time to move on.

On top of that, we booked this cruise while we were on the ship and they added her as our TA since she booked our first cruise. And she does not help with anything.. I am still doing all of the work so.. why let her make money on my work??

Maybe he can for others, but not Colorado!

That Hog can predict the coming of Spring.