What's #1 most frustrating part of planning a cruise online?

I have used travel agents , booked with cruise lines and I have booked online.My best deals have been online

I have used travel agents before and have used online web sites. I have found that Vacationstogo.com has the best of both worlds. I can look on line for itinerary and price and then call the consultant that I use there. I have had great luck this way with no issues, but after over 20 Cruises I know what I want. I want different things on different trips. I also use Ship Mate app to look up the cruise and the excursions and other peoples reviews of places and things do do in each port. I did have one travel professional that kept trying to up sell me on cabins and cruise lines. I just changed the person I work with. Sometimes I like to slum it on Carnival other times I like to

When we first started cruising back in 1990, we used to just go with what the agent offered that was within our price range. Then, over time and with the explosion of the internet, we started to find that there were other cruise lines that were doing the same itinerary like the one we were looking at online and various prices. So what we started doing was researching one itinerary that we liked, then call our cruise agent for him to make the price comparison between the lines. We start the search and our agent does the leg work. That's what they get paid for.

Great question and great discussion points.

I use the online sites for information only. On my three cruises and the next one in 2015, the itineraries are important, but not the only thing I use.

I have resources, such as this site, to get as much useful information as needed . Travel sites, news reports, critics and supporters are all used.

However, nothing beats the information provided by a professional and qualified travel agent or consultant.

Online services are great, but they don't replace human experience, and a strong personal commitment to customer service.