With the exception on one cruise, which I booked through my timeshare service, I have booked all my cruises through The Cruise Web (www.cruiseweb.com). A good agent is there to help you, not to try to upsell you to a more expensive (or higher commission) trip. My agent, Kevin Sweigard, is one of those exceptional agents. Based on my experience and conversations with other cruisers, I would recommend that you use an agent even if you are an experienced cruiser.

I like to do my research before contacting Kevin, but I know others go in with only the desire to cruise. If you are not comfortable researching on the internet, then your agent can do the work for you.

  1. Knowledge of the cruise lines, the ships, and the itineraries. We were booking a trip in the Caribbean a few years ago and were considering a Costa ship just to try something new. Kevin advised us not to do this and suggested we look closer at the itinerary, which stated they did not get to most ports until 5PM and left around midnight. This was a party cruise, which we quickly discovered when we were docked next to them at one of the ports. On other occasions, he has warned us about certain cabins and even ships. And his knowledge of the ports and when to travel have influenced our vacations.
  2. Best Pricing for any cruise. The bottom line is that the cruise pricing is fixed regardless of the channel which you book.  Your cost to use an agent is the same as your cost to book it online.  Not only does an agent have full access to the best cruise pricing, but they may also have special deals. The Cruise Web sometimes purchases blocks of cabins and can offer great deals. They also know how the various cruise lines structure their deals and can advise you on what is available.
  3. Direct contact with cruise lines allows an agent to get quick answers to clarify a booking question or get information about a specific cabin.  The can pick up the phone and speak directly with the cruise line.  In this way, we have managed to resolve many of our questions.
  4. Planning advice related to visas, vaccines, and general questions. Information, such as when to book you flights to arrive or depart (not all lines publish this information clearly), post-cruise excursions which end at the airport (cruise lines do not always include these in their excursions), and timings for certain activities. The cruise line sites for booked passengers are not always the friendliest site. While we try to use the cruise site, there are instances where we cannot find an answer. Our option is to call the cruise line and wait on hold or contact Kevin, who then takes on the hassle. Guess which one we choose?
  5. Improved deals as we get closer to sailing. This includes improved pricing, upgrades, and additional perks. A good agent will pass on these deals to their client. On an Alaska trip several years ago, we traveled with some friends who booked as part of the group. We both started out with the same price, but Kevin passed on a $250 savings from the cruise line prior to sailing. Our friends did not get this deal and their group contact was totally unaware of the deal. This has happened repeatedly over the years, where we get increased credits, cabin upgrades, and additional incentives.
  6. Personalized support that can only be offered by a person. Kevin knows my quirks and special requirements. He lets me know when something changes, such as an itinerary change, new requirements for a visa, and such. He is proactive in policing rates – he checks them weekly. If there is a reduction, he contacts the line and works up the reduction for us.
    Needless to say, even though I am extremely comfortable with online booking, which I do for my air and hotels, I find that a cruise agent is essential to maximize our cruise experience

Good luck and please complete our poll on “How do you book your cruises.”