Should You Use a Travel Agent for a Cruise? When You Don't Need One
If you're about to book a cruise, you've probably wondered whether to book it yourself or use a travel agent. I'm a professional travel advisor who specializes in cruises, so you can guess which way I lean. But I'm going to give you an honest answer, including when you don't need me at all.
There are hundreds of places that tell you which restaurant is good, which ship is nice, or which show to see. What I want to cover here is the decision behind the vacation: what an advisor can do that you can't easily do yourself, and the situations where you're perfectly fine booking on your own.
Key Takeaways
A travel advisor may be able to offer extras like onboard credit, perks or discounts, but not on every sailing. Sometimes the price is the same as booking directly.
Advisors often have a direct contact at the cruise line, which can help when something goes wrong with your booking.
Guidance matters more than the booking. A good advisor asks what you want and who's coming, then matches that to the right cruise.
An advisor can take the research and deadlines off your plate if you don't enjoy planning.
You probably don't need one if you enjoy planning, you already know exactly what you want, or there's nothing extra available for your sailing.
Some travel insurance policies include concierge services that can cover part of what an advisor's advocacy does.
Whichever way you book, ask what they'll do if something changes or goes wrong.
What Can a Travel Advisor Do for You? Extras, Perks and Discounts
Depending on the booking, an advisor may be able to offer extras like onboard credit, perks or discounts that you wouldn't see if you booked on your own.
Here's how it works. Every travel advisor belongs to a travel agency, and that agency has direct relationships with the cruise lines. As with any other business, the larger the agency, the more business it brings to the cruise line, and the more the cruise line offers in return: more perks, more discounts, and more things the agency can pass along to its clients. The larger the agency, the better those perks and discounts tend to be.
The Honest Truth About Perks
It isn't always there. Sometimes there are no extras available for a particular sailing, and the price is the same for me as it is for you booking directly with the cruise line.
I'd rather tell you that than promise something I can't deliver. So if someone tells you an advisor will always get you a better deal, be a little skeptical. Ask what they'll actually offer for your particular booking and your particular sailing.
An Advocate When Something Goes Wrong
This is the one I think matters most, and it's the one you can't see from the outside.
Larger agencies often have a direct contact at the cruise line, usually a director of sales or a relationship manager. If something goes wrong with your booking, an advisor has access to that person and can go to them directly and ask for help. How much can be done depends on the situation, but cruise lines value their relationships with agencies, so there's an incentive for them to work with us.
So when I raise an issue for a client, I'm not a stranger in a call center queue. That advocacy is a big part of what an advisor provides that isn't just about the booking. It's having someone in your corner when plans change.
Knowledge and Experience
A cruise isn't just a booking. It's a series of choices: which ship, which itinerary, which cabin, and which of the little extras are worth paying for. I've been cruising for decades and a travel advisor for the last ten years, and I've made some of these mistakes myself.
My Celebrity trip to Europe is one example. I picked the cruise line based on what I'd heard, not on who was traveling with me. My kids and their partners, all in their early twenties, were there, and there wasn't as much for them to do as I'd hoped. An advisor would have asked about them first. I only thought about myself when I booked it.
That's what guidance looks like. It isn't a list of the best ships. It's questions about what you want and who's coming, and then matching those answers to the right cruise. And I have access to people who know a particular ship or destination well, even when my own experience doesn't cover it.
Time and Effort
Some people enjoy planning every detail, and others don't. There's nothing wrong with either. If you don't want to research, compare cabins, track deadlines and think through every step, that's something an advisor can take off your plate.
If the thought of planning your cruise makes you tired, that's a good sign you'd benefit from some help.
When You Don't Need a Travel Advisor
Here's the part I promised. You probably don't need an advisor if:
You enjoy planning and doing it yourself. Booking a cruise isn't hard, and some people like the process.
You already know what you're doing. If you've sailed the same cruise line several times and know exactly which ship, cabin and itinerary you want, an advisor may not add much.
There's nothing extra to offer. Sometimes an advisor isn't better on price or extras. There are sailings where nothing extra is available.
Your travel insurance includes concierge services. Some policies include concierge help when something goes wrong. If you choose one like that, it can cover part of what I described as advocacy, reaching out and making sure things get taken care of. Check what's included in your policy.
How to Decide
An advisor makes the most sense when you're unsure what to choose, when it's a bigger or more complex trip, or when you want someone to handle it and be there if there's a problem.
If you know what you want and you like doing it yourself, book directly. If you want guidance, an advocate, or just want it done for you, an advisor is worth it.
Either way, ask whoever you're booking with what they'll do if something changes or goes wrong. That's a good question to ask an advisor, an online travel site or a cruise line.
If you're still at the beginning, my post on how to book a cruise for the first time walks through the whole process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth using a travel agent to book a cruise?
It depends on what you want. An advisor can be worth it if you're unsure which cruise fits your group, you're booking something more complex, or you want someone to handle the details and help if something goes wrong. If you enjoy planning, already know exactly what you want, or there are no extras available for your sailing, you may do fine booking yourself.
Do travel agents get better cruise prices?
Not always. Advisors may be able to offer extras like onboard credit, perks or discounts through their agency's relationships with the cruise lines, but those aren't available on every sailing. Sometimes the price is the same as booking directly. If someone promises you'll always get a better deal, be skeptical, and ask what they'll offer for your specific booking and sailing.
Does it cost more to use a travel agent for a cruise?
I can only speak to how my own business works, so ask any advisor you're considering how they're paid and whether there are fees before you commit. The sailing price itself can be the same whether you book through an advisor or directly with the cruise line, and in some cases an advisor may be able to add perks or discounts. Get the details for your specific booking in writing.
What does a cruise travel agent actually do?
A cruise advisor helps you choose the right ship, itinerary and cabin by asking what you want and who's traveling with you. They handle the booking and deadlines, and they can act as your advocate with the cruise line if something goes wrong. Larger agencies often have a direct contact at the cruise line, such as a director of sales or relationship manager, who they can go to for help.
When should you not use a travel agent for a cruise?
You probably don't need one if you enjoy planning yourself, if you already know exactly which ship, cabin and itinerary you want, or if there are no extra perks or discounts available for your sailing. You may also not need one if you choose a travel insurance policy that includes concierge services, since that can cover part of the help an advisor provides when something goes wrong.
Ready for Help Planning Your Cruise?
Download my free cruise planning workbook, even if your cruise is already booked. It walks you through the decisions that go into building a great vacation: Get the workbook
Work with me. If you haven't booked yet and would like help from a professional travel advisor: Work with me
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