One halve hour on phone and waiting trying to find out wheres my e-mail confirming that was 8 hours ago never recieved and now no cancelation e-mail.First she almost booked the wrong cruise now this,these are very incompatant idividuals what a disaster.
Certain trips are worth booking through Expedia, although a cruise isn't one of them. Best way to book a cruise is with a cruise specialist travel agent. Someone that is easy to reach via phone or e-mail.
Yes - we always recommend that you go to an agency that specializes is CRUISES to book a cruise. The last thing you want is a call-center nimbo who doesn't know the first thing about cruises trying to book your expensive vacation.
__________________
I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
Not to beat that dead horse, but do you go to a clothing store to buy a car? How about a Tai restaurant to get a good steak? Always go to a person that specializes. You will probably pay no more, or maybe a little bit more, but is all the headache worth saving 2 percent of the cruise cost?
__________________ I'ld Rather Be Cruisin'
Disney Magic February 4 2006
RCCL Freedom January 20 2008
Disney Wonder October 2009
FYI-Expedia has an excellent cruise search engine. It has all the current 'offers' and sales for all cruise lines. Great for comparison shopping; however, there is a fee to use it to book. I've never used it to book a cruise, but I use it all the time for reference. I have used Travelocity a similar site (they once had a solo special that neither Carnival nor a TA could match). It went fine & there was a fee. I would not recommend them for a newbie cruiser though.
__________________ Snoozeman Moderator
My Personal Cruise Blog: Ray's Cruise Blog
Booked Cruises: Carnival Legend 9/1/2013, Carnival Sunshine 11/1/2013, Carnival Sunshine 2/16/2014, Navigator of the Seas 3/23/2014.
Last edited by Snoozeman; December 30th, 2010 at 06:59 PM.
Hours upon hours and days upon days of being on the phone or sitting by the phone waiting in a panic for screw ups to be corrected, I almost had a nervous breakdown. They screwed up all my airline tickets then cancelled tickets to correct them ,only to cancel the wrong ones and on and on it went . Still waiting for proper refunds 2 weeks after my trip. Didnt know at time people in Egypt were trying to issue me tickets for American Airlines. What a disaster. No one spoke English well enough for me to understand. No one knew what was going on. My cruise was leaving in 2 weeks and they couldnt firure out how to straighten out the mess they made. NEVER AGAIN! EXPEDIA !
Next time try looking at Vacationstogo.com
They are the largest and best cruise wholesalers. 550 people answer the phone 7 days a week 5a.m till 1 a.m. Checkout their 90 day ticker which I just say Carnival Valor Oct 9th 7 day western carribean for $269.00 inside plus tax. Ed
This company has been named agency of the year by each of the cruise lines at least once in the last three years. I don't usually recommend agents, but I am just stating a fact here.
__________________
I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I am associated with Expedia - in Canada via a cruise specialist company. When you phone Expedia (again in Canada - although it is now going to the U.S.) you should be getting a live person from the company I work for. That person should be a cruise specialist.
Once you are talking to the live person you can ask for the consultants phone number and you will be then dealing directly with that person.
If you are having difficulties ask to speak to his/her owner.
I also agree that Expedia is not the way to go for air etc.
__________________ More than 300 days at sea so far with many more to come. (Actually more - one of these days I'll count them properly.)
January 12/13 - Celebrity Reflection
41 cruises - too many to list however cruiselines are in no particular order:
Azamara
Uniworld
RCL
Princess
NCL
HAL
Cunard
Celebrity
and some unknown tub
Okay, I know this is a gripe board, but what the hell is that all about. Big important question, what can I learn from that post or experience,,,,zilch, nothing and what I read above is a lot are dancing round the question. So I ask you BigDaddy what is this actually about????? You dragged a respected site into this thread, so what did they do or not?
Take 5 mins and think about it
Well, we learned not to use Expedia when booking a cruise and got a great tip from Paul (thanks Paul!) on a TA we will consider booking with.
We booked our first cruise with Travelocity and all went well but all cruises after that have been booked direct with the cruise line. Now we want to try a TA to see if we can get OBCs or other benefits.
Okay, really pleased for you in that you found something that works for you, but booking direct with the cruise,,,mmm,,its costing you money. Never seen a direct ship deal yet that can beat the discount a good TA can get you.
I can vouch for America's Vacation Center - they are excellent, of course I am pregidous because I am an Agent with them. I can vouch that they don't accept just anyone to be an agent with them, but someone who has been in the business for a number of years and is very experienced.
Anyone deal with them and if so, what was the outcome. I like the fact that they include travel insurance, even though it's 29.00 extra for the "upgrade". Still cheaper than getting insurance privately.
I am wary of travel agents, online or otherwise...
Okay, really pleased for you in that you found something that works for you, but booking direct with the cruise,,,mmm,,its costing you money. Never seen a direct ship deal yet that can beat the discount a good TA can get you.
Rick, When booking with a travel agent, they can throw in some perks or better yet, book you with a group booking. That will save you money. Sometimes, they can add an onboard credit, those are always nice. When booking direct with any cruiseline, you will not get those goodies. Plus, you have the added security of being able to contact the travel agent either by phone or e-mail and get problems taken care of.
Rick, When booking with a travel agent, they can throw in some perks or better yet, book you with a group booking. That will save you money. Sometimes, they can add an onboard credit, those are always nice. When booking direct with any cruiseline, you will not get those goodies. Plus, you have the added security of being able to contact the travel agent either by phone or e-mail and get problems taken care of.
I am wary of travel agents, online or otherwise...
This is a common misperception that travel agents are paid by the travel buyers (they are not, they are paid by the travel sellers) or that Travel Agents will always steer you to the travel provider that pays them the highest commission.
That just isn't true - first of all, because the amounts different travel providers pay in commission do not vary enough to make it worthwhile to the travel agent to sell you something you may not like.
The travel agent is by far foremost concerned with winning you as a repeat client, and will do everything she can to make you happy. She stands to make far more money from you if you make just two bookings with her on any cruise line than she would ever make by steering you to a cruise line you did not like leading to you not coming back to her for a second booking.
I hope that makes sense.
__________________
I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I am a Travel Agent. I do not attempt to rip off anyone. I take every course/program that is offered to me. I am paid (and not much at that) by the cruiselines and resorts. I do have to charge a small fee if I book air as there is no commission on that anymore and hasn't been for a number of years. However if my clients are booking an expensive holiday with me I quite frequently will forgo the fee for air.
I am reachable all hours, clients will email me while I'm on vacation and I will respond to their issues then.
I am a cruise specialist and I've seen the company I work for badly miligned on here.
I find that disappointing, but not unusual. Most people have no clue what a good travel agent/cruise agent does for them and I'm certainly not going into that here.
I just ask that you think about it before miligning a complete profession.
On that note, Happy New Year for 2012.
__________________ More than 300 days at sea so far with many more to come. (Actually more - one of these days I'll count them properly.)
January 12/13 - Celebrity Reflection
41 cruises - too many to list however cruiselines are in no particular order:
Azamara
Uniworld
RCL
Princess
NCL
HAL
Cunard
Celebrity
and some unknown tub
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Why i will never use Expedia ever again!!
One halve hour on phone and waiting trying to find out wheres my e-mail confirming that was 8 hours ago never recieved and now no cancelation e-mail.First she almost booked the wrong cruise now this,these are very incompatant idividuals what a disaster.
Expedia NEVER AGAIN
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