Anyone here used CruiseCompete? If so, what were your experiences pro or con? Would you use them again? Are there other online cruise travel agents worth looking directly at? Who are the best and most reliable? I've heard good things about CruisesOnly.com. And Frommer's used to recommend VacationsToGo.com a lot. Not sure if they still do.

Trying to assess the benefits of booking directly with a cruise line versus an online travel agent. Do you book direct or through a travel agent of some kind (brick and mortar or online) and if so why--for a given cruise line. Imagine the benefit may differ depending on the cruise line. Talking about your typical, mass-market budget lines here such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America, etc. Not the luxury liners like Seabourne, Seven Seas, etc. What's the best way to book for the "lower end" / mass market lines?