Travel agents for booking cruises?
Aug 16, 2022, 8:33 pm
#1
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Travel agents for booking cruises?
Do they still exist? I want to book a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas and am overwhelmed by the choices and brands. I have specific requirements and would rather work with someone that knows this industry. This is not my wheelhouse. I’ve never been on a cruise before.
Aug 16, 2022, 8:44 pm
#2
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I wouldn't go on a cruise. It's dirty. Rotavirus and Norovirus happens on cruise ships and not too often on land. Medical care is lousy.
Aug 16, 2022, 8:48 pm
#3
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They certainly do exist, although who knows how you find a good one who knows their stuff. From what I can tell, the only people who still use travel agents are either immigrants who don't use the internet and want someone from their community to sell them flights back home, or the extremely affluent who want someone to put together some type of specialty, luxury vacation package.
Liberty Travel used to have a bunch of storefronts across NYC and places like Philly (although I think they're now mostly if not all closed). You might try their site first to get an idea of options and go from there.
Liberty Travel used to have a bunch of storefronts across NYC and places like Philly (although I think they're now mostly if not all closed). You might try their site first to get an idea of options and go from there.
Aug 16, 2022, 8:57 pm
#4
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Do you have an Expedia near you? They do a decent job with cruises. My suggestion, avoid Carnival like the plague unless you enjoy the company of drunk 20-somethings 
Aug 16, 2022, 8:58 pm
#5
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The last time I checked, AmEx still had some city offices with real live human travel agents.
For the upper end ones, look for Virtuoso agents who handle plane tickets as well as hotel reservations, or *call* AmEx PTS/CTS. (Don't use their website as it reverts to Expedia or whatever, including all prepaid hotel bookings AFAICT). You can also try to find an upper end travel agent who specializes in areas that interest you, although looking at Virtuoso agent profiles is likely to generate good leads if you don't have any personal recommendations from experienced travelers you trust.
For the upper end ones, look for Virtuoso agents who handle plane tickets as well as hotel reservations, or *call* AmEx PTS/CTS. (Don't use their website as it reverts to Expedia or whatever, including all prepaid hotel bookings AFAICT). You can also try to find an upper end travel agent who specializes in areas that interest you, although looking at Virtuoso agent profiles is likely to generate good leads if you don't have any personal recommendations from experienced travelers you trust.
Aug 16, 2022, 9:05 pm
#6
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Aug 16, 2022, 9:18 pm
#7
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Thanks all. Yeah no carnival or Disney. I want to depart FLL or MIA but don’t want a redneck cruise. I heard Royal and Norwegian ate solid cruise lines. I went on cruises dot com and was overwhelmed.
I want a balcony, drinks included pass, good gym, nice bars and late night food.
tall order?
I want a balcony, drinks included pass, good gym, nice bars and late night food.
tall order?
Aug 16, 2022, 9:19 pm
#8
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I've been on several cruises, and regularly book through vacationstogo.com, but I knew what I wanted to book, and did not require any recommendations from their phone agents, but I expect that they are pretty knowledgeable about cruises. If you register an email address with vacationstogo.com, you can sort through their cruise listings for short Bahamas cruises.
Aug 16, 2022, 9:30 pm
#9
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Thanks all. Yeah no carnival or Disney. I want to depart FLL or MIA but don’t want a redneck cruise. I heard Royal and Norwegian ate solid cruise lines. I went on cruises dot com and was overwhelmed.
I want a balcony, drinks included pass, good gym, nice bars and late night food.
tall order?
I want a balcony, drinks included pass, good gym, nice bars and late night food.
tall order?
If you are willing to go for a four-night cruise, I see that Celebrity has a few out of Miami on 5- and 5.5-star ships. Celebrity is a cut above your other options.
Be sure to check the smoking policies on various lines, if that matters to you. And many lines now require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to board.
Aug 16, 2022, 10:41 pm
#12
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My brother and his S.O. have been on quite a few cruises. He won't go on Carnival because of all the families with kids and others (and he had 2 kids, now grown, but they never went on the cruise trips). He likes to bottom fish the first 2 weeks of December or other oddball deals.
I've only been on the one that I won from MTV back in the late 80s that was on Carnival. Largest ship in the world at the time, but wouldn't be in the top 10 today.
I've only been on the one that I won from MTV back in the late 80s that was on Carnival. Largest ship in the world at the time, but wouldn't be in the top 10 today.
Aug 16, 2022, 11:19 pm
#14
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I have a travel agent who I love. She is very busy. I do a bit of research about what I want and the approx prices and then she does the rest. She knows the accommodation style I like and suggests things. I like the fact that if anything goes wrong like a wrong date booking etc then that is on her. I have booked a wrong date for accommodation of $450 a night and it was tough luck when I booked the wrong dates.
Aug 17, 2022, 5:49 am
#15
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I have a travel agent who I love. She is very busy. I do a bit of research about what I want and the approx prices and then she does the rest. She knows the accommodation style I like and suggests things. I like the fact that if anything goes wrong like a wrong date booking etc then that is on her. I have booked a wrong date for accommodation of $450 a night and it was tough luck when I booked the wrong dates.