Advice for finding NCL travel agent?

I know we can't get into specifics here about travel agents. But I'm trying to find one would have access to incentives like onboard credit or free specialty dining for a Norwegian cruise. I've used an agent through my auto club for cruises before but they've never been able to do much for me. Any advice on where to find one would be greatly appreciated!

I know we can't get into specifics here about travel agents. But I'm trying to find one would have access to incentives like onboard credit or free specialty dining for a Norwegian cruise. I've used an agent through my auto club for cruises before but they've never been able to do much for me. Any advice on where to find one would be greatly appreciated!

Call NCL direct. It is almost unheard of that there are secret extras that are hidden from the general public when it comes to booking. If they are hidden it's because you basically live on the cruise ship with the crew and they are rewarding their really really really loyal members.

I have yet to understand how this day and age a travel agent even stays employed. We are sailing with RCI and my cousin booked through his friend who is a TA. I researched it and found the same cruise for the same price with the same extras. Maybe there is something I'm missing in all of this, seems simple enough this day and age to do it on your own vs having someone do it for you.

If you want to play the game, book through NCL and then call out to TAs and see what they'll offer to transfer your reservation to them.

The standard offer I've been getting is the equivalent of free grats for passengers 1 and 2, and some additional OBC. I've received this offer from both large companies that slam our inbox with offers, and from smaller agents.

Personally, I'd rather have my reservation with NCL. But for a few $100, I've bitten the bullet and dealt with a 3rd party.

I don't think there are many companies that offer "hidden" as you put it perks. The larger companies, one which deal with all the time for instance, often reserves several cabins in a block thus offering some perks. I would give you the name of the company but we can't do that over the net. It is a very large, the largest cruise agent in the country I believe. They do more than just cruises I will add.

You might want to do what was also suggested, book through NCL and then see what you can get by giving the booking to an outside company. I disagree with the poster above this about whether to go directly through the cruise line or an agent but this is an on going debate. i want to know, if something goes wrong I have an expert backing me up

Thanks for the replies. I thought that I was missing out on something, some kind of secret club that everyone else was in where they get all kinds of free extras. I've often wondered the same thing, DougOut...how in the heck do travel agents survive in the age of the internet? But I guess maybe some people like the security of it.

i want to know, if something goes wrong I have an expert backing me up

If only I could find one that knew as much or cared as much as I do. I'm not saying they don't exist - but the pool has been watered down by way too many wannabe "experts".

I don't think there are many companies that offer "hidden" as you put it perks. The larger companies, one which deal with all the time for instance, often reserves several cabins in a block thus offering some perks. I would give you the name of the company but we can't do that over the net. It is a very large, the largest cruise agent in the country I believe. They do more than just cruises I will add.

 

I was able to get a better cabin category by going through a larger online company along with a small OBC.

The largest local TA in my area could only offer the same as booking directly through NCL.

We used to book directly with the cruise line too. But, I was doing some research here and many many members were recommending working with a TA. After searching thru the rest of the cruise critic site, I found the travel agent that in vailed innuendo was recommended.

Our experience with using an acency has been great. We always get additional perks, OBC and excellent service. A few cruises ago, one of the booking perks from NCL was not included when we boarded. We had the UBP booked while sailing with our kids and they were supposed to get the soda package. Right before we boarded, the promotion changed so that soda package wasn't included.

The front desk told me it was an issue with our travel agent. So, I called and late on a Saturday afternoon, they offered to add OBC to our account to purchase the package. The next morning, NCL corrected their mistake. Our travel agent told us to keep the OBC for the aggrevation

I would highly recommend using a travel agency.

I was able to book an inside cabin for the guarantee rate but received the free at see promo for our upcoming cruise in February. I was told it's because it is a group booking.

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I make my own booking on Ncl then transfer to the ta with the best additional perk/price. I have a ta now that consistently gives me at least a 10% lower price than I can book myself and I always get additional obc from them as well. Plus he monitors the price/ and perks Ncl offers and notifies me of any price reductions. So for me a ta Is totally worth it. There also is a free service out there where you can list the cruise you are interested in and multiple ta's email you with what price/perks they can offer.....

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Found my agent through a friend. No booking fees. 10% OBC. Same price/perks as cruise line or sometimes better.

I scored big by going through one of the major cash back sites on one of the major travel sites... they were offering 10% cash back on cruises... plus the travel site itself had extra perks that I didn't find elsewhere. It's worth taking a look. And I just spoke with the online TA I used and had no problems communicating with them and having them contact NCL on my behalf.

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I always book with a TA, rates and promos are same, usually better and I've got someone in my corner if something goes wrong. I let her know the issue and she deals with the NCL Business Development Manager (if they have a good relationship), which saves me time and effort. I mean, I don't want to spend hours on hold to try to get in touch with the NCL Customer Relations dept.

Finding a good TA is easy. Find out if they are an NCL Certified Specialist, and simply ask questions about what you are looking for. It shouldn't take long before you know if they know their stuff or not.

Plus TA's also can quote you and normally place cabins on a courtesy hold. Get a few quotes and see who comes up with the best deal for you and who you like best to deal with ;)

We've never used a travel agent and have had good luck with our two PCCs and NCL (our first took another position in the company and purposefully handed us off to our current PCC).

We booked a cruise yesterday (the Dawn in November in a Family Suite w/Balcony) and my husband simply asked if there was any OBC available. Our PCC ended up finding $500 for us -- it is right on our reservation (no amenity report needed).

As far as dealing with any issues, we prefer doing that ourselves since we know the outcome we want. We had an problem on our last cruise that wasn't corrected on board. When we returned, my husband contacted NCL and spent some time following up with them. We ended up getting a considerable OBC for our upcoming cruise, which we are very happy with.

I think having a TA can be a definite asset, but you have to be able to find a good TA that actually knows the product and is willing to go above and beyond for you. If you have one...great. If you don't, it may take a few tries to find the right match. We just haven't felt the need to do that yet.

You will almost always get a better deal directly with NCL and you do not have a person stuck in the middle of your reservation if you ever need anything. A PCC is a better way to go than a TA is. They used to be able to get really fantastic deals but with a very little leg work you can get their deals or better on your own.

The major auto club in the US does not consider NCL a preferred supplier. You will do better on your own instead of them. They have had a history of not promoting NCL and not offering any exclusive incentives.

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To the OP who says they don't understand how travel agents stay employed, they compete against the big guys, the data search engines and people like you. They offer personalized service and incentives. One firm donates 5% of of the very small commission they receive to charity. One always purchase gifts for their clients from their commission as well on cruises. TA's can book in bulk and the cruise line offers things for them to give their clients.

Can TA's beat all offers, no, but can they help people, create ideas, offer suggestions based on their experience and personalize a vacation for you - yes. Studies are showing more TA's now are being used then ever.

Not selling anything here, just offering a simple and honest answer.

All I know is, every time I do a mock booking online, the online TSAs are typically cheaper and with better OBC or gratuity perks. When you call NCL and speak to someone do you get a better deal then what's online?

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All I know is, every time I do a mock booking online, the online TSAs are typically cheaper and with better OBC or gratuity perks. When you call NCL and speak to someone do you get a better deal then what's online?

 

 

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NCL will not match offers made by TAs as far as price and promos, so no need to call them and tell them TA xyz just offered to give you free gratuities, for instance. NCL can only offer the price and promos that they offer everyone else.

If you do intend to book with NCL however, you should call a PCC rather than go through the booking system. There are times that the PCC can combine certain promos, or point out things like the fact that we might want to consider booking a suite category which had just dropped in price rather than the balcony we were all set to book. Got the suite for little more than the price of the balcony.

Call NCL direct. It is almost unheard of that there are secret extras that are hidden from the general public when it comes to booking. If they are hidden it's because you basically live on the cruise ship with the crew and they are rewarding their really really really loyal members.

 

I have yet to understand how this day and age a travel agent even stays employed. We are sailing with RCI and my cousin booked through his friend who is a TA. I researched it and found the same cruise for the same price with the same extras. Maybe there is something I'm missing in all of this, seems simple enough this day and age to do it on your own vs having someone do it for you.

For years we booked our own cruises, then started checking out the online TA agencies. A couple times we were able to get a reduced fare, and a few times got additional OBC. And let me say, we always do our own research, do dummy bookings with NCL and know exactly what the bottom line price and promos will be before ever calling a TA. And we only cruise 1 to 2 times per year, usually 7 day cruises, so no one is throwing perks at us, and I don't know that they even do for those who do cruise often.

I think the best deals out there are with TAs who offer group bookings. After years of saving a couple hundred at most with a TA, ( but hey, it buys lots of drinks or specialty dinners ), we found an agency that really offers a lot of bang for the buck.

We have booked a couple of really long cruises with them for 2017 and 2018, one 17 day and one 14 day. For each of them we have been offered, for an inside cabin, two perks. If the drinks package is chosen, they also pay the gratuity on that. They also offer free gratuities as a choice, something rarely offered by NCL. We chose gratuities and the truly free drinks package. If I had booked with NCL direct, I'd have been able to choose just one promo for my inside. If I'd have chosen the drinks package with NCL I'd have paid the 18% on the package prices for a 17 day and 14 day cruise.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2554

Travel Agents can book the exact same deals you get booking directly with the cruise lines. Some, many, TAs share some of their commissions via credits, paying for gratuities, special meals, rebates.....TAs aren't generally allowed to publicly actually discount the actual fare.

Some large TAs have special group bookings. Those offers include special pricing and a variety of included extras. Those deals aren't generally available from other TAS or directly from the cruise line. They might replace some of the extras otherwise offered by the cruise line. You might not be able to upgrade cabin type or upgrade amenities. You may, or may not, be able to pay an upcharge to up an included soda package to an adult beverage package.

A few TAs have booking fees, change fees and cancellation fees over and above any cruise line charges. Not common but check

Some agencies offer exclusive rates. I saved about $800 on my fare vs. direct on my haven booking.

Honestly, who you pick will depend on what is important to you. If you want someone to hand hold you through the process and make all of your arrangements for you, then you pick a vendor that does it all.

If you are looking for the best prices, that could be either direct with the cruise line, or through an online service that offers exclusive deals.

There is no right or wrong.

Many Travel Agents will offer promotions for booking with them.

A good NCL agent will know which cabins are better than other and why.

A good travel agent rewards loyalty. You can expect OBC, or Champagne and Strawberries at least.

As well as them setting a a ticket for a price drop in their system, to save you money or upgrade you.

The better cruise a client has, the more they will return to the agent who can do better for them than they can do for themselves. And an agent, can always do better. You just have to find the right one.

Also, a good agent will always have many group bookings that you are unaware of. it pays to find a good one.

That's all good to know! Thank you! Hopefully, the cash back co. will give you the proper amount. That is a really big savings!

 

I was reading the fine print about OBC--it says you have to fill out a form and submit it 60 days prior to sailing. Hope that part would go smoothly. I may call in advance and ask some questions. Would also want to know what would happen if we wanted to change/upgrade our stateroom.

Just wanted to add: I called to double check on the OBC, and it does seem legit. I feel badly, though, because the person I spoke to was friendly, and I found out she would not get any commission if I booked on-line (through the money back site). I can't pass that up--too much of a savings). Almost feel badly that I even called and took up her time with my questions. It sounds like the agents work from home and have contracts with the larger company. : (

I know we can't get into specifics here about travel agents. But I'm trying to find one would have access to incentives like onboard credit or free specialty dining for a Norwegian cruise. I've used an agent through my auto club for cruises before but they've never been able to do much for me. Any advice on where to find one would be greatly appreciated!

We used to use NCL agents until we found the travel agency that would offer us better on board credit, including perks, if you are interested i would be happy to contact you. Our travel agent is outstanding, there have been times that NCL is not offering free gratuities as one of the perks but her company has. In fact that is how we booked our last cruise. We got free gratuities, extra on board credit, and her contact with us has been like no other not even NCL cruise agents..