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What the heck are you jabbering about? I am not a travel agent and I don't think I or anyone else has claimed using an agent is right for everyone. For you, maybe not, but you have come on here time and time again, knocking the industry. I am just giving the other side of the equation. Like every profession, there are good agents and bad ones, some are experienced travelers, even as experienced as you, even if you find that hard to believe. Others have never been out of their home town.
^this, doesn't cost a dime to check into one but there's plenty of info and resources available to check out the options for yourself...if you have the time. Last Princess cruise I booked I checked the on-line rate and got the same through the TA as I had found but they did include an on-board credit and some other welcome gifts waiting for us in the cabin. The main reason for using the TA was I wanted a specific cabin at the rear of the ship and wanted to make sure we got it. Even though this was a Princess "certified" TA (whatever that means), I knew more about the nuances of this cruise-line than she ever will I think.
One other thing, if you have a couple of grand available, you can buy carnival stock (100 shares/CCL) and get shipboard credit of between $100 to $250 depending on cruise length. Buy the stock right before you leave and you can sell it right after you get home. Or hang on to it and keep getting the credits with every cruise. Can be used with Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean and a few others owned by Carnival (the parent co.).
^this, doesn't cost a dime to check into one but there's plenty of info and resources available to check out the options for yourself...if you have the time. Last Princess cruise I booked I checked the on-line rate and got the same through the TA as I had found but they did include an on-board credit and some other welcome gifts waiting for us in the cabin. The main reason for using the TA was I wanted a specific cabin at the rear of the ship and wanted to make sure we got it. Even though this was a Princess "certified" TA (whatever that means), I knew more about the nuances of this cruise-line than she ever will I think.
One other thing, if you have a couple of grand available, you can buy carnival stock (100 shares/CCL) and get shipboard credit of between $100 to $250 depending on cruise length. Buy the stock right before you leave and you can sell it right after you get home. Or hang on to it and keep getting the credits with every cruise. Can be used with Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean and a few others owned by Carnival (the parent co.).
a lot of people now buy Carnival stock for that reason, but I never thought about buying it before a cruise, then turning around and selling it afterwards. As for your experience with a Princess "certified" agent: all that means is: she has sold X number of Princess cruises (not many, I will add) and has completed a couple of on line classes, which, BTW, you can keep on taking the quiz over and over til you do get a passing grade. This isn't knocking the agents by any means, but you are right, it still doesn't make them pros when it comes to the line.
One more thing: I will have a ask you since when is Royal Caribbean owned by Carnival?
^this, doesn't cost a dime to check into one but there's plenty of info and resources available to check out the options for yourself...if you have the time. Last Princess cruise I booked I checked the on-line rate and got the same through the TA as I had found but they did include an on-board credit and some other welcome gifts waiting for us in the cabin. The main reason for using the TA was I wanted a specific cabin at the rear of the ship and wanted to make sure we got it. Even though this was a Princess "certified" TA (whatever that means), I knew more about the nuances of this cruise-line than she ever will I think.
One other thing, if you have a couple of grand available, you can buy carnival stock (100 shares/CCL) and get shipboard credit of between $100 to $250 depending on cruise length. Buy the stock right before you leave and you can sell it right after you get home. Or hang on to it and keep getting the credits with every cruise. Can be used with Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean and a few others owned by Carnival (the parent co.).
Carnival doesn't own Royal Caribbean. Never has, and highly doubtful they ever will.
What the heck are you jabbering about? I am not a travel agent and I don't think I or anyone else has claimed using an agent is right for everyone. For you, maybe not, but you have come on here time and time again, knocking the industry. I am just giving the other side of the equation. Like every profession, there are good agents and bad ones, some are experienced travelers, even as experienced as you, even if you find that hard to believe. Others have never been out of their home town.
Retired travel agent then. Whatever, same difference.
Some TA's are experienced travelers, but very few. Those that are typically work for boutique agencies specializing in travel for the wealthy and put together trips that the average TA couldn't begin to dream of.
A travel agent who hasn't been out of their home town needs to find a different profession. They are in no position to offer help in travel plans.
a lot of people now buy Carnival stock for that reason, but I never thought about buying it before a cruise, then turning around and selling it afterwards. As for your experience with a Princess "certified" agent: all that means is: she has sold X number of Princess cruises (not many, I will add) and has completed a couple of on line classes, which, BTW, you can keep on taking the quiz over and over til you do get a passing grade. This isn't knocking the agents by any means, but you are right, it still doesn't make them pros when it comes to the line.
One more thing: I will have a ask you since when is Royal Caribbean owned by Carnival?
right, my mistake...these (from Wiki) are the Carnival Lines, I think only the US Lines offer the shipboard credit...
Hey, so many lines fall under the Carnival umbrella, it is easy to think they all do. Hubby asked me the other day about Princess and I had to think twice.. When Carnival was trying to take them over, so was RCI. And there was a time (many years ago) Carnival tried to take over NCL. It is still hard to believe Carnival owns some of the luxury lines.
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