Booking Online

Look Before You Book
excerpts from The Perfect Cruise
by Chris Dikmen

There are literally hundreds of web sites where you can book your own cruise online. It sounds so appealing. Just put in your credit card, fill out a form and voila! However, there might be some thinkgs that you should consider before doing all the work yourself.

There are basically three types of web sites where you an book online:

• Cruise Line Sites - Some major cruise lines allow you to book directly with the cruise line through their website.
• Mega-Sites - Expedia, Travelocity, etc. These sites are actually huge travel agencies which are paid commissions by the cruise lines. These companies have large marketing and advertising budgets. However, that does not necessarily make them the best place to buy your cruise.
• Travel agent websites - These are independent travel agents who have implemented booking technologies on their own smaller websites (small in comparison to the mega sites).

I am not a big fan of online booking. Why? Because I cannot come up with a compelling reason to do so. Remember, you are not buying a book or computer memory. This is your vacation! That being said, it is just easier for me to pick up the phone and talk to a real person ( travel agent) and let them do all the work. After all, I am the customer, right?

There is also a misconception that a price you are quoted through an online booking site is the best price. Maybe, maybe not. The only way to know that you are getting the best deal possible is to deal directly with a professional travel agent.

This is why I would never book a cruise directly with a cruise line website (or even via phone directly with the cruise line). I prefer to have someone on my side, an advocate, just in case something goes wrong or a problem arises. You only get that with a travel agent. Booking online with one of the mega sites is better than booking directly with the cruise line, but still not as good, in my opinion, as working with a smaller agency. I guess I just like personal service, and since it does not cost anymore, why not get the best price and the service?

I suppose if I were forced to book online, I would do so with a travel agent website where I would at least have access to a live person if a problem were to arise. Which brings up another important point. Don''t ever do business with any online business unless they have a phone number, address and email contact clearly posted.

So my recommendation is, use the Internet to do your research. Use websites like this one to shop and compare. Use CruiseReport.com''s Find a Cruise Specialist page or complete the Quote Request Wizard to get the best deal from a true, independent travel professional. But always talk to a live travel agent before putting your deposit on a cruise.

Chris Dikmen is the President and Managing Editor of CruiseReport.com and is the author of The Perfect Cruise - How To Find, Plan and Enjoy The Perfect Cruise Vacation.  If you have any questions or comments about this article you may write to Chris Dikmen at cdikmen@cruisereport.com.