Is there anyone else like me out there?

Like the last two posters, I do a lot of research myself, then go to the TA as an informed customer -- the best kind, I think. Easier for them, a better time for me.

Also, when I have had to find a new TA, I ask them rather simple questions for which I already know the answers. Had two TA's really boot it -- one said she had the brochure open in front of her, yet she missed one big thing: the ship was a newbuild about to take its maiden voyage and she assured me (I said, "This is one of their older ships, right?") that it was, indeed an old ship.

Also, getting info is fun-fun-fun! Cruise boards help, websites help. Keeps me from doing my job here at work ... which is where I am now

I think the days of the travel agent's shop in every high street may soon be over. I appreciate that a friendly TA's can offer personal advice, but I often find that I am more knowledgeable about the vacations or cruises available that the TA's staff. After all I have spent weeks studying the brochures before I get to the shop.

quote:

---

To the writer who made the comment about lazy agents, to me this is so awful because it gives us all a bad name. No we cannot know everything about everything but if we do not know the answer we tell the client and find it out for them.

---

All I meant by this is that you need to know if your intended TA knows anything and is upfront or not when they don't. I asked one TA the "this is one of HAL's older ships, right?" and she said she didn't know but would call right back -- and did. The other one was, well, choose your word. If the brochure is, as she said, "open in front of me" and you miss something like "Holland America's newest 5-star ship," there's something wrong.

And the guy I got dumped onto (my good TA left the area and the travel agency hired someone) never went on a cruise and has no interest in cruises. I finally found a good place that knows what "CLIA" means, knows what "interruption" means, knows what "share" means.

So far things have gone well with you and your Internet service. Trust me, when something goes wrong, you will not get the personal attention you need in the heat of the moment.

From your posts I feel sure that you do not belong to the lazy group - however you must be aware that a relatively small number of travel agents share your work ethic and professionalism.

I also wish you worked in my neighborhood - I could use a good local travel agent.

I agree with your above statement, Ascendancy. After all, some folks will always suffer from Technofear. Only a decade ago, in the UK, everybody purchased their motor insurance from a brokers shop. Now only a small proportion do - it's all sold by telephone or lately, the Internet.

I think that it is only a matter of time before maybe 80% of all vacations will be booked via telephone, Internet, Email, cable TV, mobile phone etc.

Only about a year ago I though that Internet shopping was a not for me. But I've now realised that for books and CD's, it's excellent! And what is the greatest source of Cruise information available - this web site!

I reminded of a quote: When the first scheduled Air service from London to NY was launched, and the number of staff on the 'Queens' outnumbered the passengers, the head of Cunard said "Transatlantic air travel is just a passing fad"!

quote:

---

Originally posted by gizmo:
I used a TA from the net for my last cruise and I am using one for my Feb cruise. I have received much better service. The locals I tried were worthless. The prices were MUCH better from the net.

---

Yes, gizmo, anita/kathy is a wonderful person, isn't she? See you in February -- our suite is right down from yours.