Copyright (c) 2008 Anne Campbell

A wealthy friend decided to take a leave of one month with Seabourn Cruises and knew the ship, itinerary, departure dates and stateroom they wanted. She decided to conduct an experiment in the cruise bargain hunting by three officers to travel and, after relaying the details of their desired trip, each agent told him, whoever has the best price would start their business. It has saved thousands of dollars.

The travel agent who has made his business he has won by folding. If it is a dirty word in the cruise industry, it is collapsible, which an officer before hitting the back of his commission (typically 15% of the cruise fare) has a lower rate.

After 15 years of writing about the cruise industry, I still do not see why folding is bad – not real estate agents and car salesmen are the same? Is not that competition is basic? However, some cruise lines that fares discount travel agent cruise, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Sea Cruises and for the most part, Norwegian Cruise Line.

The rest of the cruise lines allow folding, but does not allow travel agencies to advertise or promote a lower price to the public. You must ask yourself.

This means that if your sights are on a Princess, Holland America, Cunard, Oceania, Carnival and Seabourn Cruise, it is worth your time asking travel agents, if he / she can be a lower price, you first cited.

Of course, your chances will be better in certain cruising areas. Currently, sales of the Caribbean, Mexico and South America are sweet. So here you have a better chance of getting a lower price than the cruise in Alaska and the Greek island to sell a lot better this year.

It’s all about supply and demand. And the calendar. For example, traditionally sold to the first balcony suites and cabins. But now that a bad economy is upon us and there is excess capacity in the Caribbean and Mexico, you can always find a better deal to get the highest price categories. Just ask. The only thing an agency can not say, “Sorry, it’s the price.”

If not with shopping around: If you are a wonderful travel agent who you trust implicitly, who directed you in the direction of deals in the past. How to save $ 100 or it is not worth it.

Limitation. Travel agents can reduce the price of a cruise. There are fixed costs such as shipping, taxes, fuel surcharges and airfare, which has never negotiable.