GoTravel

No problem and glad I could help.

I spent many years running group sales departments at hotels and resorts and they basically work the same as the cruise lines.

If the cruise line is going to the trouble to ask for the group number, there is a reason.

I would take special care to dot my "I's" and cross my "T's" since this isn't your normal fun ship cruise itinerary.

Get everything you can from the cruise line and the TA in writing. If they say you don't need something, have them fax it to you on letterhead.

Rosemary1

Thanks for all you help everyone but I'm throwing in the towel. MIL didn't return my call so I called her, an argument ensued and being the control freak she is that I'm asking for info, she ended up hanging on me. I'm not going and I'm devistated but will plan something else I'm sure.

I hate to be a quitter but as one of my faves here quoted, "this is getting nuts". I'm done she stuck a fork in me.

Thanks again all!

tinathetoad

Like anything, there is always a "bad Apple" to spoil the bunch. I always book through a travel agent and love it. She has saved me a lot of money on many things. And trust me I RESEARCH like crazy to make sure that I cannot book it cheaper myself. She recently save me $200 on bulk air on American, vs. the price that American was offering on the web.

My TA is very competent and know me and what we like to do. She always informs me of things out there.

tinathetoad

In addition, my travel agent called me and got me the lower price when the price of my cruise went down from the original booking.

suze

hi rosemary- sorry for your troubles but i love your post! i have never used a travel agent (~25 international self-planned trips so far) so get a kick out of hearing my worst fears confirmed -LOL.

beckers2482

"There are a total of 4 of us going and MIL and her half daughter are going to want to do some things on their own."

I hope this is a typo (and if it is, that's fine, I don't care), but what's a "half daughter"?

Chele60

Working through a travel agent does not necessarily equate to a bad trip. However, working with a travel agent is like working with a wedding coordinator - you have to have one that truly understands what you want at each turn.

I've worked with travel agents in the past and have also planned my own trips. Some of each were terrific, and some of each were less than fun. (I don't do everything perfectly everytime, either.) Sometimes it's nice to have total control over every aspect of a trip (satisfies the control freak in me), and other times it's relaxing to have some one else (T/A) worry about all the details.

The problem here (and, if people will note the date, the original post is almost a year old!), is trying to work through a travel agent some one else booked. That can happen in almost any situation where three people are involved.

bo_jack

Tina & subsequent posters. Note that Rosemary's last post was in May 2004. So whatever happened should be history by now.

wtggirl

I know this issue is dead, but I have to commend chele60 on her open minded philosophy. I have seen travel agents bashed over and over again on this forum. This thread is very objective, so I don't mean this one. I have worked in the industry for about 15 years in many different capacities and I will say that your take on agent vs. no agent is realistic.