Cruising for Independent Travelers

[SarahS]

Many self-avowed independent travelers might not consider taking a mainstream cruise -- but could cruising be right for you? Check out Cruising for Independent Travelers and then share your cruise questions and experiences here!

[7seasroy]

Although I have a healthy respect for all "independent" travelers, I have to voice a couple of opinions on using a good travel agent. Yes, I know some think it's expensive. Unless you're booking airline travel, this just isn't the case. They are forced to add a fee on airline travel simply because the airlines do not pay them a commission. My time at work isn't free, and theirs shouldn't be either. Regarding cruises specifically, I liked your article about the cruise on the Triumph by Carnival. But a couple of things mentioned there could have saved you some anxiety. First thing was the boarding process. Again, if you had used an agent, they could have told you that boarding likely started around 12:30 PM. It's true you have to be on board 1/2 to one hour before sailing in most cases, but even the cruise line sites and brochures don't tell you everything. This is the danger in "independent travel." Also, you mentioned shore excursions. While true you can book them yourself and save a few bucks, you didn't mention that you need to be extremely careful about whom you deal with. (again, a good travel agent could have and would have guided you here) If your excursion is late returning...and you didn't book it through the cruise line, you will be left at the pier. For novice or first timers, this may not be a great suggestion on your part. I would also caution about a few other items, but mostly I think it needs to be said: Booking independently with air (where an airline seat is pretty much an airline seat) is not very difficult for most of us that are computer savvy. But, I'm a firm believer that MOST other forms of travel are best handled by someone that does that for a living and works at it 8 hours a day (or more). The over-riding problem with consumers today (us) is that we believe we can go on a computer and do something that others spend endless hours training for and working at. Travel is certainly the best example of this. I can certainly go to WebMD.com for medical advice, but it doesn't make me a Doctor. Why should I go to a (or several) travel sites and think I'm a travel agent? Do we really think we know everything they know? Independent is one thing, but not seeking professional advice, especially when it's free to the traveler, is not very bright. (in many cases) I sincerely hope I didn't offend anyone here, but we common sense tells me I don't know everything a professional travel agent does. If I'm not saving (a great deal) of money, then I'm certainly not going to try to book most forms of travel on my own.