Why book with Tim Cruise Travel instead of Direct?
- Tim Protasio
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
by Tim Cruise
We get this question a lot— “What’s the difference between booking with you and just going through Royal Caribbean (or another cruise line) directly?”
Here’s the short answer: To us, this is a relationship—not just a transaction. We don’t just book your cruise and disappear. We’re here to help you plan smarter, save money, and have a better experience from start to finish.
Do You Offer the Same Pricing as the Cruise Line?
Yes—and often better! We often have access to promos or perks the public doesn't. Things like On Board Credit, Prepaid Gratuities, Free Soda Packages, etc.
What is this “Group Pricing” I always hear you talk about?
When cruise lines release new sailings (usually 2+ years out), we grab cabins early and lock in pricing (this is called group pricing because we purchase a “group” of cabins) and inventory before public rates begin rising. That pricing stays frozen—even as availability goes down and demand goes up.
Cruise lines typically give us until about 4 months before the sailing to sell those cabins at the locked-in rate. After that, they reclaim the cabins and often relist them at much higher rates. That’s why the ideal time to book with us is about 4–10 months before your cruise.
Plus, most of our deposits are refundable up to that 4-month mark, so you’re not locked in too early.
Important note: Group Pricing is only for 2 people in a cabin. There are no exceptions to this, I don’t care how small your grandkids are.
I Have Status With Royal—Can You Still Book My Offer?
Absolutely. If you’ve received a loyalty offer, future cruise credit, or targeted promotion, we can book it for you. Even better, we often have extra perks—like bonus onboard credit—that can stack on top of those offers.
How Do You Get Paid?
The cruise line pays us a small commission. You don’t pay more by booking with us—in fact, we can book anything you see publicly at the same price (or better). If you book direct, the cruise line just keeps the commission instead.
The difference?
We bring insider pricing, hidden deals, and agency-only perks to the table—and we’re here to make sure the whole process runs smoothly.
But What About Costco?
We’ve seen the Yelp reviews.
Do You Charge a Fee?
If you come to us with a specific cruise in mind and just want us to handle the booking—no fee.
But if your request is more open-ended, like:
“Looking for a cruise for 4 sometime in June or July. Needs to be kid-friendly.”
That’s too vague to quote meaningfully. In those cases, we’ll schedule a quick call to learn more:
What kind of experience you're looking for
Your must-haves and dealbreakers
Budget
Who’s traveling
Where you live or work (some fields qualify for cruise line discounts)
Once we understand your vision, we’ll put together 3–5 curated options.
This service has a $50 research fee, which is credited back to you as onboard credit if you end up booking with us.
What If I Need Flights, Hotels, Transfers, or Group Planning?
For more complex itineraries—or trips involving multiple components like flights, pre-cruise hotels, transfers, or group coordination—a separate planning fee or deposit may apply. We’ll always be transparent about that upfront.
Can’t I Just Book It Myself Online?
Sure—but here’s what we hear all the time:
“I spent hours comparing and I’m still not sure I picked the right one.”
“I didn’t realize we needed a passport for that itinerary.”
“I booked the cheapest room and now regret it.”
Trying to piece together your vacation from Google searches and guesswork can be overwhelming—and lead to missed details or missed opportunities.
Don’t just “check the box” on your bucket list—vacation better. Let us handle the research and logistics while you focus on the fun.
Why Do I See a Lower Price on the Cruise Line’s Website?
If you see a lower price than what we’ve quoted, chances are we’re not looking at the same type of cabin.
Cruise lines often promote GTY (Guarantee) cabins, which means you’re guaranteed a cabin in that category—but you don’t get to pick the location. These are usually assigned closer to the sailing date.
GTY cabins are often located in less desirable spots:
Under the pool deck (think 6 a.m. chair scraping)
Next to crew areas or kitchens (pots and pans, anyone?)
With obstructed views (like booking an ocean view balcony and staring at a lifeboat all week)
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