Q: I’m booking a cruise and am overwhelmed with the options. Where will I find the best rate — through a travel agent or online?

A (Amy Farley, Travel + Leisure’s news editor):  Book through a travel agent. Cruise lines are strict about keeping prices consistent across the board — so if you find a discount offered online, your agent should have access to the same rate…When deals pop up, they usually take the form of onboard credits, excursions, and other perks. Note the fine print: a lower price online could be for a different cabin category and may not include the same extras. Given the potential for confusion, it’s no surprise that 80% of cruisers book through a travel agent, says T+L’s cruise editor, Jane Wooldridge. “If you don’t care what ship you’re on or where you’re going, you can buy a cruise like you would buy an airline ticket, and just grab a good deal you see online.” But agents can offer insight and advice that a website cannot. The best of them will be familiar with the features and quirks of a ship, will tell you if upgrades will be available later, and may get you access to onboard parties. “In general, you’re not going to pay more to book through an agent,” Woolridge says — yet the advantages are clear. (Trip Doctor, Travel + Leisure, September 2012)