What's the point of the PCC?

My newly-anointed PCC has been calling me every afternoon (while I'm at work, naturally). You could set your watch by him.

When I ignore the call, he sends me an email saying that he's sorry he missed me, but he has great news! NCL is running some fabulous exclusive promotions and he'd love to tell me about them!

This is the fourth person that has assumed this role in as many years. They're here today, gone tomorrow—so I haven't tried to actually get too emotionally attached to any of them.

I do a lot of homework before I book a cruise. I frequent CruiseCritic, know NCL's itineraries and their current promotions, and research the heck out of the cruise before I book anything.

For someone like me, is there any advantage of booking with a PCC rather than going via the website? Can they get me better pricing or OBC?

The cynic in me thinks this is just someone looking for a commission. Any thoughts from other obsessive cruise researchers out there?

Answer his next call and tell him you don't want any calls to your work unless advised.

Also just tell him that you'll call him when needed not the other way around.

I've had the same PCC for years i never get call unless I've called her for something usually it's all be email.

As a solo cruiser, one big advantage I get from working with a PCC is that he proactively emails me "reduced/no single supplement" cruises on a weekly basis. I used to rely on cruise websites that listed "solo specials", but once I started receiving the lists directly from NCL I realized that those sites only include a fraction of the cruises available at a discount for solos.

I also have certain cabins I prefer on different ships, so when those cabins are not available when I first book, my PCC periodically scans bookings on my sailings and lets me know when/if my favorite cabins come available. I have a 12-day BA cruise coming up and was so happy when he called to say my favorite aft balcony cabin came open!

So, for me, my PCC is a big help!

We've had the same PCC since 2013. She's helpful for us and has gotten us OBC and other perks when prices have dropped. Earlier this year she called to tell us prices had dropped on our cabin a few days before sailing and offered us additional OBC.

Thankfully she does not do the random cold-calling, which we appreciate.

The first time I got a call from MY PCC, I told him NEVER to call me, I would call him. I told him I would never make up my mind over the phone. He never has called me. I have worked with him for 5 years, always him, he has not left 'yet'. I don't get better prices or OCB. What I do, do is book GTY. I always get an upgrade. That might not be him. I can book the cabin myself, but I like this guy. He knows my name, he is nice to work with. If this is not the case book on line.

My newly-anointed PCC has been calling me every afternoon (while I'm at work, naturally). You could set your watch by him.

 

When I ignore the call, he sends me an email saying that he's sorry he missed me, but he has great news! NCL is running some fabulous exclusive promotions and he'd love to tell me about them!

 

This is the fourth person that has assumed this role in as many years. They're here today, gone tomorrow—so I haven't tried to actually get too emotionally attached to any of them.

 

I do a lot of homework before I book a cruise. I frequent CruiseCritic, know NCL's itineraries and their current promotions, and research the heck out of the cruise before I book anything.

 

For someone like me, is there any advantage of booking with a PCC rather than going via the website? Can they get me better pricing or OBC?

 

The cynic in me thinks this is just someone looking for a commission. Any thoughts from other obsessive cruise researchers out there?

Once you've booked with NCL, you are assigned to a PCC. However, you don't have to use them.

That said, when you book yourself online, your assigned PCC still gets the credit for the booking...so you're not saving yourself anything by doing the booking on your own.

As we all know, NCL offers various promos at any given time. When you book yourself, you have to opportunity to enter a promo code...assuming that you know what it is. The PCC has a complete list. By booking yourself, you may be missing a discount that you aren't aware of.

In addition, the PCC has the ability to combine promo codes when allowed by the T&C. A person booking themselves can only enter ONE promo code.

In any case...use them or not, its up to you, but it certainly isn't going to cost you.

This happened to me and I simply responded to one of his emails and asked that he communicate through email and not the phone. Now, I get emails and no phone calls.

Sounds like a couple of us might share the same PCC! Mine has been around for about 8-9 years now and is never a "pest". These next two cruises she has saved us enough to book another suite with the savings. She calls if there is an issue, she calls if there is something special going on that she knows would be of interest. She has used some internal contacts when we had a big issue and then stayed with us until it was resolved. She gets all our business.

A PCC is just a different name for an in house travel agent. Of course they want you to book through them. They earn commission on it, just as a travel agent would. The only problem with using a PCC is they have a limited supply of things they can sell you, compared to a real travel agent.

When we first started looking at NCL cruises in 2013, we got really lucky with the PCC we ended up with. We booked our 2014 and 2015 cruises with him as well. (Proactively called him for both, he never calls us). Sure, we could book it online just the same, but I am happy to give him the business. He is always very quick to respond when I email him with any questions. Most of all, as silly as it sounds, when I've booked the last 2, he sounds as excited about it as we do. :) And I'm sure they deal with a large volume of people - but he makes us feel like he actually remembers us!!

If you log into NCL.com and then shop cruises, your name is handed off to a pool of PCCs who call and tell you they're your new PCC. Happens to me weekly. I tell them I already have a PCC and that he'll call me if I need to know anything. I've learned to shop without logging in so I'm anonymous.

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A PCC is just a different name for an in house travel agent. Of course they want you to book through them. They earn commission on it, just as a travel agent would. The only problem with using a PCC is they have a limited supply of things they can sell you, compared to a real travel agent.

I'm not sure why that would be a problem. :confused:

If I want to book an NCL cruise, a PCC...who only deals with NCL cruises, would seem to be a benefit.

A "real" travel agent who handles NCL cruises, RCCL cruises, CCL cruises, hotels, rental cars, train tickets, land vacations, etc would seem to carry a lot extra that I don't really need.

Why see a general practitioner when a specialist is available for the same price?

We love our PCC! He doesn't call us, but did reach out to my husband when he noticed he had logged into his NCL account. Yes, you can book online, but why not have a nice chat with someone who loves cruising as much as we do?!?! He's aware of all the promos they're running and we've gotten extra OBCs in the past for promos we never would have known about if we had booked online. He's a great resource for random questions, too, and has been on a bunch of the NCL ships and always has interesting information to share...booking with him gets me even more excited for the trip that would ever happen if we booked online :)

We sailed on POA nearly a decade ago; I recently re-activated my account as I'm looking for a cruise in a few years. I got an e-mail from a PCC saying he was assigned to my account, listed a couple of specials, and said to call anytime if I needed anything. I tend to either work late or have other things going until late evening, so I sent an e-mail but never got a response. Based off other users comments, it sounds like this isn't the norm to not get a response. Calling doesn't usually work well with my schedule (I'm assuming the PCC's are available at normal human being office hours). Am I better off calling him? Or just deal with our usual TA when we do get ready to book something (waiting for the 2017 fall itineraries)

I'm not sure why that would be a problem. :confused:

 

If I want to book an NCL cruise, a PCC...who only deals with NCL cruises, would seem to be a benefit.

 

A "real" travel agent who handles NCL cruises, RCCL cruises, CCL cruises, hotels, rental cars, train tickets, land vacations, etc would seem to carry a lot extra that I don't really need.

 

Why see a general practitioner when a specialist is available for the same price?

Well, the problem is you can usually get a better deal going with a normal TA over a PCC.

Well, the problem is you can usually get a better deal going with a normal TA over a PCC.

A PCC will always give me what I want...I don't have to deal with potentially biased advice and recommendations based on which option pays a better commission.

I assume you said "usually" because "always" wouldn't be true.

If a person can find a better deal, they can simply take it...I don't understand why that is viewed as a problem.

The real problem with TAs is that they own the reservation. When there is a price reduction or service other issue, you HAVE to deal with the TA. NCL will not talk to you. Booking with a PCC gives NCL's ear when I want it.

I've had hit-and-miss relationships with the 3 PCC's I've been assigned to since '05. My first one started calling constantly until I asked him to stop. We had a nice conversation & I told him what type of cruises and deals I was interested in. After that he only called me when those deals/cruises were available. He was VERY good and a definite "hit". With him I was always sure I was getting best best deal available. Unfortunately he "moved on" and I got a new PCC.

The last two have sorta been in the "miss" category. When I've tried to call them they don't answer and then don't call back. This latest cruise we're taking on the Jade in October I actually booked using the NCL website (scary!!) instead of my PCC.

Tom

I was unhappy with the service of my last PCC for a variety of reasons. The last straw was when she told me I was getting OBC with my booking and when I got the confirmation documents - there was no credit. I called to find out where it was and she said, I guess I made a mistake, sorry. I thought that was pretty poor customer service. If you quote a price with perks and benefits and I book the trip, that should be what I receive. It wasn't much money and not worth the trouble, so I didn't push it.

Anyway, I booked my next cruise online and then called and asked to have a new PCC assigned. I like my new guy - really friendly and helpful. Any time I have a question about the cruise or an excursion or my perks, he has responded quickly. No emails or phone calls bugging me about anything. We have had several of our friends call and book through him and he tied our reservations together for whatever benefit that offers. He also said he sends all his customers a cake at dinner. I am not sure how special that is, but it's thoughtful! LOL

I should add I booked through a common online company for my first NCL cruise because of the extra perks they offered. It was a complete nightmare getting trying to communicate back and forth between NCL and the online company. Anytime I had a question, it was impossible to get an answer and I had to fight for months after the cruise to get reimbursed for the perks (prepaid gratuities).

A PCC will always give me what I want...I don't have to deal with potentially biased advice and recommendations based on which option pays a better commission.

 

I assume you said "usually" because "always" wouldn't be true.

 

If a person can find a better deal, they can simply take it...I don't understand why that is viewed as a problem.

 

The real problem with TAs is that they own the reservation. When there is a price reduction or service other issue, you HAVE to deal with the TA. NCL will not talk to you. Booking with a PCC gives NCL's ear when I want it.

A PCC can't give you any discounts or considerable perks (best I ever got from a PCC was $10 worth of strawberries) like a TA rep can. In my case I find paying extra 10% for the same product completely unnecessary.

Also if a person needs to act on a price reduction or service other issue, they just contact their TA, I don't understand why that is viewed as a problem. (Managing changes with a poor PCC can be just as tedious as with a poor TA.)

Also since my TA deals with all other cruise lines too, I can get a lot better recommendations not limited to just one cruise line and can make my own educated decisions.

(So far my TA has gotten us all price reductions possible and booked us as exactly what I have researched in advance - except for the 2017 Celebrity cruise we got even better deal through their unpublished group booking.)

Do you automatically get assigned a PCC?

I was assuming it was an American only thing, but I see people have also posted from Canada and Scandinavia...

Well, the problem is you can usually get a better deal going with a normal TA over a PCC.

Probably better to say you sometimes get a better deal with a TA? We have two cruises booked. Tried 4 TA's, two of the huge online, one local cruise "specialists" and a big box. All were given a chance to give me a deal on both cruises, none could do any better than my PCC. Two were more than my PCC!! One charged for all changes, two charged $25 for any changes and one allowed no changes after booking. Not a better deal in any way.

Do you automatically get assigned a PCC?

 

 

 

I was assuming it was an American only thing, but I see people have also posted from Canada and Scandinavia...

If you don't, you can ask to be assigned one - at least in the US office, not sure how things work at UK and CE offices. Many Europeans book their cruises through US because of better terms and often better prices.

Probably better to say you sometimes get a better deal with a TA? We have two cruises booked. Tried 4 TA's, two of the huge online, one local cruise "specialists" and a big box. All were given a chance to give me a deal on both cruises, none could do any better than my PCC. Two were more than my PCC!! One charged for all changes, two charged $25 for any changes and one allowed no changes after booking. Not a better deal in any way.

Exactly this.

My PCC informs me of price drops days before the payment due dates and has saved us a total of $1,000 in last minute reductions while saving us our cabin and original perks. Final payment for me is always due when I am working 60 to 70 hours a week, so I am grateful for such help.

My PCC informs me of price drops days before the payment due dates and has saved us a total of $1,000 in last minute reductions while saving us our cabin and original perks. Final payment for me is always due when I am working 60 to 70 hours a week, so I am grateful for such help.

Checking current prices through a bookmarked cruise fish page takes only seconds - for me that is not worth the extra cost of booking direct. ;)