catsym Posted May 7, 2013 #1 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I've sent two requests to SpecialServices@OceaniaCruises.Com asking for a price quote on the Riviera Treasures&Monuments cruise, sailing on August 16, The first time on April 21 and the second on May 3, p On both occasions I've received automated responses. Then, not another word , As we all know the service from on board staff is fantastic, all crew can't do enough for you but what a let down for O from their reservations team, don't they want to sell their cruises? Don't they want our money? We sailed on Riviera last August and had the time of our lives but had the same carry on trying to get a response from special services, so much so that I had to track down their preferred travel agent for my area myself and the agent hadnt been passed on our details either. Our agent then dealt with us quickly and efficiently but it was no thanks to Oceania staff, why on earth are they going to the bother of sending out special offer e mails if they don't follow up on the requests they get from them. Has anyone else had this problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wripro Posted May 7, 2013 #2 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Get yourself a good TA. He/she will get you all the quotes you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted May 7, 2013 #3 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I've sent two requests to SpecialServices@OceaniaCruises.Com asking for a price quote on the Riviera Treasures&Monuments cruise, sailing on August 16, The first time on April 21 and the second on May 3, p On both occasions I've received automated responses. Then, not another word , As we all know the service from on board staff is fantastic, all crew can't do enough for you but what a let down for O from their reservations team, don't they want to sell their cruises? Don't they want our money? We sailed on Riviera last August and had the time of our lives but had the same carry on trying to get a response from special services, so much so that I had to track down their preferred travel agent for my area myself and the agent hadnt been passed on our details either. Our agent then dealt with us quickly and efficiently but it was no thanks to Oceania staff, why on earth are they going to the bother of sending out special offer e mails if they don't follow up on the requests they get from them. Has anyone else had this problem? It seems to me that you are contacting the wrong Department at Oceania. I believe that Special Services handles unusual passenger requests for people who are already booked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luchy Posted May 7, 2013 #4 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Jim and Stand are correct. You are contacting the wrong department. They deal with wheel chair users, etc. As people have advised, you will get a better deal from a TA. Oceania seems to prefer to leave the selling to TAs. Are you flying from England? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsym Posted May 7, 2013 Author #5 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Sorry, maybe I haven't explained myself correctly, Oceania have sent e mails advertising cruises at the end of which it says"get a quote" press that button , fill in your requirements, press send and it's Special Services who come back to you with an automated acknowledgement, I'm assuming your details will then be picked up by reservations staff who'd then call you or contact one of their preferred TA's and pass on your contact details, but as I say I've heard nothing further and it was the same last year. Anyways I didn't specifically contact "special services" only pressed get a quote then send and it was they who got back to me, thanks all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 7, 2013 #6 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Can you go through the website & do a booking that way? You could go as far as the payment details then see what the cost is Or is there a contact phone number for your area? Not sure how it works in Europe On the U.S. website for Oceania it has 3 travel agents listed for Spain maybe try one of those http://www.oceaniacruises.com/findta/default.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted May 7, 2013 #7 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Sorry, maybe I haven't explained myself correctly, Oceania have sent e mails advertising cruises at the end of which it says"get a quote" press that button , fill in your requirements, press send and it's Special Services who come back to you with an automated acknowledgement, I'm assuming your details will then be picked up by reservations staff who'd then call you or contact one of their preferred TA's and pass on your contact details, but as I say I've heard nothing further and it was the same last year. Anyways I didn't specifically contact "special services" only pressed get a quote then send and it was they who got back to me, thanks all It sounds like you' have gotten onto that email mailing list in error, and the offer that you'd like to investigate does not apply to people in Spain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger b Posted May 8, 2013 #8 Share Posted May 8, 2013 It sounds like you' have gotten onto that email mailing list in error, and the offer that you'd like to investigate does not apply to people in Spain. Over the last 6 weeks I have sent 2 requests for their World my way offers they say a travel agent will contact me for 28th Dec cruise Valapariso to Papetee. They keep sending the offer every week but never answer !!!!! I am in U.K but you would think that a U.K agent would contact me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana541 Posted May 8, 2013 #9 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Over the last 6 weeks I have sent 2 requests for their World my way offers they say a travel agent will contact me for 28th Dec cruise Valapariso to Papetee. They keep sending the offer every week but never answer !!!!! I am in U.K but you would think that a U.K agent would contact me. Wonder if FDR is listening??? Seems to be a "IT or ???" Misconnect, very funny way to get new cruisers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger b Posted May 8, 2013 #10 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Wonder if FDR is listening??? Seems to be a "IT or ???" Misconnect, very funny way to get new cruisers! The reason they ignore requests for price Quotes outside the U.S.A is the U.S offer is far better than any other country. U.S offer $500.00 OBC + Free Gratuities + Free Wi-Fi. Second class citizens $300.00 OBC+ Free Wi-Fi Only WHY WHY WHY They send this offers every week is it to wined us up!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana541 Posted May 9, 2013 #11 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Surprised that someone at Oceania has not stepped up and assisted the OP who seems to want info in order to book??? Crazy way to discourage future cruisers! IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted May 9, 2013 #12 Share Posted May 9, 2013 The reason they ignore requests for price Quotes outside the U.S.A is the U.S offer is far better than any other country. U.S offer $500.00 OBC + Free Gratuities + Free Wi-Fi. Second class citizens $300.00 OBC+ Free Wi-Fi Only WHY WHY WHY They send this offers every week is it to wined us up!!!! Sorry about your problems but your logic is a bit off. According to your logic it would seem to me that they should take your offer before a US customer's offer as they would be making more money on you ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger b Posted May 9, 2013 #13 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Sorry about your problems but your logic is a bit off. According to your logic it would seem to me that they should take your offer before a US customer's offer as they would be making more money on you ;) No you see they have two different sites one for us poor Brits who are not allowed to buy cruises in the U.S.A, but Oceania still send us the U.S offers that we are unable to buy. When we go to an agent in the U.K they are unable to offer us the same deal that Oceania advertise, since we live with global pricing why can't we have the same deals that they offer in the U.S.A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger b Posted May 9, 2013 #14 Share Posted May 9, 2013 No you see they have two different sites one for us poor Brits who are not allowed to buy cruises in the U.S.A, but Oceania still send us the U.S offers that we are unable to buy. When we go to an agent in the U.K they are unable to offer us the same deal that Oceania advertise, since we live with global pricing why can't we have the same deals that they offer in the U.S.A. Further to my last post other cruise companies allow us to buy cruises with a U.S agent, I feel this is a restrictive practice operated by Oceania. This will not stop me from sailing with Oceania as they are the best!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaCroisiereS'amuse Posted May 9, 2013 #15 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Never had an issue with the UK office.... Phones are always answered promptly and staff helpful, with emails a little slower. With regard to UK pricing....quite often late European sailings with be significantly cheaper as it's far easier to get to Barcelona, Civitavecchia etc with lots more flight options than our North American cousins. Both Oceania and all UK agents have to have ATOL licensing and bonding for any cruises booked with air. UK agents also need ABTA or similar bonding' and both of these increase the cost of any cruise booked from the UK, but as a result we have far more consumer protection in place. I also know people who have booked Cunard with US agents and have regretted booking with them...due to exchange rate fluctuations the cost has gone up significantly between time of booking and final payment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsym Posted May 9, 2013 Author #16 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Just wondered why Oceania, when cruise companies are desperate for business, are happy to throw it away by completely ignoring prospective and past cruisers. Seems a shame , yes we can go to a TA but O after all are sending out the offers. The least they could do would be to pass your request onto a Agent. Can't believe FDR or KK would endorse or encourage what their staff are doing, they both know the value of good customer care as has been shown many times over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger b Posted May 9, 2013 #17 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Never had an issue with the UK office.... Phones are always answered promptly and staff helpful' date=' with emails a little slower. With regard to UK pricing....quite often late European sailings with be significantly cheaper as it's far easier to get to Barcelona, Civitavecchia etc with lots more flight options than our North American cousins. Both Oceania and all UK agents have to have ATOL licensing and bonding for any cruises booked with air. UK agents also need ABTA or similar bonding' and both of these increase the cost of any cruise booked from the UK, but as a result we have far more consumer protection in place. I also know people who have booked Cunard with US agents and have regretted booking with them...due to exchange rate fluctuations the cost has gone up significantly between time of booking and final payment.[/quote'] I always used to book my Oceania cruise in the U.S.A until they stopped it as there was a significant price difference, I used to book Jancruz and found they were streets ahead of any U.K agent who mostly have no interest in your requests. With your point regarding ATOL and ABTA Do you think that thousands of American citizens who book with American agents have Problems?? No there is something they have in the States called competition and they have to offer incentives which U.K agents do not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaCroisiereS'amuse Posted May 9, 2013 #18 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I always used to book my Oceania cruise in the U.S.A until they stopped it as there was a significant price difference, I used to book Jancruz and found they were streets ahead of any U.K agent who mostly have no interest in your requests. With your point regarding ATOL and ABTA Do you think that thousands of American citizens who book with American agents have Problems?? No there is something they have in the States called competition and they have to offer incentives which U.K agents do not. It seems our UK experiences differ somewhat....most of my O cruises booked in the UK have been within 5% of US rates (and the last almost £1000pp cheaper than the US). I have always alternated between two long established cruise specialists that have been around since way before the UK market exploded, and wouldn't dream of using a high street chain or one of the discount cruise call centres (who seem to pile them high, and sell them cheap, and then go bust!). Cruise Critic rules prevent me from mentioning or endorsing these two agencies of course, but suffice it to say that value for money and excellent service IS available in the UK. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wripro Posted May 9, 2013 #19 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Rogerb, Out of curiosity does your UK TA rebate you part of his/her commission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger b Posted May 9, 2013 #20 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Rogerb, Out of curiosity does your UK TA rebate you part of his/her commission? Hi, Yes I do get 10% reduction on the cruise only, not air, port taxes, Transfers or any other extras. My beef is that I have not the choice to buy in the U.S, where the deals are so much better than in the U.K. Yet Oceania keep sending every week the prices that I cannot get. I would like to know why Oceania need to maintain an office in the U.K as when you need a Quote for a cruise they put you on to an agent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger b Posted May 9, 2013 #21 Share Posted May 9, 2013 It seems our UK experiences differ somewhat....most of my O cruises booked in the UK have been within 5% of US rates (and the last almost £1000pp cheaper than the US). I have always alternated between two long established cruise specialists that have been around since way before the UK market exploded' date=' and wouldn't dream of using a high street chain or one of the discount cruise call centres (who seem to pile them high, and sell them cheap, and then go bust!). Cruise Critic rules prevent me from mentioning or endorsing these two agencies of course, but suffice it to say that value for money and excellent service IS available in the UK. :-)[/quote'] I also have a very good T.A in U.K but they cannot match the price in the U.S.A and they say that the U.S agent block buy cabins at lower prices and they offer bigger discounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.