This is why I book with Celebrity and not a TA

[ondeckatsea]

We have booked the last 3 cruises while onboard and have transferred the booking immediately to the TA. What bothers me is not so much that I don't get any perks from her but that when I ask her to book the flights we have to pay $35 each. The next cruise I just booked air myself but I'm seriously wondering why give her the booking at all after the next two cruises we have already given her.

[GOLDENBONNY]

It is a big button on the right side of the home page

 

found it :o sorry

[Rob the Cruiser]

My DW is in the travel business. She works for a TA, however she does more management vs. book travel.

 

What I would suggest is that you find a 'local' TA. They are not as easy to find as they once were, but there are still plenty of small local businesses that specialize in leisure travel. A simple google search will do the trick. You want to find someone that is a 'leisure' specialist. My DW's company has agents that specialize in Africa, or Australia, or Cruise, etc. Many still have retail store fronts where you can walk in and talk to them and get to know them and vice versa.

 

Another thing I will mention.... The reason a TA will give you OBC is that they get a commission from the cruise line. The TA is giving you a 'cut' of their commission in the form of OBC. If you are not getting any perks from your TA, just ask and if the balk, suggest it is a common practice at the TA down the street :)

 

Use the TA to get information, ask them questions, have them do some of the leg work for you.... They are getting paid to provide this service to you.

 

Thank-you

[ECCruise]

found it :o sorry

 

I missed it too and when you go to check pricing it doesn't show the perks.

[boogs]

We have booked the last 3 cruises while onboard and have transferred the booking immediately to the TA. What bothers me is not so much that I don't get any perks from her but that when I ask her to book the flights we have to pay $35 each. The next cruise I just booked air myself but I'm seriously wondering why give her the booking at all after the next two cruises we have already given her.

 

Then you are using the wrong TA. Mine has never charged a penny extra for any service she has provided, for cruises, flights, resort reservations, Disney vacations, etc. And she has never charged a penny to make changes to existing reservations. When booking flights in Asia between China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, she had the contacts to arrange for all flights and with seat assignments, something I found impossible to do myself with the airlines before I asked for her help. Most would not assign seats in advance, but she was able to. She was also able to book flights between the US and Asia that were fully refundable, and for less than I could get on my own directly with the airlines for the typical non-refundable tickets most of us purchase.

[Sloop-JohnB]

I wonder the same thing. I know it's against the rules to post about TA's but if it's allowed I would appreciate some PM recommendations.

 

Me, too.:)

 

Sadly posting TA info (naming names), or corresponding about TAs is against the CC Guidelines... Even "dropping hints" is a no-no

 

This is because CC has paid advertisers here in the Travel / Cruise Industry

 

What I can suggest is shop around...

 

And Become proactive whenever someone in your 3D life mentions cruising. Compare notes. Another good reason to sign up / go to the CC Meet & Mingle on your next cruise... Lots to be learned from others

 

Cheers!

Edited October 1, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[7leagueboots]

That is sometimes an issue with the site you mention and often has more to do with interfaces with the line's system. Any quote you get quickly is auto-generated, not done by an agent. Plus, we always speak directly with an agent with any TA and discuss options.

 

I will take the $thousands and thousands of OBCs we've received over the years from TAs over a bit of inconvenience, but that is just my opinion. YMMV.

 

Exactly! We always look at both the cruise lines website and a couple of TAs. Have never booked directly with a cruise line and have always gotten a better deal.

[NAVFAM]

Our TA usually adds more than you see on the web site. I have never found an advantage in dealing directly with Celebrity other than booking on-board which I then move to a TA within 60 days.

 

Ditto, and have received a huge amount of OBC over the years, while not wasting a single minute on the phone with X, ironing out some ambiguity .

 

MARK

[fleckle]

I just noticed that Celebrity has a promotion running for Bermuda sailings for 2015. The promotion includes both the beverage package and paid gratuities.

 

I sent a request to the TA that bids for your business. I had 2 quotes so far and both quotes stated that I had to pick one or the other perk. If these TA's can't stay on top of the current promotions I have no use for them. I will see if I get any more offers.

This is one reason why we like to book directly with the cruise line, lock in whatever perks are being offered by the cruise line and set up the booking exactly the way we want it, while we still have control of our own reservation.

 

Then we take advantage of the following 60 day float period to shop around, compare offers from different travel agents, and transfer the booking to the one that gives us the best offer of additional perks, on top of what we are getting from the cruise line.

 

One travel agency will offer the best deal for one cruise, but another time it may be a different travel agency that offers the best deal.

 

 

Unfortunately, Celebrity no longer gives us until final payment to transfer the booking to a travel agent as it used to be so much better (from the customer's point of view) when they did it that way.

 

[cynalan]

I just noticed that Celebrity has a promotion running for Bermuda sailings for 2015. The promotion includes both the beverage package and paid gratuities.

 

I sent a request to the TA that bids for your business. I had 2 quotes so far and both quotes stated that I had to pick one or the other perk. If these TA's can't stay on top of the current promotions I have no use for them. I will see if I get any more offers.

 

Sorry, but cannot agree with you. I always use a TA to book my cruises. In fact, I booked our next cruise today. Our TA was able to arrange a book and go special for us - airfare, transfers, beverage package, and gratuities all included. The Celebrity website said it was sold out. So, yes, I see value in a TA. She also ensures that we have a bottle of wine waiting for us every cruise as a thank you for the business. Perhaps you need a new TA?

[shipshape sam]

Why can't you just tell the TA that you saw an offer for both perks? You're missing out on a ton of OBC doing this by yourself.

 

 

Kinda what we do. We are looking to book the best deal and we have helped our TA at times get us the best deal around at the time. For us it is a relationship and know he is looking out for us.

[shipshape sam]

True if you have every intention of continuing with that TA, but, if not, it can lead to problems. We booked on board once not knowing they would do this, and had a mess. We wanted to use a different TA and the TA they transferred it to wanted to charge a cancellation fee. I convinced them to waive it, but have been careful to specify the booking was to be in my name on subsequent cruises.

 

I actually think the practice is presumptuous at best and possibly illegal. It can essentially place you into a contract without your knowledge or consent.

 

Nevertheless, it is handy as long as everyone understands and agrees.

 

Happy Sails to You

 

OOOEEE :D:D Bob and Phyl

 

We booked a cruise on ship and they asked us if we wanted to transfer to the TA on record. We told them no. We got home and had / the TA on record confirm best price and perks and then requested the transfer to the TA.

[nkwoman]

I just emailed my TA last night to notify him of the two freebies the OP mentioned. Great to find this morning he sent me a new receipt with the two added, no fees, no hassles. Find a great TA who doesn't charge you for changes. My TA has no cancellation fee and his price beat the online site by hundreds of dollars.

[doublemm16]

I just noticed that Celebrity has a promotion running for Bermuda sailings for 2015. The promotion includes both the beverage package and paid gratuities.

 

I sent a request to the TA that bids for your business. I had 2 quotes so far and both quotes stated that I had to pick one or the other perk. If these TA's can't stay on top of the current promotions I have no use for them. I will see if I get any more offers.

 

I think it depends on your TA. I have used the same TA for years, and she specializes in cruising. I booked a Bermuda cruise with her for May 2015, and I received the Classic Beverage Package, Free gratuities, $200 OBC and a free dinner for 2 in a specialty restaurant. It is because of these perks that I booked the trip. I cannot get much better than that. There are all kinds of TAs out there. I trust and value mine, and I usually end up ahead.

 

Good luck!!

Mindi:D

[Cruise a holic]

I just noticed that Celebrity has a promotion running for Bermuda sailings for 2015. The promotion includes both the beverage package and paid gratuities.

 

I sent a request to the TA that bids for your business. I had 2 quotes so far and both quotes stated that I had to pick one or the other perk. If these TA's can't stay on top of the current promotions I have no use for them. I will see if I get any more offers.

 

We no longer use a TA and find it much more flexible and efficient to go direct. I might see for example, see a cabin I want to switch to and can call Celebrity 24-7 and make the change or get the newly advertised perk. It isn't worth a "free dinner, or some small cash back" to loose the flexibility- IMO.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Cruise a holic

[poffles]

I have been reading over and over again about TA's and the OBC's you get. Each and every time I have used my TA I have received nothing special so we have been booking directly with the cruise lines and not moving the booking anywhere. Maybe I am using the wrong TA? How do I find one that provides these great deals?

 

Same here, but I am in Canada so figure that is the reason. I see that it is typically an online TA and more specifically a US based TA so thinking that they might be wise choice for someone in Canada. Maddening to know the perks that I might be missing out on.

[jelayne]

I have been reading over and over again about TA's and the OBC's you get. Each and every time I have used my TA I have received nothing special so we have been booking directly with the cruise lines and not moving the booking anywhere. Maybe I am using the wrong TA? How do I find one that provides these great deals?

 

We used to book with a small TA who had an office you could go into. She was very good but the only thing we got over what the cruise was providing was a bottle of wine.

 

I keep reading about all the OBC folks were getting so when I was booking my next cruise I checked out a couple of on-line TAs. Selected one that is open 7 days a week & booked with them- got the cruise line perks and $600 OBC. Happen to run into the original TA about a year later & she asked if we had stopped cruising. I was honest & explained that I had been booking with a online TA as I couldn't pass up the extra OBC. She said she understood & that with the overhead of an office & less volume there was no way she could compete with the large agencies.

 

We have been booking with 2 different companies for the past 4 years, never had a problem they couldn't handle.

 

As to finding a new TA, check the ads on CC, ask others on board who they use,

check on any warehouse clubs you may use or do a google search.

[boogs]

We no longer use a TA and find it much more flexible and efficient to go direct. I might see for example, see a cabin I want to switch to and can call Celebrity 24-7 and make the change or get the newly advertised perk. It isn't worth a "free dinner, or some small cash back" to loose the flexibility- IMO.

 

I use a TA. Have been for many years. On every cruise we eventually decide to move to a different cabin or category based on new information we might have discovered. Our next cruise is no different. We have moved once, with zero problems using the TA. When the 1-2-3 promo showed up she got the beverage package added, with zero problems, which is even more noteworthy since we technically did not qualify for this perk because we had used an old Passages coupon. All of this PLUS additional OBC and a "thank you" bottle of wine in our room - she even knows that we prefer white to red wines!

 

No flexibility lost at all. In fact, I would say we have even more flexibility due to her connections with Celebrity that we don't have. I send her an email and within hours I get an answer back notifying us that the changes have been made. No sitting on hold with Celebrity for hours trying to make use of my "flexibility" directly with them. Same goes for all reservations we make through her - hotels, air, vacation packages, etc.

Edited November 11, 2014 by boogs

[deise17311]

It isn't just the OBC that has value, but the personalized support and her going to bat for us if necessary. To give you an example of the value of a good TA - we purchased a future cruise certificate on Celebrity during our Oct 2012 cruise on Reflection. We booked a Feb 2015 cruise with it a few months later BEFORE the 1-2-3 perks program was in effect. This certificate got us a $300 OBC.

 

Several months later another couple decided to join us on that next cruise, using the feature of the certificate that allowed two more couples to book with us, and have the $300 OBC as well. Because they had booked AFTER the 1-2-3 program started up, they were able to get the additional perks. We contacted out TA and she called Celebrity but was told that the rules prevented us from getting the perks because of our booking date and the terms of the certificate. A few days later she called us back and told us that she had talked to another contact higher up at Celebrity who then talked to her manager. The end result was were were given a waiver from the rules and received the same Classic Beverage package our friends had been given - a package costing over $1,300 if purchased.

 

Without that TA going to bat for us, we would not have received this perk.

 

So, we now have $300 OBC per the certificate, the $1,300 beverage package per the 1-2-3 perk benefit, AND the $75 OBC from our TA. That's $1,375 more than we would have had without that TA.

 

 

Any good TA would do this and all she did was talk to the DSM...they usually will give agents stuff if they can

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[4774Papa]

We no longer use a TA and find it much more flexible and efficient to go direct. I might see for example, see a cabin I want to switch to and can call Celebrity 24-7 and make the change or get the newly advertised perk. It isn't worth a "free dinner, or some small cash back" to loose the flexibility- IMO.

Agree, I don't use a TA. I book early, like a year and a half ahead of time. I always check with three or four of the online TAs and either my cruise is not listed as one they offer, or what they offer is not better than the cruise line.

 

Also, I like doing my own travel planning, research and don't need a TA for that.

 

If prices drop, I simply call and get the new price. I am sure that TAs can offer deals, but apparently, not the way I book.

[4cats4me]

Didn't know about the auto-generated response. Thanks. That makes a difference. I feel better about using an agent now because this promo is running in conjunction with the pick your perk promo so now I understand the response.

 

Hi,

When the all-inclusive option was announced last week, the ad from X clearly stated CC Or HIGHER would qualify for OBC from X, paid gratuities AND alcohol package. My T.A. is the once who sent me the flyer, and so when I asked her for a quote for aqua, se tells me that that is not included, so I responded that the flyer from X that she sent to me very clearly stated that aqua is included.

She apologized and told me that these promos change so quickly that she hadn't yet had time to absorb the newest promo rules, so mistakes happen on the part of travel agents. I still prefer using a T.A because with the promo she also offered ANOTHER $230 OBC in addition to X's $300 for a one-week cruise on Silhouette or Reflection :eek:

Of course, X is charging a mint for the one-week cruise compared to last year