I am not impressed

[Paulchili]

Happy New Year guys!!:D

 

Thank you - the very same to you as well. :)

[kimanjo]

I was referring to phone center people of Oceania ...quite rude and very unhelpful .however my contacts at NCL took care of it ..Bravo NCL ....and now I am pleased all is good

I love NCL they treat their customers with respect

Im sure on board experience will be awesome and looking forward to it

 

Michele

 

Question..

 

What does the Joe Regular Passenger do if they do not have "contacts at NCL"???

[LHT28]

Question..

 

What does the Joe Regular Passenger do if they do not have "contacts at NCL"???

 

I just ask my TA ..she usually takes care of any problems ...not that I have TOO many

[TrulyBlonde]

On the NCL board, Michelle posted that the NCL Executives helped her being able to cruise on Oceania. I inquired as to what exactly the issue was with O that they had to help her with. I have read many of her posts and could never figure out what the issues were? She also said she was happy to return to NCL. We will stick with O. :D

[Minoushka]

The problem was s with good service not the cruise itself ....if you go on NCL the brazilian restaurant and Muranos are outstanding as are all the shows on Epic

Esp the Cirque show ..wow is all I can add

 

I love NCL. And have for a long time ...im sure Oceania on board will be as wonderful as expected

[LHT28]

I wonder how Oceania survived before NCL :eek:

 

more ravings

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=45003505#post45003505

[LHT28]

The problem was s with good service not the cruise itself ....if you go on NCL the brazilian restaurant and Muranos are outstanding as are all the shows on Epic

Esp the Cirque show ..wow is all I can add

 

I love NCL. And have for a long time ...im sure Oceania on board will be as wonderful as expected

 

I think you are going to be disappointed with Oceania ...it clearly is NOT like NCL

Looking forward to your review

[kimanjo]

I just ask my TA ..she usually takes care of any problems ...not that I have TOO many

 

 

Oh, I agree with you. However, just as there so many people who cruise who are not on Cruise Critic, there are MANY people who book their cruises using an "online" TA. They never have the real ability to have that TA "go to bat for them".

 

My question was a legitimate one. I use a good, real, live TA. But what do the people do who just book on *******.com and have troubles???

 

They don't have "contacts". There are tens/hundreds/ of thousands of people using all the online booking sites. Only if you use a TA do you get good service?

[hypercafe]

I have sailed lots on NCL and some on Oceania. Besides being on a floating object there is little that is the same. Sounds like you are expecting shows, rest ect to be similar and they are not. I say this not to be rude as I like NCL better but just to set your expectations a little.

 

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

[StanandJim]

Oh, I agree with you. However, just as there so many people who cruise who are not on Cruise Critic, there are MANY people who book their cruises using an "online" TA. They never have the real ability to have that TA "go to bat for them".

 

My question was a legitimate one. I use a good, real, live TA. But what do the people do who just book on *******.com and have troubles???

 

They don't have "contacts". There are tens/hundreds/ of thousands of people using all the online booking sites. Only if you use a TA do you get good service?

 

The short answer is that when you take on a Travel Agent, the commission that YOU the PASSENGER represent, is, in effect, buying access to that Agents' connections.

 

As with any other purchase, if you bought the wrong thing the first time around, you'll need to rethink your actions-

 

Everybody has different definitions of what "good service" is.

Edited January 1, 2015 by StanandJim

[LHT28]

Oh, I agree with you. However, just as there so many people who cruise who are not on Cruise Critic, there are MANY people who book their cruises using an "online" TA. They never have the real ability to have that TA "go to bat for them".

 

My question was a legitimate one. I use a good, real, live TA. But what do the people do who just book on *******.com and have troubles???

 

They don't have "contacts". There are tens/hundreds/ of thousands of people using all the online booking sites. Only if you use a TA do you get good service?

 

I agree

Not sure what people do if they book through a clearing house type agent

I have always had good agents or do it myself

 

Lyn

[kimanjo]

The short answer is that when you take on a Travel Agent, the commission that YOU the PASSENGER represent, is, in effect, buying access to that Agents' connections.

 

As with any other purchase, if you bought the wrong thing the first time around, you'll need to rethink your actions-

 

Everybody has different definitions of what "good service" is.

 

 

Ok. Now here is the next question. I always book inside cabins. Let's say my TA makes $200.00 off me.

 

You book a PH, and your TA makes $400.00 off you.

 

Does the one who pays more, get better connections?

 

Just like the one who pays no commission, get no connections.

 

Or are we/should we all be getting the same "service" regardless of how much commission we pay, none, a little or a lot???

[jamesnmphs]

I agree

 

Not sure what people do if they book through a clearing house type agent

 

I have always had good agents or do it myself

 

 

 

Lyn

 

 

Maybe I am missing something. I have recently booked through Oceania a cruise (Picturesque Polynesia). When I called to make the deposit, I spoke to a very nice person who, at that time let me select my A1 cabin and deck. The other 3 times I have called the Oceania 800 number, the representatives have been very polite and helpful. Maybe my questions were so simple that I should have know the answer. For example, Oceania booked my flight from LAX to PPT. I am going to going to LAX a few days early to visit relatives. When I got my travel documents from Oceania, the flight is a charter and listed as TN 0111. I had know idea what the TN stood for, so I called Oceania. The woman I spoke to said that she did not know as the air portion is done by another department. She then asked if she could place me on hold while SHE talked to someone in the air travel department. Within a few seconds, she told me that the TN is the call letters for TahitiNui. That gave me peace if mind, as I now know which airline to look for in LAX.

 

I have booked Oceania cruises through a friend of mine who is a travel agent and actual traveled with me and I do not think I got any better service then than I am now. Plus, the TA never gave me anything in return for booking through her. Maybe I used the wrong TA or have the wrong friends. :)

 

James

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Minoushka]

All is good so I now leave this post

 

:)

[LHT28]

Ok. Now here is the next question. I always book inside cabins. Let's say my TA makes $200.00 off me.

 

You book a PH, and your TA makes $400.00 off you.

 

Does the one who pays more, get better connections?

 

Just like the one who pays no commission, get no connections.

 

Or are we/should we all be getting the same "service" regardless of how much commission we pay, none, a little or a lot???

 

You should not be paying any commissions it is done by the cruise line to the travel agent if you used one ..if not then the cruiseline is ahead of the game ;)

[LHT28]

Maybe I am missing something. I have recently booked through Oceania a cruise (Picturesque Polynesia). When I called to make the deposit, I spoke to a very nice person who, at that time let me select my A1 cabin and deck. The other 3 times I have called the Oceania 800 number, the representatives have been very polite and helpful. Maybe my questions were so simple that I should have know the answer. For example, Oceania booked my flight from LAX to PPT. I am going to going to LAX a few days early to visit relatives. When I got my travel documents from Oceania, the flight is a charter and listed as TN 0111. I had know idea what the TN stood for, so I called Oceania. The woman I spoke to said that she did not know as the air portion is done by another department. She then asked if she could place me on hold while SHE talked to someone in the air travel department. Within a few seconds, she told me that the TN is the call letters for TahitiNui. That gave me peace if mind, as I now know which airline to look for in LAX.

 

I have booked Oceania cruises through a friend of mine who is a travel agent and actual traveled with me and I do not think I got any better service then than I am now. Plus, the TA never gave me anything in return for booking through her. Maybe I used the wrong TA or have the wrong friends. :)

 

James

 

 

not sure what you are looking for

 

Some TA's will give extra perks to their clients not all do this

As long as you are happy with the service you got that is all that matters :)

 

Lyn

[DOJO466]

not sure what you are looking for

 

Some TA's will give extra perks to their clients not all do this

As long as you are happy with the service you got that is all that matters :)

 

Lyn

 

When I booked my first O cruise I went to O and selected a Travel Agent from their list. I selected a "local" agent to me because I do local (not LOCO as some of you might think lol. Turns out I made a bad decision. Once onboard I met folks (thanks you know who you are) and was advised to check out a certain TA. To this day, I am so thankful for that advice as I have THE best TA who has more than taken care of our every need. If I have any questions I just ask her and within minutes I get a response. She has the where with all to contact O supervisors directly and thus we get much satisfaction in a short amount of time. I was always leery of using a TA but have found it to be the most important part of my trip planning. I am sorry Michele that you were not able to have that sort of access. Please enjoy your trip. I too look forward to your trip report.

[kimanjo]

You should not be paying any commissions it is done by the cruise line to the travel agent if you used one ..if not then the cruiseline is ahead of the game ;)

 

I don't pay commission. But they ARE making money off my booking.

 

But according to J&S

 

The short answer is that when you take on a Travel Agent, the commission that YOU the PASSENGER represent, is, in effect, buying access to that Agents' connections.

 

So, no TA, no connections?

 

Smaller $$ booking, "less" connections??

 

Bigger booking, larger connections??

 

I do all the research, and just have my TA do my booking for me. But for years, I did it all myself through the cruise line itself. I would hope that my (or anybody else's) problems or concerns would be addressed whether I use a TA or not.

 

Not whether you have "connections" or not.

[DOJO466]

I don't pay commission. But they ARE making money off my booking.

 

But according to J&S

 

The short answer is that when you take on a Travel Agent, the commission that YOU the PASSENGER represent, is, in effect, buying access to that Agents' connections.

 

So, no TA, no connections?

 

Smaller $$ booking, "less" connections??

 

Bigger booking, larger connections??

 

I do all the research, and just have my TA do my booking for me. But for years, I did it all myself through the cruise line itself. I would hope that my (or anybody else's) problems or concerns would be addressed whether I use a TA or not.

 

Not whether you have "connections" or not.

 

Why would you not want a "connection"? My call to O would go to an unknown entity. My call to my TA who then "connects" with her contact gets answered ASAP. And no, it does not matter what category I am in, but thanks to my TA I have had some very pleasant surprises!!!!

[Hawaiidan]

The air from Montreal is over 4000$ ....I donT think so ....

 

I would have had the same air fare from Hawaii...So I took the Oceania included air.....it was fine. As a bonus,3 weeks before the cruise I was offered a $700 up grade to first/business from LA.... I took it.

 

There are two looser options visiting Tahiti

 

1. is flying to Tahiti and back and taking the 14 day around the islands

2. Doing your own air and paying the deviation.... unless you have the miles for a free flight.

 

Every time I visit Tahiti I do it either on a cruise from Australia to LA or Cruise that starts in Tahiti and ends in the US

 

Now, I fear your setting yourself up for failure...You described the wonderful experience on the mass market party ship Epic ( sorry to say a ship that borders on the obscene to me)

 

Your favor of NCL and belief in their service to be superior is setting yourself up for failure. I have sailed NCL.. and let me say, nothing on Oceania is even remotely like NCL No go -go party and show time... more people entertaining themselves reading in the library or conversing in small groups. Food is more sophisticate you wont find tacos , Pizza and BBq. Service is subtle because most don't want the constant hit by bar waiters, and there are no shipboard malls or nightclubs, hot casinos and lavish shows... that's NCL stuff Oceania distain . Too you will be on a large ship with about 3000 less passengers.... it will some times seem vacant and deserted.

 

Here again most of your fellow passengers will prefer sitting on their veranda in the evening.

Your love of NCL will clearly be a problem as it sounds like you want a up-scale NCL. Its apples and oranges, water and oil. Lets put it in perspective.. you tout Munros on NCL...their hot up scale pay to play venue.. On Oceania your going to get that level in the buffet..Horizons.

 

My suggestion is accept your going to have a great time, and its going to be unlike anything before both in food and service. As far as Miami... NCL customers are many first timers and budget travelers who need their hand held.

Oceana customers for the most part are well traveled and don't need all the attention...the know exactly what the want without fuss. Its like the difference between visiting a used car dealer and a Mercedes dealer.. its very low key.

 

Wishing you luck

[LHT28]

The short answer is that when you take on a Travel Agent, the commission that YOU the PASSENGER represent, is, in effect, buying access to that Agents' connections.

 

So, no TA, no connections?

 

Smaller $$ booking, "less" connections??

 

Bigger booking, larger connections??

 

I do all the research, and just have my TA do my booking for me. But for years, I did it all myself through the cruise line itself. I would hope that my (or anybody else's) problems or concerns would be addressed whether I use a TA or not.

 

Not whether you have "connections" or not.

 

I think it may depend on the TA you use

Some online agencies are just order takers "no service " they may give discounts/perks etc

but if you have an issue you may end up on your own ..just read the forums here for lots of examples ;)

 

Some TA's are better than others & give you great service & still provide perks

 

I do the research give my TA what I want & she does the rest sometimes with extra surprises

We do not book high end suites & are treated the same as DOJO who does book PH +

 

If you are happy with how you book your cruises that is all that matters no need to stress over it

 

to each his own do what you feel comfortable & works best for you

 

Lyn

[rallydave]

Ok. Now here is the next question. I always book inside cabins. Let's say my TA makes $200.00 off me.

 

You book a PH, and your TA makes $400.00 off you.

 

Does the one who pays more, get better connections?

 

Just like the one who pays no commission, get no connections.

 

Or are we/should we all be getting the same "service" regardless of how much commission we pay, none, a little or a lot???

 

Can't tell if you are joking about the $200 or $400 as a commission example but, this isn't a Carnival Cruise where the TA works on volume and probable doesn't make that much commission.

 

The commission is in the area of 17% of the commissionable amount of your cruise fare. So if you are spending $5K pp, the TA is getting a bit less than $850 pp or about $1,700 for spending a few hours booking you and answering questions. More if the fare or category is higher.

 

For that type of commission, would expect to get great customer service as well as something back assuming of course I don't need my hand held and have to ask questions every other day. Booking near luxury and luxury cruises earns a good commission by the TA so your expectations should be higher than booking a $399 pp Carnival or Royal Caribbean, etc. cruise.

[Hawaiidan]

Can't tell if you are joking about the $200 or $400 as a commission example but, this isn't a Carnival Cruise where the TA works on volume and probable doesn't make that much commission.

 

The commission is in the area of 17% of the commissionable amount of your cruise fare. So if you are spending $5K pp, the TA is getting a bit less than $850 pp or about $1,700 for spending a few hours booking you and answering questions. More if the fare or category is higher.

 

For that type of commission, would expect to get great customer service as well as something back assuming of course I don't need my hand held and have to ask questions every other day. Booking near luxury and luxury cruises earns a good commission by the TA so your expectations should be higher than booking a $399 pp Carnival or Royal Caribbean, etc. cruise.

 

Dave quoted a $5000pp cruise earning the agent $1700.00

 

Many of us who cruise are looking at cruise fares $20 to 30Kfor 2....... Those agents are pulling down $3,400.00 to $5,100.00 commission for maybe less than an hours work or 2......Trust me Dave and I get benefits you would love. The less you make the agent do and the higher the commission the greater the reward to you

Customers booking the highest suites also earn the agent even higher rates of commission I knew an agent that said a luxury line was paying close to 25% for its top tier suites......

[LHT28]

getting of the rails again but when people read some of the comment on what TA's get it is a bit misleading

 

You may pay $5000 but the commission is not paid on that amount

there are things called non-commissionable items

eg: port fees & taxes maybe airfare not sure on that one

 

Then the agent unless they own the agency gets a share of the percentage if that is part of their contract

they pay expenses out of that as well

 

let us not assume that TA's are getting rich on booking your cruise ;)

Edited January 1, 2015 by LHT28

[lyndenfa]

suites

We have used the same TA for many years. It is almost as if we are friends, sharing stories about our travels, families, lifestyles. Never have i hesitated to ask a question (including how much commission they make) and always get answers. On our last cruise we were notified of an opportunity for an upgrade (from A1 to OS) for no extra charge! I'm sure all of the clients who were with that TA for that particulr cruise were all notified of the opportunity, no special treatment. Perhaps when we jumped at the offer the TA made some phone calls to help it through?

 

BTW, the service for the OS was heavenly! If we had the money we would always reserve this. Alas, we are A1 or Ph class and just spoiled in the OS.

 

I do believe it was due to our TA's attention to please their clients.