A Different Travel Agent Question

[Fizzer59]

Bolding is mine. Many of us with internet do use a TA. I ,am capable of researching, etc. on my own, but if I want someone who has my back and it costs less than booking directly with HAL (when you take obc into account), what's the harm?

 

Many of the world cruisers use a TA for that very reason and the knowledge and ability to get certain rooms, perks, whatever.

 

TA's are used by a LOT of people that have internet access. Thanks to the internet I can use a TA of my choice and not restricted.

 

As I am new to cruising I have no idea in that regard, although I would suggest that cruising might fall as a sub category in the speciality area perhaps. In our case we had to use an agent and a very specific one ( we were using long accumulated loyalty points). I did all my research and told her exactly what I wanted. I'm not sure what value she added to the process in our particular case. Everything else on our trip we have done on our own.

Edited May 7, 2015 by Fizzer59

[Cruising-along]

I am always biting my tongue. The reason I said that was because of the article. I appreciate that several responses have been from members who have found fabulous travel agents. My problem is that the one that I spent the most time with really turned me off to using one. When I asked her several questions, her answer was basically to try google. I was sitting in her office when she answered the phone and told the person she was talking to the same thing.

A couple of years ago a friend told me his mother was a cruise specialist. I called and talked to her for a few minutes and she basically recommended a cruise I had already pretty much decided on. She was disappointed when I told her I would book it thru my PCC and transfer it to her (I guess she thought I wouldn't do it). When I did transfer it - no thanks, no gift etc.

 

 

I am glad that you and JTL513 (and others) have a Travel Agent that you like. For me, the PCC I have is great and I will continue to book that way - and transfer to a TA if the transfer is warranted.

 

 

Rich, that has been our experience too. That and outright mistakes.

 

I'm not going to give my business to someone who doesn't even appreciate it, much less be helpful, no matter how much OBC he/she can give me. Very happy with our PCC. :)

[Hlitner]

Rich, that has been our experience too. That and outright mistakes.

 

I'm not going to give my business to someone who doesn't even appreciate it, much less be helpful, no matter how much OBC he/she can give me. Very happy with our PCC. :)

 

We also have a very nice PCC who calls and e-mails on a regular basis. But when it comes time to book a cruise we simply go online to a few or our favored cruise agencies and check out their offerings. In the end our business goes to whichever agency has the best deal. On most bookings we do it all online without ever talking to a human and process takes a few minutes. On a single Prinsendam cruise we once saved over $3000 by NOT booking through our PCC. As nice as our PCC seems to be we just do not think her phony on the phone friendship is worth that kind of money :)

 

Hank

[kazu]

As I am new to cruising I have no idea in that regard, although I would suggest that cruising might fall as a sub category in the speciality area perhaps. In our case we had to use an agent and a very specific one ( we were using long accumulated loyalty points). I did all my research and told her exactly what I wanted. I'm not sure what value she added to the process in our particular case. Everything else on our trip we have done on our own.

 

 

 

if you have to use a specific agent, that changes the whole ball game as you have no control. If you can pick an agent - whether it be on line, whatever, it is a horse of a different colour.

 

If you have no choice, then unless you are lucky, you probably got little value as unfortunately there are also a lot of mediocre agents out there. The advantage to choosing is getting a good one or using an on line one as Hank does.

[Cruising-along]

We also have a very nice PCC who calls and e-mails on a regular basis. But when it comes time to book a cruise we simply go online to a few or our favored cruise agencies and check out their offerings. In the end our business goes to whichever agency has the best deal. On most bookings we do it all online without ever talking to a human and process takes a few minutes. On a single Prinsendam cruise we once saved over $3000 by NOT booking through our PCC. As nice as our PCC seems to be we just do not think her phony on the phone friendship is worth that kind of money :)

 

 

 

Hank

 

 

I don't need a new best friend, just someone who has common courtesy, is helpful, and knows his/her job. I have not found that in any TA yet sorry to say. It's the mistakes and attitude that bother me more than anything. Happy you've found what works for you.

[cruz chic]

I don't need a new best friend, just someone who has common courtesy, is helpful, and knows his/her job. I have not found that in any TA yet sorry to say. It's the mistakes and attitude that bother me more than anything. Happy you've found what works for you.

 

Same here and I'm not sorry to say it. There is nothing wrong with doing things yourself even though some people like to try to make tp you feel that way.

[richwmn]

We also have a very nice PCC who calls and e-mails on a regular basis. But when it comes time to book a cruise we simply go online to a few or our favored cruise agencies and check out their offerings. In the end our business goes to whichever agency has the best deal. On most bookings we do it all online without ever talking to a human and process takes a few minutes. On a single Prinsendam cruise we once saved over $3000 by NOT booking through our PCC. As nice as our PCC seems to be we just do not think her phony on the phone friendship is worth that kind of money :)

 

Hank

Hank, you and others constantly point out on threads relating to Travel Agents that you saved substantial amounts of money with your online Agencies. It is impossible to save $3000 on a cruise that doesn't cost that much to begin with.

 

While those that book suites might be paying enough in the first place that the TA can afford to lose that much in commissions those of us that book outside and inside cabins won't get that much. The most I have been quoted, with the exception of my recent 27 day cruise, has been a savings of $50 - $60, not enough to keep me from booking with my PCC.

 

As to you use of the term "phony on the phone friendship", I think you are doing some if not all of the PCCs an injustice. While I don't think that any of the PCCs I have had are my "bff", I do feel that there is more of a relationship than you seem to believe exists.

[cruz chic]

Hank, you and others constantly point out on threads relating to Travel Agents that you saved substantial amounts of money with your online Agencies. It is impossible to save $3000 on a cruise that doesn't cost that much to begin with.

 

While those that book suites might be paying enough in the first place that the TA can afford to lose that much in commissions those of us that book outside and inside cabins won't get that much. The most I have been quoted, with the exception of my recent 27 day cruise, has been a savings of $50 - $60, not enough to keep me from booking with my PCC.

 

As to you use of the term "phony on the phone friendship", I think you are doing some if not all of the PCCs an injustice. While I don't think that any of the PCCs I have had are my "bff", I do feel that there is more of a relationship than you seem to believe exists.

 

That cruise is going to have to be extremely long to get that kind of savings. Of course that little tidbit is left out of the post. I have a good relationship with my PCC. It's been a rough year this year and I've had discussions with my PCC about things. I assume that she has plenty of clients but she always asks me about various issues I've discussed with her. While I don't confuse her with being my bff she certainly not a glorified order taker like some of the online TAs are. In my mind cheap doesn't equal good. You get what you pay for.

[summersigh]

Many of us with internet do use a TA. I ,am capable of researching, etc. on my own, but if I want someone who has my back and it costs less than booking directly with HAL (when you take obc into account), what's the harm?

 

Many of the world cruisers use a TA for that very reason and the knowledge and ability to get certain rooms, perks, whatever.

 

TA's are used by a LOT of people that have internet access. Thanks to the internet I can use a TA of my choice and not restricted.

 

Ya ,,,,,, what she said :D

[Hlitner]

That cruise is going to have to be extremely long to get that kind of savings. Of course that little tidbit is left out of the post. I have a good relationship with my PCC. It's been a rough year this year and I've had discussions with my PCC about things. I assume that she has plenty of clients but she always asks me about various issues I've discussed with her. While I don't confuse her with being my bff she certainly not a glorified order taker like some of the online TAs are. In my mind cheap doesn't equal good. You get what you pay for.

 

That particular cruise was 62 days, but many HAL cruisers routinely take long cruises. As to shorter cruises a basic rule of thumb is that you should be able to save 7-10% of the cruise fare if you shop around. Because of price controls imposed by the cruise lines much of the savings might be given as on board credits, per paid gratuities, etc. There are also many times when we can get a discount on the actual cruise price but this really varies depending on the specific cruise and cruise line. And you might want to consider that saving 10% on some long cruises (such as the HAL World Cruise) can amount to real money (some cabins on these cruises can easily cost over $100,000)

 

As to online "order takers" since we often do not bother dealing with a human (just a few clicks of the mouse can book nearly any cruise) we do not look for hand holding. Once we decide what we want it is simply a matter of spending a few minutes checking the pricing (and amenities) with a few online agencies and then booking. If we later notice that there has been a significant price reduction on a booked cruise we usually send a short e-mail (which takes about 1 min) to the agency asking for them to "reprice" the cruise. No time on the phone, no time on hold, no real effort. A short e-mail and the deed is usually done within an hour.

 

We agree that not everyone is comfortable with this kind of booking procedure, but that is why there are lots of options. But once upon a time folks used to go to TAs to book airfares and now most of us do that online with a few clicks of the mouse. In fact, some of the best airlines are optimized for onboard bookings and you can pay extra if you want to deal with a human. We started cruising in the era when one went to a travel agent, sat at a desk with deck plans and a professional agent, and eventually booked. Times are changing :). We actually asked our PCC if she was willing to match the deals we can get from some cruise agencies. She said "no" and that HAL was happy no matter who we used to book as long as we booked :).

 

Hank

Edited May 7, 2015 by Hlitner

[iancal]

We save 8-12 percent by using our on line TA.

 

This translates into one free cruise for every ten we take.

 

This is without doubt better than any other customer reward program that we belong to.

 

And it beats the heck out of a medal, a pin, a 'special' lunch, or a free glass of plonk...from any cruise line.

[richwmn]

That particular cruise was 62 days, but many HAL cruisers routinely take long cruises. As to shorter cruises a basic rule of thumb is that you should be able to save 7-10% of the cruise fare if you shop around. Because of price controls imposed by the cruise lines much of the savings might be given as on board credits, per paid gratuities, etc. There are also many times when we can get a discount on the actual cruise price but this really varies depending on the specific cruise and cruise line. And you might want to consider that saving 10% on some long cruises (such as the HAL World Cruise) can amount to real money (some cabins on these cruises can easily cost over $100,000)

 

Hank

 

Hank, you conveniently quoted someone who responded to me instead of addressing my post, but here is my challenge to you. I agree that on longer cruises, or higher category cabins you could probably save what you state. My post specifically mentioned inside and outside cabins. So --

11-DAY SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN WAYFARER Monday Nov 16, 2015

this cruise is currently listed as#$2398 before taxes and port charges for a solo cruiser in an outside guarantee. At 7% you should be able to get about $175 off that price, 10% would be $240. When I have checked around the most I have been able to see was a $60 reduction.

I have emails at yahoo and gmail which are my screen name here. To keep it honest, you might pick a couple of others who have emails posted to send the information to as well.

Good luck

 

I see that iancal has chimed in with similar claims so I extend the challenge to Iancal as well

Edited May 7, 2015 by richwmn
adding iancal

[mr. godfredo]

My family and I have used a TA for cruises for many years now. Though I enjoy doing my own research, picking out the ship, cruise line, itinerary, etc, my other family members who book with the same agent do not. I think that is the beauty of the relationship that you can have with a quality TA. My family (Mom and Dad) always use the TA for airfare, advice, transfers, and so on, where I only use him for booking. I love to research cruises and I simply call my TA any time I see a cruise online that I want to go on at a good price. My TA always is able to match, beat, or add in some incentives or OBC. Though I am an easy customer for him, I know that many others need more attention. I have never met my TA face to face as I live in CA nad he in Fla, but he has always provided me with great service, great pricing, and help if we ever needed it. Though I could easily book online by myself, I would rather use my TA and know that things will be taken care of and I have someone to help if needed!:D

[sammiedawg]

We save 8-12 percent by using our on line TA.

 

This translates into one free cruise for every ten we take.

 

This is without doubt better than any other customer reward program that we belong to.

 

And it beats the heck out of a medal, a pin, a 'special' lunch, or a free glass of plonk...from any cruise line.

 

I totally agree. I could not tell you what I did with any cruise line pins, most likely they are in a junk drawer or in the trash. I've only attended a few mariner luncheons and didn't find them significant in any way, lunch is free onboard anyway.

After reading many trip reports and "live" threads I realize how important recognition is to many HAL cruisers posting here. This recognition seems to drive additional bookings and may preclude them from considering or enjoying another cruise line.

[cruz chic]

We save 8-12 percent by using our on line TA.

 

This translates into one free cruise for every ten we take.

 

This is without doubt better than any other customer reward program that we belong to.

 

And it beats the heck out of a medal, a pin, a 'special' lunch, or a free glass of plonk...from any cruise line.

 

I totally agree. I could not tell you what I did with any cruise line pins, most likely they are in a junk drawer or in the trash. I've only attended a few mariner luncheons and didn't find them significant in any way, lunch is free onboard anyway.

After reading many trip reports and "live" threads I realize how important recognition is to many HAL cruisers posting here. This recognition seems to drive additional bookings and may preclude them from considering or enjoying another cruise line.

 

Count me in the group that couldn't care less about pins or medals. The point that I don't understand is that you would qualify for them whether you book through a ta or PCC so why even mention it? What is more insulting is insinuating that people aren't bright enough to go to another cruise line because they have a PCC. Wow. I cruise both hal and princess but I regularly look at all cruises. Believe it or not I'm bright enough to do that:rolleyes:.

[cruz chic]

Hank, you conveniently quoted someone who responded to me instead of addressing my post, but here is my challenge to you. I agree that on longer cruises, or higher category cabins you could probably save what you state. My post specifically mentioned inside and outside cabins. So --

11-DAY SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN WAYFARER Monday Nov 16, 2015

this cruise is currently listed as#$2398 before taxes and port charges for a solo cruiser in an outside guarantee. At 7% you should be able to get about $175 off that price, 10% would be $240. When I have checked around the most I have been able to see was a $60 reduction.

I have emails at yahoo and gmail which are my screen name here. To keep it honest, you might pick a couple of others who have emails posted to send the information to as well.

Good luck

 

I see that iancal has chimed in with similar claims so I extend the challenge to Iancal as well

 

Would love to hear if you hear anything back just out of interest not because I'm wanting to go that route.

[Ky Colonel]

Hank, you conveniently quoted someone who responded to me instead of addressing my post, but here is my challenge to you. I agree that on longer cruises, or higher category cabins you could probably save what you state. My post specifically mentioned inside and outside cabins. So --

11-DAY SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN WAYFARER Monday Nov 16, 2015

this cruise is currently listed as#$2398 before taxes and port charges for a solo cruiser in an outside guarantee. At 7% you should be able to get about $175 off that price, 10% would be $240. When I have checked around the most I have been able to see was a $60 reduction.

I have emails at yahoo and gmail which are my screen name here. To keep it honest, you might pick a couple of others who have emails posted to send the information to as well.

Good luck

 

I see that iancal has chimed in with similar claims so I extend the challenge to Iancal as well

 

Rich,

 

Marine Corps, right? First off, let me thank you for your service to our country.

 

Secondly, thank you for starting this Thread - it has once again allowed CCers to display both their passions (in favor of & against TAs) and (in a few cases) their ignorance. IMO the "best ones" are those who bristled at my earlier comment that some people do not use TAs to "save a buck or two" and then proceeded to tell us how much they save or how many additional OBCs, upgrades and other perks they get by doing their own bookings ... hmmmm, sounds like "savings" to me but then what do I know about anything, as I'm just a poor country lawyer? Other totally missed the point about the value added by a TA - "headache insurance", convenience, inside info, etc.

 

Thirdly, thank you for maintaining a civil tone on this Thread when so many seem to resort to invective whenever someone doesn't agree with their opinions on any subject. Equally offensive are those who accuse others of being "wrong" for holding different opinions than they do ... and here I was foolish enough to think that opinions are just that - one's beliefs and not factual claims. Somehow you were able to maintain a civil tone in all your posts, while at the same time expressing your opinions.- for that I congratulate and thank you.

 

Enough of my rambling ...

 

Smooth sailing,

 

Rod

 

[sammiedawg]

Count me in the group that couldn't care less about pins or medals. The point that I don't understand is that you would qualify for them whether you book through a ta or PCC so why even mention it? What is more insulting is insinuating that people aren't bright enough to go to another cruise line because they have a PCC. Wow. I cruise both hal and princess but I regularly look at all cruises. Believe it or not I'm bright enough to do that:rolleyes:.

 

No one has said, insinuated or inferred people "are not bright enough" to try something new but little recognitions like pins and luncheons are significant loyalty drivers for some cruisers. I believe some would miss the recognition so much that they might not enjoy another cruise line.

[kazu]

No one has said, insinuated or inferred people "are not bright enough" to try something new but little recognitions like pins and luncheons are significant loyalty drivers for some cruisers. I believe some would miss the recognition so much that they might not enjoy another cruise line.

 

Agree. I don't think many book to get a pin, but I still remember a post by a roll call member who was about to receive their bronze medallion. It was the memory of the people that they had cruised with as they collected their days that meant something to them. We were delighted to be there and cheer for them (and everyone else on our roll call) when they received theirs.

 

I didn't even realize about the bronze medallion when we received ours. It certainly wasn't the reason we booked ;)

[richwmn]

Rich,

 

Marine Corps, right? First off, let me thank you for your service to our country.

 

Secondly, thank you for starting this Thread - it has once again allowed CCers to display both their passions (in favor of & against TAs) and (in a few cases) their ignorance. IMO the "best ones" are those who bristled at my earlier comment that some people do not use TAs to "save a buck or two" and then proceeded to tell us how much they save or how many additional OBCs, upgrades and other perks they get by doing their own bookings ... hmmmm, sounds like "savings" to me but then what do I know about anything, as I'm just a poor country lawyer? Other totally missed the point about the value added by a TA - "headache insurance", convenience, inside info, etc.

 

Thirdly, thank you for maintaining a civil tone on this Thread when so many seem to resort to invective whenever someone doesn't agree with their opinions on any subject. Equally offensive are those who accuse others of being "wrong" for holding different opinions than they do ... and here I was foolish enough to think that opinions are just that - one's beliefs and not factual claims. Somehow you were able to maintain a civil tone in all your posts, while at the same time expressing your opinions.- for that I congratulate and thank you.

 

Enough of my rambling ...

 

Smooth sailing,

 

Rod

 

 

Actually NAVY, but thanks for all the kind words. I have also been impressed with the way this thread has evolved.

 

This thread has remained very civil and I thank all the members who have responded.

 

That particular cruise was 62 days, but many HAL cruisers routinely take long cruises. As to shorter cruises a basic rule of thumb is that you should be able to save 7-10% of the cruise fare if you shop around. Because of price controls imposed by the cruise lines much of the savings might be given as on board credits, per paid gratuities, etc. There are also many times when we can get a discount on the actual cruise price but this really varies depending on the specific cruise and cruise line. And you might want to consider that saving 10% on some long cruises (such as the HAL World Cruise) can amount to real money (some cabins on these cruises can easily cost over $100,000)

 

As to online "order takers" since we often do not bother dealing with a human (just a few clicks of the mouse can book nearly any cruise) we do not look for hand holding. Once we decide what we want it is simply a matter of spending a few minutes checking the pricing (and amenities) with a few online agencies and then booking. If we later notice that there has been a significant price reduction on a booked cruise we usually send a short e-mail (which takes about 1 min) to the agency asking for them to "reprice" the cruise. No time on the phone, no time on hold, no real effort. A short e-mail and the deed is usually done within an hour.

 

We agree that not everyone is comfortable with this kind of booking procedure, but that is why there are lots of options. But once upon a time folks used to go to TAs to book airfares and now most of us do that online with a few clicks of the mouse. In fact, some of the best airlines are optimized for onboard bookings and you can pay extra if you want to deal with a human. We started cruising in the era when one went to a travel agent, sat at a desk with deck plans and a professional agent, and eventually booked. Times are changing :). We actually asked our PCC if she was willing to match the deals we can get from some cruise agencies. She said "no" and that HAL was happy no matter who we used to book as long as we booked :).

 

Hank

 

Now is the time to "eat some crow". In the past I have randomly tried online TA to see what additional OBC would be offered. For my situation I have never been offered more than $60. Until today. I now have a quote to consider that is in the range of rebates that have been discussed by hlitner and iancal. I don't know if it will continue, but it is a start.

 

Rich

[iancal]

Our on line TA rebates of 8-12 percent are of course based on what is referred to as 'commissionable fare', usually fare net of port taxes etc.

 

Once in a while we will select a cruise that our TA's firm may have a group booking. In this case we would typically get a slight cabin upgrade, or in the case of our last Caribbean cruise, a gratis day excursion/lunch.

 

There is a logical reason why I get a rebate. It is based on service consumed. We know what we want, our TA books it. Very occasionally she may do a re-price or a cabin change. It is usually 2 emails, one short phone call to provide our cc detail, and that is it. I have no doubt that for cruisers who want more personal service/advice, the TA could service five of us in the time it takes to service someone else who needs or wants the service.

 

From a business perspective, when the agency deals with me they give away some of their commission but I suspect that my transaction provides more net profit to the agency because of the small amount of work and personal interaction required to service my account. Their overheads are probably much less on a per booking basis as well since they can locale in a low cost office building etc. vs. a more expensive retail environment. They collect the same commission from my sale as they do from someone at the other end of the spectrum.

Edited May 7, 2015 by iancal

[cbr663]

I think the demise of the travel agent is exaggerated. Like many other professions, the internet has probably forever changed the profession.

 

There are some passengers who prefer the traditional bricks and mortar travel agent who value the expertise and the complete range of services that are provided. These passengers tend to value the vacation experience over the cost.

 

Technology has allowed online agencies to meet a certain niche. Most of these passengers already know what they want and their primary motivation is cost. They are primarily seeking a booking agent who rewards them with a lower price by rebating commissions.

 

Many passengers still prefer to book directly with the service provider. Whether online or with the PCC, these passengers tend to enjoy self-service and don't want to deal with the middle service provider.

 

A 2012 survey by Travel Weekly showed that for cruises, 34% came through agents, 39% directly with the cruise line and only 16% through the on-line travel agent. The survey quotes that 19% of Carnival's bookings across all its brands are booked direct. That leaves lots of opportunity for travel agents.

[richwmn]

I think the demise of the travel agent is exaggerated. Like many other professions, the internet has probably forever changed the profession.

 

There are some passengers who prefer the traditional bricks and mortar travel agent who value the expertise and the complete range of services that are provided. These passengers tend to value the vacation experience over the cost.

 

Technology has allowed online agencies to meet a certain niche. Most of these passengers already know what they want and their primary motivation is cost. They are primarily seeking a booking agent who rewards them with a lower price by rebating commissions.

 

Many passengers still prefer to book directly with the service provider. Whether online or with the PCC, these passengers tend to enjoy self-service and don't want to deal with the middle service provider.

 

A 2012 survey by Travel Weekly showed that for cruises, 34% came through agents, 39% directly with the cruise line and only 16% through the on-line travel agent. The survey quotes that 19% of Carnival's bookings across all its brands are booked direct. That leaves lots of opportunity for travel agents.

Interesting information, thanks.

[summersigh]

I think the demise of the travel agent is exaggerated. Like many other professions, the internet has probably forever changed the profession.

 

There are some passengers who prefer the traditional bricks and mortar travel agent who value the expertise and the complete range of services that are provided. These passengers tend to value the vacation experience over the cost.

 

First, let me start by saying I'm very tech savvy with the use of the internet and have been since the days when there was little else but the RedCross.com and weather.com. I am capable of and do use the internet extensively for research. That being said ............

 

I'm one of those who "prefer the traditional bricks and mortar travel agent" but then I do that with many things I do. While I do online bill pay I still enjoy going to the bank in person to cash checks and chatting with staff who've known us as customers for years. I prefer to shop locally to be able to see and feel the goods I'm purchasing. I pick up my Rx at the drug store where I taught science to 3 of the Pharmacy Techs. If I can't get something locally then yes, I will use the internet.

 

It's personal preference to use a local TA (And headache insurance :) ) I like sitting across the desk and discussing our travel arrangements. I've never paid more than I can get on a Internet site. With her arranging the travel insurance (DH needs pre-existing condition stuff) she always saves me more than I could get as OBC from another method.

 

It works for me ..... as I'm sure other methods work for other folks. :)

[jimmy2x]

Folks seem to be looking for exact numbers, so I'll give you one. We booked (last week) a b2b on Eurodam in an SY for Jan 31, 2016. Pricing on the HAL website is $7010 for two. Paid $5709.34 for the two of us thru one of the major online agencies. Pricing does NOT include port charges which amounts to $256.00 per person, which of course is the same no matter how one books.

 

To us, that is a huge savings. May be one of best deals we've gotten. I agree that most times, savings run from 8-12%. This will be our 17th cruise and have NEVER booked directly with ANY cruise line. To each his own.

 

Edited to say that we DID get the full $800 cabin credit that was being offered by HAL last week along with the FCD credit previously purchased.

Edited May 7, 2015 by jimmy2x