A Different Travel Agent Question

[serendipity1499]

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.

 

Dear Rich.. You know we use a Travel Agent & normally book the longer cruises..Hank is right! We also book outside cabins...

 

On our 68 day Hal Cruise to the SouthAmer/Antarctica HAL's Published Fare for an "F" mid-ship cabin on Dolphin deck was $38,813 for both of us.. My Travel Agents fare was $33,828 for an "E" midship cabin on Main Deck: same area but one deck up.. These prices included Port Charges & Taxes..

 

And the Travel ex insurance was $2629 on-line.. The same insurance from our Travel Agent was $2003.. We received $600 OBC from HAL $250 OBC for our Carnival Stock, Porters were taken care of by the Agent at the Port & we received a $150 tour from the Agent.. Now you do the Math..

 

I do not believe that our Agent is reducing his commission.. The Agent is in a consortium of Agents which had blocked space on HAL.. That is why it was much less expensive than the individual cabin space.. We even had a Tour Escort with us...

 

Travelex also sells them blocked insurance space at a discount & the Agent does not have to put our Ages into their policy's...

 

I used to think that it was better to book directly & in 2006 I booked us & Friends on a 25 day HAL cruise to the Amazon (2 cabins) .. HAL's fare was $12,016 all inclusive..Randy & Heather were regulars on CC & kept saying that their Agents always were less expensive.. And I did not believe it & wanted to prove them wrong! I asked for a quote from an on-line Agent which advertised on Cruise Critic & received a quote of $10,938 also all inclusive.. I could not believe it & called HAL... :eek: Asked to speak to a Supervisor..The Supervisor explained to me that they could not meet the Travel Agents fare because they had blocked space.. Then the HAL Supvr. suggested I release our bookings to the Agent, which we did..

 

We used to do the same thing in the Airline Industry.. If you called us to book a seat for $300 & then called one of our wholesalers for the same seat you might have been able to book it for $265 only because we sold them blocked space..

 

Since 2006 we haven't looked back..Granted we do not save that much on all of our bookings but normally we save between 8% & 12% on our bookings.. My suggestion to someone who would like to find a good Travel agent is start with those who advertise on Cruise Critic & ask for a quote, but first get the fare from HAL..

 

Sorry for the long post folks..

Edited May 7, 2015 by serendipity1499

[richwmn]

Hi Betty,

Thanks for the response. As I have said many times, for the longest time whenever I would check with the online agencies they would respond with a token credit of either $50 or $60 - no where near the 8 - 12% commonly quoted here. This happened when I checked with random agencies that advertise here on CC, as well as an attempt or two with with one of the websites that allow agencies to bid for your booking.

 

As detailed in post #70, I did get a quote this morning for the cruise I mentioned that was an OBC of a little over 8% of the cruise price - the largest I have been offered for a 7 or 10 day cruise.

 

I may check around a little more, but will most likely transfer that cruise in the next day or so.

 

Rich

[serendipity1499]

Hi Betty,

Thanks for the response. As I have said many times, for the longest time whenever I would check with the online agencies they would respond with a token credit of either $50 or $60 - no where near the 8 - 12% commonly quoted here. This happened when I checked with random agencies that advertise here on CC, as well as an attempt or two with with one of the websites that allow agencies to bid for your booking.

 

As detailed in post #70, I did get a quote this morning for the cruise I mentioned that was an OBC of a little over 8% of the cruise price - the largest I have been offered for a 7 or 10 day cruise.

 

I may check around a little more, but will most likely transfer that cruise in the next day or so.

 

Rich

 

Good luck Rich.. Hope you get a good deal.. Sorry I missed your post No. 70..

 

Betty

[cbr663]

Betty,

 

No apology is necessary. I thank-you for providing your examples of the tremendous savings that you have enjoyed with your TA. I think you have proven that it can be economically advantageous to keep looking until you find those agents that specialize in HAL and who book space.

 

Thanks again. :)

[iancal]

There is actually a very important (to us) service attribute that our on line TA provides.

 

It is access seven days a week from early morning till late in the day. If we see a good price, a price decrease, or a category upgrade that we can take advantage of our preference is to do it immediately. Prices, cabins disappear.

 

More than once we have booked or requested a reprice well outside of normal business hours. If our TA is not available someone else is there to make the booking or change.

 

I have been in sales. One thing that I will never do is take the services offered by a full service agency and the switch the booking or make the booking with a lower service level, lower cost (ie one that rebates commission in the form of OBC's) TA. If we need the service we are willing to pay for it.

Edited May 7, 2015 by iancal

[Hlitner]

[quote name='richwmn']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.



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[/QUOTE]

My goodness, you are not "eating crow" but simply expanding your horizons. We also have long urged one or two-line cruisers to expand their horizons by trying other cruise lines (not sure this would apply to you). I still recall meeting a wonderful elderly lady on a long HAL cruise who talked DW and moi's ears off with her tales of how wonderful HAL is and how it was the best cruise line in the world. I think she was a 5 Star Mariner who had continued cruising after the passing of her DH. After listening to her glowing comments about HAL (we are 4 Star) I happened to ask her what other cruise lines she had cruised. Her answer, "I have only cruised on HAL and would never consider another line." But of course she KNEW that HAL was the best :).

Hank

[albingirl]

[quote name='Hlitner']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[/QUOTE]

I agree. A lot of phoney baloney on these PCCs; you know it's easier if I handle it myself. I'm pretty saavy on handling the price drops and can easily call and deal with that, but I'd rather deal with my own stuff. When I've dealt with My Assigned PCC, it usually went right to her supervisor since she couldn't handle my questions. Why bother.

[albingirl]

I feel like John Kerry, Secretary of State. We received bronze medals on the last cruise and threw them out. I don't have a dog to pin them on his collar, so what on earth do you do with them? John Kerry threw his medals over the fence, and I was very offended, but my medals? Just shows how much money I'm spending on HAL!:)

[cruz chic]

[quote name='Hlitner']My goodness, you are not "eating crow" but simply expanding your horizons. We also have long urged one or two-line cruisers to expand their horizons by trying other cruise lines (not sure this would apply to you). I still recall meeting a wonderful elderly lady on a long HAL cruise who talked DW and moi's ears off with her tales of how wonderful HAL is and how it was the best cruise line in the world. I think she was a 5 Star Mariner who had continued cruising after the passing of her DH. After listening to her glowing comments about HAL (we are 4 Star) I happened to ask her what other cruise lines she had cruised. Her answer, "I have only cruised on HAL and would never consider another line." But of course she KNEW that HAL was the best :).

Hank[/QUOTE]

So did you fill her in on how hal does nothing right:D? If someone is totally happy with a line why look around? I've looked around, have cruised several lines, but I'm happiest on hal. How is that wrong? I would never tell you that you should only cruise hal. How do you know that hal is not the best for her?

[Seafoam Green]

Our upcoming 8th cruise is our first on HAL. We have used the same online TA for our 4 Princess cruises and for our Oosterdam cruise. The main difference for our next cruise, however, is that we now have a dedicated agent to help us with our booking. Previously, I only got whoever answered the phone, and was never informed that I could have a dedicated agent. I like the agency because of the pricing and OBC available, and that is why I have returned. Now I am thrilled to have one person to contact and handle my concerns. I like to find and research cruises on my own, but enjoy guidance of a professional when committing to a booking. I will take care of my own flight, hotel and excursion arrangements, but enjoy having an agent 'in my corner' for the cruise portion of the vacation.

I think TAs offer different levels of comfort/security to different consumers, and I doubt they will ever become extinct.

:D

[iancal]

We find that some TA's have a lot in common with banks in Canada. If you do not keep a close eye on them you will pay far too much (directly or indirectly) service charges for a declining level of service.

[Cruising-along]

[quote name='iancal']We find that some TA's have a lot in common with banks in Canada. If you do not keep a close eye on them you will pay far too much (directly or indirectly) service charges for a declining level of service.[/QUOTE]

Yes. Make sure they don't charge you every time you ask for a price drop. The agency we used made so many charges, it ate up any OBC they offered. I know they don't all do that. I guess we have some homework to do....when there's time!