What's the point of the PCC?

[Barb Nahoumi]

Mine never calls me, unless I make the initial call. I appreciate that.

 

I don't like to be "cold-called."

[LrgPizza]

I'm lucky enough to have a great PCC. When we book online, he usually calls us within a couple days to offer any help we might need. Most recently I emailed him when dining reservations opened on our Escape TA cruise, but entertainment wasn't visible. He emailed me back within 5 minutes, with a list of dates and times. I replied, and was booked for all I needed. Easy peasy. He has always been quick to respond to phone calls or emails, which I appreciate.

[detroitlions]

If you log into NCL.com and then shop cruises' date=' your name is handed off to a pool of PCCs who call and tell you they're your new PCC. Happens to me weekly. I tell them I already have a PCC and that he'll call me if I need to know anything. I've learned to shop without logging in so I'm anonymous.

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk[/quote']

Happens to me also. Carnival is the worse if I login to see if I have and CAS specials they call the same day and every few days after. NCL has not cause they see I have one booked already and know I am looking to upgrade:)

[tempus137]

A PCC can't give you any discounts or considerable perks (best I ever got from a PCC was $10 worth of strawberries) like a TA rep can. In my case I find paying extra 10% for the same product completely unnecessary.

 

Also if a person needs to act on a price reduction or service other issue, they just contact their TA, I don't understand why that is viewed as a problem. (Managing changes with a poor PCC can be just as tedious as with a poor TA.)

 

Also since my TA deals with all other cruise lines too, I can get a lot better recommendations not limited to just one cruise line and can make my own educated decisions.

 

(So far my TA has gotten us all price reductions possible and booked us as exactly what I have researched in advance - except for the 2017 Celebrity cruise we got even better deal through their unpublished group booking.)

 

Our TA is my DW's business client, so it goes without saying who we use.

 

I usually do all of the research, give the info to the TA & she books it. Our December cruise was booked in January, then I saw the price reduction & change in promos in February. One call to the TA had everything rebooked with the lower fare.

 

Plus we usually get some sort of welcome aboard gift from the TA.

[dcipjr]

I just got another call and email, and just replied back over email that I'd rather discuss these things over email, and not be getting calls.

 

I also took the opportunity, to tell him of a upcoming cruise I am considering, and asking him if there were any promos aside from the well-publicized Freestyle Choice, because I would be interested, etc.

 

He replied back, echoing the same stuff that's available and clearly stated on the website. No extra perks, no lower cost, no advantage that I can see over reading the site myself and doing the booking on my own.

 

I've used a TA before, but it wound up being a hassle trying to get them to get price drops and upgrades. I like the power of being able to do things myself. The small amount of OBC I got with the TA wasn't worth the hassle.

 

I'll stick to booking via the website.

[Demonyte]

The small amount of OBC I got with the TA wasn't worth the hassle.

 

You just haven't found a good TA if you only got a small amount of OBC - our TA gives us about 10% of the cruise fare in OBC and/or price reduction. That definitely is worth enough not to book direct - also haven't had problems with price drops or other changes either.

[KeithJenner]

I always used to book online, but in the UK we can't use a future cruise credit online so I started to have to phone in foot book for that reason.

 

I got allocated a PCC and I literally just used him as a contact to phone. I do all my research myself, so really just needed someone to call. He was very happy to just do that. He never bothered me, just waited for me to contact him.

 

He has now left, but my new PCC is just as good.

 

Before my experience with them, I would have assumed that having a PCC doesn't really give any benefit. However, there are a few things which have really made a difference for me.

 

Firstly, when phoning in, I have a contact who knows us, so there is no need to give all our latitudes numbers etc. I just say which of us are going and they deal with it. A minor benefit but it's appreciated.

 

When I need to change anything I can often do it just my email. For example when I was on a cruise last year I heard that some offers on the Escape transatlantic meant it was worth cancelling and rebooking. I couldn't easily phone, so just sent an email and he sorted it. Had I not had the contact then this would have been harder.

 

Finally, and most significantly, I have read with interest some of the battles people have had with the cancelled cruises last week. By contrast, my PCC called me on Monday to see what I wanted to do and then I left it with her. A couple of days she phoned back to confirm the transfer of my booking. I have no idea if she had to do much for me, but I seemed to get as good an offer as many were reporting without any hassle or arguing at all. Whether or not she fought my corner for me, it was certainly a lot less grief than many have reported,

 

So, I'd say that if you can get a good PCC then they are worth it, and that's coming from someone who prefers to research and book things myself.

[StaceyCT]

If you log into NCL.com and then shop cruises' date=' your name is handed off to a pool of PCCs who call and tell you they're your new PCC. Happens to me weekly. I tell them I already have a PCC and that he'll call me if I need to know anything. I've learned to shop without logging in so I'm anonymous.[/quote']

 

I've never logged into the ncl site to shop for cruises, but I did call their booking department once to ask a question. They must have had caller ID, because the next day I started getting daily voice mails from some PCC who was super-excited to tell me about NCL's current promos. I never got around to calling him back to say stop it. After a few weeks, he just quit.

 

I did NOT appreciate getting cold calls when I'd never even given my phone number to Norwegian. To top it off, the booking department agent I spoke to that day gave me an incorrect answer. :mad:

[Gig103]

The PCC / PVP (depending on line) acts as a travel agent that can't give extra perks, and to up sell you as much as possible.

[fstuff1]

As a solo cruiser, one big advantage I get from working with a PCC is that he proactively emails me "reduced/no single supplement" cruises on a weekly basis. I used to rely on cruise websites that listed "solo specials", but once I started receiving the lists directly from NCL I realized that those sites only include a fraction of the cruises available at a discount for solos.

 

I also have certain cabins I prefer on different ships, so when those cabins are not available when I first book, my PCC periodically scans bookings on my sailings and lets me know when/if my favorite cabins come available. I have a 12-day BA cruise coming up and was so happy when he called to say my favorite aft balcony cabin came open!

 

So, for me, my PCC is a big help!

 

name/email/link to this "reduced/no single supplement" list?

PLEASE! :)

Edited August 27, 2015 by fstuff1

[SeaShark]

name/email/link to this "reduced/no single supplement" list?

PLEASE! :)

The list is a part of a document called the weekly SalesPAL that is sent to all PCCs and TAs. Not available to the general public.

 

Another item a person who books them self will not have access to...

[parallel]

I'm glad I was assigned a PCC. She doesn't bother me and I have her direct line for when I have questions. She even emailed me the price lists for bottles. I had previously called the 800# to inquire and the rep said we don't do that.

[PATRLR]

Probably better to say you sometimes get a better deal with a TA? We have two cruises booked. Tried 4 TA's, two of the huge online, one local cruise "specialists" and a big box. All were given a chance to give me a deal on both cruises, none could do any better than my PCC. Two were more than my PCC!! One charged for all changes, two charged $25 for any changes and one allowed no changes after booking. Not a better deal in any way.

 

Not my experience at all. I find it frustrating that the lines themselves won't give me the best deal (It's not just an NCL thing). Most recent booking, I got my best deal from the TA and called the PCC back and said "can you do this?". Answer: "No way". Good bye.

 

This thread should make it clear that PCC's are nothing more than glorified call handlers. Not sure why anyone would expect them to add value.

Edited August 27, 2015 by PATRLR

[PATRLR]

The PCC / PVP (depending on line) acts as a travel agent that can't give extra perks, and to up sell you as much as possible.

Exactly.

[thatjoeguy]

Probably better to say you sometimes get a better deal with a TA? We have two cruises booked. Tried 4 TA's, two of the huge online, one local cruise "specialists" and a big box. All were given a chance to give me a deal on both cruises, none could do any better than my PCC. Two were more than my PCC!! One charged for all changes, two charged $25 for any changes and one allowed no changes after booking. Not a better deal in any way.

 

I know for sure on my last 5 cruises I've gotten a better rate through a TA than through Norwegian, using either a large online TA or our local member's only warehouse. The online TA has, in theory, a $25 change fee, but I've been able to upgrade for free without it. The warehouse TA doesn't have any fees.

 

According to my experience, I should say that you always get a better deal with a TA, but everyone may not have access to the right ones.

Edited August 28, 2015 by thatjoeguy

[Demonyte]

My NCL PCC called me with an offer for a 7 day cruise book an Inside GTY get a midship balcony for $199p.p. a couple days before sailing.

 

 

 

I don't think a T/A would get that info and call with a better deal in that time frame.

 

.

 

 

What makes you think so? TAs have access to the exact same agent info/materials as PCCs and unlike PCCs, their hands are not tied what comes to pricing as they can (and many will) gladly give you part of their commission for your continued business. PCC can never match price/perks a good TA can give - even on a last minute cruise.

Edited August 29, 2015 by Demonyte

[biker@sea]

What makes you think so? TAs have access to the exact same agent info/materials as PCCs and unlike PCCs, their hands are not tied what comes to pricing as they can (and many will) gladly give you part of their commission for your continued business. PCC can never match price/perks a good TA can give - even on a last minute cruise.

 

How much commission they gonna make on a next to nothing fare??

 

Not many a Glad to work for free.??

 

Got an examples of a T/A with a better price than $199 balconies $$$

And they Did Say ALWAYS better!

.

Edited August 29, 2015 by biker@sea

[Demonyte]

How much commission they gonna make on a next to nothing fare??

 

Not many a Glad to work for free.??

 

Got an examples of a T/A with a better price than $199 balconies $$$

And they Did Say ALWAYS better!

.

 

 

Next to nothing is not nothing, aka free. Cruise line still pays them commission, no matter how small - so they are not working for free. Also they do not need to do much for a last minute booking, the work required is calculated in mere minutes.

 

I too stand by the claim that I can always get better deal from my TA than any PCC.

[biker@sea]

Next to nothing is not nothing, aka free. Cruise line still pays them commission, no matter how small - so they are not working for free. Also they do not need to do much for a last minute booking, the work required is calculated in mere minutes.

 

I too stand by the claim that I can always get better deal from my TA than any PCC.

 

Show me a better deal than $199 .

[JayinAZ]

My NCL PCC called me with an offer for a 7 day cruise book an Inside GTY get a midship balcony for $199p.p. a couple days before sailing. Show me a better deal than $199

 

Sounds like a great deal if you're available to leave in a couple days but you have to book an inside to get the balcony for that rate. I'm thinking there may be more to the story though such as additional restrictions, port charges, blah blah blah. I also think that if this deal actually existed, then it would be available for everyone, not just the super secret NCL PCC and their special clients.

Eh, whatever. We can all book however we want, better things to argue about than this.

 

Show me a better deal than $199

We still haven't seen your $199 deal, just an alleged phone call at some point in time.

[Demonyte]

Show me a better deal than $199 .

 

 

As I have said, there has yet to be a cruise of which my current TA of several years wouldn't give me about 10% of cruise fare in price reduction and/or OBC.

[biker@sea]

Sounds like a great deal if you're available to leave in a couple days but you have to book an inside to get the balcony for that rate. I'm thinking there may be more to the story though such as additional restrictions, port charges, blah blah blah. I also think that if this deal actually existed, then it would be available for everyone, not just the super secret NCL PCC and their special clients.

Eh, whatever. We can all book however we want, better things to argue about than this.

 

 

We still haven't seen your $199 deal, just an alleged phone call at some point in time.

 

That was the publicized rate online NCL.com for the sept. 12 2014 sailing for NCL Dawn. Maybe you missed it.

.

[Markwa]

My newly-anointed PCC has been calling me every afternoon (while I'm at work, naturally). You could set your watch by him.

 

When I ignore the call, he sends me an email saying that he's sorry he missed me, but he has great news! NCL is running some fabulous exclusive promotions and he'd love to tell me about them!

 

This is the fourth person that has assumed this role in as many years. They're here today, gone tomorrow—so I haven't tried to actually get too emotionally attached to any of them.

 

I do a lot of homework before I book a cruise. I frequent CruiseCritic, know NCL's itineraries and their current promotions, and research the heck out of the cruise before I book anything.

 

For someone like me, is there any advantage of booking with a PCC rather than going via the website? Can they get me better pricing or OBC?

 

The cynic in me thinks this is just someone looking for a commission. Any thoughts from other obsessive cruise researchers out there?

 

I just had my cruise cancelled and had to move to a later cruise. If it wasn't for my PCC I would still be on hold to the department handling these issues.

He arranged the change, then he was able to get one of my preferred cabins .

If you get a good one, believe me they are worth gold

[biker@sea]

Sounds like a great deal if you're available to leave in a couple days but you have to book an inside to get the balcony for that rate. I'm thinking there may be more to the story though such as additional restrictions, port charges, blah blah blah. I also think that if this deal actually existed, then it would be available for everyone, not just the super secret NCL PCC and their special clients.

Eh, whatever. We can all book however we want, better things to argue about than this.

 

 

We still haven't seen your $199 deal, just an alleged phone call at some point in time.

 

No secret at all. Any body can get last minute deals.

 

PCC's are under pressure to fill ships , it's there job, they work for the cruise line so they call .

 

A T/A works for you and could care less if the ship is full no reason to work making a bunch of calls for short

commissions on cheap cruises .

Edited August 30, 2015 by biker@sea

[abe3]

I have a great PCC with NCL for the past 3 years. Before that I was getting a new one every time I booked. He has always given me good deals and has always helped me when I have questions.