Does your TA know about Cruise Critic?

[canderson]

I agree that it is important for a TA to be informed, but this should be done on an ongoing basis by taking seminars that are offered through their professional organizations.

How many of these seminars deal primarily with process and process resources for "doing the business" as opposed to becoming increasingly informed about how the PUBLIC views and feels about the various products that you sell? Do such seminars, for example, provide sufficient detail about the differences between cruise lines such that you'd be able to make a truly informed suggestion about which line would best suit one of your customers?

 

My experience thus far with TAs is that, seminars or no seminars, few understand the differences between lines that may be important to their customers unless they've actually cruised those lines (hard to find enough time!) or spent a great deal of their own time listening to those that do cruise regularly.

[SS Cruise Lady]

How many of these seminars deal primarily with process and process resources for "doing the business" as opposed to becoming increasingly informed about how the PUBLIC views and feels about the various products that you sell? Do such seminars, for example, provide sufficient detail about the differences between cruise lines such that you'd be able to make a truly informed suggestion about which line would best suit one of your customers?

 

My experience thus far with TAs is that, seminars or no seminars, few understand the differences between lines that may be important to their customers unless they've actually cruised those lines (hard to find enough time!) or spent a great deal of their own time listening to those that do cruise regularly.

 

I agree with you that very few TA's understand the differences in cruise lines unless they are avid cruisers themselves, but have found that the ones who take seminars through CLIA have a tendency to be more knowledgeable than the others. To be perfectly honest I consider my friends who travel extensively to be a much better source of information than any travel agent I have ever met. The only reason why I will ever use a travel agent as opposed to booking directly from a cruise line is to save a few bucks.

 

When my daughter was in college, I booked one of her flights home through a local TA that is part of a respected national franchise. That TA had planned to give me an electronic ticket until I explained that this airline would ask to see the credit card used to buy that electronic ticket when she checked in at O'Hare, and since my credit card would be with me in the Northeast, she would have a problem. To my surprise, that travel agent wasn't even aware that the airline in question had this policy about electronic tickets at that point in time. This is an example of the problems that can occur when a TA doesn't keep current in her field.

[TPKeller]

I think it is a very small percentage of cruise passengers who find CC. Despite rather thorough coverage on these boards, my tip calculator only averages about 50 hits a day... think of all those poor folks who are still doing the math on the last day of their cruise!! :)

 

Theron

[Host Walt]

My TA knows about it, but rarely (if ever) reads it. She is focused on doing work, which means booking and selling. CC doesn't help her do that directly. She also is keenly aware of the 'real' statistical value of the information (approximately only 1% of total cruising population is represented here on CC).

 

Should it tell you something about that TA? In my opinion, no. It certainly does not measure competency.

Actually our current membership totals over 160,000. And many memberships are held by two or more people who share a computer and member name.

 

Assuming that someone is not likely to be spending much time at Cruise Critic, let alone actually sign up as a member, unless he/she was planning a cruise or was interested in the possibilities, it's fair to say the CC boards can provide a valuable insight into the characteristics of cruise pax and of the target market for TA's. Our stats show a large number of unregistered "guests" are on our boards at any given time in addition to a high percentage of activity by registered members.

 

If the industry stat that only 7% of the US adult population has ever been on a cruise, then Cruise Critic members (and guests) represent a significant part of the target market.

[newmexicoNita]

I agree with you that very few TA's understand the differences in cruise lines unless they are avid cruisers themselves, but have found that the ones who take seminars through CLIA have a tendency to be more knowledgeable than the others. To be perfectly honest I consider my friends who travel extensively to be a much better source of information than any travel agent I have ever met. The only reason why I will ever use a travel agent as opposed to booking directly from a cruise line is to save a few bucks.

 

When my daughter was in college, I booked one of her flights home through a local TA that is part of a respected national franchise. That TA had planned to give me an electronic ticket until I explained that this airline would ask to see the credit card used to buy that electronic ticket when she checked in at O'Hare, and since my credit card would be with me in the Northeast, she would have a problem. To my surprise, that travel agent wasn't even aware that the airline in question had this policy about electronic tickets at that point in time. This is an example of the problems that can occur when a TA doesn't keep current in her field.

SS lady two things to point out: 1-even the most knowledgable agent can't know everything. I don't know the situation but perhaps the agent was new. Everyone of us were new at our jobs at one time or another. 2nd maybe she was one of those who was an order taker only and yes, none of us like to think about that but there are agent out there that don't know much. Those are not the agents who frequent sites like CC.

 

Seminars are great and a value, but they are also costly. Not all agents have the time or the funds to attend them regularly. Once or twice a year yes, but if we took part in all that are offered we would be very well informed with no time to work thus we would earn very little money. With internet access we can gain a great deal of information and if we work for a major company travel changes are forwarded to us via our company headquarters, not to mention industry magazines, etc.

 

I am sure most agents would agree we get our infomation and views from various sites as well as our clients. NMnita

[SS Cruise Lady]

SS lady two things to point out: 1-even the most knowledgable agent can't know everything. I don't know the situation but perhaps the agent was new. Everyone of us were new at our jobs at one time or another. 2nd maybe she was one of those who was an order taker only and yes, none of us like to think about that but there are agent out there that don't know much. Those are not the agents who frequent sites like CC.

 

Seminars are great and a value, but they are also costly. Not all agents have the time or the funds to attend them regularly. Once or twice a year yes, but if we took part in all that are offered we would be very well informed with no time to work thus we would earn very little money. With internet access we can gain a great deal of information and if we work for a major company travel changes are forwarded to us via our company headquarters, not to mention industry magazines, etc.

 

I am sure most agents would agree we get our infomation and views from various sites as well as our clients. NMnita

 

NMita, I understand what you are saying, and if you are taking one or two seminars a year, I consider that to be very impressive :)

 

I also realize that there are a number of different ways for a travel agent to keep current, and consider your industry's magazines to be an excellent source :)

[Kate-AHF]

My TA knows about CC, though I'm not sure how often she reads it.

 

I was much more surprised to find out she hits TripAdvisor when looking into hotels she didn't have first hand knowledge of.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Canderson, very well said as always.

 

TPKeller, love the tip calculator and I used it, but the cruiselines also offer this information and so a lot of people figure it out on their own. I only found the tip calculator recently and it is a great service.

 

Walt, glad to see your numbers support my belief that we get quite a large cross section of opinions on these boards considering the large number of members. So clearly CC is a great tool for TA's ... and it doesn't cost them a penny!!;)

[iv18-Diane]

Kate, as a TA I also visit Trip Advisor to see what Hotels are good for a client and also for myself.

My office hold seminars with all the cruiselines a few times of years. I also take CLIA courses to maintain my card. Since I also sell Land packages we have Sandals Seminars a few times a year, and one to maintain our CSS. (Certified Sandals Specialist) .It comes in handy when cruise passengers want to see one on a cruise also.

I cruise every year, so know what each line has to offer. The only mainsteam line I have not cruised on is NCL.

 

I feel Cruise Critic shows the pluses and Minuses of each line, so you know better what to offer a particular client.

 

Diane G

[newmexicoNita]

Kate, as a TA I also visit Trip Advisor to see what Hotels are good for a client and also for myself.

My office hold seminars with all the cruiselines a few times of years. I also take CLIA courses to maintain my card. Since I also sell Land packages we have Sandals Seminars a few times a year, and one to maintain our CSS. (Certified Sandals Specialist) .It comes in handy when cruise passengers want to see one on a cruise also.

I cruise every year, so know what each line has to offer. The only mainsteam line I have not cruised on is NCL.

 

I feel Cruise Critic shows the pluses and Minuses of each line, so you know better what to offer a particular client.

 

Diane G

Pretty much the way I do it, sometimes I check Trip Advisor and sometimes I just look at the ratings on travelocity or similar websites. Regardless let's hope all TAs try to learn as much as they can before booking clients anyplace and bTW, we do make mistakes. We think we know what will please our clients but sometimes we are wrong. Thank goodness for the happy clients cause those who are not happy will let us know in no uncertain terms. LOL NMNita