How do you Book

[rucrazy]

I was wondering how do you book your cruise?

Do you book online yourself?

Do you use the cruise line PCC

Do you use a specific TA? 

Do You book thru big name booking site?

[Krazy Kruizers]

After a couple of bad TA's many years ago when we started to travel, we were fortunate to find an excellent TA that we have used for over 27 years.

[Fouremco]

We've used a Big Box store's TA since they extended their travel services to Canada. Can't beat the perks, and we've been very pleased with their handling of our bookings. 

[richwmn]

My initial booking is with my PCC. The cruise is then transferred to a TA, lately Big Box, for their perks just prior to final payment.

 

[kazu]

8 minutes ago, richwmn said:

My initial booking is with my PCC. The cruise is then transferred to a TA, lately Big Box, for their perks just prior to final payment.

 

 

I do the same as Rich - book with my PCC and then transfer it.

[oceanmom]

I also book with PCC then transfer to big box store close to final payment for the spendy cruises. Usually keep the 7-day AK or Carib. with the PCC.

[Cruising-along]

I'm another one who books with our PCC and then transfers it to the big box store close to final payment.

[hmmm]

So I am a bit naive as to the concept of switching........could someone please explain the ins and outs..........when you say PCC......what does that mean? Etc.  We have just found I guess what is called a big box online, that we call in to book out tickets.  Didn’t realize all the other options or ways.

[richwmn]

22 minutes ago, hmmm said:

So I am a bit naive as to the concept of switching........could someone please explain the ins and outs..........when you say PCC......what does that mean? Etc.  We have just found I guess what is called a big box online, that we call in to book out tickets.  Didn’t realize all the other options or ways.

A PCC is a dedicated person at HAL that books our cruises. They build up a personal relationship and know our preferences.

HAL's rules allow a booking made by a PCC, or their general call in department, to be transferred to any Travel Agent prior to final payment. Often the TA involved adds perks, mostly on board credit, to sweeten the deal. The TA then "owns" the booking and must be the one called if you have questions.

 

[Fouremco]

1 hour ago, richwmn said:

My initial booking is with my PCC. The cruise is then transferred to a TA, lately Big Box, for their perks just prior to final payment.

 

 

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

I do the same as Rich - book with my PCC and then transfer it.

You are both experienced HAL cruisers in addition to being well informed through Cruise Critic and other sources. I'm just curious to know what your PCC brings to the table that you don't already know. I see no downside to booking with the PCC and then transferring to the Big Box or other TA, but I'm less clear about what the upside is to starting with the PCC.

[DaveOKC]

16 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

 

You are both experienced HAL cruisers in addition to being well informed through Cruise Critic and other sources. I'm just curious to know what your PCC brings to the table that you don't already know. I see no downside to booking with the PCC and then transferring to the Big Box or other TA, but I'm less clear about what the upside is to starting with the PCC.

 

The PCC is very good about getting me refaring.   Two days ago saved $500 pp on a 14 day cruise and it was done in minutes.

 

After final payment, the biggest plus is that upsell offers come right ti my email, not going through a TA, which means they have to get it, contact me, and then TA has to recontact HAL (also makes it tougher to select the cabin you want to upsell to).  When I call HAL upsell department directly, I get an immediate answer AND I generally can select the new cabin (takes all of 2-3 minutes).  Now, I tend to take "off peak" cruises, so upsell offers come up on most of them.

 

The big box guy is opening near me next month or so, then I will explore this option in more detail. 

 

QUESTION BACK  - are you able to get the casino rate with the big box guy?  I could not see it on the website.  This saves me alot.

Edited March 31, 2019 by DaveOKC

[kazu]

20 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

 

You are both experienced HAL cruisers in addition to being well informed through Cruise Critic and other sources. I'm just curious to know what your PCC brings to the table that you don't already know. I see no downside to booking with the PCC and then transferring to the Big Box or other TA, but I'm less clear about what the upside is to starting with the PCC.

 

I need to qualify in my answer.  I have a VERY good PCC.  I sought recommendations and was able to get transferred to her.

 

My PCC is very knowledgeable about all things HAL.  So, for example, I was considering a cruise on the Koningsdam - never been on and needed good advice as to cabins.  She gave me great advice as to category & location.

 

If I need something taken out of inventory - it takes one second.  Much less work for her than my TA.  She can quickly give me all pricing - Explore4, without and non refundable.

 

And, while my booking is with HAL, I can see all my OBC, see that my shareholder credit is there and if I want to make payments (which I do like to do) directly without bothering any one and see they are applied.

 

Refaring is easy and quick..

 

The nice part is that both the PCC and the TA benefit.  My PCC gets credit (as long as it isn’t booked on board for some reason) as does my TA.

 

Those are the key things that jump to my mind.

 

 

 

[Alberta Quilter]

13 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

 

You are both experienced HAL cruisers in addition to being well informed through Cruise Critic and other sources. I'm just curious to know what your PCC brings to the table that you don't already know. I see no downside to booking with the PCC and then transferring to the Big Box or other TA, but I'm less clear about what the upside is to starting with the PCC.

 

I can't speak for either Rich or kazu but I book with the PCC to get everything set up just right for us.  Most times, I don't even need to tell him how to set the beds or what kind of dining.  I realize it's a small thing but it's one reason.  The other reason is that it's much easier to deal with the PCC until one transfers the cruise, of course, then to deal with a different person at the big box agency every time you call.  So, for price drops, I can contact my PCC directly.  If I call the big box agency, I'm on hold for some time, then they have to call HAL, put them on hold while they talk to me, then put me on hold while they talk to HAL, etc. etc.  It becomes a PITA.  So, I like to get everything set up the way I want it with the PCC and then transfer.  Hopefully, I can avoid the hassle of dealing with the big box agency.  Sometimes I wonder if the OBC component that comes with the BBA is worth the hassle - most times, I decide it is worth it.  Two cruises ago, I walked off with a refund on my credit card and the last cruise, with $1000 in OBC, we walked off with a $45 bill.

[richwmn]

I have to agree with both Alberta Quilter and Kazu. I believe Kazu and I use the same PCC. I have used the same PCC for a long time and she has taken very good care of me. As was mentioned by both the other posters, it is a simple matter to take care of things before final payment, then transfer. It is also very nice to have the same person to talk to each time, which is not available with big box. Once I transfer to the big box, everything is set. I will say that the rep I talked to at the big box did a good job of a price drop after their final date but before HALs on one cruise.

Like Kazu said, it is a win win, PCC gets credit and keeps her job, I get OBC from big box

 

[Fouremco]

Thank you all for your responses. Definitely lots of food for thought before we book our next HAL cruise. I'm particularly heartened to hear that the PCC still gets credit when you transfer the booking.

[oaktreerb]

I tried booking online once.  I still needed to call to get my future booking credit.  I won’t do it online again.

[catl331]

We've used all of the first three at different times, but your poll doesn't allow that option.

[hmmm]

2 hours ago, richwmn said:

2 hours ago, hmmm said:

So I am a bit naive as to the concept of switching........could someone please explain the ins and outs..........when you say PCC......what does that mean? Etc.  We have just found I guess what is called a big box online, that we call in to book out tickets.  Didn’t realize all the other options or ways.

A PCC is a dedicated person at HAL that books our cruises. They build up a personal relationship and know our preferences.

HAL's rules allow a booking made by a PCC, or their general call in department, to be transferred to any Travel Agent prior to final payment. Often the TA involved adds perks, mostly on board credit, to sweeten the deal. The TA then "owns" the booking and must be the one called if you have questions.

 

Thanks for some clarification.  It’s appreciated