ScubaShari Posted April 30, 2004 #1 Share Posted April 30, 2004 I read how the price of a cruise drops and people get either upgraded cabins or on board credit. When you book through a travel agency, are the prices set in stone or is there possibilities of these perks as well. I know I am sounding ignorant, but I don't get it. When we book our land vacations, I book them myself the only time we have used a TA is when cruising, so I am not quite sure how TA's work in general. I am just wondering how the price break thing works when using a travel agent. [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;06;06;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] days till I am cruising the Caribbean Royal Caribbean - Viking Seranade, 1993 Carnival - Paradise, 2001 Carnival - Ecstacy, 2001 Norwegin - Wind June, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halos Posted April 30, 2004 #2 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Cruise prices fluctuate constantly from the time you book through when you sail. You can call your TA occasionally if it's not an on-line agenct, just to check with him/her to see if there were any price drops. If there are, you should be able to get something...upgrade/ship credit or an actual refund right in your pocket if your final payment wasn't made yet. If you book through a TA on line, you can check the prices daily yourself and then call if you see a decrease. I believe in Miracles [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004 Calm Seas, Good Friends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britt-britt Posted April 30, 2004 #3 Share Posted April 30, 2004 I don't think you sound ignorant at all! This is something I would like to know, also. Like you, we only use a TA when we cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDoug Posted April 30, 2004 #4 Share Posted April 30, 2004 If you have been reading this board then you know that the price of a cruise is not set in stone. You have to know your TA's policies regarding price drops. Will they honor a competitor's price or only the cruiseline's. Many TA's will match a price you find online if you are outside your penalty period. If they don't, they know you can cancel and rebook at the lower price. Some won't match the price but will call the cruiseline and try to negotiate an upgrade for you. It all depends on how aggressive you are. Do you monitor the online TA's for prices? Do you check the cruiseline's website for price drops? Did you price shop before booking? I have heard that some TA's actually call their clients about specials and price drops/upgrades. Mine didn't, so I now price my own cruises. I booked 5 cabins on Wed. 4/28 with a TA who would honor a price I found online. It was a great deal for both of us. I did the research, found a price I was willing to pay and he got a commission for booking it. He got a smaller commission but had to do a lot less work. I usually pays to shop around. [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;3;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Beating the Winter Blues on the Legend Tropicale 9/95 Sensation 9/97 Carnival Destiny 10/00 Fascination 3/02 Imagination 3/03 Carnival Legend 10/28/03 Carnival Triumph 3/13/04 Carnival Legend 3/19/05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weswas Posted April 30, 2004 #5 Share Posted April 30, 2004 We book a year in advance, so I call our TA monthly to see what is going on or I stop in to see her. This is their job so don't feel like your bugging them and if they seem annoyed get a new agent. WE book with the hope that we will either get a price break or ship credit. UNTIL WE SAIL AGAIN....... [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2005;5;8;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaShari Posted April 30, 2004 Author #6 Share Posted April 30, 2004 I appreciate this information. Thank you [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;06;06;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] days till I am cruising the Caribbean Royal Caribbean - Viking Seranade, 1993 Carnival - Paradise, 2001 Carnival - Ecstacy, 2001 Norwegin - Wind June, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sallyb Posted April 30, 2004 #7 Share Posted April 30, 2004 What if you booked directly with Carnival and then you see a lower price at an online TA, or even at their web site? Will they do anything for you in these cases? Thanks To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive. Robert Louis Stevenson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted April 30, 2004 #8 Share Posted April 30, 2004 I have been calling or emailing weekly for the past 2 weeks. You never know, right? [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;5;15;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] 5/15 Glory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare dickinson Posted April 30, 2004 #9 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Sallyb- if you booked with Carnival they will lower the price if their prices went down. This is as long as it is outside the penalty period. Once inside the penalty period, you can usually get either an onboard credit or an upgrade. You can request which you want but it is ultimately their decision which to give. My last cruise I booked directly through them and my reservationist said to keep calling up until the day we sail! she said sometimes the price goes down then too. Mardi Gras 4/1988 NCL Norway 8/1990 Sensation 8/1996 Sensation 4/9/2000 Paradise 2/1/2002 Triumph 1/31/2004 [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;9;5;15;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] 9/5 Paradise- Panama Canal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sallyb Posted April 30, 2004 #10 Share Posted April 30, 2004 So, did the price go down? I don't want an upgrade, already had that offered, but I will keep checking for a shipboard credit. If I find a better price somewhere else, should I call my PVP and try for credit? To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive. Robert Louis Stevenson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.Oceanlover Posted May 1, 2004 #11 Share Posted May 1, 2004 before booking with anyone I always ask what their policies are in regards to lowering prices. Some agencies won't lower them so make sure before you book. I also ask about cancellation fees imposed by the agent. If they charge a fee to cancel then I'm outta there. I found a really grat agent now who has her own agency and has done a wonderful job on our current bookings. I'll be sticking with her. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Bill [img]http://home.comcast.net/~w.coleman43/1a.jpg[/img] [url="http://home.comcast.net/~w.coleman43"]Caribbean Princess Eastern Caribbean cruise page[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy4bears Posted May 2, 2004 #12 Share Posted May 2, 2004 I used a TA and received a refund check for $350 even though I had already made my final payment. [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;05;15;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RinaJune612 Posted May 2, 2004 #13 Share Posted May 2, 2004 I booked directly with Carnival and the final payment has been made. I sail in 43 days should I call them to see if the prices went down? or try to get a quote from someone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotton Posted May 2, 2004 #14 Share Posted May 2, 2004 Rina, call your Carnival PVP and ask. Those folks are there to help you, and do not mind your calling. Just ask her/him if there has been a rate reduction on your cabin. If so, since you've made final payment, they should give you a shipboard credit. All you have to do is ask. If you don't, you'll never know. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Festivale 1987 Carnivale 1988 Mardi Gras 1989 Pacific Princess 1990 Norway 1994 Holiday 2001 Holiday 2002 Holiday 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RinaJune612 Posted May 2, 2004 #15 Share Posted May 2, 2004 Thank you so much Cotton your a big help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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