First time Oceania Cruiser; using a TA?

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, clo said:

Just so you know, the US Dept of Transportation actually has authority over that. Both domestic and international corporations. So it's good that your agent helped you but it was within your power also.

I haven't hard of anyone getting their money back by contacting the US DOT.  And the Ponant board has many complaints from people who were not able to get help through their own power.  What I do know is that I succeeded because of my TA, and this other passenger because of the NYS AG [PonantUSA is a New York Corporation].

[Flatbush Flyer]

38 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I haven't hard of anyone getting their money back by contacting the US DOT.  And the Ponant board has many complaints from people who were not able to get help through their own power.  What I do know is that I succeeded because of my TA, and this other passenger because of the NYS AG [PonantUSA is a New York Corporation].

DOT has policies related to air refunds

FMC has policies related to cruise refunds.

Neither agency is really setup to get your money for you.

[sitraveler]

Just one example of the great value in using a travel agent. 3 days before my scheduled departure on a Viking River cruise, a major snow storm was forecast for NYC. It was a Sunday.   We called our TA, somehow she got ahold of Viking,  we got out on Tuesday. Extra day in Berlin, our Wednesday flight was canceled. 

[TERRIER1]

2 hours ago, sitraveler said:

Just one example of the great value in using a travel agent. 3 days before my scheduled departure on a Viking River cruise, a major snow storm was forecast for NYC. It was a Sunday.   We called our TA, somehow she got ahold of Viking,  we got out on Tuesday. Extra day in Berlin, our Wednesday flight was canceled. 

This is so true. We booked a 32 day cruise comprised of two 16 day segments. There is no smoking allowed except in the one designated area on ship. Unfortunately, there was a chain smoker who smoked on the balcony non stop. We along with many other surrounding cabins complained to no avail. We even suggested Oceania just make an announcement on the PA that no smoking is allowed and they wouldn't. We put up with it hoping that the smoker would disembark on the next segment. No such luck.

 

My TA emailed me asking how the trip was going. I said great except for the smoker. She asked if we had informed the crew and I said yes on several occasions and we weren't the only ones. When we got back to the cabin from our our all day tour I had a phone message to please call and meet some person from Oceania to discuss the "issue". I don't know what my TA did but the outcome was no more smoking and a nice SBC or FCC for my inconvenience. This is where a good TA comes into play.

[pinotlover]

To add to the above, the OCC has been essentially dormant the past several years, particularly since the merger of PCH and NCL. Agencies, based on their performance, have neither been added to nor deleted from the list. The new NCLH Perferred Agencies list appears to have replaced that designation for practical ( money) purposes.

 

There is talk that the OCC may be revived, however what that will actually look like and mean is still in question by both the Agents and Agencies.

 

Therefore, currently the clamor  over a OCC Agency doesn’t quite have the same meaning in 2021 that it did in 2016. That likewise applies to the Agents that work for those Agencies. 

Edited April 13, 2021 by pinotlover

[clo]

10 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I haven't hard of anyone getting their money back by contacting the US DOT.  And the Ponant board has many complaints from people who were not able to get help through their own power.  What I do know is that I succeeded because of my TA, and this other passenger because of the NYS AG [PonantUSA is a New York Corporation].

And I succeeded by emailing the CEO of an airline and a cruise line and getting refunds from both of them. All I did was let them know that the DOT required a refund if I desired. I don't mind using my "power" when the time comes.

[SSCAF001]

On 4/13/2021 at 5:12 AM, clo said:

But you can get both. We've booked with an O agent at a nice price and then transferred it to a travel agent who gave us the gratuities.

I have just booked a 40 day cruise aboard Serenity from Singapore to Barcelona May/June 2023 directly with Oceania. I have tried to find a Travel Agent who could offer some additional perks like OBC or paid gratuities but the few I have been able to contact in Switzerland are unable to offer any thing beyond what O gave me already. I know that it is not allowed to share any Travel agent details on this forum but for example do you know where I could find a list of the so called Oceania Cruise Connoisseur Club? Thanks in advance.

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, SSCAF001 said:

I have just booked a 40 day cruise aboard Serenity from Singapore to Barcelona May/June 2023 directly with Oceania.

How  does that work?

 Oceania  does not have  a  ship  called Serenity?

 

As for the OCCC  agent ..google is your friend 

[SSCAF001]

18 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

How  does that work?

 Oceania  does not have  a  ship  called Serenity?

 

As for the OCCC  agent ..google is your friend 

Sorry my mistake. I am sure you have understood I made a confusion between Oceania and Crystal! I wanted to mention Nautica. Sorry about that. 

[bartexas]

I’m a DIY traveler - book my own flights/hotels, plan activities, schedule drivers, hire private guides (don’t plan to ever do another “group” tour), etc. However, for cruising the $ makes me use a TA. As an AMEX Platinum card holder, you have to book through an AMEX accredited agency to get the cruise benefits (vary by line). I found one that is both an OCC and AMEX accredited. 

 

For Oceania, that means AMEX gives me $300 stateroom credit, a bottle of wine, and a wine tasting event. Above that, my TA is covering gratuities and providing another $200/pp of credit. Our trip is super port intensive, so at this point, I actually think our dilemma will be trying to actually use all the credit (We also have the O-Life credit and stockholder credit.), since we don’t do cruise excursions.

 

For me, it just makes sense as a math formula. The fact that I really like my TA, and have fun comparing our travel experiences and wish lists, is the icing on the cake. Additionally, when we were feeling like our 2021 cruise was as likely to get canceled as not (it did), I was able to have her book the 2022 cruise the day the calendar opened. She got our first choice room for us, which was fortunate since I was in an all day Zoom meeting that day, and our 2-4 choices were all booked by the time I logged off.

[edgee]

On 6/2/2021 at 7:42 PM, bartexas said:

I’m a DIY traveler - book my own flights/hotels, plan activities, schedule drivers, hire private guides (don’t plan to ever do another “group” tour), etc. However, for cruising the $ makes me use a TA. As an AMEX Platinum card holder, you have to book through an AMEX accredited agency to get the cruise benefits (vary by line). I found one that is both an OCC and AMEX accredited. 

 

For Oceania, that means AMEX gives me $300 stateroom credit, a bottle of wine, and a wine tasting event. Above that, my TA is covering gratuities and providing another $200/pp of credit. Our trip is super port intensive, so at this point, I actually think our dilemma will be trying to actually use all the credit (We also have the O-Life credit and stockholder credit.), since we don’t do cruise excursions.

 

For me, it just makes sense as a math formula. The fact that I really like my TA, and have fun comparing our travel experiences and wish lists, is the icing on the cake. Additionally, when we were feeling like our 2021 cruise was as likely to get canceled as not (it did), I was able to have her book the 2022 cruise the day the calendar opened. She got our first choice room for us, which was fortunate since I was in an all day Zoom meeting that day, and our 2-4 choices were all booked by the time I logged off.

Actually I book through a non Amex agency and they still get me my Amex Platinum benefits in addition to a cash rebate in the form of a check a few weeks prior to my cruise. On many cruises they also cover gratuities.

[RJB]

On 6/5/2021 at 8:16 PM, edgee said:

Actually I book through a non Amex agency and they still get me my Amex Platinum benefits in addition to a cash rebate in the form of a check a few weeks prior to my cruise. On many cruises they also cover gratuities.

Same with us.  A good  T/A is like gold.   Takes care of so many things for us that would be very hard to do on our own.  Sometimes can get us additional OBC also.  Would not leave home without her. 

[Harters]

I cannot recall using a travel agent in the last two decades for any holiday. Booked direct with O for our 2017 cruise and have just done the same for our 2022 one.  Perhaps American TAs operate differently to British ones but there seems to me no benefit in having an intermediary.

[RJB]

13 minutes ago, Harters said:

I cannot recall using a travel agent in the last two decades for any holiday. Booked direct with O for our 2017 cruise and have just done the same for our 2022 one.  Perhaps American TAs operate differently to British ones but there seems to me no benefit in having an intermediary.

Very helpful here in the states.  Have no idea how it is in overseas.  It is good as long as it works for you. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

11 minutes ago, Harters said:

I cannot recall using a travel agent in the last two decades for any holiday. Booked direct with O for our 2017 cruise and have just done the same for our 2022 one.  Perhaps American TAs operate differently to British ones but there seems to me no benefit in having an intermediary.

Perhaps you are partly right in that it may be unusual for British TAs to share commissions. However, I trust that some Brits manage to secure/enjoy that perk. Of course, there’s good and not-so-good ways to approach “the deal.”

Fortunately, Brooklyn-born folks learn very early in life how to “NEVER pay retail.”

[Harters]

25 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

it may be unusual for British TAs to share commissions.

I've never heard of it happening. I did check a couple of cruise specialist websites (including one in my metro area) before posting to see whether I'd missed any perks being  offered. Zilch, nada, nothing.

[Flatbush Flyer]

15 minutes ago, Harters said:

I've never heard of it happening. I did check a couple of cruise specialist websites (including one in my metro area) before posting to see whether I'd missed any perks being  offered. Zilch, nada, nothing.

That’s not the “art of the deal.”

Did you take your comp prices and nicely ask any of the TAs “I’ve seen the same/similar price across several TAs. What can you add to this deal that would make me buy it from you right now?”

FWIW, After negotiating a bit and “hitting a wall,”  I often ask sellers (of all sorts of stuff): “What’s your parking lot price?” 

In other words, “if I leave without buying, what price would you give me when you follow me out to my car?” (It’s also known as the “doorknob” price)

Finally, we almost always “book onboard” with Oceania and choose to assign the cruise to ourselves. We then have 30 days to transfer to a TA. We have several TAs with whom we work and they all know/understand that, depending on the itinerary, each may have occasional added amenities from TA consortia, O incentive $, etc. that gives them more leeway to add to the deal. That said, we never pit one against the other and ask these (our regular) TAs “can you beat XXX TA?.” We would do that with many sellers of stuff. But not with preferred vendors. After all, sometimes the quality of service is worth more than the $$$ savings.

[LHT28]

48 minutes ago, Harters said:

I've never heard of it happening. I did check a couple of cruise specialist websites (including one in my metro area) before posting to see whether I'd missed any perks being  offered. Zilch, nada, nothing.

Most will not advertise online  the perks they offer

You have to call & ask  ..if I book x cruise  what do you offer as a perk

 may not happen in the UK  but is a popular thing in North America

JMO

[Harters]

23 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

After all, sometimes the quality of service is worth more than the $$$ savings.

Absolutely right. Before retirement, my companion in life and I both worked in procurement. A favourite phrase from that time was that both of our employers had a policy of "failing cheaply".

[honumaui]

I use a TA for Regent and Oceania. Her company has a relationship with them and gives extra perks, ( prepaid gratuities, extra on board credit) , esp. when they have a travel show.  Since everything is included on Regent the extra credit comes in handy in the jewelry store. I like that if I need to cancel she takes of the notifications and makes sure I get my deposit back.

Also gets answers to any questions I have. For Windstar we are four star members and I deal directly with them with no problems. I would recommend using one for Oceania.

[Host Jazzbeau]

British cruisers are able to use US travel agencies [thanks to the internet].  You get our extra deals, but give up your consumer protection – and take a currency arbitrage risk.

[RJB]

6 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Perhaps you are partly right in that it may be unusual for British TAs to share commissions. However, I trust that some Brits manage to secure/enjoy that perk. Of course, there’s good and not-so-good ways to approach “the deal.”

Fortunately, Brooklyn-born folks learn very early in life how to “NEVER pay retail.”

Quite right.  We also were taught to vote early and often.  That was the Democratic party way as we were just about all Democratic.  A great place to grow up.  A little off topic but a little fun is O.K.

[Beagle5]

6 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

British cruisers are able to use US travel agencies [thanks to the internet].  You get our extra deals, but give up your consumer protection – and take a currency arbitrage risk.

Is this true for Oceania? Are British, Canadian and US residents able to cross country shop for different deals?

I was of the belief that Oceania restricts their fare offerings to residents of the country in which the fare is offered.

That is certainly the case for Australian fares on Oceania. From the T&Cs:

 

C. CRUISE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. CRUISE FARES
   These fares are valid only for residents of and through Travel Agents based in Australia.

 

I have booked cruises on other lines (e.g. Cunard)  using foreign agents via the internet, but I didn't think it was allowed for Oceania. The O-life offerings, for example,  can be quite different from one country to another.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Have no way of knowing personally since I live in the US.  I know it works on other cruise lines.  Hopefully some Oceania cruisers from outside US can confirm.

[LHT28]

45 minutes ago, Beagle5 said:

Is this true for Oceania? Are British, Canadian and US residents able to cross country shop for different deals?

I was of the belief that Oceania restricts their fare offerings to residents of the country in which the fare is offered.

That is certainly the case for Australian fares on Oceania. From the T&Cs:

 

 

Canadians can book with USA agents also

 

I believe it has something to do with Australia trading laws  something similar in the UK

I am sure some of the Australians  have experienced  this  difference

 I noticed before that UK residents  get more O Life perks  on some sailings  like all 3 choices  where in N.A. we get one choice