PCC's are getting desperate for new bookings

[hallux]

I'll start off by saying my two previous cruises on NCL were booked through TA's, not through a PCC or on my own through the website. 

 

In the last two days I've gotten TWO calls from a PCC wanting to book me on a cruise.  Yesterday I sent the call to Google's call screen (LOVE that feature on my Pixel!), he spoke to it like he was leaving a voicemail, which I can see as a transcript in my call history so I know who called and why as long as they talk to it.

 

He called again today, while I was in the car so I didn't get the call screen options on my car screen so I answered.  Told him that I've been following what's been going on, and that despite NCL's protocols I just wasn't comfortable booking anything.  I was also sure to remind him that my previous bookings were through a TA rather than a PCC.

 

Bottom line, they may be starting to get desperate for bookings as I believe this is the first time in the 2 years since I sailed on NCL that they've cold-called me like this.  It could also be that they're re-filling the ranks of PCC's after the massive layoffs in 2020 and the new people are looking to make some bookings from lists of people without a PCC either because they never had one or the PCC they previously had was laid off.

[styxfire]

I can only make guesses.  My guess is that NCL is desperate for money at this point.  The original shutdown last MUCH longer than anyone in the industry predicted.  NCL has made a couple financing moves to buy them some time, but now in the middle of Q1 -- which was supposed to be the restart of most of their fleet -- almost half their ships are now delayed AGAIN.  It really is a bad situation for the industry.

 

I'm not saying you should feel sorry for them and change your mind about sailing right away!  But it's not a small problem for Norwegian.  As a shareholder as well as a cruise fan, I follow the financial situation occasionally, and there are still solvency risks.  Should NCL have to default on their debt, it wouldn't be the first bankruptcy the NCL C.E.O has presided over.  NCL needs some good positive bookings from here on out, in order to demonstrate enough revenues to convince creditors to roll over some of the nearer-term debt into future years.

 

For us, cruising is a vacation.  For the company, it's a dog-eat-dog business that the U.S. govt is wickedly targeting right now, despite being safer than most land-based gatherings right now.

 

They book revenues when passengers "book", not when they sail.  They need more bookings, STAT.

[hallux]

6 minutes ago, styxfire said:

I can only make guesses.  My guess is that NCL is desperate for money at this point.

That's what was funny about the entire thing.  Yes, NCL may be desperate for deposits but I have two CruiseNext deposits on file with them and the PCC KNEW about them.  He even offered cruises as far out as 2024, which means there is nothing more being paid to NCL until 2023 at the earliest...

[itsnotjustme]

And what is a PCC?  I can make can educated guess of private cruise consultant or private cruise consolidator. 

[hallux]

Personal Cruise Consultant.  Similar to PVP with Carnival. @itsnotjustme

Edited January 6, 2022 by hallux

[itsnotjustme]

PVP is also new to me.  I have many NCL cruises, but just 1 Carnival.

[BennyBrun]

I feel that PCC on NCL just want to sell you and if you ever need servicing they don’t seem to be very interested to help.  PVP wants to sell but my PVP helped me out a few jams with Carnival and made adjustments that I didn’t think was possible.  Just my personal experience.

[styxfire]

I was cold-called by my previous PCC in late 2020, and again in early 2021.  It seemed to be related to the amount of time I had spent making "mock" bookings on the NCL website.  I hate the cold-call, it makes me just say NO...  but this spring i went ahead and booked, since I'd been seriously shopping for a cruise anyway.  In addition to helping me apply some previous deposits from CruiseNext and a prior cancellation, the PCC also helped me apply a CruiseFirst deposit -- which saved me more $$$.  It was a bit complicated as it involved multiple cabins, and I was glad to have the PCC's help.  

 

Still hate cold-calls though.

[Back to school]

Carnival used car sales style, too much calling, email every day, Flash sale, Today’s deals, Funderstruck (What the F***), $0 down + interest free (Pre-qualified now).  Who is the desperate?

[shof515]

on my phone, i mark the calls as spam and block the number

[Cruising Lynne]

My PCC didn't call me. I guess mine isn't desperate. I do get a little excited when he calls, reminding me that there must be a cruise I forgot to book! LOL. I will not be booking anything until I actually get to start cruising. I have three scheduled for 2022,  one in March that I hope is not cancelled. Two were booked through CAS with vouchers from my local casino, and one on Prima was booked through the PCC. 

 

They don't cold call very often, but I can see them starting the new year with a push for bookings.

[mking8288]

Our primary Google Pixel smartphone running Android 12 has/using Call Screen (and, other spam/blocking features) filter my incoming calls as well - they do call sometimes or every-now-and-then - ditto on SW's Samsung Galaxy S21 on Android 12.  We never pick up on them - typically, they end up in voicemail if they leave a message (when coming from the known #'s or call centers - sometimes, not if they are working virtually or from a different remote location)

 

Tracking is done, especially when you are logged into your NCL account(s) and searching / browsing or doing mock bookings, etc.  I pick up once last November shortly after completing a booking, speaking with an agent directly - when the PCC associated with one of our accounts, apparently was "alerted" and he called, almost immediately or within minutes after that long call to complete the initial booking.  At that moment, I thought something might be missing or perhaps NCL needed to speak with me directly, turned out to be a cold sales call - one not knowing or seeing what someone else just did ... had the deck plan on the screen, checking out a deck and recommended stateroom, etc. - #1 person on that booking wasn't me, logged into mine - being #2 on the booking (that help explain it).  Once he realized it, he offered his services for future/next booking directly instead of the other PCC and quickly hang up.  

 

Will look at the call logs this month to see if they are doing extra calls to boost their numbers.  

 

 

[tinkr2]

3 hours ago, BennyBrun said:

I feel that PCC on NCL just want to sell you and if you ever need servicing they don’t seem to be very interested to help.  PVP wants to sell but my PVP helped me out a few jams with Carnival and made adjustments that I didn’t think was possible.  Just my personal experience.

I have one of each . They're both helpful in the same manner. 

[KeithJenner]

We can’t draw any conclusions from one persons experience.

 

Otherwise I could take the fact that I haven’t heard from my PCC for a few months as an indication that NCL don’t care about new bookings. 🙂

Edited January 6, 2022 by KeithJenner

[kpark895]

I had a PCC call me the other afternoon, out of the blue. I have only booked NCL cruises thru CAS, and have never been cold-called by a PCC.  In fact, I usually can only make changes by calling CAS, and not by calling NCL directly.  He only really mentioned that he saw I had an upcoming cruise, and that I had also cancelled another one.  But then he didn't try to sell me anything, basically just offered his help if I needed it.  But he also never gave me his contact info, and I don't even remember his name!  He also mentioned my e-mail, but never sent me a follow-up e-mail.  So I don't really know the purpose of his call.

[JustAPilot]

I don’t know why people on here put so much trust in their “PCC”. Literarily this is a minimum paid call center job with probably a commission attached to it. The next month you could be getting a call from them selling you cell phone plans from a different company. 

[KeithJenner]

1 minute ago, JustAPilot said:

I don’t know why people on here put so much trust in their “PCC”. Literarily this is a minimum paid call center job with probably a commission attached to it. The next month you could be getting a call from them selling you cell phone plans from a different company. 

I think that this thread shows that people place very little trust in their PCC

[Sea saw 56]

I got a very nice card this week from my PCC, had a business card of his and a refrigerator magnet in it.

Couldn't figure out what I was getting in the mail from NCL because the first booking coming up for us is April.  Thought those luggage tags were arriving a bit soon.

I will be contacting him today since my April cruise has dropped by $600 just recently.

Check out your upcoming cruises for price drops!

[Karaboudjan]

The misunderstanding and stereotyping of 'call center' staff on these boards is amazing.  It's all been refuted before so I will limit my rant and just posit that not all PCCs are the same, just like people in any other job, and pay does not matter.  Some are undoubtably new without an established client base so they need to be more aggressive about soliciting business.  Some probably have plenty of reliable clients and know that they don't need to be calling.  Some may be doing it as a part-time job and don't particularly care about maximizing their commissions.  Within all categories you will have some people who are just more motivated/skilled/knowledgeable than others.  I have no idea what my PCC's situation is or how much they make, but they cruise more than I do so I trust them to know some things about NCL.

[Oceansaway17]

well HAL cruise consultants can be aggressive as well.  They will hound you are a while but then they back off.

 

 

[marktwothousand]

I don’t mind the idea of PCCs, it’s just that they NEVER have any good deals to offer me. The best they have come up with was $150 off, with limited time (one week) to decide. Big box travel agents still end up beating that with their combo of cashback and extra onboard perks. If PCC is gonna call, they GOTTA start making mad deals, period. None of this “same price as the website” shtie 

[HuliHuli]

2 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

I don’t mind the idea of PCCs, it’s just that they NEVER have any good deals to offer me. The best they have come up with was $150 off, with limited time (one week) to decide. Big box travel agents still end up beating that with their combo of cashback and extra onboard perks. If PCC is gonna call, they GOTTA start making mad deals, period. None of this “same price as the website” shtie 

So the way to eliminate the cold call PCC is to book a cruise with them,  within 30 days transfer the booking to your big box agency for the perks, and then wait.  Next time you call the PCC they will berate you for transferring a booking (as is your right), and refuse to help you with another booking.  BUT, as NCL employees when you ask them if they are refusing to help you (on a recorded line or by email) they will instantly cave and offer their assistance, but will not cold call you.  True story...

[Oxo]

Have never used a PCC. I have a TA. I do my own research, call my TA, tell him what I want and done.

I am Platinum on NCL. Don't need anymore people calling and tired of unsolicited calls. Getting tired of surveys from all these companies, too. 

However, I do provide and complete surveys for personnel and companies that provide excellent service. That included our previous B2B cruises on the NCL Joy  11/20 & 11/27, 2021. Our Best and Most Personal cruise we have ever experienced. GM and His Staff were totally Outstanding! Yes, we did leave many surveys and personal letters thanking them and the entire crew. 

Stay Safe and Happy Cruising when this is over or cleaned up. 

[deliver42]

If I do c all NCL and book, after the call I get a message if I would like this person to be my PCC, and I check no.

[hallux]

25 minutes ago, Oxo said:

Have never used a PCC. I have a TA. I do my own research, call my TA, tell him what I want and done.

As i noted in my initial post, that's how I booked my two cruises on NCL, never used a PCC but one seemed to feel the need to call me in an effort to get me to book.