**PVP vs TA**

[Jamericannn]

Many of us have been waiting since November 14th for our new room assignment when our ship was changed from Magic to Venezia. I booked through a Carnival PVP and I called her a few times and she said there is nothing she can do to ensure I get my rooms assigned until the department that handles that take care of it. She found a couple rooms and tried to put me in them but the system automatically cancel them out because they notice from my VIFP number that I am already booked on this cruise. I noticed some people who booked through a TA were able to get theirs change through their TAs. I would have though PVPs would have more control than TAs. Can someone please let me know what's the pros and cons of booking therough TAs vs PVPs? 

[DanOO]

I book with a Travel Agent because They give me better Pricing, They even discount the Casino Deals.  I have booked 13 cruises with the same TA and He always has a Bottle of Wine waiting for us in our Cabin.  I have not had any problems using a TA.

[cruizinisthebest]

My experience with using a Carnival PVP have not been good. I had a cruise cancelled due to scheduling. He never once called and told me. He also mistakenly cancelled my booking on another one. So those two things were enough for me. Besides, they can't give you any extras. My TA has found rates not seen online even with my VIFP# plugged in. 

 

I am part of the Magic-Venezia swap and it was my TA who got the job done. He also simultaneously put in for a price drop for my cabin once it was reassigned and booked my kids right next door as I wanted. I don't understand why people who booked with a PVP are STILL waiting. I wouldn't put up with that at this point.

[mz-s]

The biggest advantage to a TA is they can do things other than Carnival. I can book a Disney cruise, a trip to Hong Kong, or whatever I want with my TA.

 

A PVP will not advocate for you when your interests are opposite Carnival's as you are experiencing here because they will not bite the hand that feeds them (understandably so). The only advantage to a PVP is you have a consistent voice on the other end of the phone when dealing with Carnival.

Edited December 5, 2022 by mz-s

[Jamericannn]

Thanks for your replies. I think I'm going to find a TA next time.

[shof515]

38 minutes ago, cruizinisthebest said:

 My TA has found rates not seen online even with my VIFP# plugged in. 

 

that rate is because of a group rate the ta has for that specific sailing. not every sailing has group rates from what i noticed

 

i am part of the magic-veneiza ship switch and i am still waiting for my cabin assignments. no one at carnival can help me

[Jamericannn]

58 minutes ago, shof515 said:

that rate is because of a group rate the ta has for that specific sailing. not every sailing has group rates from what i noticed

 

i am part of the magic-veneiza ship switch and i am still waiting for my cabin assignments. no one at carnival can help me

When is your sail date? I noticed that people who are in September got their assignments because Carnival seem to be working backwards.

[shof515]

12 minutes ago, Jamericannn said:

When is your sail date? I noticed that people who are in September got their assignments because Carnival seem to be working backwards.

June and August

[serene56]

Its my first time booking through a PVP - its my 32 cruise      It will be my last.   THis booking has been a nightmare.    I booked connecting cabins on magic.   They changed ships.      I was not assigned.    Price came down 148.00 for my cabin for 3   so i did a protection form.   THey honored it.    gave me the discount   Cancelled the booking because it was 72.00 short on the deposit.    (on this booking I have a discounted Steak house which is then cancelled    along with the two bubbles card.    A week of calling back and forth I got it fixed.     still in a holding status   .    THen Kids cabin was assigned in a connecting room all the way forward.   Waited a few days and our cabin was assigned-- all the way aft   not even in the same hall.   Took me 3 days to find someone to fix that.    Sad to say that the discounted steak house is gone and no way to get it back     Error was on their part not mine   So we will not be going to the steak house this cruise.   Just so over it 

[ontheweb]

A TA works for you; an employee of a cruise line works for that cruise line.

[phoneman69]

5 hours ago, Jamericannn said:

Many of us have been waiting since November 14th for our new room assignment when our ship was changed from Magic to Venezia. I booked through a Carnival PVP and I called her a few times and she said there is nothing she can do to ensure I get my rooms assigned until the department that handles that take care of it. She found a couple rooms and tried to put me in them but the system automatically cancel them out because they notice from my VIFP number that I am already booked on this cruise. I noticed some people who booked through a TA were able to get theirs change through their TAs. I would have though PVPs would have more control than TAs. Can someone please let me know what's the pros and cons of booking therough TAs vs PVPs? 

My sailing is June 2023. Called my PVP and he got my room assignments even though 1 of my rooms was still TBA. I would call your PVP and tell them others are getting there rooms and you would like to speak to a supervisor if they don't handle it for you.  Again Make The Call !!

[Jamericannn]

48 minutes ago, phoneman69 said:

My sailing is June 2023. Called my PVP and he got my room assignments even though 1 of my rooms was still TBA. I would call your PVP and tell them others are getting there rooms and you would like to speak to a supervisor if they don't handle it for you.  Again Make The Call !!

I did that a few times and she (claimed) she spoke with a supervisor and was told that I will just have to wait. I'm wondering if anyone from my particular cruise date was assigned as yet. The people who say they are assigned are all on a different cruise date.

[shof515]

i finally got my 2 cabin assignments, porthole on deck 2 to regular inside on deck 1. seems like a downgrade to me. it is what it is. for a short 4 day cruise i somewhat dont care

Edited December 5, 2022 by shof515

[cruizinisthebest]

8 minutes ago, Jamericannn said:

I did that a few times and she (claimed) she spoke with a supervisor and was told that I will just have to wait. I'm wondering if anyone from my particular cruise date was assigned as yet. The people who say they are assigned are all on a different cruise date.

Call Carnival's toll free number and demand to speak to a supervisor. Unlike when dealing with a TA, you don't HAVE to go through your PVP. Who at this point is not doing their job to satisfying you the customer. Sail dates are all over the place. There is no excuse.

[Jamericannn]

5 minutes ago, cruizinisthebest said:

Call Carnival's toll free number and demand to speak to a supervisor. Unlike when dealing with a TA, you don't HAVE to go through your PVP. Who at this point is not doing their job to satisfying you the customer. Sail dates are all over the place. There is no excuse.

 

I'm doing that right now 

[Jamericannn]

Just as I called and was looking on my booking to give them my booking number I noticed that they assigned my cabins.  It wasn't there an hour ago. These cabins are not side by side balconies as I previously booked. Also they moved me from the 7th floor to the sixth so now I'm not between all cabin floors anymore. The person I spoke with was able to find me side by side balconies even though we don't know if these open up to each other like I had booked.

[mz-s]

2 hours ago, shof515 said:

i finally got my 2 cabin assignments, porthole on deck 2 to regular inside on deck 1. seems like a downgrade to me. it is what it is. for a short 4 day cruise i somewhat dont care

 

deck 1 can be rough if you're near the thrusters

[crystalspin]

HAL-fan piping up here. I do not have a TA. Have not used a TA since 2009. For HAL I use a PCC (personal cruise consultant), same as Carnival's PVP. Well almost the same...

 

When I determined that the only Alaska cruise operating from-and-to LA in 2023 was Carnival's Miracle, I signed up for a PVP. She happily let me book two cabins, which had to be a triple and a double to be next to each other, -- with a NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT. My HAL PCC would never have let me do that!

 

Two or three of the five of us may not be comfortable (COVID-wise) with cruising in Sept 2023. My husband and I will be out minimum of $250 and maximum of $1000 if we fail to reschedule on Carnival.

 

What will I do in the future with CCL??? Not sail with them. Penny-wise Pound-foolish on their part. 

[cruizinisthebest]

21 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

HAL-fan piping up here. I do not have a TA. Have not used a TA since 2009. For HAL I use a PCC (personal cruise consultant), same as Carnival's PVP. Well almost the same...

 

When I determined that the only Alaska cruise operating from-and-to LA in 2023 was Carnival's Miracle, I signed up for a PVP. She happily let me book two cabins, which had to be a triple and a double to be next to each other, -- with a NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT. My HAL PCC would never have let me do that!

 

Two or three of the five of us may not be comfortable (COVID-wise) with cruising in Sept 2023. My husband and I will be out minimum of $250 and maximum of $1000 if we fail to reschedule on Carnival.

 

What will I do in the future with CCL??? Not sail with them. Penny-wise Pound-foolish on their part. 

Most people with Carnival book a non-refundable deposit as those come with the cheaper rates and allow you to put in for price drops if they come along. I'm confused as to what you mean - the PVP was wrong for allowing you to book a non-refundable deposit? Was they suppose to talk you out of it?

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, cruizinisthebest said:

I'm confused as to what you mean - the PVP was wrong for allowing you to book a non-refundable deposit? Was they suppose to talk you out of it?

My HAL PCC would have pointed it out. On HAL you only get to "put in" for price drops if you have a REFUNDABLE deposit as that is equivalent to cancelling/being refunded/rebooking. 

 

In the age of COVID, I definitely would have paid more for the option of cancelling.

[cruizinisthebest]

46 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

My HAL PCC would have pointed it out. On HAL you only get to "put in" for price drops if you have a REFUNDABLE deposit as that is equivalent to cancelling/being refunded/rebooking. 

 

In the age of COVID, I definitely would have paid more for the option of cancelling.

oh ok Gotcha.

[phoneman69]

On 12/5/2022 at 7:07 PM, Jamericannn said:

Just as I called and was looking on my booking to give them my booking number I noticed that they assigned my cabins.  It wasn't there an hour ago. These cabins are not side by side balconies as I previously booked. Also they moved me from the 7th floor to the sixth so now I'm not between all cabin floors anymore. The person I spoke with was able to find me side by side balconies even though we don't know if these open up to each other like I had booked.

Are the cabin assignments you got back on 7? Six is right above a lot of activities and i don't know how the noise level will be. At least this dance is finally over for most of us. 

[Jamericannn]

10 hours ago, phoneman69 said:

Are the cabin assignments you got back on 7? Six is right above a lot of activities and i don't know how the noise level will be. At least this dance is finally over for most of us. 

They are 6454 and 6458. one is above the Gondola lounge and the other is above room 5202  which is a terrazza room. I'm glad 6454 is not on the opposite side because it would be over a bar.