Booking a Princess cruise

[beshears]

You may have seen me asking this question in another cruise line, but I'm asking here as well.

 

If you have booked a Princess cruise within this last year, did you use an agent that you knew, booked it on line, or called and got a personal Princess agent?

[cruzinfamilyof4]

I almost always book online. I haven't used an agent in close to 25 years. And that was because she was friend and we were new to cruising. 

 

[voljeep]

3 minutes ago, beshears said:

You may have seen me asking this question in another cruise line, but I'm asking here as well.

 

If you have booked a Princess cruise within this last year, did you use an agent that you knew, booked it on line, or called and got a personal Princess agent?

1. Our agent discounts the cruise and we get 12% off the fare immediately, so no OBC to worry about.

2. We book online so we can control our booking at all times and get correspondence directly form Princess

3. a CVP has helped us book our cruise and taken care of any problems that arise.

 

How have you booked in the past and what works for YOU may not work for others.

[Lady Arwen]

I use the same CVP that I’ve had for years.  She gets things done so fast each and every time I have to make a change or book a new cruise.  She calls me once a month just to ask about the family and life in general with no mention of Princess.  I can’t imagine not having her to take care of us.  I wish I were at liberty to share her name but it’s against CC rules.

[mtnesterz]

We use a CVP. Some here have bad experiences with CVPs, but we have a good one. Sorry, cannot mention his name.

For one cruise, there was a problem and our CVP was a direct line to Princess. No hour on hold or callback. The problem was resolved in a few minutes.  Could a TA handle that? With time, sure. Book ourselves? Not as complex as things are today.

No added perks or discounts. Just the feeling that we have a direct line to Princess. That is our priority. Yours is up to you.

Edited May 16, 2023 by mtnesterz

[memoak]

We have done 4 cruises since the pandemic with 7 more booked from now to October 2024. All booked without CVP, all with casino discounts and free play. Even ones we had booked earlier without casino pricing she was able to rebook with all the casino perks. 

[suekel]

for my big expensive cruises I use a TA.  For shorter cruises, I book online as I get them either discounted or free from the casino.  I haven't used a PVP since my awesome one got promoted and no one has filled his shoes.  

[1965]

We've had a totally useless cvp, but now have a really, really great one. She is prompt to answer & return calls & emails. She fixes problems I cannot figure out. She does the math so I know if rebooking, refaring is to our benefit. I have come to depend on her knowledge & expertise. ❤️

[mom says]

We've  used the same TA for more than 20 years. We don't confine ourselves to a single cruuse line, and his advice and help has never failed us. He even calls us when we return from a trip to get our feedback.

[voljeep]

2 minutes ago, mom says said:

We've  used the same TA for more than 20 years. We don't confine ourselves to a single cruuse line, and his advice and help has never failed us. He even calls us when we return from a trip to get our feedback.

besides 'advice' what else does your TA  give you?

[jeromep]

2 hours ago, beshears said:

You may have seen me asking this question in another cruise line, but I'm asking here as well.

 

If you have booked a Princess cruise within this last year, did you use an agent that you knew, booked it on line, or called and got a personal Princess agent?

I book direct with Princess on the web site, but a number of conditions and changes from booking till now caused me to find an agent and have the cruise transferred to them.  I was getting poor post booking support from the Princess call centers and decided I'd had it with trying to get straight answers from random folks at the call center.  Best decision related to travel I've made in many years, having my booking handled by a TA.

 

50 minutes ago, voljeep said:

besides 'advice' what else does your TA  give you?

My TA threw us some additional OBC.  I didn't ask for it and wasn't expecting it but it was a nice touch.  A good TA will throw in little thank you gifts for booking with them, from OBC to things you may get on board when you arrive at your cabin, maybe a flower arrangement, or a special desert.  While you may not value advice, a good TA is also an active cruiser or traveler and can let you know what their experiences have been and what is going on in the industry for you to avoid or take advantage of.  You don't get any of that from a call center.

[deja moo]

I have been using the same CVP and he has always gotten me a better fare than what is listed on line.

[vakamalua]

we usually book online & then transfer to our long-time TA who gives us a good discount.  

[Napagirl]

We have been using the same cruise TA for all of our cruises. Never a problem, and we always get a great deal and extras. He's a gem! I don't think we'll ever book directly on the website.

[Steelers36]

6 hours ago, beshears said:

You may have seen me asking this question in another cruise line, but I'm asking here as well.

 

If you have booked a Princess cruise within this last year, did you use an agent that you knew, booked it on line, or called and got a personal Princess agent?

I prefer to use a US-based online agency that gives me a generous cash discount off the cruise fare and not OBC or gift cards.  I would use Princess.com right thru, but the discount is well worth giving up SOME control of my booking.  I can still self-serve to make and manage airline reservations, DMW, etc.  The only thing I have really given up is anything to do with the dollars and cruise fare.  A cabin change also requires the TA to intervene.

 

If the discounting wasn't there for me, I would be booking directly and doing my own thing with Princess as that's how I roll with airlines, hotels, rental cars, etc.

Edited May 16, 2023 by Steelers36

[Steelers36]

4 hours ago, voljeep said:

besides 'advice' what else does your TA  give you?

Follow the money.  I am not looking for advice, just a good discount off the cruise fare.  Using an online agency that discounts, I don't particularly expect anything much else other than timely and accurate service related to the booking and any changes.  

[Italy52]

We use a TA -- Fast and reliable service.  OBC in the form of a gift card and best yet, if we use their preferred travel insurance company we get great coverage at a decent price.  Never had a problem and we have been using them since 2009.

[bjkTX]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Follow the money.  I am not looking for advice, just a good discount off the cruise fare.  Using an online agency that discounts, I don't particularly expect anything much else other than timely and accurate service related to the booking and any changes.  

I'm with you.  We have gone on about 26 cruises and have always used a TA.  If it comes down to booking online with Princess or using the TA and getting a discount - I go with the discount.  Maybe we are just easy - but we have never needed to be "in control" of the booking for any reason so far.  I decide on a cruise, request a quote and determine of the discount is what I expect, and have it booked.  Then I go on the cruise. 

[beshears]

Thank you EVERYONE for giving me an idea of how you go about booking your cruise. Yes I have used a TA with our local company here in KC, which has been here for years. I have never had a problem with them, but even when I booked a Carnival cruise a few years ago, I wound up with a PCVP, and she was very good too, and I believe she helped me save a little more money than what the TA here in KC would have done, as for each person they book, they get $35.

I did hear from someone from Princess (may have seen my question and that is how they got my email address), and gave me a quote on a ship that I had ask about. I did noticed there was an area "highlighted" and said: Caution: This email originated from outside of the organization. I'm thinking the man was a PCVP and did give me his phone number, etc.

[TravelFiend]

I usually just book online when I see a price I am OK with. That's what I did for our upcoming Panama Canal cruise. I like having control of my own booking and I actually enjoy the details like figuring out where on the ship I want to be, etc. I really enjoy the research portion and always have my own plan of what I'd like to do.

 

However, I do use a friend who is a TA every now and then — if I am trying to plan a large family vacation. For example, right now we are trying to book a trip to Alaska that my parents are paying for. It's a cruise tour, so has both land and sea sections. We'll have 10 people total, need multiple cabins, etc. When there are so many moving pieces, it is so nice to turn it over to her and have her take care of it. I usually have some basic info of "must haves" like ship, deck, cabin type, dates, etc. and then she is awesome about taking care of the details and making sure we are all close together, etc. 

[capriccio]

We've used the same on-line TA for a decade.  We routinely get discounts of 7 to 12% and frequently small amounts of OBC ($50 to $75 each).  We tend to book long cruises (the last was 28 days) or family cruises (where we are paying for three cabins) so the discounts are substantial.

[trbarton]

11 hours ago, beshears said:

You may have seen me asking this question in another cruise line, but I'm asking here as well.

 

If you have booked a Princess cruise within this last year, did you use an agent that you knew, booked it on line, or called and got a personal Princess agent?

I have a long time agent. 
 

Tom😀

[Coral]

I have been using the same agent for 25 plus years.

[beshears]

I just made the phone call today of getting a PVP, and talked with her, and told her once I got ALL of my ducks in a row (getting the other 7 people to go along with this as well), than I would call her.

[LDVinNC]

People talk about a PVP or CVP.  Can I assume that this means the same thing?  How to you get ahold of one?

 

When I called to book my 2024 trip I reached someone who asked me no questions, and made assumptions as to what I wanted in terms of bed arrangement, etc.  I had identified the cabin I wanted and she did tell me it was available, but that is all the service she provided, When I asked if I should call her directly with any questions, etc. she said I could but also could talk to anyone. I promptly switched the booking to a TA I used pre-Covid.