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Ray4Fun

By Ray4Fun,
in Oceania Cruises

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shepherd really

shepherd really

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Snaefell3 said:

Having a TA's cellphone number who can smooth your way out of an issue a day's travel outside Timbuktu can be priceless -- if you often explore the desert around Timbuktu.  😉

 

As for OCCAP perks, remember: they come out of O's pocket, not the TA's.

Yes, but they won't get into your pocket without a travel agent. 

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agape01

agape01

Posted
Posted (edited)

The only time when I got a huge discount on any cruise was on the Oceania Riviera cruise last Dec 22 from Rome/Civitavecchia to Miami.

In that cruise, I was quoted rate was $6649. I was given a $1000 discount for early booking (no doubt that the cruise was 7 months away) a further bonus discount of $1500 and international savings of $822 for a balance of $3527/pp for a A3 concierge stateroom. On top of that, I had a separate bonus for OBC and a separate credit for shore excursions. This was when COVID-19 rules were more relaxed.

So I am not sure whether did the discounts I got was due to the reputation of my cruise agency in my country or that was a promotion going on specifically for that cruise. 

Whatever it was, it was the best cruise that I had ever taken other than experiencing choppy wifi coverage, missing Antigua due to a minor glitch to the ship engine resulting in one of my shore excursions cancelled and experiencing heavy weather at Gibraltar that cancelled a shore excursion but was allowed to join any excursion that was happening that day.  .

Edited by agape01
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LHT28 Holiday Sharing Rare

LHT28

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Snaefell3 said:

If it comes out of O's pocket, your TA isn't going to have to wonder if giving up part of their commission is worth it to get your business...?

I think some TA's  get so many credits  that they can offer perks to clients 

The Gratuities a  pass through  perk

 

Those that belong to Consortiums pay a fee to belong to those organizations

so giving  perks & rebates may not  go hand in hand  

People may get one or the other  depending on the TA & source of the perk

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basor

basor

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Snaefell3 said:

If it comes out of O's pocket, your TA isn't going to have to wonder if giving up part of their commission is worth it to get your business...?

Or you receive both O pass thru perks and TA perks.....

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osandomir

osandomir

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Snaefell3 said:

If it comes out of O's pocket, your TA isn't going to have to wonder if giving up part of their commission is worth it to get your business...?

There’s a way to get both - the O perks through your TA and commission share as well.

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jazznruby

jazznruby

Posted
Posted

Used to work with a TA whose company belonged to one of the larger, better known consortia. Usually received OBC and sometimes PPG. Customer service was generally good; in one case with one of their agents, not good. But I wanted to try another TA on the recommendation of someone here. (I think you know who you are, so thanks again.😊) Smaller agency that does not belong to any consortium that I'm aware of. As a result, with the four current, O bookings I've made with her, I've received very generous OBCs, but no PPG. Her customer service, however, is stellar. In the beginning, I thought twice about switching, since PPGs are really, really nice when you haven't yet reached that loyalty level. But in the end, I have no regrets. There's a lot to be said about the trade off being well worth it. And we don't spend thousands every year. 

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Ray4Fun

Ray4Fun

Posted
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Posted
23 hours ago, ORV said:

If you're new to Oceania here's some advice, read more, post less. You'll be amazed at what you can learn. This is not just for the OP. 

Heck,, look what happened when I asked!   Great information,, 🙂 

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jazznruby

jazznruby

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Snaefell3 said:

With 4 current O bookings, should I tell them they must be?  😉

Yep, knew somebody would infer that...but guess what? As I said, we don't spend thousands every year. I'm thinking of those who do multiples every year. Been cruising since 1995. Some years, none at all; some years, one; some years, maybe two. Just so happens that next year we have a Caribbean B2B and then a transAtlantic late in the year. And one booked in April 2025. After that, who knows?? But thanks for your concern.

 

Bottom line... the amount of business one does with a particular TA should not determine the level and quality of customer service one receives. If it does, time for a new TA. 

Edited by jazznruby
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MEFIowa

MEFIowa

Posted
Posted
14 hours ago, jazznruby said:

... As I said, we don't spend thousands every year. I'm thinking of those who do multiples every year. Been cruising since 1995. Some years, none at all; some years, one; some years, maybe two.... Bottom line... the amount of business one does with a particular TA should not determine the level and quality of customer service one receives.... 

If you talk to a potential new TA you're going to give them your travel business history. And you spend a lot just on cruises over time.

 

And there is more to spending than just the cruise. See airfare, pre- and post-cruise hotels, and more. So that gets ADDED to the spending done thru a TA.

 

And in the REAL WORLD, just as with casinos & car salespeople & realtors & other service providers, the amount of business one does with a particular TA is correlated with the level and quality of customer service one receives.

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Vineyard View Great Review Rare

Vineyard View

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

If you talk to a potential new TA you're going to give them your travel business history. And you spend a lot just on cruises over time.

 

And there is more to spending than just the cruise. See airfare, pre- and post-cruise hotels, and more. So that gets ADDED to the spending done thru a TA.

 

And in the REAL WORLD, just as with casinos & car salespeople & realtors & other service providers, the amount of business one does with a particular TA is correlated with the level and quality of customer service one receives.

I just do not agree with you. Our TA does not book anything but the cruise. I do all the research, use miles for flights, book insurance independently, book hotels independent, cruise one time a year.
She’s fantastic. she provides benefits financially  and otherwise to book with her over what any cruise line offers directly. We had a TA many years back from a large consortium who did not offer us anything whatsoever. It was eye opening having conversations with fellow travelers on a cruise about how their TA’s offers so much. So I began my research. It took me looking and interviewing, so to speak. It was well worth my while to do that. Maybe it would benefit you as well to give it a try, until you find one yourself. 
I am sorry that you have not had those experiences, but it does NOT mean that many of us have not, as has been shared repeatedly here. Maybe, just maybe, you haven’t found the right TA, because they clearly are out there from reading these comments. Maybe there is more than what has been your REAL WORLD. That said, if you don’t want to believe it is possible, that is clearly your choice, but please stop the insisting that all of us who have this are not speaking the truth. 

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1985rz1 Holiday Sharing Rare

1985rz1

Posted
Posted (edited)
32 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

And there is more to spending than just the cruise. See airfare, pre- and post-cruise hotels, and more. So that gets ADDED to the spending done thru a TA.

Not necessarily.  Our TA is a cruise specialist who books only the cruise.  We do our own pre- and post-cruise arrangements and book our own flights. She doesn't make a fortune on our bookings but is very responsive and generous with PPG (through her consortium) and with SBC or rebates from her commissions.  And she has our back when issues appear.

Edited by 1985rz1
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jazznruby

jazznruby

Posted
Posted
32 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

If you talk to a potential new TA you're going to give them your travel business history. And you spend a lot just on cruises over time.

 

And there is more to spending than just the cruise. See airfare, pre- and post-cruise hotels, and more. So that gets ADDED to the spending done thru a TA.

 

And in the REAL WORLD, just as with casinos & car salespeople & realtors & other service providers, the amount of business one does with a particular TA is correlated with the level and quality of customer service one receives.

REAL WORLD FACT...You're just WRONG on all points. 

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Snaefell3

Snaefell3

Posted
Posted

One more thought...

 

"90% of everything is cr*p"

-- Sturgeon's Law, propounded in 1957

 

I've not found TA agencies to be an exception.  😞  Looking again after my winner retired.  I know what will be my second conversation topic on our next cruise.  😉

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Vineyard View Great Review Rare

Vineyard View

Posted
Posted
27 minutes ago, Snaefell3 said:

One more thought...

 

"90% of everything is cr*p"

-- Sturgeon's Law, propounded in 1957

 

I've not found TA agencies to be an exception.  😞  Looking again after my winner retired.  I know what will be my second conversation topic on our next cruise.  😉

Oy 😏  they are out there. Took me time and effort and it paid off. Good luck. 

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EJL2023

EJL2023

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Use the ignore feature  & save yourself  a headache 🤔

You  can lead a horse  to water  but cannot force them to drink as the saying goes 

But then we may miss an update on how the cookies are just absolutely delicious now!! Risk and reward required here!!

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