Gift from your TA?

[psychboss]

A few months ago I read a thread from some folks talking about the gifts they got, or did not get, from their TA. I would like to know what gift you have gotten that you thought was appropriate and that you liked?

[Fblack]

Mine usually gives me a bottle of wine or has one delivered to me once I am on the ship. On more expensive cruises, she has also given me a travel clock, a one use underwater camera, pen and note pads and/or paid for dinner in one of the ships alternative restaurants.

[TNTKP]

On our last cruise, our TA surprised us with a $200.00 on board credit. We were delighted!

Tim

[RonnieS]

Our cruise agent popped for $100.00 shipboard credit on our last cruise.

[PattyMichael]

We have had the same TA for 15 years, never got any perks.:( This year we will have booked 3 cruises with her ,13 day to Europe in Sept. Maybe we will get a note pad? I am felling left out.

[ladysail2]

Received a bottle of wine from one travel agent, a $50 Obc to be split between us from another....and one travel agent who promised a bottle of wine for each of two cruises booked with her...but never received either. Out of 12 cruises...that's all I've received. More importantly, the travel agents have mostly been helpful in providing information and bookings..and making sure things get paid on time.

[ABSCruiseLuvers]

You name it...wine...on board credit...picture frames...tote bags...but it's the service and upgrades that keep us with her...

[CruisingChick]

I've NEVER received a gift from my TA and that's after booking 6 cruises with her. Our last cruise we celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary and she knew it because she told Celebrity. I at least thought she would send a bottle of wine or something to the room. NO, nothing. Therefore for my next cruise I switched TA's who already has given me a $250 onboard credt for booking with him one cruise.

[Danno]

I think in a lot of cases (not all)...customers demand the LOWEST price possible, then expect the TA to kick in a free-bee from a reduced commission.

 

BTW...my TA always arranges for a nice bottle of wine, which I upgrade to a nicer bottle :D (I always tell her)...but I never squeeze on the price. I gladly pay for the good service.

[Longboysfan]

My TA gives us on board credit.

And the best service afloat.

Watching out for upgrades or price drops or the specials that come along every once in awhile.

 

I would rather get nothing but great service before the trip than anything on the trip.

 

Which I do.

 

And is why I always recommend my TA to all my friends.

[Michuck]

I've booked about 17 cruises with our TA (all on RC, so now price breaks). I've also referred at least 6 other couples to her. Only thing we ever got was a one-night inaugural at-the-dock on Pride of America. I once had to notify her about a senior discount being offered on a booked cruise. Another time, I asked her to go to bat for me with a situation we were in, and even though I really didn't expect a positive outcome, I was hoping she'd have at least tried. She didn't. I think I just talked myself out of using her again.

 

M.

[PattyMichael]

I've NEVER received a gift from my TA and that's after booking 6 cruises with her. Our last cruise we celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary and she knew it because she told Celebrity. I at least thought she would send a bottle of wine or something to the room. NO, nothing. Therefore for my next cruise I switched TA's who already has given me a $250 onboard credt for booking with him one cruise.

Thats great, maybe its time for us to change TAs

[Cruise Dragon]

my wife and I have recieved a bottle of champagne on the Carnival cruise and a basket of fruit on our Celebrity cruise last year.

 

Walter

[Iamboatman]

When Celebrity was "discount it as you like it" there was great pressure based upon price. And when you are selling at rock bottom prices it is difficult to compete with the "My TA gave me a $200 on board credit" when that TA also charged his/her client $300 more for the cruise; actually costing the receipient $100 extra. (Nothing is "free".) So the gifts were limited from the real discounters and flowing from the ones selling closer to full price.

 

Things have changed with the "no discount" policy. There are many ways to give some added value to clients. It would be interesting to see what everyone really wants.

 

-Do the flowers do it or is it the bottle of wine?

-Or is insurance a better value?

-Does the OBC seem like more of a hard dollar value, so it feels like more...or less thoughtful?

 

BTW, because of the change in pricing policies, don't be so quick to cut off your old TA because on the old cruises she/he "only" gave you the best price out there!;)

[poetic license]

We have received onboard credit, casino credit, wine, chocolates, and certificates for AquaSpa. I was told about the shipboard and casino credits ... the wine and chocolates were complete surprises. Not to mention that we always get great service from her.

[Host Walt]

Mine gives the gift of caring. She watches all aspects of our trip and makes sure we know about all changes and issues.

 

She tracks our flights on line and resolves any connection issues resulting from late flights while we're in the air. She makes sure that we're greeted warmly in our hotels.

 

In short, we get the benefit of a great trip knowing we have someone looking out for us all the way.

 

(Much better than a bottle of wine or an unneeded trinket.)

[Lois R]

OK..I have a question please...for any of you.

There have been quite a few of you who have stated you

received On Board Credits........250.00 credits? That would cover

my entire week on the ship of spending.

 

Now, my question is.....is the gift from the TA~personally? Or if they

work for a large agency they have a "Slush Fund" they are allowed

to take from and give to clients? I don't mean slush fund in a bad

way.....just curious about these large credits. (It is large to me).

[Merry_Sea_Witch]

OK..I have a question please...for any of you.

There have been quite a few of you who have stated you

received On Board Credits........250.00 credits? That would cover

my entire week on the ship of spending.

 

Now, my question is.....is the gift from the TA~personally? Or if they

work for a large agency they have a "Slush Fund" they are allowed

to take from and give to clients? I don't mean slush fund in a bad

way.....just curious about these large credits. (It is large to me).

 

My sister is a TA and after hearing all the stories about the ups and downs of travel agencies, I don't think many agencies have "Slush Funds" :eek: They can barely pay salaries and benefits and would rather just have outside agents who work on comissions.

Discounts come from her pockets and she is already splitting comissions with her agency. :(

[Rubinof]

Our former travel agent sent a package of cookies and crackers, on two of our cruises, aboard Celebrity.

 

My husband and I were married two years ago (we are seniors), and went on a TransAtlantic cruise, for our honeymoon. We spent a good deal of time, the day we were married, in our travel agent's office, picking up travel docs, and, just chatting. We received, ABSOLUTELY NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, whatsoever, of our marriage, when we got on board our ship!!!!! We were not first-time customers, of this travel agent, and cannot, to this day, figure out why she did not, at the very least, send a card, to our cabin. Maybe dinner??? Wine??? Something????

 

My husband and I, now book, on line, and are much happier, for it!!!

[Gypsea]

but since this is an important issue..here goes.

If an agency or agent holds group space (eight cabins or more and sells them) they are SOMEtimes given points to purchase amenities for those fortunate enough to be booked in that space. If it is a primetime summer sailing to Bermuda or a holiday week the line may not offer these points. They know this sailing will probably sell so they minimize the incentive package. Most times though they will allow points and these can be used for obc, free wine, photos or other things we can choose from.

 

Many TA's not able or willing to discount the price might send a gift instead. This may mean you might have gotten a better deal elsewhere but it could mean you have a generous agent and friend who not only gave you the best deal they could but wanted you to know you are valued. But if we reduce our commission and give a nice discount out of our pockets do we really have to send gifts too? We easily can if we have the group points but we're not making tons of money on a typical cabin.

 

Ocassionally we book people in a group, something happens and the customers don't end up getting what they were suppossed to. Mistakes in this department are easy. For example: how many of you have read about someone ordering special stuff for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and it has to be chased down? Of course, we don't know this happens if we don't happen to be sailing too.

 

Lots of people book direct and may not be getting the rate or freebies they could. Booking groups of cabins months ahead insures a good rate plus we will happily let you know if the rate is reduced before final. I wonder if Celebrity will do that for direct sales? Don't get me wrong I love Celebrity but I don't think they do that unless you call them.

[NorCalCruiseGuy]

We have had the same TA for 15 years, never got any perks.:( This year we will have booked 3 cruises with her ,13 day to Europe in Sept. Maybe we will get a note pad? I am felling left out.

Maybe its time to find another travel agent!

Or then again, if your current travel agent gets you a cruise price that is far below average, maybe you've done well over the years. It PAYS to compare prices and check all the online sources as well as getting a price from your agent. These days, its all about shopping around!

[motherchic]

I guess it all depends on the TA- the service, cost etc...

We used the same TA, over and over Through AAA. Every time we were given a frame/picture album. Had a sterling silver look to it. Would have been ok but it had AAA on the bottom of the frame. Honestly I would never use it. Trip after trip we got the same thing. If i felt the cost was really good or the service, I would have stayed with her. It may seem trivial but I felt a bottle of wine or flowers would have been appropriate. I did tell her why we were changing, and i did. Our new TA, has been able to give us good service, great cabin selections and a little gift. I feel like she appreciates my business. I dont think it takes much to make people feel appreciated.

nadine

[evoni]

I went with a cruiseship TA that I found on the Internet and I've been very happy with her service even though all contact has been via email, phone and snail mail.

 

For example she made sure we got on a waiting list for 2 aft cabins and was able to get them for us when they became available. Our cruise wasn't discounted though we got it at a reasonable price since we booked it the day it first become available (even then the aft cabins except for the ones on deck 9 were already snatched up). We just found out the TA is gifting the 4 of us with dinner in the Constellation's specialty restaurant one evening (after checking with us that we were interested in doing that) and I thought it was a very nice gesture. I'll certainly use her in the future for booking my next cruise!

 

Diana

[Ted]

I get great service AND a substantial discount, even on Celebrity and RCCL. Who could ask for anything more?

[Ships R Great]

The TA we transfered to, from an onboard booking, told us that X only allowed so much "discount" per person and we already had that amount saved so not to expect any goodies. She didn't put it that bluntly but that was the message received. So far, she has reduced our price once. Am hoping for more (of course!).