How to find TA with Oceania expertise

[rjp50]

We have sailed a lot on the various mass market ships and I typically book everything myself with no assistance.  However, we are now considering an Oceania cruise and have a lot of questions that I feel a good TA with Oceania expertise could help with.  I know that people on this forum are not allowed to name specific TAs, but I was wondering if there are specific terms that I could use in a Google search that would lead me to a TA with the right knowledge as well as ability to offer additional perks.  This board has been very helpful but after many hours of reading posts I feel it's time to bring in a professional.

[Harters]

Oceania has a group of preferred travel agents known as the Oceania Connoisseurs Club. A Google on this name may well find companies who mention their membership on their website.

 

 Only of help to O's customers in North America as all the companies are based there/ 

[EJL2023]

4 minutes ago, Harters said:

Oceania has a group of preferred travel agents known as the Oceania Connoisseurs Club. A Google on this name may well find companies who mention their membership on their website.

 

 Only of help to O's customers in North America as all the companies are based there/ 

3….2…..1…..poof. 

[Mrs f.]

Just curious....what do these Oceania Connoisseur agents do that regular agents dont?

[ORV]

49 minutes ago, Mrs f. said:

Just curious....what do these Oceania Connoisseur agents do that regular agents dont?

Just to put it shortly, they generally know what the h they're talking about. 

[clo]

2 hours ago, EJL2023 said:

3….2…..1…..poof. 

I actually saw a CC thread from a couple of years ago that discussed this at length, naming the name and it's still there.

[Vineyard View]

Well, I was curious…and yep…poof. I  went onto google and nope, nada under the search. 

If it is consortium, it seems like one could google it. 

[AMHuntFerry]

1 minute ago, Vineyard View said:

Well, I was curious…and yep…poof. I  went onto google and nope, nada under the search. 

If it is consortium, it seems like one could google it. 

Try putting quotes around "Connoisseurs Club" or use "Oceania Cruise Connoisseurs Club".

[alcpa1]

There is another level of TA's that get additional treatment from Oceania from time to time. They are "preferred" agents.

If you find agents to contact just ask if they are Connoisseur or Preferred agents and then carry on with your questions. It's a more challenging method but workable.

Also check out articles and ads in travel magazines like Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast. The ads will pop out if they specialize in anything beyond mass market.

It may take a little effort but O is worth it.

[Thought2go]

1 hour ago, AMHuntFerry said:

Try putting quotes around "Connoisseurs Club" or use "Oceania Cruise Connoisseurs Club".

Found it without the “ “-

Thank you!!

[Harters]

10 hours ago, Mrs f. said:

what do these Oceania Connoisseur agents do that regular agents dont?

Basically - put a lot of business O's way. And, in return, getting "perks" - which probably include cash incentives (probably a reason why it often appears that North American customers can get a better deal than customers from other countries)

 

Google found me a letter from O welcoming a new company to the group. Obviously I can't mention the company, so have blanked out mention of their name but it should help inform about the "Club"

 

"On behalf of the entire team at Oceania Cruises, it gives me great pleasure to welcome (deleted) into our Cruise Connoisseur Club. Your contribution to our success as well as the significant business you’ve booked with us for the future has qualified your agency to be a member of this prestigious club. As you may have heard from industry colleagues or your Regional Sales Director, the Cruise Connoisseur Club is Oceania Cruises’ recognition and rewards program for our top producing travel agency partners which provides an array of benefits and perks. It is our pleasure to present (deleted) with a personalized recognition award to commemorate your club membership. Again, we deeply appreciate the outstanding support of Oceania Cruises that you’ve demonstrated and we’re delighted to be able to recognize you in this new and exciting way. We look forward to working closely with all of our Cruise Connoisseur Club members and to enjoying a mutually successful relationship for many years to come."

[Harters]

13 hours ago, rjp50 said:

I was wondering if there are specific terms that I could use in a Google search that would lead me to a TA with the right knowledge as well as ability to offer additional perks. 

Other than my suggestion upthread, my other advice would be to look at sites other than CC.

 

There are Oceania Facebook groups which might have a more relaxed attitude to mention of TAs. The Tripadvisor cruise forum also has no restrictions on naming names - which, seeing as it owns CC, makes CC's ban not only unhelpful but just downright weird. 

[Mrs f.]

So my TA sends me a check for a percentage back after cruise and sometimes shipboard credit/ tips money.

 

I'll just stick with her 

[Harters]

Our own process started with reading CC's own article detailing specialist TAs in the UK (yes, it's odd they ban discussion on the forum but have no qualms about naming them themselves). That gave me a shortlist of about six companies. I searched for these on the Tripadvisor cruise forum and was able to delete two from my list, as they had quite negative comments. So, for the remaining four, it really came down to getting quotes for the cruise. The information is out there.  

[ORV]

There are also "Oceania Insider Elites" which are usually subsets of the Oceania Connoisseurs Club. This denotes the Top 25 North American Agents for Oceania

[MEFIowa]

18 hours ago, rjp50 said:

We have sailed a lot on the various mass market ships and I typically book everything myself with no assistance.  However, we are now considering an Oceania cruise ... This board has been very helpful but after many hours of reading posts I feel it's time to bring in a professional.

Though you might start today by looking at the recent Cabin Upgrade Sale to see if any cruise on the list is one you're interested in. TAs don't get you the sale price, for that comes from O. You can always book the sale and then transfer the booking to a TA. But you might lock in a great price on a nice cabin to start:

 

"For a limited time, receive more luxury for less with up to a 4 Category Upgrade* on select sailings"

 

Cruise Stateroom Deals | Oceania Cruises

[pinotlover]

One small comment. All the above comments have been about the TA, as in the Travel Agency. Nothing has yet be said about the other TA, or Travel Agent. Not all Travel Agents working for an OCC Travel Agency are Oceania specialists. 
 

If only perks matter, I suppose getting a quote will suffice. However, if one wants a bit more from their Travel Agent, it takes more exploration than just identifying an OCC.

[ronrick1943]

Don't forget once on the ship, as you meet others ask the question--Our you happy with your TA and why.  

In most case's I believe like myself a few to many of us really have chosen the cruise we want and the suite before we call.  Myself I e-mail my TA the information, within an hour or so it's booked with the perks I get from  and the additional amenities from my TA.  

[Vineyard View]

1 hour ago, pinotlover said:

One small comment. All the above comments have been about the TA, as in the Travel Agency. Nothing has yet be said about the other TA, or Travel Agent. Not all Travel Agents working for an OCC Travel Agency are Oceania specialists. 
 

If only perks matter, I suppose getting a quote will suffice. However, if one wants a bit more from their Travel Agent, it takes more exploration than just identifying an OCC.

Agree. We have used our TA for years. She goes above and beyond. Her firm offers cash back, which we sincerely appreciate, but SHE is the reason we stick with the firm. I do not know if they are part of any elite O clubs. I do know how hard she has worked for us. Most of the time, trips go fairly smoothly from a TA relationship standpoint…..but when there are issues, that is when a really good agent can make a big impact. 

[mountain grandma]

I strongly agree with Pinot lover on his comment regarding the agency vs the agent.  We’ve been sailing with Oceania since 2007 and we had a wonderful agent for 13 years until she retired.  She was part of an OCC agency and when she left, she referred us to another agent at her same agency.  We were in contact with her but very quickly we realized that we knew more of the ins and outs of booking with O than she did.  We found another OCC agency and looked on their website to find an agent who specialized in Oceania.  We have been using her ever since and have been very pleased with her and the agency.  So my point is that you have to go one step further when looking—not just to the agency but also the agent’s qualifications/experience.  
 

Good luck in your search and enjoy Oceania when you sail.  
 

Billie