Voyage Sales Onboard

[Megabear2]

Ive not booked onboard Cunard for years, probably 2018 or thereabouts. So silly question but if you are unable to get through to book an appointment- I've been trying since 2nd June and it's constantly telling me they are assisting other guests - can you just rock up down there to speak to someone?  They are currently closed until 3.00pm so this will be my last attempt.

 

 

[exlondoner]

11 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Ive not booked onboard Cunard for years, probably 2018 or thereabouts. So silly question but if you are unable to get through to book an appointment- I've been trying since 2nd June and it's constantly telling me they are assisting other guests - can you just rock up down there to speak to someone?  They are currently closed until 3.00pm so this will be my last attempt.

 

 

We found a notice up saying that we should book an appointment via the Purser’s Office. We had to overcome a certain amount of (feigned?) puzzlement there, but we’re eventually able to do this.

[Bell Boy]

What ship are you on at the moment out of interest, however, to answer your question, Yes just call in - shortly before 5pm is the best time as they will be preparing to close , you'll have a better opportunity to speak face to face.  I have always found they are very accommodating and will find a slot for you , even if it is after their hours. There are three voyage sales managers on duty so one of them is sure to have an open slot - never known them to turn away revenue .  

[Megabear2]

6 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

What ship are you on at the moment out of interest, however, to answer your question, Yes just call in - shortly before 5pm is the best time as they will be preparing to close , you'll have a better opportunity to speak face to face.  I have always found they are very accommodating and will find a slot for you , even if it is after their hours. There are three voyage sales managers on duty so one of them is sure to have an open slot - never known them to turn away revenue .  

Queen Anne.  The phone just rings out.  I'd almost given up to be truthful as the online fares have of course changed as the early booking period ended on the 3rd and for the sake of 3% I was fed up with sitting on the phone for 30 minutes or so never to be answered. I'd hoped for voicemail to leave a message but probably far to sensible!

[Bell Boy]

5 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Queen Anne.  The phone just rings out.  I'd almost given up to be truthful as the online fares have of course changed as the early booking period ended on the 3rd and for the sake of 3% I was fed up with sitting on the phone for 30 minutes or so never to be answered. I'd hoped for voicemail to leave a message but probably far to sensible!

Just walk down there and ask for 'Chris Foy' tell him his friend Paul recommended him to you 😂  

[foodsvcmgr]

Just pop in and they will either see you then or give you an appointment to return later.

If you don’t require much time they frequently can squeeze you in between other appointments.

[Megabear2]

4 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

Just walk down there and ask for 'Chris Foy' tell him his friend Paul recommended him to you 😂  

I've been down.  There's a notice saying we are fully booked - that's been out every seaday - but we will see you no appointment in Southampton between 7.30 and 8.30.  I just chatted with a lady who told me it took 5 days from her call being answered to her getting in today. 

[exlondoner]

Just now, foodsvcmgr said:

Just pop in and they will either see you then or give you an appointment to return later.

If you don’t require much time they frequently can squeeze you in between other appointments.

That was not the process on QA’s previous voyage. Appointments had to be made by the Purser’s Office. You could not just turn up and hope to be squeezed. 😀

[Megabear2]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

That was not the process on QA’s previous voyage. Appointments had to be made by the Purser’s Office. You could not just turn up and hope to be squeezed. 😀

Well judging by the amount of disappointed people today and on the other seadays they are going to lose a lot of potential bookings by not answering the telephone or being able to leave a message.

 

A great shame but their loss.

[david63]

Forgive a silly question but what is the great attraction to booking onboard? Are there some amazing deals to be had?

[Bell Boy]

Just now, exlondoner said:

That was not the process on QA’s previous voyage. Appointments had to be made by the Purser’s Office. You could not just turn up and hope to be squeezed. 😀

Perhaps you are not in the know - Some of us, myself included have 'occasionally' conducted our future booking  business over an early evening drink in a quiet corner of a public venue 😉   

[Megabear2]

9 minutes ago, david63 said:

Forgive a silly question but what is the great attraction to booking onboard? Are there some amazing deals to be had?

In my case two longer voyages would offer 3% discount on each so not to be sniffed at.  Of course the 10% early booking discount has now ended too.  I'm a bit cross as I deliberately waited to book.onboard and now unless I.miss my disembarking spot I'm not going yo be able to do so.

 

Te the Pursers Ofgice I just passed by an around 20 people in the queue, probably last day arrangements being made for disembarking.  I'll pass.

Edited June 6 by Megabear2

[exlondoner]

7 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

Perhaps you are not in the know - Some of us, myself included have 'occasionally' conducted our future booking  business over an early evening drink in a quiet corner of a public venue 😉   

Of course I’m not in the know. I’m just an ordinary female passenger.

[Bell Boy]

3 minutes ago, david63 said:

Forgive a silly question but what is the great attraction to booking onboard? Are there some amazing deals to be had?

 

5 minutes ago, david63 said:

Forgive a silly question but what is the great attraction to booking onboard? Are there some amazing deals to be had?

Not so much about Deals , however, it is about first hand knowledge and advice of what Staterooms could be avoided. Often a low deposit and generous onboard credit depending on the length of the itinerary.

The other attraction is being able to pass the booking onto your preferred Cruise Specialist who ( if you have already struck up a relationship) they in turn will often offer a further discount off the original booking .

It's no brainer, been doing this for years . 

[exlondoner]

7 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

In my case two longer voyages would offer 3% discount on each so not to be sniffed at.  Of course the 10% early booking discount has now ended too.  I'm a bit cross as I deliberately waited to book.onboard and now unless I.miss my disembarking spot I'm not going yo be able to do so.

 

Te the Pursers Ofgice I just passed by an around 20 people in the queue, probably last day arrangements being made for disembarking.  I'll pass.

Infuriating. 

[exlondoner]

12 minutes ago, david63 said:

Forgive a silly question but what is the great attraction to booking onboard? Are there some amazing deals to be had?

Extra obc. $400 each for a fortnight in the Grills.

[Winifred 22]

Don’t know if it’s the same as other ships but I have never had much luck as a walk in. There has always been a queue of people waiting the only times I have sneaked in was when they were expecting me back having had a pre booked appointment earlier. They may let you book but as you have said time is running out. 

[Winifred 22]

10 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

Perhaps you are not in the know - Some of us, myself included have 'occasionally' conducted our future booking  business over an early evening drink in a quiet corner of a public venue 😉   

I am not in the know and have to take my turn with everyone else and with what ever slots are available even if it means having about to hang about to try and book one for a later time. 

[Megabear2]

Clearly the number of people handling the initial calls is a problem in my opinion.  It is very unfair to expect people on holiday to hang on the phone endlessly with.no idea if  there may be an appointment and we've no appointments notices on their "door". Common courtesy should surely be to offer a voice message to the effect we currently have no appointments today but our next available slots will be available on X, Y, Z. The opening hours on port days are short so the seadays are obviously most popular.  

 

As I say, I've not booked onboa Cunard ship since 2018 but I have booked on the sister line P&O and never had any problem.

 

This is a lesson learned.

Edited June 6 by Megabear2

[NE John]

13 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Of course I’m not in the know. I’m just an ordinary female passenger.

And you join the good company of a female captain on QA and female CEO of Cunard…

[exlondoner]

1 minute ago, Megabear2 said:

Clearly the number of people handling the initial calls is a problem in my opinion.  It is very unfair to expect people on holiday to hang on the phone endlessly in the hope there may be an appointment.  Common courtesy should surely be to offer a voice message to the effect we currently have no appointments today but our next available slots will be available on X, Y, Z. The opening hours on port days are short so the seadays are obviously most popular.  

 

As I say, I've not booked onboa Cunard ship since 2018 but I have booked on the sister line P&O and never had any problem.

 

This is a lesson learned.

Let us hope for them also, but possibly not.

[exlondoner]

Just now, NE John said:

And you join the good company of a female captain on QA and female CEO of Cunard…

Shock horror, two women in senior positions! I bet they still get ignored in bars if alone.

[Pushpit]

It would be quite possible that QA has a high number of repeat Cunard customers onboard, so if Carnival had got its act together they should have come up with a system (e.g. calling you back after disembarkation with the same offers).

 

But in normal circumstances, my tactic is to dive into the Sales Office on embarkation day when everyone else is distracted by other things. I would ask for an appointment then, however they may just deal with you straight away. If there are a large proportion of non UK, non USA guests then it's a lot easier to be seen, at least from my experiences.

Edited June 6 by Pushpit

[Megabear2]

8 minutes ago, Pushpit said:

It would be quite possible that QA has a high number of repeat Cunard customers onboard, so if Carnival had got its act together they should have come up with a system (e.g. calling you back after disembarkation with the same offers).

 

But in normal circumstances, my tactic is to dive into the Sales Office on embarkation day when everyone else is distracted by other things. I would ask for an appointment then, however they may just deal with you straight away. If there are a large proportion of non UK, non USA guests then it's a lot easier to be seen, at least from my experiences.

Judging by the vast number of red cards I'm seeing being presented around the ship it may well be new to Cunard people seeking new bookings rather than old timers like me!

 

I'll have a quick look at 7.30 tomorrow but I can't miss my disembarkation slot as my husband is collecting me before an important work appointment.  That comes first as it pays for the cruises ...

Edited June 6 by Megabear2

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Judging by the vast number of red cards I'm seeing being presented around the ship it may well be new to Cunard people seeking new bookings rather than old timers like me!

 

I'll have a quick look at 7.30 tomorrow but I can't miss my disembarkation slot as my husband is collecting me before an important work appointment.  That comes first as it pays for the cruises ...

If that is the case, it is excellent news and it seems the new ship is doing everything Cunard hoped for. It is certainly different from our voyage which had more passengers who were very elderly and had movement difficulties than I can remember, and were multiple repeaters. (Very proud of myself as I’ve remembered the significance of red cards.)