How many days do you have to transfer a booking to a T.A.?

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

How many days do you have to transfer a booking to a Travel Agent?

[DE Solo]

4 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

How many days do you have to transfer a booking to a Travel Agent?

You have 60 days to transfer the booking to a TA. 

[a.madruga]

100% true just learned it when trying

sooooo late

[SUESEABE]

Reservation Transfer Request Form.pdf

[Haljo1935]

60 days and outside final payment.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info everyone.

[Cruisin4now]

I read on another forum that TAs sometimes will give nice “deal sweeteners” to take on a transfer since most of the preliminary work has been done for them. Saw on another forum where someone was able to even get a price reduction of 10% on the cruise to take it. Anyone have more info to share about shopping a booking around to TAs after booking onboard? 

[Hlitner]

9 minutes ago, Cruisin4now said:

I read on another forum that TAs sometimes will give nice “deal sweeteners” to take on a transfer since most of the preliminary work has been done for them. Saw on another forum where someone was able to even get a price reduction of 10% on the cruise to take it. Anyone have more info to share about shopping a booking around to TAs after booking onboard? 

Saving 7-10% (and sometimes even more) is normal when you deal with decent high volume cruise agencies.  Many of these agencies are part of major consortiums (kind of like buying groups) that enable them to offer all kinds of deals.  Why even bother dealing direct with a cruise line (or PCC) which offers no real advantage other than to pay a higher price (or not get lots of OBC) and than have the extra step of transferring the booking?  

 

As to booking onboard, that is about the only time we consider dealing direct with HAL or any other cruise line.  Sometimes, there are special onboard promotions, and than quickly moving the booking to a decent cruise agency (shop around for the best deals) can get you a lot more.  With HAL, we have saved nearly $3000 on a single booking by using one of our favored cruise agencies.  

 

One warning, which actually comes from one of my favorite agents (who has been in the business for 33 years).  She does not generally recommend buying non-refundable deals (be it a deposit or the entire cruise).  Once you commit to a non-refundable, you are likely going to be locked out of the ability to reprice/rebook if there is later a better deal on that cruise.  In some cases it can even lock you out of the ability to take advantage of a possible upgrade or upsell.

 

Hank