What does your TA do for you?

[Sky Sweet]

Obvoiusly a few states license the agent. However, in RI or the other agent licensed states are the agents legally bound to represent the cruise line as you would representing the seller in a real estate transaction as suggested by the previous poster? I doubt it.

 

In Florida only the agency has a license to sell. Agents are not licensed.

 

As I said earlier, I, if not all agents represent our cruising clients.

 

Are you saying that travel agents who work for someone else don't have to be licensed at all, or that they have a different type of license than the owner of a travel agent, which is much easier to obtain?

[bob278]

I think it's rather clear that there are, indeed, agents out there that passionately represent the best interest of the cruiser (no matter what you call them). I am satisfied I have found one and am happy to see that there are others.

 

I think rules, standards and llicensing are fine, but a good agent doesn't need them to do what I want (and a bad agent wouldn't follow them all the time, anyway). I am asking for nothing illegal or even shady.

 

Simply answer my questions when I can't find the answer on my own with a reasonable effort, advise me when I am in unfamiliar territory and help me if (when) I have a dispute with the cruiseline. And for that last one, I don't ask that the agent jeopardize the business relationship with the cruiseline, just save me the almost guaranteed frustration of dealing with customer service. And if, along the way, she saves me money that I couldn't do own my own, it's a welcome bonus.

 

My agent has done this and will keep my loyalty until she doesn't. Seems to me to be a pretty simple business model for any agents out there. And it would hold true for a new cruiser as well, just a little more of each.

[Sky Sweet]

I think it's rather clear that there are, indeed, agents out there that passionately represent the best interest of the cruiser (no matter what you call them). I am satisfied I have found one and am happy to see that there are others.

 

I think rules, standards and llicensing are fine, but a good agent doesn't need them to do what I want (and a bad agent wouldn't follow them all the time, anyway). I am asking for nothing illegal or even shady.

 

Simply answer my questions when I can't find the answer on my own with a reasonable effort, advise me when I am in unfamiliar territory and help me if (when) I have a dispute with the cruiseline. And for that last one, I don't ask that the agent jeopardize the business relationship with the cruiseline, just save me the almost guaranteed frustration of dealing with customer service. And if, along the way, she saves me money that I couldn't do own my own, it's a welcome bonus.

 

My agent has done this and will keep my loyalty until she doesn't. Seems to me to be a pretty simple business model for any agents out there. And it would hold true for a new cruiser as well, just a little more of each.

 

Do you have the travel agent who somehow gets a hold of all the CC aft cabins on M class ships the first day they become available? If so, I can understand why you are so loyal to her :) :)

[asctony]

The TA costs us nothing, has always given us a shipbooard credit (we have a $400 credit for our upcoming Alaska cruise)

 

The price that I'm quoted is always the lowest I can find on my own(as I said, I do my own research still) and plus I have always gotten at least $150 shipboard credit. That doesn't include any small freebies that get thrown my way, which I don't count on. What's not to like, the only caveat once again being that you have to find a good (or great) TA.

This sounds to good to be true!

1. What type of cabin did you book?

2. How many people are booked to get the total of $400.00 OBC?

3. Always get at least $150.00 OBC?

4. Never have I found with anyone TA that that TA could always give the best price every time. I had one that would match the lowest price, but I thought why match, give me the best without me asking for it.

I have used many TAs over the past 20 years and cruise on average about 6 times a year. I have received OBCs, but never have I received at least $150.00 OBC almost always.

How can that TA stay in business unless they are charging more to give you the OBC?

Just my opinion and experience. Business is business and they are in business to make a profit, not just have customers/clients.

Happy Cruising!

[wv4891]

There are several of us here that share the same great TA. And yes, she is the one who always manages to get all those aft cabins. She may not always have the best/cheapest pricing but she does have the cabins.

 

I also have a great TA who specializes in Princess cruises and, so far, has always had the cheapest fares of any TA I have connected with.

[Sky Sweet]

There are several of us here that share the same great TA. And yes, she is the one who always manages to get all those aft cabins. She may not always have the best/cheapest pricing but she does have the cabins.

 

I also have a great TA who specializes in Princess cruises and, so far, has always had the cheapest fares of any TA I have connected with.

 

Is the CC aft lady an internet travel agent or a "brick and mortar" agency?

[glennjudy1]

This sounds to good to be true!

1. What type of cabin did you book?

2. How many people are booked to get the total of $400.00 OBC?

3. Always get at least $150.00 OBC?

4. Never have I found with anyone TA that that TA could always give the best price every time. I had one that would match the lowest price, but I thought why match, give me the best without me asking for it.

I have used many TAs over the past 20 years and cruise on average about 6 times a year. I have received OBCs, but never have I received at least $150.00 OBC almost always.

How can that TA stay in business unless they are charging more to give you the OBC?

Just my opinion and experience. Business is business and they are in business to make a profit, not just have customers/clients.

Happy Cruising!

 

Can't answer all of your questions because I'm not sure of the answer but I can give you specifics on our upcomijng cruises.

 

However, for the $400 OBC, we are booked for our upcoming Alaska Celebrity Summit cruise in September. We have a Sky Suite and have a $400 OBC (only my wife and I). We also booked four of our friends into Concierge Class cabins (two couples) on the same cruise and the TA gave them each (cabin) a $275 OBC.

 

We have our RC Mariner cruise this December and we have two cabins (wife and I in one and my two children and my mother in the adjoining cabin). They are both balcony cabins and each cabin has a $150 OBC.

 

We have a Pacific Coastal on RC Serenade next May, two balcony cabins like the last cruise and we also have a $150 OBC per cabin.

 

Our final one we have booked is for Oct 2007 on the RC Radiance, it's a two week cruise to Hawaii. We have two balcony cabins again as the last two cruises and we have a $250 per cabin OBC.

 

As far as receiving the lowest price, no way I can show that. However, I do my own research before I book and when I find the cruise I'm interested in, I already have what I consider the lowest price (that I can find at least). I then contact my TA and the price she quotes me is always either the same lowest price I've found or within $50 a cabin.

 

I'm definitely not an expert on how they make their money. I can tell you that the price we paid for the upcoming Celebrity cruise was $5105 for the cabin, all fees included. We booked this about two months ago. I could not find a lower price at the time (of course prices may have changed since then).

 

One other thing to point out. We have just started cruising (as opposed to your 6 cruises a year). So our experience may change but at this time, it looks very good.

[bob278]

Is the CC aft lady an internet travel agent or a "brick and mortar" agency?

 

She is a "brick and mortar" agency but has a website as so many businesses do.

 

She knows her clients/customers want them and she delivers. Sounds like value-add to me.

[Babo02]

She's worked with us for years and she finds the best deals and goes out of the way for us. A few years ago we had a cruise booked and had to back out, but it wasn't something covered by cancellation insurance. It was early enough to get our cruise money back, but the airlines refused to rebate us. We hung on and at the last minute the airlines changed their schedule and our TA was right there to demand our refund. When we've paid extra for seat reservations that we haven't received she's made sure we get our refund and she always gets us the best deals. When I'm flying on points I do it myself, but otherwise I use a TA.

 

Bonnie:)

[asctony]

Can't answer all of your questions because I'm not sure of the answer but I can give you specifics on our upcomijng cruises.

 

However, for the $400 OBC, we are booked for our upcoming Alaska Celebrity Summit cruise in September. We have a Sky Suite and have a $400 OBC (only my wife and I). We also booked four of our friends into Concierge Class cabins (two couples) on the same cruise and the TA gave them each (cabin) a $275 OBC.

 

We have our RC Mariner cruise this December and we have two cabins (wife and I in one and my two children and my mother in the adjoining cabin). They are both balcony cabins and each cabin has a $150 OBC.

 

We have a Pacific Coastal on RC Serenade next May, two balcony cabins like the last cruise and we also have a $150 OBC per cabin.

 

Our final one we have booked is for Oct 2007 on the RC Radiance, it's a two week cruise to Hawaii. We have two balcony cabins again as the last two cruises and we have a $250 per cabin OBC.

 

As far as receiving the lowest price, no way I can show that. However, I do my own research before I book and when I find the cruise I'm interested in, I already have what I consider the lowest price (that I can find at least). I then contact my TA and the price she quotes me is always either the same lowest price I've found or within $50 a cabin.

 

I'm definitely not an expert on how they make their money. I can tell you that the price we paid for the upcoming Celebrity cruise was $5105 for the cabin, all fees included. We booked this about two months ago. I could not find a lower price at the time (of course prices may have changed since then).

 

One other thing to point out. We have just started cruising (as opposed to your 6 cruises a year). So our experience may change but at this time, it looks very good.

 

Thanks for your info. I always say that as long as one is satisified with their choice, that is all that matters. Happy Cruising!

 

I have been told too many times by TAs that they always have the best prices and no one can beat them because they are the #1 TA/Agency for a specific cruise line. Just like in any other business, no one is always the cheapest.

 

Seen some Agencies provide gifts on escorted cruises every day. Even asked on a specific cruise being escorted by an agency what their pricing was and was told that they do not discuss pricing as that was 'tacky.' Then checked that agency's website and could not get prices. That TA stated that it was illegal to post prices on the Internet. LOL

 

For the TAs reading this posting. What are your comments?

Can you provide OBCs frequently or only periodically? Where does that OBC come from? The TA or the cruise line?

 

X and RCI has reduced your ability to cut the Cruise Line rates. So, I would assume you are cutting into your commission and thus using OBCs as a way of reducing the price.

 

I am not trying to ask you to expose your business, but lets be honest. This is a 'cut throat business.' There is a lot of competition out there. Prices are cheaper now than they were 5, 10 15 years ago. Commissions are being reduced. I know how hard you work and how many times you go on a wild goose chase.

 

I use the Internet daily to check prices. There are only a handful of quote facilities available/used by the various Agencies. I find what I need then call a TA to do the booking.

[Host Anne]

Hello folks ~ I'm only going to post this reminder once and if there is another challenge with this thread, it will be closed permanently. Discussions that attempt to find out the name of a travel agent here on the boards is a violation of Community Guidelines. Please refrain from such discussions.

 

Thanks for your cooperation.

[florisdekort]

What a travel agent can do for me is...

 

... absolutely nothing :D .

 

I always book my cruises myself on www.celebrity.com and that works fine for me.

 

Best Regards,

Floris

[rjg41]

What a travel agent can do for me is...

 

... absolutely nothing :D .

 

I always book my cruises myself on www.celebrity.com and that works fine for me.

 

Best Regards,

Floris

 

Obviously you have more money than you know what to with. Others would like to save a little to do other things.

[Longboysfan]

Hi Everyone,

 

Just curious what types of special things your TA does for you. I have thrown the business of family and friends to my TA which has amounted to 9 cruises (some quite expensive) in the past 2 years. On my most recent cruise we bestowed an additional 5 bookings (for us and relatives) upon her for cruises booked while on the ship.

 

I've had some misgivings about doing this since I don't really see the value add. There has been nothing that she has done that I couldn't have done directly with the cruise line. Maybe I figured I was helping a local business.

 

So here's the question, what does you TA do for you that makes you keep going back?

 

Gordon

 

I had the same thought when I did my - or our - first 20 or so cruises.

We shipped the TA over 50 cruises - between ours and my friends.

 

We go not a whole lot of value added.

 

Well after 9/11, and there is a long story involved here, we met a TA on our cruise. She has well over value added for our trips. Save us about 1 plus trip fares over the last few years.

 

It just depends on how hard the TA works for you.

[ocngypz]

Thanks for your info. I always say that as long as one is satisified with their choice, that is all that matters. Happy Cruising!

 

I have been told too many times by TAs that they always have the best prices and no one can beat them because they are the #1 TA/Agency for a specific cruise line. Just like in any other business, no one is always the cheapest.

 

Seen some Agencies provide gifts on escorted cruises every day. Even asked on a specific cruise being escorted by an agency what their pricing was and was told that they do not discuss pricing as that was 'tacky.' Then checked that agency's website and could not get prices. That TA stated that it was illegal to post prices on the Internet. LOL

 

For the TAs reading this posting. What are your comments?

Can you provide OBCs frequently or only periodically? Where does that OBC come from? The TA or the cruise line?

 

X and RCI has reduced your ability to cut the Cruise Line rates. So, I would assume you are cutting into your commission and thus using OBCs as a way of reducing the price.

 

I am not trying to ask you to expose your business, but lets be honest. This is a 'cut throat business.' There is a lot of competition out there. Prices are cheaper now than they were 5, 10 15 years ago. Commissions are being reduced. I know how hard you work and how many times you go on a wild goose chase.

 

I use the Internet daily to check prices. There are only a handful of quote facilities available/used by the various Agencies. I find what I need then call a TA to do the booking.

 

In terms of cruiselines we are not allowed to discount, the OBC comes out of the commission earned. There are other promotions where is comes from the cruiseline.

 

Yes, wild goosechase is a good name for it. There was one person I was working with. 31 quotes by the time she finally made up her mind. Just days before final was due, she cancelled. Hours of work.. for nada.

 

 

In looking at the big picture down the road in the future, there will be no agents. It will all be self-service... directly with the cruiselines. because no matter how big a travel company may be.....working on 1-2% gross profit.. with increased business expenses is not going to last. The law of diminishing returns. Now, it will also effect the cruiselines because they will need to man huge call centers.... again... diminishing returns.. unless they raise their fares to cover increased costs.

 

A rep from of the cruiselines asked me why I didn't sell more of his product. I told him, I can't afford to. I told him selling one of his particular ships was like trying to sell Hyundai when they first came out. In order to move the cars, dealers sold them at net. The factory then provided spiffs to the salesperson.. so they could make some money.. All in all.. a very expensive proposition for the manufacturer. If I net out a sale on his particular product, my agency doesn't make anything. I don't make anything.. only the cruiseline. So, my time can better be spent selling something else.

 

Before I became an agent, I had a wonderful ta. And yes, he was very generous towards me. However, I still allowed him to make a living, keep the coffee pot and a/c running and pay his staff. All I ask of my prospective clients is the same. I am with a high volume agency.. and spend 60-70hours a week actively working, yet I am making less money than last year.. and that is NOT a good thing... although my overall billing is up by 50% this year over last.

[Host Anne]

I might add that airlines and hotels are going down this very same path that Ocn describes. The sad thing is that many, many people need and receive great value from an agent that they will never get from the cruiseline, airline or hotel in booking direct. If you are travel savvy and know the ins and outs of booking (and dealing with problems when they arise), you'll be fine. But that's a very small percentage of the sailing passengers. It's kind of the way the wine stewards have gone on cruiselines as well. :( I've used our TA in many instances when issues arise. It always has proved to be a terrific resource - if you have a good TA.

 

By the way, Ocngypz, you're not alone in working more and making less. It's a sad state these days. Ultimately, it's going to affect how much the average passenger is going to be able to afford to cruise down the road.

[Hot4acruise]

this is our first cruise...june 3 on Zenith to bermuda. We were assigned a cabin that, it turns out, has two beds that don't go together to make one big one. Not good for your honeymoon! Our TA gave us $250.00 in travelers checks and is trying to get us a new room. Alone, we would have had no clue what to do. However this works out we are glad someone at least TRIED to make it better, effort means a lot to us.

[Dog Mommie]

Boy, I must have a really lousy TA! I find the cruise, I tell him which cabin I want (he claims he never knew about the aft balconies being bigger until I pointed it out), I tell him the price point, I check our docs, I find the mistakes, he calls the cruiseline in on 3 way, I talk to the rep and get the problems sorted while he listens in (is he learning from me???)...you get the picture.

We have booked +/-15 cruises with him, some with multiple cabins, and never even recieve a bad bottle of house (ship!) wine from him!:eek:

You can bet we won't be calling him again!

 

As far as the cruise line adding to their res. dept:

I recently called NCL to update my address, and couldn't believe what the rep told me!!!

They have done away with their Latitudes dept. as far as answering ?'s and the phone...she was the NCL res. rep. and answers from her own HOME! She found it hilarious that she was so disorganized and even yelled at her dog during our conversation.:confused: :confused: She could answer virtually no questions, had never cruised and would have to get back with me when she could either find her answer booklet or call NCL and ask them!

Truly hope this is NOT the new future to cruising!

[Sky Sweet]

There was a time when travel agents were a necessity because information about resorts, cruises, and other types of vacations was not readily available to the general public. A few posters have commented that they have wonderful travel agents, but these knowledgeable and service oriented travel agents appear to be in the minority, based on my experience, as well as my friends. On the other hand, I can think of a number of situations where a travel agent made the booking process more difficult. I think a travel agent who wants to survive today needs to realize that if they don't provide exceptional service or offer better pricing than booking with the cruise line directly, their services will be considered superfluous by most travelers.

[lvtotrvl1]

I am a travel agent and have been in the industry for over twelve years. I recently left a B&M agency to work out of my home..more freedom and more money. I enjoy reading these boards and getting different perspectives from previous cruisers. I also find it interesting that a question that can easily be answered by an agent, a cruiseline, or even the cruiselines website is asked here first. Many times the answers are correct, and many times they are not.

 

I have not lost many clients to the internet. Most clients that come to me, do not have the time or the will to spend hours researching something on the internet. Believe it or not, there are still a majority of people that travel that do not use the internet. I am not saying that they haven't spent a little time, and know what the prices are on the specific trip they are looking for, but from that point the trip is in my hands. Very rarely, do the internet sites beat my prices by much. I love the business and enjoy planning a wonderful vacation for my clients. Great to see the smiles when they come home! It has been mentioned on these boards, that a TA can be extremely valuable when a problem arises. We have the contacts at the cruiselines and resorts. We know how to reticket air, if a disaster occurs, ie. hurricanes and 9/11. We work for our clients. We want the repeat business.

 

I can understand that some people like to research and plan their own trips. What I don't understand sometimes, is the attitude of some people who don't even use a TA..some are downright rude, and don't know the facts. Some blame all TA's for one bad apple. We are in a profession, just as many of you. If I have a bad accountant, I don't blame them all..if I have a bad attorney, I don't blame them all...

 

Sorry this has been so long. I guess what I am trying to say, is we live in the great US and everyone has choices . I believe agents (good agents) will be around for a long time.