Which Do You Use?

[kakalina]

We have used the same PCC at HAL for five years. He is amazing. He will call us when there is something special, he gets us unbelieveable perks, he calls just to say hi. He e-mails us the flash specials and knows us and our preferences. I wouldn't trade him for the world. :D

[BILLP1]

We booked the Noordam yesterday and I booked with an on line agent. In searching and calling agents I found the on line agent who we had used in the past was $600 cheaper then anyone that I priced with. As I said we have used this agent on four cruises and have always have been more then happy...

[psychboss]

When a couple of friends and I booked our Oosterdam cruise last year, we called the 800 HAL number. The agent we spoke with actually encouraged us to use a TA instead of direct booking. We booked it with him, anyway, but I later found a better rate (saves about $150), and I transferred my booking to them... everything else remained the same.

 

I have always looked back and wondered why the original HAL agent acted as he did. It was almost like he didn't want to be bothered. I wonder if they work off of commissions.

 

 

As a TA I know that all cruise lines would rather that you book with a Travel Agent. Cruise Lines have limited Agents available to work with the public to book your cruises, etc. They know that TA's are their biggest supporters and they are our biggest supports. The Cruise Industry spends a lot of money to provides training to the travel agents so that the TA's that care always have the best information to provide to our clients.

 

We are told this by the Executives of the Cruise Lines at Meetings such as CLIA meetings and other training session we attend. CLIA is the 'Cruise Lines Internation Association'. They promote ongoing training through their CLIA Cruise Academy for all TA's that sell cruises. Please read the information on their web site.

 

I cannot say who I am or how to contact me on this web site and I cannot advertise anything about my Agency, because Cruise Critic sells travel and that would be competition for them. I am not sure that they should be so afraid of some competition. But - they own the website, so we will all play by their rules. BUT I can say. They just because some of us are 'internet only' sellers of Travel does not mean that we are not fair and honest businesses. I would not be in business very long if I did not give my clients good pricing, lots of service and all of my time that they want.

[Suitegurl]

We have used an Internet TA that happens to have a Brick and Mortar in our city for the past 6 years. Only issue is that we have had 4 different agents during that time because they don't stay long. My guess (and it is only a guess based on the large sales board in the "boiler room") is that if they don't produce enough they are gone. We always look at many options before booking, including HAL, and have used an online agency once, but that did not go well...but we always end up at our local TA because their price is always less. I just wish they didn't have so much of a turnover.

[Steamboatin]

We have utilized the same local TA who works for a National Association for our last 19 cruises (taken & booked) and 4 land escorted tours.

 

Perfectly happy with her.

[InTheWASide]

I've booked directly with HAL and been absolutely impressed every time!

 

And who better to get the info from than the horse's mouth?

 

Plus I don't have to wait for TA's hours to ask a basic Q or get a basic answer.

 

Win/win in my book!

[refman]

I've booked directly with HAL and been absolutely impressed every time!

 

And who better to get the info from than the horse's mouth?

 

Plus I don't have to wait for TA's hours to ask a basic Q or get a basic answer.

 

Win/win in my book!

i could`nt agree more, we tried a local ta for a couple of cruises but got tired of the gross incompetence and negligence or just plain stupidity. so now always the same consultant at HAL who is very meticulous and never once made a mistake.

[Jade13]

We have used the same PCC at HAL for five years. He is amazing. He will call us when there is something special, he gets us unbelieveable perks, he calls just to say hi. He e-mails us the flash specials and knows us and our preferences. I wouldn't trade him for the world. :D

 

Is that Lance?

[Jade13]

We have utilized the same local TA who works for a National Association for our last 19 cruises (taken & booked) and 4 land escorted tours.

 

Perfectly happy with her.

 

Is this the one with the $25.00 deposit?

[Solo Cruiser]

I use the cruise line's website to work out which cruise I want to take. Then I feverishly compare prices at many of the online agencies. When I think I have the lowest price on the cruise I want, I call my friend who is a TA and ask if she can match that price. So far she has been able to match it every time and then provide me with great service. She owns a B&M agency in a city where I used to live. Now that I'm over 1000 miles away she is still just a phone call away to answer questions or help with details.

[boatlover]

Without breaking rules of this Board by naming your TA........

 

Do you book direct with HAL either through their website or a PCC or

 

Do you book your cruises using a TA?

 

If a TA, do you use a brick and mortar or an internet TA?

 

Curious how each option will be represented.

 

We don't use a brick and mortar, not internet, not HAL. Each time I have always gone back to the place where I buy the laundry soap, printer cartridges, cashmere sweaters, diapers, 3 gallon jugs of animal crackers and a billion other things we don't need but somehow can't live without. The best prices I have found and great service. All done over the phone, no internet booking for cruises available.

[Jade13]

We don't use a brick and mortar, not internet, not HAL. Each time I have always gone back to the place where I buy the laundry soap, printer cartridges, cashmere sweaters, diapers, 3 gallon jugs of animal crackers and a billion other things we don't need but somehow can't live without. The best prices I have found and great service. All done over the phone, no internet booking for cruises available.

 

Hmm, Walmart, Sam's Club...?

[serendipity1499]

We don't use a brick and mortar, not internet, not HAL. Each time I have always gone back to the place where I buy the laundry soap, printer cartridges, cashmere sweaters, diapers, 3 gallon jugs of animal crackers and a billion other things we don't need but somehow can't live without. The best prices I have found and great service. All done over the phone, no internet booking for cruises available.

 

 

LOL...:D

 

We look for price & perks first..I can handle our air, hotels, car rentals etc...When we fly out of the country to meet a ship, prefer to use an all inclusive TA who can book the air, hotels, transfers etc.

 

Of 14 cruises on several different Cruise lines we've used two brick & Mortar Agents, an all inclusive escorted tour for several bookings & HAL directly, or an Internet Agent..On our Prinsendam cruise in April 2006 we booked with HAL & transferred the booking to an Internet Only (no phone service) Agent who gave us an a very large discount on an upgraded cabin..When speaking with a HAL supervisor he explained, they could not compete with their high producing agents who have blocked space..For our Ryndam Cruise in Nov. went through the same agent & were given about 9% less & some perks including Dinner in the Pinnacle, 3 bottles of Wine, & 2 massages..He had group space & put us into it...For our Oceania cruise this Nov. we are using another Internet Agent which has phone service & gave us a good price as well as pre-paid gratuities ($11.50 per person per day) & wine..We also received a $500 credit for the air, which we are not using..

 

Sail..Would also be interested in knowing how you book your cruises..

 

Betty

[boatlover]

LOL...:D

 

When speaking with a HAL supervisor he explained, they could not compete with their high producing agents who have blocked space

 

 

Speaking of blocked space, that is another reason why we don't book directly with the cruise line. Seems like they never have the cabins we want available. Large TA's block them and leave the cruise line with slim pickings. Or at least that is my theory, maybe it has something to do with the time we make our booking (not too far out but before final payments are due) but what do I know. Booked a few weeks ago for a November cruise and the cruiseline had no balcony cabins, the company I book with had a nice selection.

[the2ofus]

I'm curious how you folks develop a relationship with a PCC at HAL. I have booked directly with HAL three different times, but never had a contact with a PCC. How do you make that connection so that you get such personal service and contacts about good deals, perks, etc. Do you have to have a certain number of days or cruises on HAL before they offer that service?

[Cruising-along]

I'm curious how you folks develop a relationship with a PCC at HAL. I have booked directly with HAL three different times, but never had a contact with a PCC. How do you make that connection so that you get such personal service and contacts about good deals, perks, etc. Do you have to have a certain number of days or cruises on HAL before they offer that service?

 

Nothing special needed at all. Once there was a business card in one of our HAL mailings, we contacted her, and that was all that was necessary. :)

[Randy H]

T and I use a well known internet TA from Arkansas. We have used our local AAA in the past (not bad, but our rep went missing) The internet TA has been great, we have been on a cruise with her and her husband (an accident, but a good accident)

 

She gives us good service. With the internet it is possible to have a TA 2000 miles away.

 

If you email me privately at hees (at) rcn.com I will recommend her.