question about TAs

[Lilbecky]

Do TAs get more commission from certain cruiselines over another? I have approached 2 TAs about a certain cruiseline and they keep trying to steer me towards another.(more expensive one at that) One has even said some really negative things about the cruiseline we are interested in. Have I stumbled upon two poor TAs or that just the way this industry works? Thanks guys!!!

[maldemar]

Do TAs get more commission from certain cruiselines over another? I have approached 2 TAs about a certain cruiseline and they keep trying to steer me towards another.(more expensive one at that) One has even said some really negative things about the cruiseline we are interested in. Have I stumbled upon two poor TAs or that just the way this industry works? Thanks guys!!!

 

The amount of commission earned is based upon total yearly revenue produced, so yes an agent may earn more from certain lines. However, that may not be the only reason for them suggesting (steering) you a certain way. It could be based on what they learned from talking to you, they feel you may enjoy the higher priced line more. Or it could also be that even though one line costs more than another, even a small price difference may provide a much better value.

 

The agents may be saying negative things about a line based on experience and not just trying to earn more. Back when we owned an agency, we discouraged bookings to one line and completely stopped booking another based on both our personal and our clients' negative experiences. Most of those booking were switched to one particular line, so yes our commission percentage with them went up. However. that that was not why we "pushed' them. We pushed them based on our personal and our clients' positive experinces.

 

Of course, you may have just run into a couple of bad agents.:D It can happen.

[Lilbecky]

Thank you! That is very helpful. :D

[GufiFoot]

LilB, ours is non-commission. I and at least 2 other cruise/posters have used her. We LOVE her.:) No pressure, lots of fun to chat with, very easy to work with. Basically, she could careless what you book, as long as you are happy. She does keep her eye open for things you might like (hotels, certain cruises, etc) & will call you to tell you about them. She is also a long time cruiser herself. She only books for Cunard, Princess, Holland & Carnival. She is based out of LA, CA by way of Long Island, NY. We won't use anyone else.