travel agent advised us NOT to cruise AOS

[Loucat]

It makes NO SENSE that an RCC employee would talk down about one of their ships. We sailed on AOS and would do so again in a minute. Something is up here and it is not AOS.:confused:

[MDSue]

Perhaps there is a reason she thought you might like the Serenade better. I have not tried the Adventure, but sailed on the Serenade last year and loved it. It is a classy beautiful ship with a ton of glass for views. I would ask your tA specifically why she thinks you should book the Serenade. It was my favorite ship so far.

[lovemylab]

I have the Adventure booked for November and it came highly recommended to me - both from people on this board and also from my TA who has sailed the ship herself.

 

I'd be getting a new TA.

[Davey Interweb]

My AOS cruise wasn't awful or anything, it was just flat-out boring compared to other RC cruises I had been on. The ship was asleep at midnight and the casino vacant, every single night. Keep in mind, though, every sailing is different. The one after ours could have been a non-stop party for all I know.

 

I'll readily admit that I dislike the Voyager/Freedom class ships to begin with; I love the Radiance class and Serenade would be the ship I'd personally opt for if I did the southern route again. Just a preference.

[Tex_Jen]

I've been on the AOS 3 years in a row and every year I had a great time. Not sure why you are being steered away since you really want the AOS itinerary.

 

Jen

[ckrobyn]

:confused: I asked my travel agent for a price on cruising AOS in March. She got back to me and said the RCL rep advised her not to book us on AOS becasue of recent complaints that the cruise was not "what people expected on a RCL cruise" and suggested we look at Serenade instead. we really wanted the AOS itinerary so am now very conflicted. Has anyone else gotten this advice??

 

 

Heyyyyyy!!!! Is your TA dissing my ship????? :mad::mad: LOL!

 

Do not hesitate to book the AOS - and get a new TA :D

[ckrobyn]

WOW, her RCCL rep said that? :eek:

 

Try looking for the thread by CKRobyn, no one is more knowledgable about that ship than Robyn.

 

Edited to say...I found the Adventure thread...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=691783

 

 

Michelle :p:p:p

 

Just booked the AOS again!!!!! February 2010.....last cruise on her for us before she heads to Europe :o

[cruiseawaits]

Michelle :p:p:p

 

Just booked the AOS again!!!!! February 2010.....last cruise on her for us before she heads to Europe :o

 

Any particular reason you booked so far out? I, too, am interested in sailing her again in Feb. 2010, but thought I would wait to book. I wouldn't think they would discount any rates this far out. Please let me know your thoughts in booking so early. Thanks

[wrp96]

Any particular reason you booked so far out? I, too, am interested in sailing her again in Feb. 2010, but thought I would wait to book. I wouldn't think they would discount any rates this far out. Please let me know your thoughts in booking so early. Thanks

 

By booking now you have more choices of rooms AND are protected against price increases. And RCCL is very good about giving price drops after booking, even after final payment - the only exceptions are sale specials which are for new bookings only. I booked my next cruise the day bookings opened - I've gotten 2 price drops with no issues. Yes you could wait to book on the off chance that there will be a sale special that is only open to new bookings, but those don't always happen. You are better off going ahead and booking now if you know when you want to cruise.

Edited March 7, 2009 by wrp96

[ckrobyn]

Any particular reason you booked so far out? I, too, am interested in sailing her again in Feb. 2010, but thought I would wait to book. I wouldn't think they would discount any rates this far out. Please let me know your thoughts in booking so early. Thanks

 

 

Pretty much what Wrona just said :D

 

I am picky and specific about what cabin I want, so I book early to make sure I get it :) If the price drops, I simply call RCI and have our rate adjusted.

[Cruzaholic41]

Well, I have been on one of AOS's notorious bad behavior cruises, and I can tell you that the behavior I saw was unbelievable. I won't get into specifics because there are some of you that refuse to believe these things can happen, and all you'll do is flame me.

 

That being said, I have also had a fabulous cruise on AOS. It's just a matter of when and where with that ship. I'm sure the overwhelming majority of cruises are great. It's the few bad ones that can really leave a bad taste in one's mouth.

 

FYI....The fabulous cruise was in February. The bad cruise was in October, which seems to be the time of year that generates the most complaints.

Edited March 7, 2009 by Cruzaholic41

[Ocean Boy]

By booking now you have more choices of rooms AND are protected against price increases. And RCCL is very good about giving price drops after booking, even after final payment - the only exceptions are sale specials which are for new bookings only. I booked my next cruise the day bookings opened - I've gotten 2 price drops with no issues. Yes you could wait to book on the off chance that there will be a sale special that is only open to new bookings, but those don't always happen. You are better off going ahead and booking now if you know when you want to cruise.

 

Of course, if everyone booked a year out and the ship fills early there won't be any price drops to take advantage of.

[maggieq]

I would question the ta......while our last cruise on the aos in May wasn't as great as our first in April 05, it had nothing to do with the ship or the staff. In fact, we loved the ship, the itin, the staff and the cd Mike was excellent.

 

We just like a balance of passengers.....just being honest.

 

Perhaps the ta is being given more of an incentive to sell the serenade.

[concour]

The AOS seems to be one of the most love it/hate it ships that Royal Caribbean has. If a TA starts getting reports from his/her clients that they did not like the ship they would be hard pressed to recommend it to someone else. This would be true for any cruise or land vacation. Our TA has steered us away from some places. She has always said that she would be happy to book us but warned us about reports she has heard from returning vacationers.

 

What would upset you more, warning you ahead of time or when you get back after a not so great vacation and she tells you "I have heard that from other people."

Edited March 7, 2009 by concour

[crusinmama06]

Michelle :p:p:p

 

Just booked the AOS again!!!!! February 2010.....last cruise on her for us before she heads to Europe :o

 

You are obsessed. :D Now after Feb 2010, you have to start sailing with me. :D We'll do Oasis.

[ToddinVA]

We're going on the Adventure in May for our honeymoon. I certainly hope it will be a fun cruise! :)

[laseiber]

Spring Break - and if this is the one leaving out of San Juan, you will have to deal with discounted rooms being filled with locals. March is spring break time, and because of the roudiness of passengers, that may be why they did not recommend this ship and trip. Just food for thought.

[fungirl28]

I would check out some of the reviews of Adventure on the main Cruise critic site and especially CKrobyn's and Toonjies reviews and make a decision for yourself. That's how I made my decision to book Adventure for January (Thanks Ckrobyn & Toonjie:p). Besides...a cruise is what you make it. A ship, a seat by the pool and a fruity drink with a umbrella and I'm a happy woman.:D

[kooljamming]

:confused: I asked my travel agent for a price on cruising AOS in March. She got back to me and said the RCL rep advised her not to book us on AOS becasue of recent complaints that the cruise was not "what people expected on a RCL cruise" and suggested we look at Serenade instead. we really wanted the AOS itinerary so am now very conflicted. Has anyone else gotten this advice??

 

A good travel agent is suppose to make recommendations base on the client's needs and preferences. This is ONE of the main reason I use them. Unless your needs are like everyone's else, chances are a good TA's recommendation will be different. Talk with your TA and figure out the main concern and reservation. I canceled my planned trip with NCL after a tongue and cheek comment to my TA that I wanted something more formal than Carnival. In that moment he told me if that's what I wanted then I might not be happy with NCL even for free. Nothing was wrong with NCL he explained, but if I wanted formal to consider Princess, which I did. A good TA will make recommendations in your best interest, most here will make recommendation base on what they enjoyed.....not the same. Every good TA I have used, at times steered me away or into direction I hadn't consider. It's really their job. In the end it's your choice. I wish more people would use them and save a lot of complaints after the fact.

 

BTW. I think it's odd that people are making judgment about your TA without knowing the concerns or your needs. Keep in mind most here might have never used the service of good one and clearly unaware of their responsibilities. Good TA's DO make recommendation base on your needs. CC posters make recommedation base on their likes!

Edited March 7, 2009 by kooljamming

[cruizeblues]

:)We have sailed on the Adventure three times and I would jump at the chance to sail her again (and again and again!!) The southern itineraries (both) are AWESOME! The only reason that I have not booked the AOS for our next cruise is because the kids wanted to try the Surf thing on the Freedom. I am not nearly as excited for this cruise as I would be if it was on the AOS!

[nycruiser80]

A good travel agent is suppose to make recommendations base on the client's needs and preferences. This is ONE of the main reason I use them. Unless your needs are like everyone's else, chances are a good TA's recommendation will be different. Talk with your TA and figure out the main concern and reservation. I canceled my planned trip with NCL after a tongue and cheek comment to my TA that I wanted something more formal than Carnival. In that moment he told me if that's what I wanted then I might not be happy with NCL even for free. Nothing was wrong with NCL he explained, but if I wanted formal to consider Princess, which I did. A good TA will make recommendations in your best interest, most here will make recommendation base on what they enjoyed.....not the same. Every good TA I have used, at times steered me away or into direction I hadn't consider. It's really their job. In the end it's your choice. I wish more people would use them and save a lot of complaints after the fact.

 

BTW. I think it's odd that people are making judgment about your TA without knowing the concerns or your needs. Keep in mind most here might have never used the service of good one and clearly unaware of their responsibilities. Good TA's DO make recommendation base on your needs. CC posters make recommedation base on their likes!

 

 

Well put!!! Thats was a TA is supposed to do especially in todays internet do it yourself days that is why people go to TAs (one of the reasons) a TA should never say not go on something but rather point out concerns and how they may not meet the travellers wants. For most brick and mortar agents its not about the commissions! These days on a typical 7 night RCI, Carnival, NCL, princess cruises they are not high at all....the non commissionable fees have increased very much so and the actual items that are commissionable are not that high as they used to be.

 

I rather steer someone away from something I feel they may not enjoy based on their preferences and not commission I want a happy client so that they return and book other trips. In the long run I will make more. Its a return on investment!!!!! I think their are other agents who feel this way too.

[Ocean Boy]

A good travel agent is suppose to make recommendations base on the client's needs and preferences. This is ONE of the main reason I use them. Unless your needs are like everyone's else, chances are a good TA's recommendation will be different. Talk with your TA and figure out the main concern and reservation. I canceled my planned trip with NCL after a tongue and cheek comment to my TA that I wanted something more formal than Carnival. In that moment he told me if that's what I wanted then I might not be happy with NCL even for free. Nothing was wrong with NCL he explained, but if I wanted formal to consider Princess, which I did. A good TA will make recommendations in your best interest, most here will make recommendation base on what they enjoyed.....not the same. Every good TA I have used, at times steered me away or into direction I hadn't consider. It's really their job. In the end it's your choice. I wish more people would use them and save a lot of complaints after the fact.

 

BTW. I think it's odd that people are making judgment about your TA without knowing the concerns or your needs. Keep in mind most here might have never used the service of good one and clearly unaware of their responsibilities. Good TA's DO make recommendation base on your needs. CC posters make recommedation base on their likes!

 

Because the OP didn't mention anything about the TA dissing Adventure based on HER needs. Thats why.

 

Yes, we make recommendations based on our likes but if someone STATED what their needs and likes are plenty of us could certainly be objective enough to give an opinion on whether or not a certain cuise might, or might not, be right for a person. And that would be based on personal experience. With many TAs they may not have ever even stepped foot on the ship in question.

Edited March 7, 2009 by Ocean Boy

[Got2Cruise]

Because the OP didn't mention anything about the TA dissing Adventure based on HER needs. Thats why.

 

Yes, we make recommendations based on our likes but if someone STATED what their needs and likes are plenty of us could certainly be objective enough to give an opinion on whether or not a certain cuise might, or might not, be right for a person. And that would be based on personal experience. With many TAs they may not have ever even stepped foot on the ship in question.

 

Exactly, and if I read the OPs post correctly, the TA blamed the Royal rep. Puleeze, this should be a red flag right away. No way is Royal going to put down their own product. And frankly, some of the posts on this thread reveal some posters' prejudices.

[ckrobyn]

You are obsessed. :D Now after Feb 2010, you have to start sailing with me. :D We'll do Oasis.

 

 

You got it GF!!! But can you do something about Oasis' prices? :eek:

[monn_a]

Are you kidding me...read the reviews on this site...I sailed AOS and absolutely loved it...you will always have those that don't have a good time, but it's a great cruise. You need to find another TA...