For those that use a TA- what would you do?

[gargoyle999]

Not that it matters to anyone but me (:p) but here is what I did. Originally my TA was going to give me a $225 discount. After sending him the other offer and asking what he could do, it will now be a $300 discount! :D

 

So that brings the difference between the lowest quote with the untested agency with the high fee to an agent/agency I trust without any extra fees to $58! I'm very happy with that.

 

That is an even lower rate than the other quotes I received, except for the very lowest one. Usually this agency is about $40 more than other quotes I receive but since they don't have fees I've used them. Guess it's good that I'm getting to be a repeat customer!

 

Deal is done. I booked with the PVP first so she gets credit then transferred it over.

[lvtotrvl1]

I've just sent him an email. I wouldn't expect him to match exactly since they don't have the fees, but whatever is closer would save me money! :)

 

I think the points about not really knowing what you might need your TA to help with and that over the next 14+ months there could be price drops (I can hope!) are good ones.

 

I think I'll try for the best deal I can get with my old TA and then hope he has to earn his commission by filling out lots of price drop requests! :D

 

Looking at the price of this cruise Miracle Nov 2010), your TA will make about $300.00 commission without any discounts. Who knows if he / she even gets the full commission (doubt it...the company will take the majority)...just something to think about..

[gargoyle999]

Looking at the price of this cruise Miracle Nov 2010), your TA will make about $300.00 commission without any discounts. Who knows if he / she even gets the full commission (doubt it...the company will take the majority)...just something to think about..

 

I'm not forcing them to offer me anything! Though he did make some comment about needing to keep the lights on! :D But they still must be making something on it, or maybe even close to break even they want to keep me as a customer. This will be the 5th cruise I have booked using them (3rd Cat 11). I could transfer my 4 day cruise in Nov 2010 to him as well, but that's just a 4A cabin and even without much of a discount he might not want the hassle of dealing with any price drops for what he'd get in commission.

 

Plus, I'm pretty low maintenance for him. I come to CC to bug you guys with my questions! ha ha....:p

[lvtotrvl1]

I'm not forcing them to offer me anything! Though he did make some comment about needing to keep the lights on! :D But they still must be making something on it, or maybe even close to break even they want to keep me as a customer. This will be the 5th cruise I have booked using them (3rd Cat 11). I could transfer my 4 day cruise in Nov 2010 to him as well, but that's just a 4A cabin and even without much of a discount he might not want the hassle of dealing with any price drops for what he'd get in commission.

 

Plus, I'm pretty low maintenance for him. I come to CC to bug you guys with my questions! ha ha....:p

 

Playing devils advocate here....if they are just about breaking even on a cruise, how important is that customer?

[peanutJMV]

Ok..here is my situation. I am going to be booking a Cat 11 cabin on the Miracle for Nov of next year using Early Saver rate. My initial plan was to book directly with a PVP (I want to start using a PVP to book to develop a "relationship" directly with Carnival and ask any pre-booking questions) then transfer the booking to a TA I have used before and am very happy with in order to save some money.

 

So by doing this I could save $225.

 

But I just found another online TA that is offering the cruise at a savings of $358. Now this agency charges fees for any change to the invoice in the amount of $39. So to process an ES price drop, it would cost me $39. I also would have to pay $29 if I booked directly with the PVP then transferred the reservation. The other TA I have used before does not charge any fees.

 

Now since this cruise is Early Saver I will not be canceling and I will be booking a specific cabin and will not want to change. So I am not worried about any fees for that with the new TA.

 

We were supposed to do the same cruise in Feb but the itinerary was changed. So I have no questions about the ports, the Miracle or really anything about this cruise that I will need the PVP or TA for.

 

I am trying decide if I should just book direct with the new TA getting the lowest price knowing that I would have to pay $39 for any price drop, but also knowing that I would be saving $133 up front vs the old TA and since I'm booking a Cat 11 the chance for price drops is less than other categories.

 

Or, book with my old TA that doesn't charge fees and I have been happy with but is costing me more when I know I won't be changing cabins or canceling. If there are any price drops I could get them with no extra cost. I could also book with the PVP since transferring the booking would not cost me anything. Even though all I would be doing is calling the PVP and telling her to book me on this sailing in this cabin. In other words, this booking is going to be basically no work for anyone!

 

If the difference was <$50 I'd just go with my old TA since he is very good. But saving an extra $133 is something I need to consider.

 

What would you do?

 

Maybe your current TA will meet the price change

[gargoyle999]

Playing devils advocate here....if they are just about breaking even on a cruise, how important is that customer?

 

Yeah..I hear you. I don't think they've just broken even on every cruise I booked with them however. Must be some reason why he increased his discount from $225 to $300 when I asked. Could have told me $225 was the best he could do.

[BlueJacketsFan1]

We book using our TA because she is one of the best. We get service that simply goes above and beyond anything we would expect. I don't care if I could book and safe a couple of dollars or not. I would book with her because of the service that she is going to give us. That means more to us than a few dollars. Peace of mind and knowing that she will do everthing we could ever think of asking.

[chasinraynbowz]

Ok..here is my situation. I am going to be booking a Cat 11 cabin on the Miracle for Nov of next year using Early Saver rate. My initial plan was to book directly with a PVP (I want to start using a PVP to book to develop a "relationship" directly with Carnival and ask any pre-booking questions) then transfer the booking to a TA I have used before and am very happy with in order to save some money.

 

So by doing this I could save $225.

 

But I just found another online TA that is offering the cruise at a savings of $358. Now this agency charges fees for any change to the invoice in the amount of $39. So to process an ES price drop, it would cost me $39. I also would have to pay $29 if I booked directly with the PVP then transferred the reservation. The other TA I have used before does not charge any fees.

 

Now since this cruise is Early Saver I will not be canceling and I will be booking a specific cabin and will not want to change. So I am not worried about any fees for that with the new TA.

 

We were supposed to do the same cruise in Feb but the itinerary was changed. So I have no questions about the ports, the Miracle or really anything about this cruise that I will need the PVP or TA for.

 

I am trying decide if I should just book direct with the new TA getting the lowest price knowing that I would have to pay $39 for any price drop, but also knowing that I would be saving $133 up front vs the old TA and since I'm booking a Cat 11 the chance for price drops is less than other categories.

 

Or, book with my old TA that doesn't charge fees and I have been happy with but is costing me more when I know I won't be changing cabins or canceling. If there are any price drops I could get them with no extra cost. I could also book with the PVP since transferring the booking would not cost me anything. Even though all I would be doing is calling the PVP and telling her to book me on this sailing in this cabin. In other words, this booking is going to be basically no work for anyone!

 

If the difference was <$50 I'd just go with my old TA since he is very good. But saving an extra $133 is something I need to consider.

 

What would you do?

 

Please explain to me the benefit of booking with Carnival and then transferring to a TA. Why not just book with your TA???

[gargoyle999]

Please explain to me the benefit of booking with Carnival and then transferring to a TA. Why not just book with your TA???

 

My thought is to develop a "relationship" with someone directly at Carnival so that if I have questions about Carnival ships, cabins, Early Saver, other programs they might have now or in the future I can contact a representative for Carnival directly. A Carnival "expert" so to speak. Now, whether PVP's are experts or not is a topic for another thread. ;)

 

My plan is to use the PVP before booking for any questions, clarifications I might have and get that information directly from Carnival. Then book with the PVP to give her the credit for the booking and transfer to the TA to save me the money.

 

Even after I transfer my booking, my PVP said I can call her to discuss general topics, but not pricing information. So I could still call her to ask about Early Saver questions or what have you.

 

To me I'm getting my cake and eating it too. I have direct contact with Carnival and save money by switching to the TA. Carnival still makes money off me, the PVP gets credit for the booking, the TA makes some commission and I save money. :)

[mississauga]

Hope I am not hijacking this thread with my question but since the OP has resolved his situation and this thread is about PVP's etc, maybe my question is ok here?

 

I have read that TA's somtimes give OBC's and coupons etc. Do PVP's give any of that or are they there to just book and answer your questions?:confused:

[gargoyle999]

I have read that TA's somtimes give OBC's and coupons etc. Do PVP's give any of that or are they there to just book and answer your questions?:confused:

 

You won't get a lower rate by using a PVP or OBC or anything like that. Basically whatever you can get (rate wise) by booking directly on the Carnival website is what you would get by booking with a PVP.

[chasinraynbowz]

My thought is to develop a "relationship" with someone directly at Carnival so that if I have questions about Carnival ships, cabins, Early Saver, other programs they might have now or in the future I can contact a representative for Carnival directly. A Carnival "expert" so to speak. Now, whether PVP's are experts or not is a topic for another thread. ;)

 

My plan is to use the PVP before booking for any questions, clarifications I might have and get that information directly from Carnival. Then book with the PVP to give her the credit for the booking and transfer to the TA to save me the money.

 

Even after I transfer my booking, my PVP said I can call her to discuss general topics, but not pricing information. So I could still call her to ask about Early Saver questions or what have you.

 

To me I'm getting my cake and eating it too. I have direct contact with Carnival and save money by switching to the TA. Carnival still makes money off me, the PVP gets credit for the booking, the TA makes some commission and I save money. :)

 

 

Well best of luck to you. With my luck and with too many hands in the cookie jar (so to speak), something would get screwed up... lol. I will stick with my PVP.

[dan40]

If you are unhappy with your old TA. find a new one. The online TA with all their fees doesn't sound like the one. Tell them they have lost the business due to fees, I have used online TA's since there WERE online TA's. My present one [of many years now] has booked over 50 cruises for me friends and family without a single problem. Prices almost always beat the cruiseline and never exceeds the cruise line. No fees, good service and she can book ANY cruiseline. Carnival is our favorite, but not the only cruiseline we sail. In fact, right now there is no cruiseline I would NOT sail. Altho Disney would need a lot of changes to interest us. Itinerary, casino, kids!