Booking With US Sites & US TA's

[rugbypopsie]

I have been told that if a US TA books a Princess cruise for us after Jan 1st. that the AGENT will not receive a commission. :eek:

 

Considering how favourable the US prices are we could personally pay the agents their lost commission and still be miles and miles in front!

 

 

[The_Big_M]

Wonder why they would be saying that when Princess is a US based company in the first place. Obviously commission is just part of the booking no matter who does the booking from where?

 

If the agency doesn't make the booking in line with their terms then it's not eligible for commission. The line is the one paying the commission.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

If the agency doesn't make the booking in line with their terms then it's not eligible for commission. The line is the one paying the commission.

 

 

Is this a statement you know as fact or are you just guessing?

[lizzy77]

 

Considering how favourable the US prices are we could personally pay the agents their lost commission and still be miles and miles in front!

 

 

 

Good point Sue. The information that I received was from our favorite TA who has been booking our Princess cruises at the US prices.

I would be more than happy to compensate her.

[The_Big_M]

Is this a statement you know as fact or are you just guessing?

 

There were actually two statements so it's not clear which you're referring to. However, I'm surprised you would need to guess at either of them!

[dougo in oz]

Yes! The US agents were up in arms about Princess restricting their trade with previous overseas clients so this is the compromise.quote]

 

Interesting ... seems that Aussie agents were up in arms about losing money to US agents and now the role has reversed. I think this can only be a good thing in the long run and maybe now prices charged by Carnival Australia may reduce and the outdated FOREX rate hopefully will be more dynamic in the future.

 

As for US agents not getting commission, I think that will be a matter of time before it´s reversed...there´s only so much a company can do for gratis. I know my T/A in the US does get a commisssion - Princess provided the commission details on the receipt which had the conditions of passage as well as our address in Australia.

 

Australian Family - talk to your local agent here and ask if they have any solutions to your dilemma about being willing beat or match other agency´s prices regardless of location. You may be lucky and get a good price from a large interstate T/A or you may find a local T/A who thinks outside the box.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

There were actually two statements so it's not clear which you're referring to. However, I'm surprised you would need to guess at either of them!

 

I was referring to both of the statements you made in the one paragraph. Do you know that what you said is a fact and if so how do you know. Seems to me that there is a lot of guessing and assuming regarding what is happening with the current Princess situation.

 

I copied that email that was sent to me so I know that is fact. That if you book with an OS TA before 31 December you will be able to book with Princess in the future using an OS TA with no problems in regard to you being an Australian.

 

I don't know for a fact that if OS TA's book Australians after this date they won't get the commission but I can find out. I will email my TA in USA and find out one way or the other, then I won't need to guess!!!

[The_Big_M]

I copied that email that was sent to me so I know that is fact. That if you book with an OS TA before 31 December you will be able to book with Princess in the future using an OS TA with no problems in regard to you being an Australian.

 

 

Yes' date=' that was the same effective announcement (about having an existing booking before 31 Dec) as made a few weeks ago, earlier in this thread as I recall.

 

I don't see that anything I wrote contradicts that e-mail/announcement.

 

I don't know for a fact that if OS TA's book Australians after this date they won't get the commission but I can find out. I will email my TA in USA and find out one way or the other, then I won't need to guess!!!

 

The distinction is if they aren't an existing customer prior to 31 Dec, by virtue of having an existing booking. If they are an existing customer then Princess would accept the new booking for them, and there would be no issue with commission.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Copy of an email I have just received from my US TA regarding commissions paid after 31st December..... No Commissions will be paid so there will be no chance of getting an agent to book you if you are not in their database prior to 1 January 2011.

 

Eileen,

YES that is correct, that is one of the reasons that we are trying to get clients booked or at least into our database prior to January 1, 2011.

[lawrence1]

Move over Princess,,,,they're not the only cruiseline out there and if they don't want Aussie customers we should take our $ elsewhere.

I will

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Move over Princess,,,,they're not the only cruiseline out there and if they don't want Aussie customers we should take our $ elsewhere.

I will

 

This is true but don't forget that there are other cruiselines out there that won't allow bookings from Australia. With Princess capitulating to a certain degree it might make the others change too.

 

We just completed a Celebrity cruise and we enjoyed it. We still prefer Princess though so itinerary plays a big part of which cruise we book and with whom. Princess US has such good itineraries. We also hope to do a world cruise with Princess and just love those loyalty benefits. :D

[NSWP]

Try HAL, we booked the 15 day Caribbean on Westerdam, outside cabin for $1800 each, not bad, quality cruising for $120 pp per day. That was through HAL's website.

[The_Big_M]

if they don't want Aussie customers we should take our $ elsewhere.

 

They do want Australian cruisers, particularly since they've set up an office here. They just don't want them doing end-runs booking through unsupported channels that are designed for different jurisdictions and regulations.

 

It's the same with many companies and manufacturers - try ordering a Dell or an Apple or many other products through their US web site.

[rugbypopsie]

Try HAL, we booked the 15 day Caribbean on Westerdam, outside cabin for $1800 each, not bad, quality cruising for $120 pp per day. That was through HAL's website.

HAL is part of Carnival who also own Princess so I am guessing the same rules apply. I will be an existing passenger of both but it still maintain the rage at having restrictions on bookings for aussies and kiwis, Uk and Canadians too I believe. It is not just the price, although that is a huge factor, it is also the very restrictive booking conditions, huge deposits and penalties that do not apply to US citizens.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

They do want Australian cruisers, particularly since they've set up an office here. They just don't want them doing end-runs booking through unsupported channels that are designed for different jurisdictions and regulations.

 

It's the same with many companies and manufacturers - try ordering a Dell or an Apple or many other products through their US web site.

 

:confused::confused::confused::confused: End runs bookings.... huh? We book our cruises one year and over ahead.... how is that an end run? It is still the same cruise, same cabin, same everything except cost. I don't understand your argument Big M. Your loyalty to Australian Travel Agents is commendable to the detriment of your bank balance or is there another reason? I choose not to have such expensive loyalty.

[lizzy77]

 

Me Neither:D

[stki]

I too, would be happy to give my hard earned money to Aussie TA's. In fact our next holiday to Alaska & Canada is with an Aussie agent. Got a good package & was able to use one of my Aussie FCC, so only $200 pp deposit.

 

However I will still continue to book through the US, when price is the difference. We were also able to purchase US FCC on our last cruise, so have both Aussie & US FCC in hand:)

 

I prefer to also book through the US, due to their benefits of cancelling prior to final payment, without penalty. The main reason is $$$. eg I looked at a cruise for 2012 & by booking via the US, would save $1800 per cabin. Thats a lot of money for the exactly the same cabin. I know I have to factor in the exchange rate, but thats why I have USD on a Travel card.

 

Cheers

 

Tanya

[The_Big_M]

Your loyalty to Australian Travel Agents is commendable to the detriment of your bank balance or is there another reason?

 

Odd how you interpreted it that way, given I didn't even refer to travel agents, let alone Australian ones. Looks like "guessing, or is it assuming?" again.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Odd how you interpreted it that way, given I didn't even refer to travel agents, let alone Australian ones. Looks like "guessing, or is it assuming?" again.

 

This thread is about booking with US TA's as opposed to local ones with Princess being the main subject at the moment.

 

They go hand in hand at the moment. I don't assume or guess, I have experience in booking with O/S TA's as well as local. The major difference is price for the same service. Why do Aussies have to pay such huge differences? Mark ups/Profit levels by Aussie TA's? They can't even say it is rent if they are an online TA.

 

Example.... 2 dayer on Dawn Princess Melbourne to Sydney in March 2011.... Aussie online TA $395 for inside...... US online TA $195 for inside. *****! This is a so called Australian cruise with Princess Australia.

 

So who is charging the high prices? Is it Princess? Is it the Aussie TA's?

[The_Big_M]

The major difference is price for the same service. Why do Aussies have to pay such huge differences? Mark ups/Profit levels by Aussie TA's? They can't even say it is rent if they are an online TA.

 

Prices are set by the cruise lines' date=' not by the travel agents. With some lines, the agents can discount, but not with others, hence you'll find pricing is generally similar for cruises through local agencies and is also generally similar between agents in the US.

 

Online agencies can make more mark-up on cruises than physical outlets, and if they have sufficient volume sometimes rebate that via OBC. That's one reason some regular cruisers prefer the benefits through online agencies. You're less likely to get that from your local physical store, that also does less business there, and as a result has to spend relatively more time on the booking than a specialist would. A percentage mark-up is going to give more dollars on a higher value cruise than a smaller one though.

 

And as pricing is determined by the cruise lines, they price to meet demand. How quickly do those $99 specials sell out locally?! Thus, it'd be stupid for a cruise line to discount so much locally as they'll run out of product in days and have nothing to do the rest of the year. They're also in business to make money... so they won't underprice except if there's an urgent need to clear 'stock'.

 

OTOH, the US economy has been in lots of difficulty as is well known, although is recovering. Thus, their office is often pricing in line with their other cruises. US customers would have the same reaction as you and wouldn't book anything over here if they saw prices as high as we can - and are - paying. So to keep the business, they keep pricing realistic over there.

 

Like I said this has happened in many products, for many years. Even decades ago when Ford exported its Capri convertible from Australia to the US, it was cheaper over there than here. Why? For the same reason as above, people do what's consistent and if they priced their car at $40,000 when all their competitors were selling at $25,000 how many do you think they would sell?

 

Another example is you could build the same house in one area of Sydney, and then in another area, with the same size of land. Will it go for the same price? No, the location is a factor in the demand, and hence different areas have different demand at the same time. This is exactly the same issue here.

[/quote']

So who is charging the high prices? Is it Princess? Is it the Aussie TA's?

 

Prices are set by the cruise line, and agencies are given a share of that as commission. Thus, the highest price is usually the line price and if you see a range, that is due to different agents discounting where able to (again, similar to other products). However, the pricing between different markets is set by the cruise line's offices.

[thied]

Prices are set by the cruise lines, not by the travel agents. With some lines, the agents can discount, but not with others, hence you'll find pricing is generally similar for cruises through local agencies and is also generally similar between agents in the US.

 

(hence you'll find pricing is generally similar for cruises through local agencies )

 

on a cruise we have just booked, we found a huge price difference between the local agents up to $ 2000 difference on the same cruise and cruise lines for the very same cabin, I have found an agent we have used for years can all ways give us a better price straight up then any other agent local or on line.

[The_Big_M]

on a cruise we have just booked, we found a huge price difference between the local agents up to $ 2000 difference on the same cruise and cruise lines for the very same cabin,

Which cruise are you referring to? The statement was general, as it is generally true, but there are reasons that variations can exist.

 

I have found an agent we have used for years can all ways give us a better price straight up then any other agent local or on line.

 

Sure, if you've got a relationship with a good agent, they can discount for you as well, in a similar way to how online agencies can make reductions based on volume and specialisation. The cruise line isn't going to make some super special only for you and that agent than the price they set though.

[thied]

Which cruise are you referring to? The statement was general, as it is generally true, but there are reasons that variations can exist.

 

 

 

Sure, if you've got a relationship with a good agent, they can discount for you as well, in a similar way to how online agencies can make reductions based on volume and specialisation. The cruise line isn't going to make some super special only for you and that agent than the price they set though.

 

 

(

Sure, if you've got a relationship with a good agent, they can discount for you as well, in a similar way to how online agencies can make reductions based on volume and specialisation. The cruise line isn't going to make some super special only for you and that agent than the price they set though.

)

 

Iam not shore what you mean by that statment as you have said (Sure, if you've got a relationship with a good agent, they can discount for you as well,) but then said (The cruise line isn't going to make some super special only for you and that agent than the price they set though) :rolleyes:

[rugbypopsie]

I have confirmation (seen the email from Princess) that if you are an existing customer of an US agent you will be able to continue to book. Interesting that the email also confirms that for others that are not existing customers the agent will not receive commission on new bookings. It says nothing about the booking being refused or you being refused boarding. So the "scare tactics" were just that as we suspected.

 

Obviously agents will not be able to work for nothing...however I still maintain that we could personally cover the commission and be in front because the price differential is often huge. We are not talking about a few dollars here often it is hundreds and hundreds of dollars running into thousands for the longer cruises. I got ripped off more than $10,000 on a six week cruise, how did I find out...I got a mail offer from Captains Circle and just about fell off my chair..I paid thousands of dollars in deposit and then found out the real price, my friends who cruised with us, paid for a whole cruise because when Princess sectored it after we had made our booking they were not allowed to change their booking. Never again will I be caught out like that. This was a booking made 18 months before the cruise...I was so angry. I did get about half of it back as OBC after lots and lots of arguing.

 

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

 

Princess/Carnival needs to give our local agents competitive pricing and the same booking terms and conditions as the US agents can offer...then it will be a level playing field and our local agents can properly compete for our cruising dollars.

[Australian family]

Obviously agents will not be able to work for nothing...however I still maintain that we could personally cover the commission and be in front because the price differential is often huge. We are not talking about a few dollars here often it is hundreds and hundreds of dollars running into thousands for the longer cruises. I got ripped off more than $10,000 on a six week cruise, how did I find out...I got a mail offer from Captains Circle and just about fell off my chair..I paid thousands of dollars in deposit and then found out the real price, my friends who cruised with us, paid for a whole cruise because when Princess sectored it after we had made our booking they were not allowed to change their booking. Never again will I be caught out like that. This was a booking made 18 months before the cruise...I was so angry. I did get about half of it back as OBC after lots and lots of arguing.

 

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

 

Princess/Carnival needs to give our local agents competitive pricing and the same booking terms and conditions as the US agents can offer...then it will be a level playing field and our local agents can properly compete for our cruising dollars.

 

That is such a lot of money. Good on you for standing your ground with Princess. I hope you managed to spend all the OBC.