Has anyone heard about this?

[Princesssuzie]

I heard that starting in 2012 travel Agents are not able to offer discounts on Princess Cruises. I like to book directly with the cruise line anyway. They have a department of Cruise Vacation Planners and they know everything about Princess. Has anyone else hear about this new policy?

[cjm66]

I heard that starting in 2012 travel Agents are not able to offer discounts on Princess Cruises. I like to book directly with the cruise line anyway. They have a department of Cruise Vacation Planners and they know everything about Princess. Has anyone else hear about this new policy?

 

I had an email from a US based TA stating this and suggesting "get in quick". Since I do not have an historical link with a US agent so cannot book via US, I deleted it and did not bother to follow up. The email was implying that "in kind" offsets might be possible.

 

Colleen

[BugsyCruiser]

Don't know anything about that but I did the same as you and booked mine with a Princess cruise planner. She was very helpful and a lot of fun to talk to. I'm booked on the Ruby Princess sailing the eastern Caribbean on April 1st :D

[Putterdude]

Evidently this is correct, however our TA has told us that this will not prevent TA from booking groups and passing the savings on to clients by means of OBCs, pre-paid gratuities and other perks.

[Colorado Kat]

I usually book directly with the cruise lines lately, as this gives me more ability to talk to someone knowledgable quite quickly if there is a problem.

[Ashland]

I also got this same e-mail..But I prefer to book directly with the cruiseline..Would rather keep control instead of having a third party involved.

[Bonnie J.]

Royal Caribbean and Carnival no longer allow TAs to lower their price. Sounds like Princess is now doing that. TA's can give free insurance, wine, OBC but price is set. Remember Princess, Holland America, Costa, etc. are cruise lines owned by Carnival Corp.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for the information about Princess.

[MCC retired]

TA's continue to offer "thank you gifts $$$ "despite cruise line discount restrictions. They also may offer speculative group rates that are lower than current rates.

[spongerob]

Why use a TA? They are unnecessary middlemen. Cruise lines will have to adjust pricing based on sales. The downside is that it will be like shoppting around for airfare, but the time invested will be worth the savings when they come.

[mapsmith]

Princess is just now doing what the other lines have done for at least two years. They will now prohibit TAs from offering prices lower than what Princess feels is an appropriate price. (actually the "street Price" versus the Brochure Price). So that all prices will now be somewhat the same if you buy from Princess directly, an On-Line TA or the bricks and mortar TA down the street.

 

(This is usually done because of certain parties discounting the prices dramatically and thus the TA commission for others is reduced to intolerable levels.)

[sail7seas]

Tanks for posting this. I'm always interested to read about these changes and appreciate when people take the time to share the information.

[boogs]

Why use a TA? They are unnecessary middlemen. Cruise lines will have to adjust pricing based on sales. The downside is that it will be like shoppting around for airfare, but the time invested will be worth the savings when they come.

 

TA's continue to offer "thank you gifts $$$ "despite cruise line discount restrictions. They also may offer speculative group rates that are lower than current rates.

 

Because since we are cruising with another couple, our TA was able to set us up as a group and we were given a discount of $250 per person, plus $200 each on board credit. That's almost $1000 savings per couple compared to booking directly with the cruise line. That's why. Maybe for you that $450 savings per person is "unnecessary", but for us it's a nice bonus. :rolleyes:

[CPT Trips]

Why use a TA? They are unnecessary middlemen. Cruise lines will have to adjust pricing based on sales. The downside is that it will be like shoppting around for airfare, but the time invested will be worth the savings when they come.

 

Because since we are cruising with another couple, our TA was able to set us up as a group and we were given a discount of $250 per person, plus $200 each on board credit. That's almost $1000 savings per couple compared to booking directly with the cruise line. That's why. Maybe for you that $450 savings per person is "unnecessary", but for us it's a nice bonus. :rolleyes:

 

Even if they don't make a group for just a few people, they may rebate some of their commission in the form of an OBC or amenities.

[notalandlover]

Will the flash sales go bye bye:confused:

[lovevacadays]

Will the flash sales go bye bye:confused:

 

I doubt it. The flash sales on Princess are usually generated from Princess and not a TA. Done by Princess to fill a ship that might not be selling well.