Book on-board/transfer to travel agent

[oaktreerb]

When we booked a cruise on-board we were told by the HAL cruise consultant that we could transfer the booking to a travel agent in order to get more shipboard credits.

 

Not knowing that we could just book and not select a specific cruise we have changed that booking twice but have finally settled on where and when we want to travel. Now I am wondering about the process of transferring it to an agent.

 

Would like some feedback from those who have done this booking transfer from HAL consultant to travel agent.

[kazu]

We did it the first time. (that was a long time ago!) Now we just buy FCC - not hard at all. We selected our TA and then just called HAL and asked them to transfer it.

 

TA knew we had it and basically told us what to do. That was a long time ago. FCC's give you the time to look at itineraries, etc.

 

They give you the same benefit of booking on board but you choose when, where and what.

[catl331]

When we did this we called HAL first and got the name and phone number of a person that we passed to the TA. He took it from there.

[crazydaisy90]

Funny you should mention that - we rec'd a letter from our travel agency today to remember to book while on board to get the best benefits and then transfer to them to get add'l OBC etc.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We just buy the deposits. The FCC on board delivers to our cabin a confirmation letter that has the numbers for referrence when we decide on what cruise we wish to book once we get home.

 

Once we have made that decision - then we just tell our TA what those confirmation numbers are and she takes it from there.

[oaktreerb]

So, for a 7 day cruise we get $25pp credit (ocean view) for booking on board. What are the benefits we might expect for transferring to a travel agent. We lose the ability to contact HAL directly on changes and upgrades. What could we reasonably expect from the travel agent in return for giving them the booking? They will now get a commission....what might we get in return?

[Randyk47]

We do so much better with our Internet TA that we gave up booking on the ship. Not worth the time or effort. I guess we could have pursued getting at least the OBC but it's not like it's that much money. Doesn't help that we had a couple of FCC's fail to be at their desk at the posted times and another who made an appointment specifically with us for a specific time and didn't show.

[oaktreerb]

Next time I will buy the credits and not try to figure out "where and when" my next cruise will be. We heard from others after we made a commitment to a specific cruise that they also buy only the credits even though they are sometimes pressured to choose a cruise. Thanks for your input everybody.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

That is the easy way when you aren't sure what cruise you wan to take.

If you have bought the deposits on a certain cruise -- your TA can certainly cancel that cruise -- hold your deposits and use them on another cruise when you find something you like.

You have 4 years to use those deposits before you lose them if you don;t book something.