Gail in California Posted April 20, 2012 #1 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Why do some passengers get better deals(perks) such as onboard credit, free gratuties, etc. than others? How does one find an agent that can give them those benefits? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted April 20, 2012 #2 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Shop around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted April 20, 2012 #3 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Look for travel agents that specialize in "luxury" cruises or who advertise that they are "Oceania specialists" -- language to that effect. There are also websites that we are not allowed to mention that give you the opportunity to have different travel agents vie for your business (I hope that was vague enough to survive a scolding!). If you have friends who cruise, ask them who they use. Next time you are on board, speak to other cruisers. I carry my TA"s cards with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted April 20, 2012 #4 Share Posted April 20, 2012 LOL, what LHT is trying to tell you is that we are forbidden from discussing or recommending specific Travel Agents, here on Cruise Critic. If that rule was not in place, these forums would probably become one advertising message after another, so I suppose it is for the best. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted April 20, 2012 #5 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Look for travel agents that specialize in "luxury" cruises or who advertise that they are "Oceania specialists" -- language to that effect. There are also websites that we are not allowed to mention that give you the opportunity to have different travel agents vie for your business (I hope that was vague enough to survive a scolding!). If you have friends who cruise, ask them who they use. Next time you are on board, speak to other cruisers. I carry my TA"s cards with me. :D Laraine - I would have said be a smart cruiser -- compete it.. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted April 20, 2012 #6 Share Posted April 20, 2012 :D Laraine - I would have said be a smart cruiser -- compete it.. :D Tried that once. Got spanked! I thought "vie" was safe. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moggyhill Posted April 20, 2012 #7 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Hey Paul.. Why are you trying to dump my parents in the Panama Canal. I SAW THE COUNTDOWN TIMER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your loving wife:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoHoHo Posted April 20, 2012 #8 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Tried that once. Got spanked! I thought "vie" was safe. LOL I too think vie is a viable solution :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoHoHo Posted April 20, 2012 #9 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Hey Paul..Why are you trying to dump my parents in the Panama Canal. I SAW THE COUNTDOWN TIMER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your loving wife:D Oops, that countdown timer is not too subtle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubysue Posted April 21, 2012 #10 Share Posted April 21, 2012 I thought that was a nice combination of cruises next year, PaulMCO. You are satisfying the expedition itch, suffering through a HAL Panama Canal cruise with family :-), and also tasting the pleasures of a fine Med cruise on Riviera. I would love to hear about Xpedition and Silver Explorer. I'm not quite ready to crawl into a zodiac (knees replaced now, probably more joints on the horizon), but the itineraries on thise ships are so intriguing. Note to O regulars - I'm not trying to divert or hijack the topic, but just complimenting PaulMCO on his interesting diversions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted April 21, 2012 #11 Share Posted April 21, 2012 I thought that was a nice combination of cruises next year, PaulMCO. You are satisfying the expedition itch, suffering through a HAL Panama Canal cruise with family :-), and also tasting the pleasures of a fine Med cruise on Riviera. I would love to hear about Xpedition and Silver Explorer. I'm not quite ready to crawl into a zodiac (knees replaced now, probably more joints on the horizon), but the itineraries on thise ships are so intriguing. Note to O regulars - I'm not trying to divert or hijack the topic, but just complimenting PaulMCO on his interesting diversions. Thanks -- figure we should do the expeditions while we are young enough to do/enjoy them. Did a drive by on Oceania to Antarctica -- so want to experience the "real" thing. To my DW -- your parents don't read CC and change your calendars they are old. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benita Posted April 21, 2012 #12 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Paul- we did the real thing to Antarctica with Lindblad/National Geographic. Fabulous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swissyrescue Posted April 23, 2012 #13 Share Posted April 23, 2012 My TA accidentally revealed that he would receive $400/pp commission on our next Oceania cruise. Quoted me the same price as everyone else has advertised (including Oceania's own website). There are four of us, so he stands to make $1,600 for taking 30 mins. or less to book our cruises for us. So I wonder, since he's not offering us anything extra for choosing him vs. just booking it ourselves online, of what value is using a TA? If I were a TA, I'd at least throw in some goodies. Seems greedy to keep the entire commission when it takes so little effort to book the cruise for people like us who know exactly what we want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted April 23, 2012 #14 Share Posted April 23, 2012 My TA accidentally revealed that he would receive $400/pp commission on our next Oceania cruise. Quoted me the same price as everyone else has advertised (including Oceania's own website). There are four of us, so he stands to make $1,600 for taking 30 mins. or less to book our cruises for us. So I wonder, since he's not offering us anything extra for choosing him vs. just booking it ourselves online, of what value is using a TA? If I were a TA, I'd at least throw in some goodies. Seems greedy to keep the entire commission when it takes so little effort to book the cruise for people like us who know exactly what we want. If your not getting anything in the way of OBC or gratuities or both...Shop around for a new TA ! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted April 23, 2012 #15 Share Posted April 23, 2012 My TA accidentally revealed that he would receive $400/pp commission on our next Oceania cruise. Quoted me the same price as everyone else has advertised (including Oceania's own website). There are four of us, so he stands to make $1,600 for taking 30 mins. or less to book our cruises for us. So I wonder, since he's not offering us anything extra for choosing him vs. just booking it ourselves online, of what value is using a TA? If I were a TA, I'd at least throw in some goodies. Seems greedy to keep the entire commission when it takes so little effort to book the cruise for people like us who know exactly what we want. Maybe ask for some perks TOO funny They still have bills, advertising and salaries to pay from that commission & if they work for an agency the TA does not get to keep the full commission only a percentage if that is part of their contract You should become a TA then you would get all that commission to keep NOT!!! :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in California Posted April 23, 2012 Author #16 Share Posted April 23, 2012 I will most likely be making a change to an online broker. I spoke to Oceania & it just takes a written fax to switch. The new broker can rewrite the contract. I can't believe the difference in price with the perks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted April 23, 2012 #17 Share Posted April 23, 2012 I will most likely be making a change to an online broker. I spoke to Oceania & it just takes a written fax to switch. The new broker can rewrite the contract. I can't believe the difference in price with the perks. Good work! I'm happy for you.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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