PVP not so happy.

[luvsviola]

I've booked 2 cruises directly online with Carnival.

 

I search cruises, logged in, at least 10 times a week.

 

I've never been contacted, ever....I feel so unimportant....LOL

 

I've even called them and upgraded twice - each time having to guide whoever answered the phone to the room I wanted with the specific rate plan. They had a heck of a time getting the room/price I was getting online, each time initially getting me something not as good.

 

I think they know I'm one cheap SOB. I don't know how else to explain never getting calls :confused::cool:;)

 

Me too! I booked 2 cruises in 5 days. No one called me once!

[Indytraveler83]

For our first cruise I used a PVP, she seemed nice enough, and made what appears to be a very sensible room recommendation.

 

The biggest reason I used her, is because I wanted a single name to connect to my booking. I've seen too many stories with calling the 1-800 number, as well as experienced plenty of problems with anonymous customer service before.

 

For me, in the end, I figure my PVP knows she has to provide decent customer service, because if she does, I'll book again. If she doesn't, I have a name to connect to my complaint.

[mzloolue]

What is a Personal Vacation Planner? Do they work directly for Carnival or for a 3rd party that contracts people to work from home and gets a commission from each sale? Can they do anything else for your vacation other than a cruise, ie hotels, transportation, airline flights? Just curious.

 

Mine does work from home.

And I do not know how they are paid.

I do know that when they start calling they may be desperate.

Apparently they have figures that they have to make or else.

And there are some who seem to try to poach other pvp's clients.

I know that I have received communication from pvps that I do not know.

[LHP]

We've tried several PVP's...don't quite get their purpose....NONE have ever done anything for us different from what we can book on our own.....once book they kind of disappear, getting a return phone call is rare, neither have gotten nor told us of any price drops, we file the forms on our own. They are "order takers" only....and all of us can do that on our own.

 

There seem to be alot of PVP's, most of whom don't do very much except initially "book"....so here's a tip CCL...... maybe CCL should be looking at a workforce reduction of the useless PVP position to save alot of corporate $$, instead of sacrificing the pax's experiences on cruises these days, with all the on board recent cuts in dining, live music, and general entertainment????

 

 

We used Travel Agents when we first started cruising....

 

then Uncle Bob sent us an offer via a PVP and we used him exclusively ...

 

then he retired and we went to another PVP.

 

Yes, there are a few times when our PVP was worth his weight in gold....

 

for example, a couple of times we have wanted to book last minute (within 2 days of sailing) and both times the ship was either sold out or over capacity....

 

both times....we not only got on the cruise, but got the cabin and location we wanted.....

 

Now we still book through our PVP but sometimes we transfer the booking to a friend who is a TA.....that way our PVP gets the credit and our friend gets the commission....

[wannago35]

Our PVP has been fine, but we make her life easy as we've paid in full months ahead on both of our cruises. She's always been available to answer questions and basically gets the job done.

 

Only once has she told us about a price drop - but the strange thing was she told someone who was cruising in a group with us - and we didn't know that person AT ALL. That person had to call the main person on the booking who called me and I was able to submit the form in time. I wouldn't have been happy had I missed out on that.

 

But as someone else said if I have a problem or complaint, I'd like a name attached.

[Caribbean_Dreamer37]

Do not log in on the Carnival website when you are looking for cruises and they won't call you.....;)

 

In our case, we logged in, to see what lower rates were offered. I know once we log in, they'll be calling, but I won't answer the phone if I don't want to (caller ID shows 305 area code and Carnival). Had we not logged in, we wouldn't have seen the $200+ discount per person, for my BF being a casino player on their ships.

[wanderingjew]

I have a great PVP she nevers calls or emails me unlessw its something important infact she once emailed me to give her feedback on certain cabins i booked many times

[framboesa]

Silly question....(1st carnival cruise, not booked but will book it tomorrow)

 

I sent one email to Carnival asking some questions about the cruise that we are interested.

Yesterday we receved a call from a person from Carnival answering the questions and telling us that we could make he reservation by phone r sent him one email when we are ready to make the reservation because he will call us.

 

Is this a PVp?

 

I'm sorry...I neve had a PVP or something like that and I dont Know exactly who is that person ...:confused:

 

Thank You!

[sharecruises]

What is a Personal Vacation Planner? Do they work directly for Carnival or for a 3rd party that contracts people to work from home and gets a commission from each sale? Can they do anything else for your vacation other than a cruise, ie hotels, transportation, airline flights? Just curious.

 

 

 

 

After a year they can be permitted to work from home, they still are under scrutiny to keep their numbers UP

 

Some seem to be good, some mediocre...some seem desparate (maybe low numbers, in danger of losing job?) some don't seem to care at all...probably looking for next telemarket job selling air cond repair or health insurance or whatever LOL

 

I personally know some folks in/formerly in this ...for several cruise lines. All the same

 

JMO : the Carnival PVP's may be a bit desparate now due to Triumph problems....more cancels, more work to switch bookings, more people asking them various questions etc...so maybe they are more agressive

 

If they are downright rude like the one who hung up, you can report them to supervisor

[lake_wannabees]

We've tried several PVP's...don't quite get their purpose....NONE have ever done anything for us different from what we can book on our own.....once book they kind of disappear, getting a return phone call is rare, neither have gotten nor told us of any price drops, we file the forms on our own. They are "order takers" only....and all of us can do that on our own.

 

 

I usually book through a TA and always log into Carnival when checking prices but never got a call from a PVP. When we decided on our B2B2B though I notified Carnival via website that I would like to be called. Once I was booked (same cabin all three cruises), I've never heard from the PVP again. Guess I'm not important enough for them to bother with me although I've sailed seven times in less than three years and three more cruises this summer.

[nyc12345]

well... i used a ta and we were booking several cabins. 12 of them. we all went through my ta as i wanted him to get credit for all of the rooms. well it just so happened that one person booked online while at work.

 

my ta called me very pushy asking why someone had booked and been linked to my booking and why didnt they call him?

 

it was so strange. im avoiding my ta at the moment.

 

he has called me every time i log into carnival and im just tired of it.

 

Is this a TA or a PVP from Carnival? If it's a TA, how would he/she knows your friend booked online?

 

Also, are you getting any group benefit from your TA/PVP? With 12 cabins, you should getting be onboard credit and one free berth for your group...

[Jimmy Geegitz]

we love our pvp

[gelo7]

Wow, they do call a lot after an inquiry.

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

Haven't been called but only began sailing carnival recently with 7 cruises over 16 months. We called to book another and they said "oh the casino rate you are eligible is lower cost than what you're requesting...should we go with the casino rate?" That was considerate.