The upgrade to end all upgrades

[pcur]

It's not the upgrade that's world class, it's the travel agent.

 

My anonymous travel agent is on an African safari right now. Been over in Tanzania for a week. Ahhhhhmaaaaazing pictures on facebook as she goes along.

 

So, today when I'm price checking I find an aft Jr Suite is available on our family cruise. Less money than we paid for our E2 balcony. It's Saturday, my TA is in Africa, so I call the D+ desk at C&A. They can't make the change. They call Resolutions. They can't make the change, BUT they approve a price protection for that single, one and only, JS. If it's still there when someone at the travel agency calls, we get it.

 

I call her office to see if someone is available. Nobody there. I call her parent agency. Nobody there. So, I do the thing I don't want to do: I texted her to see if she could have her office help do it for me here in the US. I told her DO NOT do this yourself; it's not THAT important. Just give me somebody from your office to do it.

 

(drum roll)

 

She is over there in Africa taking care of it for me. This woman is unbelievable.

 

Waiting to see if we got the upgrade............................................

[Kugel]

It's not the upgrade that's world class, it's the travel agent.

 

My anonymous travel agent is on an African safari right now. Been over in Tanzania for a week. Ahhhhhmaaaaazing pictures on facebook as she goes along.

 

So, today when I'm price checking I find an aft Jr Suite is available on our family cruise. Less money than we paid for our E2 balcony. It's Saturday, my TA is in Africa, so I call the D+ desk at C&A. They can't make the change. They call Resolutions. They can't make the change, BUT they approve a price protection for that single, one and only, JS. If it's still there when someone at the travel agency calls, we get it.

 

I call her office to see if someone is available. Nobody there. I call her parent agency. Nobody there. So, I do the thing I don't want to do: I texted her to see if she could have her office help do it for me here in the US. I told her DO NOT do this yourself; it's not THAT important. Just give me somebody from your office to do it.

 

(drum roll)

 

She is over there in Africa taking care of it for me. This woman is unbelievable.

 

Waiting to see if we got the upgrade............................................

 

Speaking from personal experience, that is what I was taught to do. If you cannot beat big online agencies then offer 24/7 service. Good for her! And good for you. So glad you got your Jr. Suite and price reduction. Stay loyal to her.

[pcur]

Speaking from personal experience, that is what I was taught to do. If you cannot beat big online agencies then offer 24/7 service. Good for her! And good for you. So glad you got your Jr. Suite and price reduction. Stay loyal to her.

 

Been with her since 1997. She's family by now.

[Clarea]

That is one heck of a travel agent!

[Coralc]

Congratulations Peggy! :D She does sound awesome.

 

We booked a last minute (for us) cruise. I will email this evening. :D:)

 

~Patti :)

[pspercy]

Wish I knew TA like that :)

 

Upgrade fairy emailed yesterday morning, went from PR to D2 for $280 total(140 pp), couldn't resist it especially given it was close to last minute and the PR was under $400 pp !

 

It will also be our "Diamond" cruise:-)

Edited November 15, 2014 by pspercy

[GinLovesToCruise]

A good TA is worth a Lot!!! Ours has actually worked with us so much she has waved her fee on a family group of about 25 of us sailing January 2015. She was also trying to make the trip with us but the timing couldn't be worked out for her. She is a Jewel 💎 for sure!!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[marci22]

Updating to: I finally know! Victory!

Edited November 15, 2014 by marci22

[pcur]

Well, she didn't make it in time. Someone snapped up that one last JS while she was trying to call (from Africa). But, heck, I'm just blown away by her even trying to do it!!

 

This woman is a saint. I'll get the next upgrade that comes along.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Sorry you didn't get the upgrade, Peggy.

Perhaps a better one will come along for you!

 

 

***

[pcur]

Sorry you didn't get the upgrade, Peggy.

Perhaps a better one will come along for you!

 

 

***

 

Thanks! The cabin we have is a hump balcony, so we're happy with it. Got two other hump cabins on the other side of the deck for our two sons and one DIL.

 

It's all good. :D

[jamesr3939]

My TA is also a saint. We have used her for at least 20 years and she has never failed us. There was a screw up once and the agency ate the cost when the cruise lines wouldn't.

 

A few years ago, our DIL suddenly passed away at age 42 just days before DW and I were to leave on a cruise for our 30th anniversary. Luckily, for the first time I had taken out trip insurance. One phone call to my TA and she handled everything. All I had to get was copy of the death certificate and the check was in the mail 10 days later. She even canceled our AF, which we had booked with FF miles and got the fees waived.

 

Even though she is a "cruise" specialist, she just arranged a Thanksgiving family trip for 15 to Club Med Mexico (we leave in four days). That was due to a DIL getting pregnant and we couldn't do the Oasis.

 

Her agency is the largest booking cruise TA in northern CA and it shows when you request assistance or upgrades.

 

I would never book a major trip with out her.

[pcur]

My TA is also a saint. We have used her for at least 20 years and she has never failed us. There was a screw up once and the agency ate the cost when the cruise lines wouldn't.

 

A few years ago, our DIL suddenly passed away at age 42 just days before DW and I were to leave on a cruise for our 30th anniversary. Luckily, for the first time I had taken out trip insurance. One phone call to my TA and she handled everything. All I had to get was copy of the death certificate and the check was in the mail 10 days later. She even canceled our AF, which we had booked with FF miles and got the fees waived.

 

Even though she is a "cruise" specialist, she just arranged a Thanksgiving family trip for 15 to Club Med Mexico (we leave in four days). That was due to a DIL getting pregnant and we couldn't do the Oasis.

 

Her agency is the largest booking cruise TA in northern CA and it shows when you request assistance or upgrades.

 

I would never book a major trip with out her.

 

That's the way I feel about my Cindy. We had a terrible ending to a cruise that ended in Barcelona. Everyone on the ship missed their outbound flights, and RCCL put us in a hotel 70 miles away and forgot about us!

 

When we finally got back to the US, my Cindy went after British Airlines and RCCL with a vengeance. She was like a mama bear with an injured cub. We had CruiseCare insurance, so that just got done in double fast time. However, British Airlines are absolutely terrible about refunds, so she went to the online air consolidator that we booked through. Just so happens he knew the Billing Manager, and well..........her cubs were taken care of.

 

No one else; ever!

Edited November 15, 2014 by pcur

[tm3750]

Bought an inside cabin back in July at a good price, kept watching and was able to bump to a Promenade Room last month, no charge. Checked the RCCL site this morning and they are having a "weekend special" The lady I am talking to can't see what I am seeing because it is for "New Booking Only" She finally finds what I see and it is a D2 Balcony for the same price as I originally paid for the Inside room when I started. She contacts the resolution dept. and they agree to give me the upgrade. I originally got a $100.00 OBC back in July when I did the original booking, they kept that but I think still a pretty good deal. Feel like I was playing with house money so nothing lost.

[pcur]

Bought an inside cabin back in July at a good price, kept watching and was able to bump to a Promenade Room last month, no charge. Checked the RCCL site this morning and they are having a "weekend special" The lady I am talking to can't see what I am seeing because it is for "New Booking Only" She finally finds what I see and it is a D2 Balcony for the same price as I originally paid for the Inside room when I started. She contacts the resolution dept. and they agree to give me the upgrade. I originally got a $100.00 OBC back in July when I did the original booking, they kept that but I think still a pretty good deal. Feel like I was playing with house money so nothing lost.

 

I agree, and the trick is to make them exit your reservation to see the new price. If they are in your reservation, then the "current booking" rules take priority. They have to see it with "new eyes", so to speak.

[Coralc]

Oh No! That's too bad. It was very nice of her to take time out of her trip to try though. :)

[fdpevey]

I have to say I am constantly amazed at these stories. I have worked with nine travel agents in the past 20 years and have yet to have one I felt went much beyond a satisfactory business model.

 

I've gotten the cruise I wanted for the price advertised, but they have not added perks, ferreted out discounts, or managed upgrades.

[PathfinderEss]

Pcur you have a great TA, but you probably don't need me to tell you that.

[xpcdoojk]

Hi Peggy, I have nothing to add to your story, but felt the need to say Hi.

 

love ya

 

jc

[Guest maddycat]

I have to say I am constantly amazed at these stories. I have worked with nine travel agents in the past 20 years and have yet to have one I felt went much beyond a satisfactory business model.

 

I've gotten the cruise I wanted for the price advertised, but they have not added perks, ferreted out discounts, or managed upgrades.

 

I've had the same experience working with 2 different travel agents over many years. I've finally decided that I no longer need them. I'm now working directly with RCI.

 

I book our cruises onboard and no longer put the reservation in a TA name, but keep it myself. I've always looked for price drops. Now when I find one I just call RCI instead of calling a TA who must then call RCI to get the price drop.

[Lilyrosemum]

Well, she didn't make it in time. Someone snapped up that one last JS while she was trying to call (from Africa). But, heck, I'm just blown away by her even trying to do it!!

 

This woman is a saint. I'll get the next upgrade that comes along.

 

Glad you appreciate your TA. Hope you do get an upgrade. But this is my dilemma as well, I use a Travel agent that is great and get a great rebate every time on my cruise for using that agency.

 

But the cost to me is I lose control. And after 25+ Royal Caribbean cruises, no offense to TA's but I know what I want and how to get it.

 

For me? If I couldn't get a hold of my TA or someone in their office to make a change for me in 24 hours....well that is not a good TA. Sorry. Better to book yourself and get a Cruise Line Rep to make the changes.

[pcur]

Glad you appreciate your TA. Hope you do get an upgrade. But this is my dilemma as well, I use a Travel agent that is great and get a great rebate every time on my cruise for using that agency.

 

But the cost to me is I lose control. And after 25+ Royal Caribbean cruises, no offense to TA's but I know what I want and how to get it.

 

For me? If I couldn't get a hold of my TA or someone in their office to make a change for me in 24 hours....well that is not a good TA. Sorry. Better to book yourself and get a Cruise Line Rep to make the changes.

 

To each his own. I have been able to contact her, acutally within 1-6 hours, even when she's in Africa!! For 15 years and counting. :D