should I fire my TA?

[JF - retired RRT]

Booked a cruise at $1005pp before the current 3 for free sale. This was with the casino discount. About a week later my casino rate disappeared from the prices. About 2 weeks after that the 3 for free sale started.

Free grats, free dinner!! No casino discount:(.

Three days ago the casino pricing came back, it shows a new price at $1039 WITH the sale.

My TA is telling me that I can't get that price. But there it is on the website.

Question for those in the know: If my TA keeps telling me I can't qualify at the casino price, even tho' it shows on the website...

1) is she right?

2) if I cancel the cruise,fire her and rebook direct with Princess, will I get the price that is showing AND the great price?

[tetleytea]

Sounds to me like you are being offered a price the TA isn't, and that the TA and Princess need more communication between them. In the meantime, though, yes, I would say fire the TA. But then I have always been biased in favor of DIY.

 

Usually when you call in to Princess, they can put the cabin on hold for you, at that price. That way you're not completely going out on a limb, firing the TA first and then risking Princess not giving you the deal after all.

Edited September 10, 2015 by tetleytea

[ASeaPrincess1]

Did your TA even try to do a re-fare on it?

On one of my bookings, when the sale started, I re-fared it AND the fare went down on top of the 3 for free!

I didn't have casino pricing, so I don't know that it would carry over, however, if that's what shows on the website, you should be able to get that fare.

If not, your TA could always call Princess and have it applied. Princess is generally very accommodating.......

[JF - retired RRT]

Did your TA even try to do a re-fare on it?

If not, your TA could always call Princess and have it applied. Princess is generally very accommodating.......

 

Sounds to me like you are being offered a price the TA isn't, and that the TA and Princess need more communication between them.

Usually when you call in to Princess, they can put the cabin on hold for you, at that price. That way you're not completely going out on a limb, firing the TA first and then risking Princess not giving you the deal after all.

She says she talked to Princess.

 

So, Tetley

I have never double booked. Should I call Princess or do it online?

 

Thanks for the answers, guys. This is very helpful.:D

[CruzinNoony]

I think your TA should call Princess again and talk to a supervisor. The casino rate and the 3 for Free are combinable. You might have to pay $34.00pp (difference between $1005 and $1039) more, but you would still be ahead. :rolleyes:

[cruisequeen4ever]

I was able to add the 3 for free promo to my existing casino rate booking, and you should be able to, too based on the fare rules put out by Princess. I second the suggestion to have your TA try one more time before you "fire" him/her. If it's not done, then switch TAs.

[JF - retired RRT]

I think your TA should call Princess again and talk to a supervisor. The casino rate and the 3 for Free are combinable. You might have to pay $34.00pp (difference between $1005 and $1039) more, but you would still be ahead. :rolleyes:

 

I was able to add the 3 for free promo to my existing casino rate booking, and you should be able to, too based on the fare rules put out by Princess. I second the suggestion to have your TA try one more time before you "fire" him/her. If it's not done, then switch TAs.

Thanks guys!!

Good suggestions, but I decided to try what Tetley suggested and double book. It went through with all the trimmings. I put it on hold and sent an email to my TA that said, "sorry that you can't do it for me, cancel the cruise".

It takes her a day or 2 to respond plus the weekend is coming and I didn't want to be forced to take a cabin in an area that I don't want. So, I am now on the other side of the ship:D

[janina]

Any price that you see your TA should be able to get. Princess never offers TA's a worse rate. If anything your TA may have group space on certain cruises and can offer you a better rate than you can get yourself. Perhaps in this instance your TA was not informed correctly when they contacted Princess, and should call again and speak to a different agent. Hang in there, if your agent is good they will get it straightened out.

[JF - retired RRT]

Any price that you see your TA should be able to get. Princess never offers TA's a worse rate. If anything your TA may have group space on certain cruises and can offer you a better rate than you can get yourself. Perhaps in this instance your TA was not informed correctly when they contacted Princess, and should call again and speak to a different agent. Hang in there, if your agent is good they will get it straightened out.

I've used her half a dozen times and she has been good about getting me price drops, etc.

I am usually a PITA, searching for any little discount, right up to the last minute.:D:D

This time she is the one who is being a PITA. I don't think she understood what I wanted her to do, altho' I thought I was clear.

[ASeaPrincess1]

Once your "former" room is released, you can always call and have Princess move you back. But you may have to be quick!

[JF - retired RRT]

Once your "former" room is released, you can always call and have Princess move you back. But you may have to be quick!

Yes. That is probably what I will do. When I told DH we changed cabins, he got kind of :eek::eek:.

Doesn't make any difference to me:D.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Glad you got the combined promos!! [emoji322][emoji323]

[caribill]

You can have the TA cancel the booking they made and then you can transfer your new booking to the TA to get any benefits that the TA offers you.

[willantieov]

you can always call and have Princess move you back.

[dorisis]

I think your TA should call Princess again and talk to a supervisor. The casino rate and the 3 for Free are combinable. You might have to pay $34.00pp (difference between $1005 and $1039) more, but you would still be ahead. :rolleyes:

 

Sounds like a good plan.

[JF - retired RRT]

I sent the TA a cancel notice and this AM got an email that said she had tried 3 times and was told NO. Since I told her to cancel, she decided to try one more time and just went in to change the booking herself. TA DA!! She got the 3 for free at the casino rate.

 

I sent her another email and asked if she had spoken to one ill-informed person or 3??:D:eek:

 

So, anyone want a cabin?? Hardly used at all;);)

 

No way to cancel it now that I don't need it. I will just wait till the 13th and it will quietly fade away.

 

(in the header, I meant SAGA!!

Edited September 11, 2015 by JF - retired RRT

[CruzinNoony]

So, did you end up with staying with your TA or are you keeping the booking with Princess???? :eek:

[JF - retired RRT]

So, did you end up with staying with your TA or are you keeping the booking with Princess???? :eek:

See #16:D

[Retiring cajun]

quite the saga!

[MCC retired]

Some TA's react faster when they hear the word "cancel" or "shopper" .

Amazing ! :D

[SadieN]

Too bad you didn't have a three way call -you, her, Princess. That might have avoided a lot of anguish.

[JF - retired RRT]

Too bad you didn't have a three way call -you, her, Princess. That might have avoided a lot of anguish.

Yes, except the TA said that 3 different people insisted I didn't qualify for what I wanted to do. I don't think a conference call would have helped unless we worked our way "up the ladder".

She finally solved the issue by just doing it herself. I guess TAs have more access to the bookings than we do.

[ASeaPrincess1]

I sent the TA a cancel notice and this AM got an email that said she had tried 3 times and was told NO. Since I told her to cancel, she decided to try one more time and just went in to change the booking herself. TA DA!! She got the 3 for free at the casino rate.

 

I sent her another email and asked if she had spoken to one ill-informed person or 3??:D:eek:

That's why I asked if she even tried to re-fare it herself. All it takes is a few clicks of a mouse and if it can be done, it is!

Glad it was resolved to your satisfaction! :)

[satxdiver]

We had trouble with our TA and fired him. We had Princess move our two future bookings back to Princess. It was very easy to do. The TA sent us a nasty note when he found out. Too bad.

[custompcsys]

I booked my transatlantic on the Emerald that I am leaving on in a couple of weeks way back in May of 14. When the anniversary sale came out with the on-board credit and free specialty dining I contact my TA and got the promotion. Took her less than an hour to get back to me and I had a $200 OBC, a free specialty restaurant visit and a small price drop on top of it all. Wasn't a problem at all so I'm puzzled as to why you had such a saga. Glad it all worked out for you in the end :)