Transferring booking to TA

[imallaboutcruising]

What's the time frame for transferring a booking to a TA.

[Retired LEO]

What's the time frame for transferring a booking to a TA.

 

60 days from booking and must be before final payment date.

[Clarea]

Must also be before final payment. In other words, if the cruise has been paid off, even if it's still before final payment date, it cannot be transferred.

[ken_nyc]

Just curious, what is the advantage of transferring to a TA? TA's are not always available in case of a price drop at night or over a weekend.

[Clarea]

Just curious, what is the advantage of transferring to a TA? TA's are not always available in case of a price drop at night or over a weekend.

Some TAs give extras, such as OBC, free gratuities, free specialty dining, etc.

[ken_nyc]

Some TAs give extras, such as OBC, free gratuities, free specialty dining, etc.

 

Thanks Bob! I know people that would lose all of that if they call about a price drop and opted for the drop.

[Desert Cruizers]

Using a TA or not is up to the individual. I personally like to use our local TA even though I have pre determined our cruise, cabin location etc and could easily call the cruise lines and book. I personally feel, should a problem arise, your TA has more pull then i would at getting the problem corrected. Depending on your TA and will agree, you have excellent ones and some that you need to avoid, I can reach ours on weekends as she checks all her emails. If she is out of the office, then one of her associates will take over and follow up on price drops etc. An example, on one cruise, she was notified that I was moved forward, she promptly told them to me me back ASAP and it was done. I discovered this while checking my booking and noticed the room change and called her within 10 minutes of her talking to the agent.

Edited September 30, 2015 by Desert Cruizers

[Ray in NH]

Just curious, what is the advantage of transferring to a TA? TA's are not always available in case of a price drop at night or over a weekend.

 

Depends on the Travel Agent -- mine is extremely available 24/7, although I don't push that aspect, but it is nice to know that such an option is always available, to us.

 

Also as Bob mentions, smart TA's often will add sweeteners to the deal.

 

Ray in NH

[Ashland]

Anytime you're involving a 3rd party always know all the fine print of their policy and how it apply's to you.

 

As with anything there are going to be some great TA's and not so great.

 

I prefer to keep posession of my own travel arrangements regardless of what that entails....I enjoy it actually.

 

We travel a great deal and have done over 20+ cruises..rarely has any problem came up that I felt I wasn't my own best advocate in the situation.

 

The great thing is each of us having the choice to do whatever works well.

 

Best of luck and enjoy your travels.

[screamin400]

I can only talk about my experience which so far is very limited. Our cruise in 2017 was done through a TA. Cost was 2985 and she kicked back 300 obc. Twice RC has done obc. Once for 25 each and then 50 each. Both times my TA took care of it. Right now I have 400obc. So far so good.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Thanks Bob! I know people that would lose all of that if they call about a price drop and opted for the drop.

 

 

I know our cruise we have $150 OBC from the TA. It is based on the price if the cruise.

 

So if the price does drop our OBC would be adjusted but not eliminated.

 

That being said I haven't seen prices dropping in the last few months only going up plus we got a good deal when we booked as the price is now $900 more than we paid.

 

Bill

[silentbob007]

For example ... I just booked a cruise with a TA for a sailing 60 days away (not a transfer). For the same price as RCI would have given me (including D+ balcony discount, senior rate, etc.) and I also got free gratuities for two and $100 OBC.

 

However ... we had booked a GTY and were given a connecting room. Forgot and called C&A ... they gave us some cabins we could move to, but would not move us since we had booked with a TA. It was Sunday evening, so we had to wait until Monday morning to call the TA and get the switch made. It happened without issue ... but yes ... it is possible that delay could cost a price drop, etc. Let me say though that based upon how much extra OBC we've gotten throughout the years, it would certainly make up for any drop we might miss.

[NOSaints1]

Can you transfer it from a TA to RC?

[Clarea]

Can you transfer it from a TA to RC?

Yes, but the TA has to approve.

[2wheelin]

Currently working with a "cruise specialist" on a B2B, only because one segment also involves an event we needed to book through him. I noticed a $200 drop in price per cabin (non event segment) just after final payment. Called him knowing there would be no refund from RCI but wondered if he as a TA could do anything, OBC or upgrade. He said no because "all the paperwork is in and can't make ANY changes". What?

I then asked him about the pending status of my C&A friend referrals. He was unaware of that program.

Asked about changing from late dining to MTD and he insisted we would need to prepay grats. Wasn't that changed some time ago?

Not one extra thrown in for two cabins on two sailings. Won't be using that TA again. Also charged a small fee to book but that was unavoidable with the special event requirement. No special pricing though. Have interviewed several TAs but haven't found one yet who offers any perks. Keep looking.

[impatientlywaiting]

We always book our Next Cruise while on-board and never turn it over to a TA. I prefer to maintain full control over my bookings. We get enough OBC that sometimes we have trouble spending it all but have never resorted to going to casino to cash it out! LOL. ;)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We always book our Next Cruise while on-board and never turn it over to a TA. I prefer to maintain full control over my bookings. We get enough OBC that sometimes we have trouble spending it all but have never resorted to going to casino to cash it out! LOL. ;)

 

How does one get so much OBC they have trouble spending it by booking directly with RCI?

 

Bill

[imallaboutcruising]

How does one get so much OBC they have trouble spending it by booking directly with RCI?

 

Bill

 

I would also like to know!

[Clarea]

How does one get so much OBC they have trouble spending it by booking directly with RCI?

 

Bill

My thoughts too.:confused:

[Ray in NH]

How does one get so much OBC they have trouble spending it by booking directly with RCI?

 

Bill

 

To my way of thinking, it has more to do with "outflow" than "income". I have seen numerous posts (on the various mainboard threads) about having a Final Bill of $50.00, or less -- that is ONE bottle of dinner wine, but I digress. :eek:.

 

I guess it can be done -- meals are paid for, "free" drinks in the various lounges, no excursions, reducing (or eliminating) the hotel service fees, it becomes truly a matter of personal preference as far as additional spending, or not spending.

 

With the prices the various cruise lines are charging for wines, we never have any "left-over" OBC. :D

 

Ray in NH

[fred30]

I find it easier to book through RC and then transfer later to get the extra perks(insurance and OBC) Also, once I put a cabin on hold on a cruise that didn't materialize so I didn't have to get the TA involved. But I hear they did away with that on Caribbean cruises.

 

It's just a personnel preference but if i didn't get good perks I would just stay booked with RC.

[golfpccc]

You can get more OBC from RCL then what you can spend, at least we can - example, we booked 4 cruises on board and took the OBC on the cruise we were on, ended up with $400 OBC from RCL, had prepaid gratuities and $100 OBC from TA.

 

Remember the OBC you receive from RCL is non refundable, so use it or lose it and OBC you receive from a TA is refundable. Expenditures will be deducted from the non refundable credit first. So if we have non refundable credit left, we cash it out in the casino, they charge you 5%. If you have Refundable OBC left, on the last day of the cruise you can go to Guest Services and they will give you a cash refund.

 

With the on board booking bonus and OBC credits received from TA's in the last year alone, we have received enough OBC to pay for 2 cruises in a JS. Plus we usually receive complimentary specialty dining and spa treatments. So, I'd say yes, it is worth it to transfer my reservations to a TA.

 

Carla

[Biker19]

This thread seemed like a good one to resurrect to ask experts for some guidance.

 

I booked on board on 3/21 and asked for the booking to be transferred to a TA on 4/4. When the promised "5-7 business days" passed and the transfer had not happened, I called and was told they have no record of me asking (I have the e-mail from RCI acknowledging the request) and to put in another request. Neither I nor the TA can do that since we get an error saying there's a request already in process. RCI also told me to forward the request e-mail receipt to mycruises@rccl.com but have not heard anything from them.

 

A couple of days later my TA tells me RCI is telling them all's well and they'll eventually get to it - they are busy now. How much longer would you wait for action? Is there some number where I can call (e-mail) and speak directly with the folks who process transfers?

[Clarea]

This thread seemed like a good one to resurrect to ask experts for some guidance.

 

I booked on board on 3/21 and asked for the booking to be transferred to a TA on 4/4. When the promised "5-7 business days" passed and the transfer had not happened, I called and was told they have no record of me asking (I have the e-mail from RCI acknowledging the request) and to put in another request. Neither I nor the TA can do that since we get an error saying there's a request already in process. RCI also told me to forward the request e-mail receipt to mycruises@rccl.com but have not heard anything from them.

 

A couple of days later my TA tells me RCI is telling them all's well and they'll eventually get to it - they are busy now. How much longer would you wait for action? Is there some number where I can call (e-mail) and speak directly with the folks who process transfers?

I don't know if this will help you, but I was given the email address of agencychanges@rccl.com to use for the TA transfer request.

[Biker19]

I don't know if this will help you, but I was given the email address of agencychanges@rccl.com to use for the TA transfer request.

Thanks. E-mail sent, I'll wait some more.