Do you book your cruise on your own, with a PVP or with a travel agent? Why?

[firemanbobswife]

How do you find an outstanding PVP? I don't want one calling me when I check the website. Can't stand that.

 

 

 

Thanks for the responses. This has certainly given me insight into the other ways of booking as well as the pros and cons.

 

 

You would need to get a recommendation from a friend or family member. Mine never calls me and knows me as soon as I say my first name. He's great.

[WetToes]

Once to have your booking with a TA, Carnival won't even discuss your reservation with you. All servicing must be done through them. We are not allowed to give recommendations on here.

 

That is why I book directly thorough the cruise line and use a PVP. I almost lost out on about $400 once because the TA was closed and I noticed a price drop. Didn't have ES and it was the night before final payment was due. Carnival made it right in the end and they absolutely didn't have to. The TA was awful (it's one that sponsors CC too) and I vowed never again.

 

I love my PVP. I can call him 24/7 and any price drops/issues I have are taken care of immediately. I don't need to talk to any CSRs which may or may not know what they are doing and potentially mess things up. If you haven't had any problems with your bookings, then great. But if one ever pops up it's nice to know you can count on one person who knows you and can get it taken care of without having to spend a bunch of wasted time being transferred and having to tell your story over and over again each time to someone higher up in the chain. It doesn't cost you anything and can save you hours of frustration.

 

I like to compare it to going to the Dr. Sure anyone in the practice can help you (like a CSR can), but it's nice to have YOUR Dr (PVP) that knows you and you are comfortable with. After building a relationship with them, it just makes things easier and more pleasant.

 

Not the one I used. And it had to be submitted to Carnival by midnight in that particular case. Doesn't matter if there would have been a form at that point anyway.

 

I have done it all different ways and the easiest for me is a PVP. The "perks" that TA offered were totally not worth all the headache I had to endure. I also had a bad experience with another TA I used for Celebrity. I prefer total control over my booking and being able to get things taken care of right away. I don't like the middleman. If others are fine with it, great. Not me.

 

Oh, and I have gotten upsell calls from Carnival because I book direct from them. You won't get those as often if you use a TA because they cannot discuss your booking with you. They will need to contact your TA which in turn will need to contact you and then the circle reverses itself. Is it possible you could still get an offer with a TA? Sure, especially if they need your particular cabin, but it is less likely than if you book direct. They are on a time crunch to fill those cabins and the quickest way is to contact guests directly to get a yes or no answer and move on down the list.

 

Having choices is good. What works for some might not work for others.

I did get a cabin upgrade, balcony to suite, once. I did use a TA.

[firemanbobswife]

Having choices is good. What works for some might not work for others.

I did get a cabin upgrade, balcony to suite, once. I did use a TA.

 

You're right, everyone is different.

 

My mom got a free upgrade once when I booked her through a TA I'm guessing because they needed the cabin she was in as it was a connecting OV and a family probably wanted both sides. But the TA had to call me and I told them it was OK once I found out what cabin they wanted to move her to (it was an 8C). That was the one and only time we ever got a call using a TA. I have gotten several by phone and email by booking direct.

 

Go with what works for you and I will do the same. Happy cruising!

[Warm Breezes]

I do all the research myself. Once I know exactly what I want and what the on-line pricing is, I go to my TA and always get a better deal. I have never had an issue doing this and have gotten all ES credits when I have found them through my TA with an e-mail sent to them with print screens of the price drops.

[sanmarcosman]

How do you find an outstanding PVP? I don't want one calling me when I check the website. Can't stand that.

 

I called the main customer number and requested a PVP contact me by phone. Two days later the call came and before they could start a sales pitch I asked them to listen to how I prefer to work in booking cruises. I explained that I do the research and that they would mostly be an order taker for us. I also said I would only work with them if they agreed up front to not call me without my asking them to contact me by phone. It's been 5 years now of working together and I have not received any unwanted calls from my PVP.

 

One of the nice things about having a PVP is when you need an advocate to got to bat for you a good PVP comes in quite handy. Here is an actual example of what I mean: two day before a cruise a woman came on here to Cruise Critic and gave out her cabin number, said she was planning on hanging string lights on her balcony, whooping up with a big cabin party and invited others here to stop by. I kid you not, her cabin was next door to ours! I called our PVP pronto and suggested he or someone at Carnival check here on Cruise Critic if they didn't believe me but we said we do not want to be next door to these loud people. The PVP said since we were sailing the next day they would do the best they could but not to expect to hear back until we were already in route to the port. I gave them my cell number and we got the call while driving to port saying they had booked us into another cabin on the same deck but near the aft. When we arrived at our cabin the cabins on either side of ours were not occupied. We had a quiet balcony and really enjoyed the cruise.

[bury me at sea]

The heading Travel Agent/website, which I selected, is misleading and incomplete.

 

I book on board after lots of research, then transfer the booking to a local TA. He gives no extra OBC, but he takes care of everything for me. I see him in line at the grocery store and at local events here in small town America.

 

I track price drops, phone him, and within minutes receive an e-mail confirmation.

 

I am obviously missing out on perks offered by on-line websites, but sure enjoy doing business with local businesses and friends.

[xitappers2bx]

I've always booked my cruises on my own, but I keep hearing about these fabulous perks and OBC when you book elsewhere.

 

How do you book and why?

 

I ONLY book with a travel agent. She works for ME while a pvp works for carnival. When it comes to perks like OBC it depends on the rate that you book. I have never heard of a PVP offering any perks to anyone traveling, but our travel agent always makes sure we have something thoughtful waiting for us in our staterooms.

[firemanbobswife]

I ONLY book with a travel agent. She works for ME while a pvp works for carnival. When it comes to perks like OBC it depends on the rate that you book. I have never heard of a PVP offering any perks to anyone traveling, but our travel agent always makes sure we have something thoughtful waiting for us in our staterooms.

 

 

The TA works for the Agency which then works for you. The PVP works for Carnival which then works for you. They both depend on you to make a paycheck so it is in their best interest to make sure you are happy.

 

I always have all my details worked out before I call him and he punches everything in and links all of our cabins together along with whatever else needs to be done like FTTF if it's available.

 

I have had Carnival change my cabin twice on me without notifying me and luckily I caught it both times. He was able to get it handled immediately. It helped that he worked there and knew exactly who he needed to talk to to get it straightened out. A TA probably could have gotten it done too but maybe not as quickly and as easily. Many TAs don't even want to deal with Carnival and look down upon it.

 

Sure, I could go to a general practitioner when I'm pregnant, but I feel better with an OB who deals specifically with pregnant women. Same with my PVP. He knows Carnival inside and out. It's his specialty. I don't care about a bottle of wine or $25 OBC. I will gladly forgo those things to know I am taken care of. The kind of service he gives me can't be matched. But if you can get it from your TA, then stick with them. There's no right or wrong answer.

[siestakeys04]

My first cruise I booked through AAA but all others I have booked myself because I like to be in control.:D

[Herfnerd]

Book with our warehouse club TA for the OBC and perks. Our next cruise, we have $285 OBC - makes a difference......

[dulcimergirl]

I book mine on my own, and keep a constant watch on the prices. If I need instant service, updates, price help, or changing in any way, I call my PVP. She is the BEST!! Scored a great deal on a huge balcony cabin after just enough price reductions to cover the cost.. worked out perfectly. Love my PVP.

[Bookworm1985]

The last few I used a PVP, but I have done through the website. I will never use a TA...I need to remain in control.

[talliana]

Both but usually through Carnival's website. I have booked RCL through AAA because they offered a $100 OBC.

[ray98]

On my own. I educated myself and would rather research and come to my own conclusion. I don't need hand holding and someone telling me what they will think I like.

[WetToes]

On my own. I educated myself and would rather research and come to my own conclusion. I don't need hand holding and someone telling me what they will think I like.

 

I do my research too. I know what I want when I call my TA.

No hand holding involved ;).

[Computer Nerd]

I like to have control over my booking.

[trvlgirlmq]

I have always, and will always, book on my own. I do not want to be at the mercy of someone else's time. What if they take the day off work unexpectedly and I find a price drop? I'm SOL. Nope, I work for me and I am the best boss ever :D

[firemanbobswife]

I have always, and will always, book on my own. I do not want to be at the mercy of someone else's time. What if they take the day off work unexpectedly and I find a price drop? I'm SOL. Nope, I work for me and I am the best boss ever :D

 

 

Agree. My PVP is available anytime I need him. But say he isn't for some odd reason, then I can always roll the dice and call the 800 number and hope I get someone that knows what they're doing. I like having that safety net just in case.

 

I can also submit my own price drop form if I want to or make payments directly on the website. There are absolutely no negatives to having a PVP.

Edited October 31, 2016 by firemanbobswife

[firemanbobswife]

I book mine on my own, and keep a constant watch on the prices. If I need instant service, updates, price help, or changing in any way, I call my PVP. She is the BEST!! Scored a great deal on a huge balcony cabin after just enough price reductions to cover the cost.. worked out perfectly. Love my PVP.

 

 

I hope you are having your PVP make the reservation and take the deposit for you as that is how they get paid/meet their quotas, etc. If they don't and are just servicing your reservation, then you aren't doing them any favors and they are working for free.

[BuckeyeCruiseGuy]

I have always, and will always, book on my own. I do not want to be at the mercy of someone else's time. What if they take the day off work unexpectedly and I find a price drop? I'm SOL. Nope, I work for me and I am the best boss ever :D

The agency I use is open 24/7 365, I can call and speak with anyone and they will take care of a price drop.

[mindymariexxo]

Up until my last 2 cruises I have always booked myself on the CCL website. 2 cruises ago I surprised my mom and step-dad with a room to come with us and decided to use the new PVP I had been assigned to. She handled a few price drops and took good care of us. She was helpful, but I didn't feel like she went out of her way for us.

 

I wound up getting assigned to a new PVP, which I was really nervous about because the first cruise we booked with her is our wedding cruise. We have invited 130 friends and family to sail with us. My new PVP is absolutely going above and beyond to take care of us and our wedding guests. She is helping us keep a list of everyone's rooms to keep them linked together and so I can have welcome bags delivered to staterooms. She goes out of her way to check for sales and has called me every time there are reduced deposits (our wedding is next September so it's still too early for price drops, but she has said she will watch for those as well). When I call her I give her my first name and she instantly remembers all of the details and what's going on with the wedding, as well as a second cruise we have booked for my birthday next year.

 

We booked my birthday cruise and a few weeks later decided to upgrade cabins when a casino offer popped up for me. By the time I called her on my lunch the sailing had been removed from casino offer eligibility. She fought for me and after about 10 minutes of being on hold she had the promotion honored and my new cabin booked.

 

I hope to have my current PVP for a long time to come and will be making sure when the wedding preparations are complete that she receives the recognition she deserves, because I really cannot say enough wonderful things about how much stress she has already taken off my plate and we only have 20 of the 130 people invited book already. I don't know how I would handle helping everyone book if I didn't have her.

Edited October 31, 2016 by mindymariexxo

[3redheads]

Thanks for all of the responses!

[RW20]

I book through a TA for two reasons:

 

I have a travel credit card and when I book through my credit cards TA I get 3 times as many points.

 

The second is booking through the TA is like using a foreign exchange hedge. My TA quotes in Canadian dollars rather than paying direct to Carnival in US. So they bear the rate risk. On my upcoming cruise I have a suite for the 4 of us and saved almost $500 Cdn just based on repricing the cruise. The US price had not changed but I had booked when the CDN dollar was at its lowest. This way if the CDN dolllar does better I can save some money.

[WetToes]

mindymariexx - Congrats and it sounds like you've found a keeper (the PVP, groom to be too). :)

 

3redheads - You are welcome. Happy Sailing! :)

[TheTravelista]

Travel Agent because she gives us a ton of free stuff. On board credit, cakes, gifts, steakhouse dinners, etc. It has nothing to do with "hand holding" or someone telling me what they think I would like. LOL. I tell her what I want, she books it.

 

On CC people seem to have had TA's who are never around and take forever to process price drops. Luckily that has never been my experience and I've been using mine for well over 10 years. She's always just an email or phone call away. She's pretty awesome.

Edited October 31, 2016 by TheTravelista