Benefit of using a HAL PCC

[RGBFamily]

Hi,

 

I have received numerous emails from "my" PCC about being at my service and the first point of contact for HAL. What I have yet to figure out, is the benefit of using the PCC over simply doing the booking online myself when I am ready to book my next cruise.

 

Do they have better access to cabins, upgrades or some knowledge that is valuable? I do my research when picking my cruise, rooms, dates and excursions.

 

Does he have a "in" when it comes to upgrades/upsells? I am tyring to figure out what his value is to me.

 

Last year I booked with a local agent however this year I was going to book alone and not worry about the middle man as they did cause me some frustrations, especially when prices dropped and the agent booked through a tour company thus not allowing us to take advantage of price drops and onboard credits (prior to final payment).

 

Thanks!

[HELENPSL]

Hi,

 

I have received numerous emails from "my" PCC about being at my service and the first point of contact for HAL. What I have yet to figure out, is the benefit of using the PCC over simply doing the booking online myself when I am ready to book my next cruise.

 

Do they have better access to cabins, upgrades or some knowledge that is valuable? I do my research when picking my cruise, rooms, dates and excursions.

 

Does he have a "in" when it comes to upgrades/upsells? I am tyring to figure out what his value is to me.

 

Last year I booked with a local agent however this year I was going to book alone and not worry about the middle man as they did cause me some frustrations, especially when prices dropped and the agent booked through a tour company thus not allowing us to take advantage of price drops and onboard credits (prior to final payment).

 

Thanks!

 

I have had the same PCC for the past 3 years and she is wonderful. We always book early - sometimes as far as 1 1/2 years in advance and then I start watching online for pricedrops. As soon as I see a drop I email her and it's taken care of immediately. We have had at least 2 substantial pricedrops on each of our longer cruises. I'm not sure how you go about getting price drops applied when you book online. I'm sure someone else will know.

 

I also believe that they see cabins that we cannot see online. We are booked in my favorite cabin on our upcoming Thanksgiving cruise. I could not see that cabin as available when I looked online. But, when I called her to book she told me she had a cabin in my favorite location (which she knew).

 

I guess I just like having a knowledgeable and friendly voice on the other end of the phone.

 

Helen

[DaveOKC]

Mine is very helpful in getting upsells. He seems to be able to give me a heads up on the availability.

Edited November 16, 2016 by DaveOKC

[slabeaume]

Every time I've called "ours", she has never answered. So I end up booking through the HAL site. When a price reduction happens, I've been able to call the reservation number and have it taken care of. We've been emailed upsell offers on most of our cruises---a couple really good ones that I took advantage of and a few really high ones that we let go.

[Lizzie68]

I use both, transferring my booking to a TA prior to final payment date and this gives me substantial perks. The PCCs are fine with this. I have to say, however, that the TA's I have used give the same if not better service than the PCC. Calls and emails are returned much quicker.

[OceanTraveller4ever]

A PCC is such a valuable asset in booking that I would not imagine booking without a competent one.

First off they will give you automatic rebates if available, such as the casino discount or other such deals going on.

They have a complete look of all the available cabins of which most are blocked off when going thru the HAL website.

They are the first line of contact about price drops, and any other changes that may be happening with the booking.

They have an inside connection with the upsell/upgrade folks. When we had a price drop on a cruise the PCC managed to get an upgrade, while keeping the same price.

 

I would never book on my own using the HAL website. It would be like being robbed of so many advantages of using a PCC.

 

In closing. a competent PCC is such a pleasant and engaging aspect of the cruise booking aspect. Would not imagine a HAL cruising experience without first contacting my PCC.

Edited November 16, 2016 by jpelleti007

[Krazy Kruizers]

My 2 cents -- we don't use a PCC because booking directly with HAL does not allow us to get our $300 shipboard credit from American Express Platinum card.

[DaveOKC]

My 2 cents -- we don't use a PCC because booking directly with HAL does not allow us to get our $300 shipboard credit from American Express Platinum card.

 

I do not blame you! I would do the same.

[blizzardboy]

My 2 cents -- we don't use a PCC because booking directly with HAL does not allow us to get our $300 shipboard credit from American Express Platinum card.

How does Amex feel about transferred bookings? I use my PCC pretty much up until final payment before transferring the booking to my TA for their perks - about 9% of the fare in OBC.

My PCC is fantastic. He knows our likes and dislikes, handles price drops, and is extremely knowledgeable regarding all things HAL.

[Ken the cruiser]

How does Amex feel about transferred bookings? I use my PCC pretty much up until final payment before transferring the booking to my TA for their perks - about 9% of the fare in OBC.

My PCC is fantastic. He knows our likes and dislikes, handles price drops, and is extremely knowledgeable regarding all things HAL.

 

So when you transfer the booking to an independent TA, does your PCC still get full credit for the booking with his employer (HAL) and how do upsell emails work? Do you then have to wait for your TA to contact you instead of getting the email directly and then go through the TA to purchase the upsell?

 

We have a great PCC and she works so hard for us. I would hate to hear she only got the credit for the deposit for any cruise we transferred at the last minute to an independent TA after working it for up to two years out. But if that's not the case and it's a win-win for everybody, then it might be an option to consider. Also, who manages your airline reservation if your PCC booked it for you through HAL, then you later on switch to a TA?

Edited November 16, 2016 by Ken the cruiser

[blizzardboy]

So when you transfer the booking to an independent TA, does your PCC still get full credit for the booking with his employer (HAL) and how do upsell emails work? Do you then have to wait for your TA to contact you instead of getting the email directly and then go through the TA to purchase the upsell?

 

They make more if the booking stays with HAL. My PCC has said more than once that he'd be transferring his booking if he were in my shoes with the amount of money involved. PCCs are salaried so they're compensated. Like any sales organization they have targets to reach and a bonus structure. My PCC assured me that he got credit for originating the booking on his bonus.

We book Neptune Suites - gotta have that king bed - so the PS is the only up sale so that's not much of a consideration. We're doing a 7-day this winter before some time on an island, that I left with my PCC as a thank you for all he does, and with the hope of an opportunity to try the PS if it's reasonable.

[DaveOKC]

So when you transfer the booking to an independent TA, does your PCC still get full credit for the booking with his employer (HAL) and how do upsell emails work? Do you then have to wait for your TA to contact you instead of getting the email directly and then go through the TA to purchase the upsell?

 

 

If you transfer to a TA, they are the ones that then get the upsell emails and you have to rely on them to forward it onto you. If you want it, you have to go through the TA again.

[Ken the cruiser]

They make more if the booking stays with HAL. My PCC has said more than once that he'd be transferring his booking if he were in my shoes with the amount of money involved. PCCs are salaried so they're compensated. Like any sales organization they have targets to reach and a bonus structure. My PCC assured me that he got credit for originating the booking on his bonus.

We book Neptune Suites - gotta have that king bed - so the PS is the only up sale so that's not much of a consideration. We're doing a 7-day this winter before some time on an island, that I left with my PCC as a thank you for all he does, and with the hope of an opportunity to try the PS if it's reasonable.

Sounds good. When I was talking with a RSS PCC the other day, she mentioned it would be OK if we transferred the booking within the first 30 days or so to an independent TA. That pretty much made sense since she wouldn't usually have done any additional work other than getting us the initial early booking deals and we would get all kinds of OBC from the TA.

 

However, since we book as early as possible, sometimes 2 years out, and then contact our PCC when we see sales/promotions along the way, it seems like transferring the booking right before you make the final payment after working with the PCC the whole time, would be something that PCC would remember for future reference. But on the other hand getting 9% off the cruise fare in OBC would definitely be a motivator to transferring it over shortly after booking. Thanks!

[Hlitner]

We do not use our PCC for one simple reason, we can save money (sometimes a lot of money) by using any or our favored cruise agencies/agents. Yes, our PCC has called and tried to convince us to book with her (the PCC) and then transfer the booking to a cruise agency. But my issues are why go through this extra step (i.e. why even use the PCC) and by not booking directly with an agency we are using some of our leverage to save even more money. Your maximum leverage exists before you book, not after :).

 

As to the money issue, our savings will generally total 7-10% (when compared to the best prices offered by a HAL/PCC). Since we tend to cruise longer more expensive HAL cruises our savings are often in the thousands of dollars per booking.

 

Hank

[iancal]

We book late. Often either just outside or inside the final payment window. PCC offers zero benefit to us and costs more net of OBC's. We prefer to deal with someone who has access and is willing to recommend and advise of competitive offers from various cruise lines.

 

Booking a cruise is a commodity to us. Price, service, and delivery. We are not looking for a new best friend. When we call our TA we know the itinerary, the ship, the date. All we want is a price and a heads up to any similar/better offer on any competitive cruise lines that we would consider.

[Randyk47]

We book late. Often either just outside or inside the final payment window. PCC offers zero benefit to us and costs more net of OBC's. We prefer to deal with someone who has access and is willing to recommend and advise of competitive offers from various cruise lines.

 

Booking a cruise is a commodity to us. Price, service, and delivery. We are not looking for a new best friend. When we call our TA we know the itinerary, the ship, the date. All we want is a price and a heads up to any similar/better offer on any competitive cruise lines that we would consider.

 

Other than we book early this is our approach. Doesn't help that, and you can call this "luck of the draw", we were assigned a PCC who was basically useless. Drove us to use an external TA and we've just stayed with that.

[Ken the cruiser]

If you transfer to a TA, they are the ones that then get the upsell emails and you have to rely on them to forward it onto you. If you want it, you have to go through the TA again.

 

Thanks Dave. That's pretty much what we've heard too.

 

For that reason alone, the TA's OBC better be quite large for us to give up the joy of waiting for that upsell email. I know we're easily amused. :D But then being able to pounce on it hopefully ahead of everyone else, especially during any secondary rounds, is part of the fun building up to going on a cruise. Then when it feels like there are no more emails coming, you can contact your PCC who in turn (if you have been loyal to her) contacts a coworker and negotiates a great upsell deal after the fact. That's also a nice little perk. We also got a great deal via a phone call from Celebrity after booking directly with them awhile back on a 10 day Galapagos cruise from a OV all the way up to a RS for $375 pp! Now that was a pre-cruise thrill if there ever was one!!

 

On the other hand we recently booked a Crystal cruise and had to go through a TA, but did get a lot of OBC. However, it just doesn't feel like we're in as much control as when we book a cruise with a cruise line PCC. To the OP's original question, I guess it just comes down to personal preferences and what matters most to you when it comes to the cruise experience, before, during and after.

[blizzardboy]

Sounds good. When I was talking with a RSS PCC the other day, she mentioned it would be OK if we transferred the booking within the first 30 days or so to an independent TA. That pretty much made sense since she wouldn't usually have done any additional work other than getting us the initial early booking deals and we would get all kinds of OBC from the TA.

 

However, since we book as early as possible, sometimes 2 years out, and then contact our PCC when we see sales/promotions along the way, it seems like transferring the booking right before you make the final payment after working with the PCC the whole time, would be something that PCC would remember for future reference. But on the other hand getting 9% off the cruise fare in OBC would definitely be a motivator to transferring it over shortly after booking. Thanks!

Some lines only allow transfers for 30 to 60 days after booking direct. HAL allows booking transfers until final payment is made.

[kazu]

I prefer a TA and have gotten great upsell offers.

 

The one time I tried a PCC I didn't get a very enthusiastic one.

 

PCC's, like TA's can be great, ok or mediocre. If you have a great one, marvellous.

 

I had more luck finding great among TA's and benefiting from OBC, discounts, etc. As well as upsell offers ;)

[RocketMan275]

We only book Neptune suites so we're really not concerned with upsells/upgrades. We will use a PCC since they have access to more rooms than a TA but we're always upfront with the PCC that we will be transferring the booking.

 

FWIW, we just contacted our favorite TA when we saw a significant price drop on our already booked Neptune suite. We had received a significant discount (10%) on our initial booking. Our TA matched the price drop and then included a 10% discount on the HAL price after the price drop.

[Hlitner]

We would add that our best upsell offers have come via our cruise agents!

 

Hank

[iancal]

The very best offer we have ever had came through our on line TA. It was on Princess. A move over offer. Gave up our cruise in return for a full refund, a free cruise of the same duration in a mini- suite instead of our balcony, and the reimbursed the cost of cancelling our reward air tickets.

 

Booked on a Princess cruise in Feb.....hoping for the same offer again. We can be flexible!

Edited November 17, 2016 by iancal

[cwd79]

Can you request a different PCC? I only ask because the one we have been assigned to is not good with responding to emails and anytime I have asked for information I get a response sometimes weeks later or just no response. I usually book online, but would love to be matched with a PCC that deals with all of that and does a good job customer service wise. I always feel like I am missing something when booking on the website.

[boards]

We have booked our Nov. 25, 2016 through a HAL PCC. We are very pleased with her. Every request we have made to her has met with a good and quick response. We also got a very nice upgrade. We booked our flights with HAL as well.

[Lizzie68]

Can you request a different PCC? I only ask because the one we have been assigned to is not good with responding to emails and anytime I have asked for information I get a response sometimes weeks later or just no response. I usually book online, but would love to be matched with a PCC that deals with all of that and does a good job customer service wise. I always feel like I am missing something when booking on the website.

 

Yes you can, and I have done it. Call 800-355-3017 and ask for a supervisor. Explain the situation and she will assign another PCC to you.