teague38 Posted June 16, 2018 #1 Share Posted June 16, 2018 My first 2 cruises I found what I wanted online and then called the PVP who had been leaving me voicemails to call them to actually book the cruise. This time I was brave and just booked it online myself instead of calling the PVP to do it for me, not knowing if I didn't let them book it that I lost them. After booking an OV I decided I wanted to upgrade to a balcony and called the PVP and he said he couldn't help me because I had booked online so he had to transfer me to customer service to get it done so I guess my question is...if you book online is there anyway to get a PVP assigned or are you just out of luck? I would rather deal with the PVP when I have any questions or if there is a price drop and call in for it. I guess from now on I will call and let them do the actual booking.:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #2 Share Posted June 16, 2018 PVPs get paid when they book a cruise so if you want them to service it, they need to be the one to take the deposit. I wouldn’t expect them to work for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jma624 Posted June 16, 2018 #3 Share Posted June 16, 2018 My sister booked the cruise for her and her family online without a PVP. When I decided to join her I called my PVP to book my cruise, and when I told her about my sister and that I wanted to link our bookings she did so and then told me that if my sister needed anything else that she could call her. Probably just trying to get a new customer, but it is possible for the PVP to service someone who booked online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #4 Share Posted June 16, 2018 My sister booked the cruise for her and her family online without a PVP. When I decided to join her I called my PVP to book my cruise, and when I told her about my sister and that I wanted to link our bookings she did so and then told me that if my sister needed anything else that she could call her. Probably just trying to get a new customer, but it is possible for the PVP to service someone who booked online. Yes, it is possible (mine helped out a friend way above and beyond what he needed to), but I wouldn’t expect him to. And yes he did gain a customer from it. But in reality how many times will that happen? You’ll always have the ones that book online and then try and get a PVP to “fix” things for them. If I book online, I own the booking and should expect to have to deal with the people at the 800 number. If I want full service, then I will use my PVP for the reservation. You can’t expect them to take care of someone that didn’t find them valuable enough from the beginning to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sizzlechest Posted June 16, 2018 #5 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Geez. Sounds like a PVP is just as much of a hassle as a TA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodman Posted June 16, 2018 #6 Share Posted June 16, 2018 :D I always just call the 800 number and I have never had any problems with changes or upgrades. Almost 50 cruises on Carnival and I would not consider just booking on line. There is always a chance that the agent you get may find a better deal for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #7 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Geez. Sounds like a PVP is just as much of a hassle as a TA. Not a hassle at all, actually quite the opposite. He makes it so easy and takes care of everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
April42749 Posted June 16, 2018 #8 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Not a hassle at all, actually quite the opposite. He makes it so easy and takes care of everything. I book with the 800 number and then transfer to a TA for the OBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #9 Share Posted June 16, 2018 I book with the 800 number and then transfer to a TA for the OBC. It’s not worth it to me. I won’t do another TA with Carnival. For $25 or $50 my PVPs service can’t be beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teague38 Posted June 16, 2018 Author #10 Share Posted June 16, 2018 I am new to cruising and honestly didn't think a thing about booking it myself. The PVP that left me a voicemail was the same PVP I used for a cruise we just went on in March so I thought he would still be my PVP if I had any questions. I was at work and thought it would just be easier to do than being stuck on the phone when customers come in. I will know next time and will call to book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcathome Posted June 16, 2018 #11 Share Posted June 16, 2018 (edited) Think some of you people need to find new PVPs > i have booked both with and without PVP. No matter which way i went if i called my PVP and they took care of any problem i had, Including filling out paperwork for price reduction. I usually use a my PVP unless i see something on last minute and sale is about to end. Been on 23 cruises, probably used pvp 19 times Edited June 16, 2018 by jmcathome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
April42749 Posted June 16, 2018 #12 Share Posted June 16, 2018 It’s not worth it to me. I won’t do another TA with Carnival. For $25 or $50 my PVPs service can’t be beat. The last cruise I got $150 OBC for a 4J. In addition, I had a couple of changes and the agent did them...no problem. If she wasn't there, "whoever" answered the phone did it. I just started using an agent a few cruises ago, no extra fee and no cancellation fee. (I don't know how they make money.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #13 Share Posted June 16, 2018 The last cruise I got $150 OBC for a 4J. In addition, I had a couple of changes and the agent did them...no problem. If she wasn't there, "whoever" answered the phone did it. I just started using an agent a few cruises ago, no extra fee and no cancellation fee. (I don't know how they make money.) Yeah, still not worth it. My PVP was able to get things done that a TA never could. I can’t go into it on here, but let’s just say he has gone way above and beyond. Even offered me a cruise for just port fees once. Not even a free Cheers package would sway me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #14 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Think some of you people need to find new PVPs > i have booked both with and without PVP. No matter which way i went if i called my PVP and they took care of any problem i had, Including filling out paperwork for price reduction. I usually use a my PVP unless i see something on last minute and sale is about to end The difference is I wouldn’t expect him to work for free. That’s not right. No doubt with all the business I give him he would but that’s not cool so I won’t. I wouldn’t fault a PVP for refusing to service a booking that they didn’t get credit for, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAVI360 Posted June 16, 2018 #15 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Where can i find a good PVP.....The one i had was promoted ....she was amazing ....since then the ones i've had isn't that knowledgeable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #16 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Where can i find a good PVP.....The one i had was promoted ....she was amazing ....since then the ones i've had isn't that knowledgeable You will have to contact someone outside of here to get a recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted June 16, 2018 #17 Share Posted June 16, 2018 It’s not worth it to me. I won’t do another TA with Carnival. For $25 or $50 my PVPs service can’t be beat. Agree with this 10000%. If you have a good PVP, they're amazing and can do a lot of things that others can't. I am sure (once again) you and I are on the same page on this one. I find exactly what I want online then give my PVP a call and she does the booking for me (so she gets the credit). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwcruiselover Posted June 16, 2018 #18 Share Posted June 16, 2018 If you happen to find a cruise and cabin you're interested in and your PVP isn't available at the time, you can put the booking on courtesy hold for 24 hours. That guarantees the rate and the room. If you do that rather than putting your deposit down, you can get ahold of your PVP to take the deposit and then he/she gets credit for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted June 16, 2018 #19 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Can a PVP service a booking made online or via the 800 Carnival number? Absolutely! Will they do it? Most would say no. As mentioned many times before, they would be servicing your booking for free. And any time they spend on a booking made by some other means is time wasted where they could’ve served their own guests or made new bookings. PVP’s are awesome, and many do this job because they absolutely love cruising which is great because they will passionately make sure that your cruise is awesome, from the moment they start talking to you. But they also need to make a living. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwcruiselover Posted June 16, 2018 #20 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Can a PVP service a booking made online or via the 800 Carnival number? Absolutely! Will they do it? Most would say no. As mentioned many times before, they would be servicing your booking for free. And any time they spend on a booking made by some other means is time wasted where they could’ve served their own guests or made new bookings. PVP’s are awesome, and many do this job because they absolutely love cruising which is great because they will passionately make sure that your cruise is awesome, from the moment they start talking to you. But they also need to make a living. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Well said. I totally agree with you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 16, 2018 #21 Share Posted June 16, 2018 So does my TA. Right now I have 250K mileage points just from booking cruises through her. She checks for price drops, checks for added incentives, solves issues with the cruise line, takes my payments. I can do all of this either by phone or by email and she's fast at responding. All that and I get free flights. I also have that option, but I don’t find the $25 service charge to be worth it. I can buy 1,000 miles for about that price. Plus I don’t get expensive cabins so the miles I would get are so minimal. Actually my typical cabin which is an inside would net me about 1,000 miles which is about equal to the $25 fee. So it’s not for me. I also don’t like the $100 cancel fee should I need to do so, either. That’s why I normally don’t book ES Rates unless I’m 100% sure nothing will change. I have went a lot of places (and am going again very soon) on my airline miles but I get them by credit card sign up bonuses and online shopping. Oh and being he’s actually at Carnival, there is zero chance of someone else mucking up my reservation like what happened to the other poster. He can see everything before he finalizes it and doesn’t have to rely on someone else to do it right. He knows what he’s doing with 26 years of experience. You never know who helps the TAs at Carnival. According to the other thread it seems like they aren’t the sharpest crayons in the box. I’ll stick to my guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted June 16, 2018 #22 Share Posted June 16, 2018 I book with the 800 number and then transfer to a TA for the OBC. That makes no sense. What TA would accept a booked cruise? They can't get paid for a new booking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted June 16, 2018 #23 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Mine does. How do they get paid since the booking is done and why not book directly with them? (Genuinely curious) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted June 16, 2018 #24 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Agree with this 10000%. If you have a good PVP, they're amazing and can do a lot of things that others can't. I am sure (once again) you and I are on the same page on this one. I find exactly what I want online then give my PVP a call and she does the booking for me (so she gets the credit). Ditto for me. I agree a good PVP is priceless. Mine even books my free casino offers for me even though she doesn't get booking credit for it. She said she does get customer service credit for it though. She takes care of getting my shareholder credit applied and other needs that come up. She's always prompt in returning my calls. There's no way I would trade the service I receive from my PVP for a few dollars of onboard credit. She's helped me with milestone and even applying a very old Carnival gift certificate that someone gave me years ago that I forgot to use (back from before Carnival had gift cards). She's notified me when I've qualified for free cruises. I can't even remember all the ways she has helped me and I greatly appreciate her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadmoney Posted June 16, 2018 #25 Share Posted June 16, 2018 I find using my PVP to be a very easy and hassle free way of doing things. Also for some reason she has access to rooms that don't show up on the carnival site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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