I keep missing calls from my pvp

[desiree741]

First I find it rather eye raising that once we started looking at cruises online I started getting calls from my pvp.

But he keeps calling while I’m in the middle of something and can’t answer. He does leave a nice voicemail with his extension. 

Is there really any benefit to talking to him before booking? I am paying for our cruise with an Aflac claim and they mailed my check instead of direct depositing so I can’t book it till it gets here and I don’t want to talk to someone that will pressure me to buy now and not wait a few days. 

[Nic6318]

Hi

 

You don't have to call him back but you can. You can tell him that you are looking but are not ready to decide at this time. I don't understand this feeling you have that he can somehow pressure you over the phone to do something you don't want to do.

 

Returning a phone call is a simple courtesy. 

Edited March 30, 2019 by Nic6318

[Clarasgrandma]

3 hours ago, desiree741 said:

First I find it rather eye raising that once we started looking at cruises online I started getting calls from my pvp.

But he keeps calling while I’m in the middle of something and can’t answer. He does leave a nice voicemail with his extension. 

Is there really any benefit to talking to him before booking? I am paying for our cruise with an Aflac claim and they mailed my check instead of direct depositing so I can’t book it till it gets here and I don’t want to talk to someone that will pressure me to buy now and not wait a few days. 

IMO the benefits of booking through a PVP are that he or she can see rooms that do not show up as available online so you could possibly get a better location with him making the arrangements.  Also, he will be more apt to help you with price adjustments in the future. He can also answer any questions you may have between when you book and when you cruise. I would call him back or send him an email stating you are just looking for now and will contact him when you are ready to book.. That would probably stop the phone calls. 

[teknoge3k]

You can always call and leave a voicemail for your PVP and tell them to stop calling, to only text or email. I did that with my PVP years ago and she only emails or texts me now. She knows that the phone doesn't get answered. lol

[Elaine5715]

22 hours ago, desiree741 said:

First I find it rather eye raising that once we started looking at cruises online I started getting calls from my pvp.

But he keeps calling while I’m in the middle of something and can’t answer. He does leave a nice voicemail with his extension. 

Is there really any benefit to talking to him before booking? I am paying for our cruise with an Aflac claim and they mailed my check instead of direct depositing so I can’t book it till it gets here and I don’t want to talk to someone that will pressure me to buy now and not wait a few days. 

Carnival's software notifies PVPs that guests are looking online.  

[joepeka]

18 hours ago, Clarasgrandma said:

IMO the benefits of booking through a PVP are that he or she can see rooms that do not show up as available online so you could possibly get a better location with him making the arrangements.  Also, he will be more apt to help you with price adjustments in the future. He can also answer any questions you may have between when you book and when you cruise. I would call him back or send him an email stating you are just looking for now and will contact him when you are ready to book.. That would probably stop the phone calls. 

I would agree with all of these points. Our PVP was invaluable in helping with our family cruise last year in terms of available cabins not visible on the web site and helping with a late change to our guest count without any additional cost (something that there was no way we could have negotiated ourselves online). If you're just "looking", a courtesy call stating as much should stop the calls.

[ShakyBeef]

I agree with pretty much everything the others have said here.  So I'll be a bit of an echo, here.  Yes, there can be benefits to talking to your PVP before booking.  One of those benefits is the chance to customize the service you get from him so that it suits your needs and wishes best, and wastes less of his time, as well.

 

As Elaine5715 mentioned, the reason you are getting the calls is no coincidence - it is the alert the Carnival website sends to your PVP when you log in to the Carnival site.  This can seem creepy to some, but it can also be seen as a valuable tool for attentive customer service.  Sure, he wants you to book your cruise with him.  But if you prefer to not get the phone calls when you log in during the "just looking" phase of your cruise planning, I suggest for your and his sake, you do as I did: call your PVP.  Let him know you're just looking and that when you are ready to book, you will call him and book it with him.  Basically, you give him a polite version of "Don't call me - I'll call you".  And then you keep your word and do just that.  It will "train" him to be a better PVP for you, as well as free up his time he is wasting calling a client that doesn't want to be bothered.  It's a win/win: you don't get bothered by his calls, and he gets the sale (eventually when you call him to book) without having to do extra work for it.

 

Tell him how you want to be handled.  It will lead to a better working relationship for both of you.  Or, if you don't want to deal with a PVP at all, tell him that and ask to be left alone.  But I suggest the former.  I good PVP can be a valuable resource at no cost to you. 

 

Happy cruise planning to you!

[JaniceB]

Mine rarely calls, guess he knows I look alot, LOL!

[elcuchio24]

On 3/30/2019 at 6:52 PM, desiree741 said:

First I find it rather eye raising that once we started looking at cruises online I started getting calls from my pvp.

But he keeps calling while I’m in the middle of something and can’t answer. He does leave a nice voicemail with his extension. 

Is there really any benefit to talking to him before booking? I am paying for our cruise with an Aflac claim and they mailed my check instead of direct depositing so I can’t book it till it gets here and I don’t want to talk to someone that will pressure me to buy now and not wait a few days. 

 

if you look at cruises, dont sign into the carnival website. Thats how they know what your looking at. 

[suzycruiser2]

My PVP has a note on my account not to call me and that I will call her when I get ready to book.  I usually will do the 24 hour hold and then call her to finalize.  She can look to see if there are any better offers available and also see if better cabins are available that I can't see.

[crusinpsychRN]

I've been on Carnival for years, I'm Diamond. NEVER get any calls. Would be nice to get an upgrade.

[tandemcruzr]

Our PVP never calls us as a result of us looking at things online. She knows we look a lot and also knows we will call her if we need her help.

[lcpagejr]

On 3/30/2019 at 7:04 PM, Nic6318 said:

Hi

 

You don't have to call him back but you can. You can tell him that you are looking but are not ready to decide at this time. I don't understand this feeling you have that he can somehow pressure you over the phone to do something you don't want to do.

 

Returning a phone call is a simple courtesy. 

In this case....courtesy does not need to be extended. Really it is  none of the PVP's business. OP did not initiate contact with the PVP

[Retired_to_Cruise]

Our PVP has never called us just because she was notified we were on the site. If that were the case she would be calling us a couple of times a week. She quickly understood how we, as her customers, worked and operated. She is the best in the world and goes the extra mile for us everytime we call her. If you cannot get your PVP to understand who you are and how you work, them you need to get a different one.

[five.]

The biggest benefit I've seen is the 24 hour hold.

[hotsauce126]

They definitely get notified when you log onto the site. I've never once spoken to my PVP in the 4 or 5 years that she's been assigned to me, but I can guarantee I'll get a voicemail from her if I start browsing cruises

[desiree741]

So I finally actually spoke to him. He was good at answering my questions and I ended up booking and paying the deposit.  One kind of crazy thing is  we was talking about cheers and he specifically told me not to get the bubbles for my daughter “you can give her a coke, you’re not supposed to share but no one will say anything if you give your kid some of your soda or juice” that’s ok I rather just pay for her the bubbles. 

Im still on the fence about cheers, I really don’t drink much alcohol but I love some virgin daquries to sip on while strolling the lido or sitting on my balcony.

[ShakyBeef]

10 hours ago, desiree741 said:

So I finally actually spoke to him. He was good at answering my questions and I ended up booking and paying the deposit.  One kind of crazy thing is  we was talking about cheers and he specifically told me not to get the bubbles for my daughter “you can give her a coke, you’re not supposed to share but no one will say anything if you give your kid some of your soda or juice” that’s ok I rather just pay for her the bubbles. 

Im still on the fence about cheers, I really don’t drink much alcohol but I love some virgin daquries to sip on while strolling the lido or sitting on my balcony.

 

Congrats on booking your cruise!  I'm glad he was helpful.  It is disappointing that he was encouraging you to break the rules with Cheers!.🙁  It sounds like Cheers! might not be worth it for you.  Paying as you go, for a few virgin daiquiris a day, will come out considerably cheaper than Cheers!.

[desiree741]

4 hours ago, ShakyBeef said:

 

Congrats on booking your cruise!  I'm glad he was helpful.  It is disappointing that he was encouraging you to break the rules with Cheers!.🙁  It sounds like Cheers! might not be worth it for you.  Paying as you go, for a few virgin daiquiris a day, will come out considerably cheaper than Cheers!.

I agree, about being cheaper I guess I keep thinking.....I know myself if I have to pay per drink I’m not going to drink lol I think if I prepay it I’m way more likely to enjoy going to get daquries or have a after dinner drink. I’ll figure it sooner to cruise date 😉 

[James4me]

How can I get a PVP?  

[joepeka]

6 minutes ago, James4me said:

How can I get a PVP?  

You should be able to call the PVP toll free number (800-819-3902), remain on the line after the extension prompt and ask to be assigned a PVP.

Edited April 4, 2019 by joepeka

[desiree741]

7 minutes ago, James4me said:

How can I get a PVP?  

I don’t even know how I got mine 😂

[thinfool]

Last time I got an uninvited PVP call I told him to bugger off....It seems to have worked.

[James4me]

I just did some searching and found one.  She seems to be really good with positive reviews and a PVP over 10 years.  

[Tiger0613]

The 1-800 reps can also see available cabins that don't show up online.

 

 

I don't want a PVP.  I don't think a PVP has ever called me, but I could be wrong.  I have received one upsell call and two upsell emails from the same woman.  Her title in the 1/7/16 email was Stateroom Specialist - Post Booking Sales.  Her title in the 1/15/18 email was Stateroom Sales Specialist.  Is she a PVP?

 

My mother doesn't want a PVP.  Hopefully she doesn't have one either.  One day a PVP cold called my mother's cell phone.  Neither of us asked for a PVP to be assigned to her, but apparently one was assigned to her anyway.

 

My mother has never booked a cruise in her life.  My mother's first two cruises were booked by my father.  I booked her other six cruises.  She has never directly paid for a cruise.  The payments have always been in either my father's name or my name.  She has never even looked at cruises online.  She doesn't want anything to do with travel planning.  She is just along for the ride.  I did set up an online account for her.  I mainly did that so I would have easy access to her cruise history.

 

I told the PVP to never call my mother again.  She hasn't received any calls from Carnival since.  I hate that Carnival seems to assign a PVP to everyone even if they didn't ask for one.

Edited April 5, 2019 by Tiger0613