Quick Moan/Seeking Advice

[Shawnino]

Autumn 2021 opened this morning of course.

Left it to my TA to book accessible balcony on Riviera.

Said he had a friend at O who could handle such things.

He swears his "friend" at O didn't drag her arse on the matter, claiming they opened at 8:30 and she was on it shortly thereafter, but long story short we only got an accessible OV.

 

I have moaned about the lack of accessible cabins on O before (few balconies, no PH whatsoever) in another thread, and will likely do so again another day. Broken record, I know.

 

Question: Is there a better way to try to ensure that you get the cabin you want?

[pinotlover]

My TA pre books our desired cruises with her regional rep. It’s already in the que when the button is pushed at opening.

 

Then the fun starts. High volume OCC TAs get their requests filled first. However, if demand exceeds supply your TA may be told: You’ve  Requested 3 ( whatever’s), your allocation is one. You'll most likely never know if that allocation went to you or to another customer. 

 

O might give the TA an allocation for a similar higher cost cabin that will be held for your quick decisions.

 

Truth is a lot happens behind the scenes the cruiser never knows about. Best chances of success goes to those with greatest relationships with Agency in the OCC family. 

 

Another consideration. Some here like bragging about beating their TA to death on rebates. So how do you think they come out when the TA is working on a short allocation with an equal clientele that isn’t as demanding? 

Edited August 21, 2019 by pinotlover

[Roccaforte]

We always book thru a Riviera agent and we have always gotten the cabin we wanted.

afterwards, within 30 days of booking, we transfer the booking to a TA & get extra goodies from the TA.  

 

 

 

 

[LHT28]

You could try wait list  for a H/C  balcony cabin  but for now you are at least on the ship

Anything can happen between now  & the cruise

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, pinotlover said:

My TA pre books our desired cruises with her regional rep. It’s already in the que when the button is pushed at opening.

 

Then the fun starts. High volume OCC TAs get their requests filled first. However, if demand exceeds supply your TA may be told: You’ve  Requested 3 ( whatever’s), your allocation is one. You'll most likely never know if that allocation went to you or to another customer. 

 

O might give the TA an allocation for a similar higher cost cabin that will be held for your quick decisions.

 

Truth is a lot happens behind the scenes the cruiser never knows about. Best chances of success goes to those with greatest relationships with Agency in the OCC family. 

 

Another consideration. Some here like bragging about beating their TA to death on rebates. So how do you think they come out when the TA is working on a short allocation with an equal clientele that isn’t as demanding? 

Another similar tactic, albeit with the need for favorable time windows, is to book-onboard.