A question for travel agents, past and present.

[LisaLeone]

Hi! Hoping for some guidance here. My final payment due date is 5/8. I am wanting to wait as long as possible to cancel and take the FCC, in case the cruise line cancels first and I can get a refund (sort of like a game of vacation chicken!)

How much time does an agent need to make sure the payment is posted? Is it just a push of a button? This whole experience has caused me to lose some confidence in my agent, which is why I'm asking here.  I hope my question isn't too confusing. My TA originally had a date almost 2 weeks out. Thanks!

[adolfo2]

3 minutes ago, LisaLeone said:

Hi! Hoping for some guidance here. My final payment due date is 5/8. I am wanting to wait as long as possible to cancel and take the FCC, in case the cruise line cancels first and I can get a refund (sort of like a game of vacation chicken!)

How much time does an agent need to make sure the payment is posted? Is it just a push of a button? This whole experience has caused me to lose some confidence in my agent, which is why I'm asking here.  I hope my question isn't too confusing. My TA originally had a date almost 2 weeks out. Thanks!

 

An agent will typically "Pad" the actual, true, drop-dead-date for final by a few weeks (I use two myself). This is to insure that you can get hold of the customer (they could be on vacation, etc.), problems with the credit card (overdrawn), communication issues (my internet is down), the agent is busy, etc.

It is basically a push-of-the-button ASSUMING everything goes smoothly. I would start getting nervous if everything wasn't fully finalized at least 48-hours in advance of final.

[NordicPrince]

I don't know why you are even thinking that this cruise is in any way,  shape or form is going to happen.

 

Under no circumstances should you make a final payment. You would not get this money back for 90 days if ever if RCL declares bankruptcy.

 

I would cancel the cruise and ask for FCC on what you have paid already or wait for RCL to cancel and get FCC but

under no circumstances send them any more money.

 

Start getting realistic about this, stop looking for a TA to take control of this and take ownership of the situation. No time to take the position of "I want to help the cruise line". The cruise line is not looking to help you, it looks after itself first.

[Biker19]

26 minutes ago, LisaLeone said:

in case the cruise line cancels first

They are very unlikely to cancel any sailings outside of final payment.

[Ocean Boy]

3 minutes ago, NordicPrince said:

I don't know why you are even thinking that this cruise is in any way,  shape or form is going to happen.

 

Under no circumstances should you make a final payment. You would not get this money back for 90 days if ever if RCL declares bankruptcy.

 

I would cancel the cruise and ask for FCC on what you have paid already or wait for RCL to cancel and get FCC but

under no circumstances send them any more money.

 

Start getting realistic about this, stop looking for a TA to take control of this and take ownership of the situation. No time to take the position of "I want to help the cruise line". The cruise line is not looking to help you, it looks after itself first.

Though I completely agree with you, it seems like I am constantly reading on these boards about how people use a TA because they don't want to have to worry about anything. They call their TA and leave it all up to them.

[adolfo2]

6 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Though I completely agree with you, it seems like I am constantly reading on these boards about how people use a TA because they don't want to have to worry about anything. They call their TA and leave it all up to them.

 

TA follows cruise-line policies... we don't make them.

[NordicPrince]

7 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Though I completely agree with you, it seems like I am constantly reading on these boards about how people use a TA because they don't want to have to worry about anything. They call their TA and leave it all up to them.

Maybe under normal times, but these are far from normal times. Today requires individual response and effort to get on your TA

case or take immediate action yourself.

Am I the only one who is aware of what is going on around us?

[Ocean Boy]

3 minutes ago, adolfo2 said:

 

TA follows cruise-line policies... we don't make them.

Like requiring final payment prior to the cruise lines' required date?

[Ocean Boy]

1 minute ago, NordicPrince said:

Maybe under normal times, but these are far from normal times. Today requires individual response and effort to get on your TA

case or take immediate action yourself.

Am I the only one who is aware of what is going on around us?

I get it. The way I see it a TA has many people's reservations to concern themselves with. I only have mine.

[adolfo2]

15 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Like requiring final payment prior to the cruise lines' required date?

Necessary evil of mostly being a one-man band. You wouldn't be happy if your TA missed applying final because he/she was in the hospital w/COVID now would you?

[NordicPrince]

31 minutes ago, adolfo2 said:

Necessary evil of mostly being a one-man band. You wouldn't be happy if your TA missed applying final because he/she was in the hospital w/COVID now would you?

I must be drinking something in my Kool Aid.

 

The cruise line has already announced that they have suspended sailings thru June 11.

 

Why is the OP being strung along?  Because the TA wants to keep any possibility of keeping the commission as long as he can and staying in the good graces of the cruise line. We're just doing what the cruise line says? What a pile of bull turd. Because the cruise line wants to hold on to any cash it has for as long as it can. What they're doing is almost fraudulent! They only cancel in batches so they can stagger their refunds.

 

Please OP wake up and smell the coffee. You're not cruising in May. It's a big scam!!!

 

And for you TA's shame on you for being self serving and not being beholden to your customers. In the end you will reap what you sow. I don't envy the position the virus has put you in but let's act responsibly and not in a self serving manner. If your ship is going down at least go down with your dignity and integrity intact so when this clears up you can rise again with your reputation in place.

[Ocean Boy]

46 minutes ago, adolfo2 said:

Necessary evil of mostly being a one-man band. You wouldn't be happy if your TA missed applying final because he/she was in the hospital w/COVID now would you?

I didn't say whether I thought it necessary or not. I was pointing out that you do make some of your own policies contrary to what you stated. We could also discuss booking and cancellation fees that some agencies choose to incorporate. BTW, what happens if your one-man band is in the hospital with COVID two weeks before the cruise line's final payment is required?

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, NordicPrince said:

You're not cruising in May. It's a big scam!!!

Final payment is in May. 

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Like requiring final payment prior to the cruise lines' required date?

TA's generally add a week to two to the cruise lines date so that they can confirm with the client that they do indeed want to go ahead and make final payment and also to allow time to react in case a credit card is declined.  Its amazing how ,many clients I spend a full week trying to get a hold of just before final payment.  Just because I may have their card unless I receive written authorization I would not make final payment on their behalf.

 

OP, to answer your question it can be done by the TA easily enough on line and could be done the actual day it is due.

[Cruisin_n_Boozin]

6 minutes ago, NordicPrince said:

I must be drinking something in my Kool Aid.

 

The cruise line has already announced that they have suspended sailings thru June 11.

 

Why is the OP being strung along?  Because the TA wants to keep any possibility of keeping the commission as long as he can and staying in the good graces of the cruise line. We're just doing what the cruise line says? What a pile of bull turd. Because the cruise line wants to hold on to any cash it has for as long as it can. What they're doing is almost fraudulent! They only cancel in batches so they can stagger their refunds.

 

Please OP wake up and smell the coffee. You're not cruising in May. It's a big scam!!!

 

And for you TA's shame on you for being self serving and not being beholden to your customers. In the end you will reap what you sow. I don't envy the position the virus has put you in but let's act responsibly and not in a self serving manner. If your ship is going down at least go down with your dignity and integrity intact so when this clears up you can rise again with your reputation in place.

 

Final payment is due in May, not sail date of May...

[NordicPrince]

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Final payment is in May. 

There will be no cruises until it is OK to gather in large crowds. When do you think that will be?

 

I live in NY/NJ area. People are getting the virus and dying.  My 65 year old cousin in excellent health got it and died.

 

What is wrong with these people?

[Cruisin_n_Boozin]

1 minute ago, NordicPrince said:

There will be no cruises until it is OK to gather in large crowds. When do you think that will be?

 

I live in NY/NJ area. People are getting the virus and dying.  My 65 year old cousin in excellent health got it and died.

 

What is wrong with these people?

 

The point is, you said "No one is cruising in May!!!"...

 

No one was questioning that... That is like me saying "Strawberries are red!".  It is a fact, but irrelevant to the conversation.

[Biker19]

Just now, NordicPrince said:

What is wrong with these people?

They may have a different view of the situation. Also, RCI sails all over the globe, the situation is not the same everywhere.

[Ocean Boy]

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

TA's generally add a week to two to the cruise lines date so that they can confirm with the client that they do indeed want to go ahead and make final payment and also to allow time to react in case a credit card is declined.  Its amazing how ,many clients I spend a full week trying to get a hold of just before final payment.  Just because I may have their card unless I receive written authorization I would not make final payment on their behalf.

 

OP, to answer your question it can be done by the TA easily enough on line and could be done the actual day it is due.

I don't at all doubt that it is a necessity as a way to run the business. I only took exception the the post that they only follow the cruise line's policies. I imagine that people who don't like handling all the details themselves are many times the same type of people that are lax about returning your calls or providing payment. In some instances we Type A personalities can be less frustrating to deal with.😁

[LisaLeone]

Thank you for your responses.

 

To clarify, yes, final payment is May. The cruise is in August. I have no intention of paying additional money. I was asking for specific guidance from TAs because they have expertise in this area. I used a TA because I got the best deal. And it's been many years since I have consumed Kool-Aid.

 

Biker19, you are most likely correct!

[NordicPrince]

4 minutes ago, Cruisin_n_Boozin said:

 

The point is, you said "No one is cruising in May!!!"...

 

No one was questioning that... That is like me saying "Strawberries are red!".  It is a fact, but irrelevant to the conversation.

No one is cruising for a long time. That's a fact. Take it to the bank. Why do you think the cruise have planned back up financing thru the end of the year? They know the truth, they're just not telling everybody. They'll take your money and hold it.

 

Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a cruise line suck up or living in an alternate reality.

 

Final payments being accepted in good faith? Outrageous.

 

Not going to argue because you don't want to hear what I am telling you. Believe what you want.

[Motorman23]

18 minutes ago, LisaLeone said:

Thank you for your responses.

 

To clarify, yes, final payment is May. The cruise is in August. I have no intention of paying additional money. I was asking for specific guidance from TAs because they have expertise in this area. I used a TA because I got the best deal. And it's been many years since I have consumed Kool-Aid.

 

Biker19, you are most likely correct!

As my own TA, I have recently repriced, rebooked, and cancelled a number of my own cruises (I only handle my own and my family). As others have mention as long as the cruising power system is on line (which isn’t always the case) I can cancel a cruise in just a few minutes.

[bobmacliberty]

1 hour ago, NordicPrince said:

No one is cruising for a long time. That's a fact. Take it to the bank. Why do you think the cruise have planned back up financing thru the end of the year? They know the truth, they're just not telling everybody. They'll take your money and hold it.

 

Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a cruise line suck up or living in an alternate reality.

 

Final payments being accepted in good faith? Outrageous.

 

Not going to argue because you don't want to hear what I am telling you. Believe what you want.

 

The OP asked a simple question and she got her answer. 

[LisaLeone]

13 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

The OP asked a simple question and she got her answer. 

I certainly thought it was. I also understand that tensions are running high. 

[LibertyBella]

A good question, which led to an interesting discussion. 

 

Full disclosure-- I was a TA back in the 80's, when TWA and Pan Am still flew the skies!

 

First, not all travel agents are the same!  Some are cruise specialists, work with high volume, and may have special relationships with the cruise lines that allow for better pricing. 

Some may have been on many, many cruises and try to match the cruise line to the customer.

Others are more like consolidators that just sell and handle the simple logistics. They may want to upsell to increase their commission and not look for the best price.

 

I, personally, have not used an agent for more than a decade, as I found they became younger and younger with less knowledge...Would I recommend their use for those unexperienced with travel planning or those that require a lot of logistical detail?  MOST DEFINITELY!   

But nowadays with online booking, they are not doing anything more complex or time-consuming than we do.

 

I do hope we can defeat this virus soon and are back to sailing the seas again. In the meantime, I am not making any arrangements too far in advance and thus holding onto all money until the last possible minute!