Cruise Connoisseur Club

[CruiseFlee]

We are planning our 3rd Oceania cruise. Is there any benefit with booking with a Cruise Connoisseur Club member versus an online TA? 

[Flatbush Flyer]

43 minutes ago, CruiseFlee said:

We are planning our 3rd Oceania cruise. Is there any benefit with booking with a Cruise Connoisseur Club member versus an online TA? 

I assume you’re referring to the Oceania Connoisseurs Club(?).

 

Travel Agencies are awarded this designation based in part on sales volume of Oceania cruises. And these TAs usually have a great understanding of Oceania’s booking idiosyncrasies - sufficient to solve most problems that may arise including how to maneuver through any “gray area” policies interpretations and even secure the “Golden Fleece” of a reasonable exception to some rule(s). In addition, these particular TAs benefit from rotating Oceania “quiet sales” (unpublished) that usually equal, at least, the approx. 5% discount seen for “onboard booking” and they are regularly informed of “close in” sales of cruises with considerable cabin availability. Add to this the occasional “pass through” O incentive funds (e.g., for new O cruisers) and the basic value of using a Connoisseurs Club TA is obvious. BTW, all of the above items are “in addition to” whatever is the current best published deal offered directly from Oceania (e.g., O Life, O Club sales, etc.).

 

Beyond that, many (though not all) of these TAs will share commissions in the form of refundable SBC or a rebate. But, that is true of booking any cruise with with any TA and your success in that endeavor may boil down to your skill at negotiation. I count myself among the fortunate who were born in Brooklyn where the first coherent sentence spoken by a small native child is “NEVER pay retail.”

[Jancruz]

46 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

I assume you’re referring to the Oceania Connoisseurs Club(?).

 

Travel Agencies are awarded this designation based in part on sales volume of Oceania cruises. And these TAs usually have a great understanding of Oceania’s booking idiosyncrasies - sufficient to solve most problems that may arise including how to maneuver through any “gray area” policies interpretations and even secure the “Golden Fleece” of a reasonable exception to some rule(s). In addition, these particular TAs benefit from rotating Oceania “quiet sales” (unpublished) that usually equal, at least, the approx. 5% discount seen for “onboard booking” and they are regularly informed of “close in” sales of cruises with considerable cabin availability. Add to this the occasional “pass through” O incentive funds (e.g., for new O cruisers) and the basic value of using a Connoisseurs Club TA is obvious. BTW, all of the above items are “in addition to” whatever is the current best published deal offered directly from Oceania (e.g., O Life, O Club sales, etc.).

 

Beyond that, many (though not all) of these TAs will share commissions in the form of refundable SBC or a rebate. But, that is true of booking any cruise with with any TA and your success in that endeavor may boil down to your skill at negotiation. I count myself among the fortunate who were born in Brooklyn where the first coherent sentence spoken by a small native child is “NEVER pay retail.”

ROTFL

Jancruz1

[RJB]

2 hours ago, Jancruz said:

ROTFL

Jancruz1

Don't understand your response. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

30 minutes ago, RJB said:

Don't understand your response. 

Rolling On The Floor Laughing (she liked my “Never pay retail” comment).

[Busy Mum]

5 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

I assume you’re referring to the Oceania Connoisseurs Club(?).

 

Travel Agencies are awarded this designation based in part on sales volume of Oceania cruises. And these TAs usually have a great understanding of Oceania’s booking idiosyncrasies - sufficient to solve most problems that may arise including how to maneuver through any “gray area” policies interpretations and even secure the “Golden Fleece” of a reasonable exception to some rule(s). In addition, these particular TAs benefit from rotating Oceania “quiet sales” (unpublished) that usually equal, at least, the approx. 5% discount seen for “onboard booking” and they are regularly informed of “close in” sales of cruises with considerable cabin availability. Add to this the occasional “pass through” O incentive funds (e.g., for new O cruisers) and the basic value of using a Connoisseurs Club TA is obvious. BTW, all of the above items are “in addition to” whatever is the current best published deal offered directly from Oceania (e.g., O Life, O Club sales, etc.).

 

Beyond that, many (though not all) of these TAs will share commissions in the form of refundable SBC or a rebate. But, that is true of booking any cruise with with any TA and your success in that endeavor may boil down to your skill at negotiation. I count myself among the fortunate who were born in Brooklyn where the first coherent sentence spoken by a small native child is “NEVER pay retail.”

How do you go about finding one of these ‘specialist’ members? Is it a ‘US’ based thing? I’ve never heard of it here in Aus. Thanks for your help. 😀😀🚢

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, Busy Mum said:

How do you go about finding one of these ‘specialist’ members? Is it a ‘US’ based thing? I’ve never heard of it here in Aus. Thanks for your help. 😀😀🚢

I don’t have a clue about how Oceania things works in Oz. 
That said, ask O regulars you know (or may meet while onboard an O ship) who is their preferred TA for Oceania. Keep at it and you’ll start to hear positive comments about the same group of approx 10+\- Oceania-savvy Travel Agencies (mostly in US and Canada and many, if not all, who will be Connoisseurs Club members) with/without specific agent names. Interview individuals those Agencies may identify as O specialists for a best fit to your interpersonal style/preferences. 
Alternatively, check the “best of ....” lists regularly published in leading travel publications like Condé Nast Traveler with a focus on premium/luxury cruises in general and Oceania specifically.

Of course, take with a “grain of salt” the recommendation from your neighbor about “cousin Bob - the best TA who ever lived.”

[alcpa1]

Just to add to the mix and confusion....

There is a tier of agents below the Connoisseur designation that are called "preferred." We have found that our agent is among this tier and she has provided either the same or better pricing as the Connoisseur agents we have contacted. She may not have quite the pull but we generally book knowing our wants and needs and she has never failed us.

It can take forever to find a good fit. We've tried more than a few in the almost 40 years of cruise travel. I wish you luck in finding an agent who provides the best service.

[pinotlover]

I agree with all the recommendations that are given above. Jancruz could give clarity to this subject, but it appears that the OCC designation is a relic of the past, and in practical terms, no longer exists except in the memories of we oldsters. Since the acquisition of PCH by NCLH, a completely new tier of Agency incentives has been incorporated. Some of the older Agencies still showcase the OCC designation, but Agencies are no longer being added to it nor deleted from it based on current performance. Everything is now intertwined with NCLH as a practical manner. The Oceania “ preferred “ Agency list is now essentially the RSSC preferred list, and the NCL preferred list.
 

Be diligent, search for a good Travel Agent displaying strong Oceania knowledge, but don’t be to unsettled if the Agency didn’t get OCC recognition back in 2014. Life and times move forward whether our memories do or not.

Edited January 22, 2021 by pinotlover

[RJB]

16 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Rolling On The Floor Laughing (she liked my “Never pay retail” comment).

Thanks, I never would have gotten it.    P.S.  I never pay retail if I can help it.  Go Brooklyn. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 minutes ago, RJB said:

Thanks, I never would have gotten it.    P.S.  I never pay retail if I can help it.  Go Brooklyn. 

 

[RJB]

2 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

 

Dem Bums !!!      

[jagoffee]

17 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Rolling On The Floor Laughing (she liked my “Never pay retail” comment).

Good morning.  You mentioned your normal refundable SBC or cash rebate.  If I am receiving around 7.5% SBC from my TA, do you think it is are to assume that it will be mostly refundable?  When U use this TA on other cruise lines, it is always refundable although TA does not use that exact term.  I know it a “sharing of Commission” type of SBC.

 

Thank you for all the valuable information that you most.  My lone experience on Oceania was during their first year of operation, so everyone on this forum have been very helpful.

 

Thanks

[LHT28]

32 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

Good morning.  You mentioned your normal refundable SBC or cash rebate.  If I am receiving around 7.5% SBC from my TA, do you think it is are to assume that it will be mostly refundable?  When U use this TA on other cruise lines, it is always refundable although TA does not use that exact term.  I know it a “sharing of Commission” type of SBC.

 

 

 I think that is  a discussion you need to have with the TA 

No one here will know if YOUR  TA is giving you  a SBC from their  account  or from an incentive from Oceania  or a consortium

JMO

[jagoffee]

14 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

 I think that is  a discussion you need to have with the TA 

No one here will know if YOUR  TA is giving you  a SBC from their  account  or from an incentive from Oceania  or a consortium

JMO

Thanks.  Good to hear that any SBC from my TA’s account is refundable.  I already confirmed that portion.

[LHT28]

38 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

Thanks.  Good to hear that any SBC from my TA’s account is refundable.  I already confirmed that portion.

Then if you knew it was refundable  why did you ask here 🙄

 

Not all SBC from Travel agencies are  refundable  & that is why you should  ask your  TA

JMO

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, jagoffee said:

Thanks.  Good to hear that any SBC from my TA’s account is refundable.  I already confirmed that portion.

No one said that to you (I.e., that ANY of a TA’s SBC is “refundable”).

Depending on a variety of circumstances, some TAs receive “pass through” incentive funds from Oceania and/or from a travel consortium to which they may belong. It may come as “covered gratuities” and/or non-refundable SBC (or possibly refundable SBC though in most cases that would be very unusual).

Beyond those extra TA perks (in addition to O Life inclusions or O Club perks), a TA may choose to share their commission in the form of a rebate check or as refundable SBC. 

The easiest way to get some idea of whether a TA is sharing commission is that you’ll most often not see any mention of it on an Oceania invoice unless you see it listed as a “gift” and, even then, there’s no guarantee that the “gift” is a commission share.

 

As for the 7.5% figure you mentioned: how good a “deal” that is depends on numerous factors- not the least of which is 7.5% of what number (your fare paid, the commissionable fare [e.g., w/o the port taxes and fees, etc.)?

In any case, if you don’t already get free gratuities from O Club and TA is covering them (from whatever funding source) and, beyond all other O Life inclusions and O Life perks (e.g., $500 non-refundable SBC/cabin for Platinum members) that TA is giving you 7.5% of the commissionable fare as refundable SBC, you are getting a good deal (though I would say “anything between 5-10% would be reasonable).

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 hours ago, RJB said:

Dem Bums !!!      

Living in California, I always enjoy testing just how much a modern era Dodgers fan really is a true fan of “dem bums.” My first question to a native Californian claiming to be a fan is to ask them how the Dodgers got their team name. In most cases, all I get is a puzzled look.

[Jancruz]

14 hours ago, alcpa1 said:

Just to add to the mix and confusion....

There is a tier of agents below the Connoisseur designation that are called "preferred." We have found that our agent is among this tier and she has provided either the same or better pricing as the Connoisseur agents we have contacted. She may not have quite the pull but we generally book knowing our wants and needs and she has never failed us.

It can take forever to find a good fit. We've tried more than a few in the almost 40 years of cruise travel. I wish you luck in finding an agent who provides the best service.

FYI preffered includes and is above CCC

Jancruz1

[jagoffee]

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

No one said that to you (I.e., that ANY of a TA’s SBC is “refundable”).

Depending on a variety of circumstances, some TAs receive “pass through” incentive funds from Oceania and/or from a travel consortium to which they may belong. It may come as “covered gratuities” and/or non-refundable SBC (or possibly refundable SBC though in most cases that would be very unusual).

Beyond those extra TA perks (in addition to O Life inclusions or O Club perks), a TA may choose to share their commission in the form of a rebate check or as refundable SBC. 

The easiest way to get some idea of whether a TA is sharing commission is that you’ll most often not see any mention of it on an Oceania invoice unless you see it listed as a “gift” and, even then, there’s no guarantee that the “gift” is a commission share.

 

As for the 7.5% figure you mentioned: how good a “deal” that is depends on numerous factors- not the least of which is 7.5% of what number (your fare paid, the commissionable fare [e.g., w/o the port taxes and fees, etc.)?

In any case, if you don’t already get free gratuities from O Club and TA is covering them (from whatever funding source) and, beyond all other O Life inclusions and O Life perks (e.g., $500 non-refundable SBC/cabin for Platinum members) that TA is giving you 7.5% of the commissionable fare as refundable SBC, you are getting a good deal (though I would say “anything between 5-10% would be reasonable).

Thank you for your response.  I was reference what you said in post #2 :  “Beyond that, many (though not all) of these TAs will share commissions in the form of refundable SBC or a rebate.”

 

I took the Beverage package as my OLife option and I am getting the included gratuities (not sure of the source), so I was just curious.  I will use some of the SBC to upgrade the beverage packages.

 

When sailing on Celebrity, the OBC credit is listed as either refundable or non refundable on your on board account.  Is it the same on Oceania?

 

I appreciate you taking the time to clarify.  I am not going to be concerned about it.  Your idea of checking the Oceania invoice is a good one.

 

 

 

[RJB]

18 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Living in California, I always enjoy testing just how much a modern era Dodgers fan really is a true fan of “dem bums.” My first question to a native Californian claiming to be a fan is to ask them how the Dodgers got their team name. In most cases, all I get is a puzzled look.

I am native Brooklyn and never have  been a fan of the L.A. Dodgers.  Hated them when they moved.  Still do not like them very much. Best day was in 1955 when the BROOKLYN DODGERS won the World series.   As to the name think about street cars in Brooklyn.   Have a great day and stay safe. 

[Norseh2o]

As early as 1895, the then Brooklyn Bridegrooms baseball team (see Dodger history) was nicknamed Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, due to the numerous (and hazardous) trolley lines that criss-crossed Brooklyn at the time. In 1911, this name came to be formally adopted by the team and, for the 1913 season, was shortened to Brooklyn Dodgers.

[Flatbush Flyer]

31 minutes ago, Norseh2o said:

As early as 1895, the then Brooklyn Bridegrooms baseball team (see Dodger history) was nicknamed Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, due to the numerous (and hazardous) trolley lines that criss-crossed Brooklyn at the time. In 1911, this name came to be formally adopted by the team and, for the 1913 season, was shortened to Brooklyn Dodgers.

As a kid, I used to run across the five(?) sets of trolley tracks on Empire Blvd(?) to get to the entrance of Ebbetts Field.

 

I too was in shock when “dem bums” went to L.A.. I remember being told “you can become a Yankees fan” which made zero sense to me since the Bronx was “upstate.” My answer: Fugheddaboutit!

Edited January 23, 2021 by Flatbush Flyer

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

I was a born and bred Brooklyn Dodgers fan. Spent many of my teenage days in Ebbetts Field. Sat behind first base and cheered my hero.... Gil Hodges!

Miss them to this day. 
PS. My son moved to California in the 80’s. He and his son are LA Dodgers fans. 

[RJB]

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

As a kid, I used to run across the five(?) sets of trolley tracks on Empire Blvd(?) to get to the entrance of Ebbetts Field.

 

I too was in shock when “dem bums” went to L.A.. I remember being told “you can become a Yankees fan” which made zero sense to me since the Bronx was “upstate.” My answer: Fugheddaboutit!

So you are a true Dodger.   We took the subway from Kings Highway and walked a few blocks.  Then sort of became a Mets fan.   Real good times back then growing up in Brooklyn.