Do you know if the TA you generally use is still in business?

[ontheweb]

There was a post in the Holland America boards saying HAL cruises were not being listed by some TAs. I decided to check the website of the TA we have generally used. I saw no cruises listed, and nothing on the site seemed to work.

 

I sent an e-mail to the TA (who happens to be the president of the travel agency). He called me back. He said he has had no income now for a long time. He said he has lost all his savings and retirement fund and he hopes he does not lose his house. He did not know how much longer he would be open. The firm's website was no longer operable because he could no longer afford it.

 

He said the cruise lines were making him do a lot of work with no compensation as they continually cancelled cruises; he had to deal with the clients to see if they wanted the refund or OBC offered. I mentioned that I had read that Princess was paying commissions to TAs if payment in full had been made. His reply was that they were "clawing back" the commissions.

 

He did go on to raise some of the conspiracy theories you sometimes read in these boards. The government is getting back at the cruise industry for not paying taxes all these past years. They were allowing air travel, hotels, etc., but not cruises because of this. He also saw no end in sight. When I mentioned maybe the rollout of vaccines would lead to a restart, he did not agree. He thought that they did not do enough to mitigate the problem.

[ilikeanswers]

I don't have a regular TA but in my area already two franchise TAs shut down and an independant shut. There is one that has reduced its opening hours and a shopping centre that I stop at on the way home had TA that had been there for years and about two months ago eveything was stripped out and also shut with a note saying they shifted their clients to another TA. It is definitely hard going for TAs it must be even harder if you are specialised TA (like a cruising TA) you don't even have an option for an alternate product to sell.

[shipgeeks]

Ours (primarily an online cruise agency) is definitely still in business, with complete website available 24/7, and weekly updates on news, etc.  However, some of the 800 employees are "on furlough", with others being assigned to their customers.

A number of months ago, we were told that agents were dealing with the paperwork of 23 cancellations for every one booking, so not very rewarding work.

[CruiserBruce]

Yep...still in business. Talked to her a lot the last few months, and as recently as this week. Its a cruise only place, and they are crazy busy with all the cancelations and re-booking.

[mafig]

I keep getting emails from one of the large travel agencies that I use.  The other one, nothing.  I probably should check to see if they're still OK.

 

I have to admit it's crossed my mind as to whether to book with a travel agency or directly with the cruise line if the cruise in question is in 2022.  I know if you pay by credit card you can just contact the cruise line if the agency goes out of business, but it does seem like it might be troublesome.☹️

 

[Noodles84]

Ours now works out of her home, deciding if she will retire this year, but she is part of a large travel company.  She has been terribly busy with cancellations and FFCs but not many bookings.  She is not limited to cruises.

[mom says]

I spoke with our long time TA last week. His agency is hanging on - barely. He told me that he had a long conversation with the owner not long ago, and he thought they could stay in business for the rest of the year. But they did more than just cruises. A lot of their business was vacation packages. With Canada's new re entry restrictions, those have evaporated too. It's a highly stressful time for them - organizing cancellations and refunds/vouchers and getting no pay in return. I feel terrible for them.

[Ashland]

I'm the (self proclaimed) TA for my immediate family and am still working 

[Shmoo here]

We've only used a TA a couple of times. I'm pretty sure they're still in business as they're a major auto insurer also.  

Edited February 21, 2021 by Shmoo here

[Heidi13]

Our Travel Agency is part of a chain that was recently purchased by a major airline. While they are closing some outlets in Metro Vancouver, our local branch is not one of them. Our actual TA is currently furloughed, but she is available by email from home and has also provided us with her cell phone.

[NantahalaCruiser]

My big box warehouse store travel division is still  in business.

[getting older slowly]

Our TA for cruise... was manager of her store.... she lost the store... became a worker at another branch...... That store down sized... so she left the travel industry..  unsure last time we spoke.. she was going for a second interview for a different job......

 

So our TA is gone....

[ontheweb]

5 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Our TA for cruise... was manager of her store.... she lost the store... became a worker at another branch...... That store down sized... so she left the travel industry..  unsure last time we spoke.. she was going for a second interview for a different job......

 

So our TA is gone....

And the longer this lasts, more and more will be gone. Unlike the major cruise line corporations, they cannot just issue more stock or junk bonds.  I know as I said in the original post in this topic, mine said he did not know if he'd still be there next month. He also said he no longer could afford having his website up and working. I did not want to ask him what has happened to his employees. I could hear the desperation in his voice when he said, "I lost my savings. I lost my retirement funds. I'm afraid of losing my house. 

[iancal]

No idea whatsoever. We only ever use a TA to book cruises.  Something that we have not done for at least 18 months and probably will not for another 18 months.

 

Prior to covid there was a huge turnover.  I assume that many have left the business. 

 

There are so many people in all sorts of occupations who are facing very difficult personal and financial  decisions as a result of layoffs.  Our hearts go out to them.

[neverbeenhere]

We switched to the bidding competition method about a dozen cruises ago.  It does appear that some of the regular bidders are no longer in the competition.

[spookwife]

Mine is.  In fact I have a 2022 carnival cruise booked with her for their big 50th anniversary event.

[Hlitner]

We use several decent cruise agencies and they all seem to be surviving at the moment.  My favorite agent is still working and she complains about difficult days dealing with cancellations and refunds.

 

Hank

[bbangel74]

Mine just got me a price reduction yesterday

[Mary229]

Yes, I just paid for a river cruise deposit yesterday.   My TA is my sister as she owns an agency.  I usually do all of the research then hand her the commission, it is just what sisters do

Edited February 24, 2021 by Mary229