PVP to use or not to use, that is the question asked of thee.......:-)

[rtrtx2]

Do you use your PVP to book or do you just book online yourselves?  What are the benefits of using a PVP? Is it the same as using a travel agent, any changes to reservation, etc must come from them versus you ? If someone has a PVP that they feel is good, are they allowed to recommend that PVP? Are we allowed to choose or are we assigned one?

 

I am very hands on and like taking care of things as soon as I can, which is why I almost always book myself. My only time using my PVP was during covid cancellations and rebooking. I actually put a courtesy hold on a cabin that we wanted as pvp wasn't available. I emailed the information to him, and he said he would take care of it on next work day. ( I do believe it was probably a Sunday afternoon). Which was perfectly fine, however by the time he go to it, my hold had fallen off and we loss the room. So he just booked us a same category room. This was okay, but often I am choosing the room based on certain reasons.

[firefly333]

Cc doesnt allow specific ta or pvp recommendations as it's considered advertising. 

 

I used a ta and then didnt want to bother him when the price fell so it hurt me 100s of dollars. The one I booked myself I just submitted the ES form. 

 

There are advantages to a ta, like mine I can reach by email almost always within a hour day or night. I think he doesnt sleep. I get group rates that are refundable deposits. Always pros and cons. Mine tracks fccs and such. 

[Guest BasicSailor]

ALL PVP'S are not cut from the same log. Find one ,and if your not satisfied with them find another.

[tm_aw_love]

One thing that I have seen on here before that makes a lot of sense is that a PVP works for the cruise line, a TA works for you. 

 

That being said, I will echo that BasicSailor said... not all will be as helpful as others. 

 

As far as perks go, a TA and a PVP should not have any significant impact on the deals/prices that you would get by booking on your own. However, TA's can sometimes offer you some added incentives (OBC, etc.) that a PVP would not be able to offer you... but, this comes from their commission, so don't count on it being every time or on the cheaper 3 day or casino cruises. 

[balcony bound]

Over the years my PVP (I've had two of them over 17 years) has been extremely helpful when life happens and I have a problem .  

 

I usually look at what I want and let him know, and he's been great at getting me cabins that don't show available online.  He knows all my preferences and makes booking a breeze - and lets me know if I'm missing out on a good deal.

[audcc77]

4 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

ALL PVP'S are not cut from the same log. Find one ,and if your not satisfied with them find another.

Agreed.  My PVP is great but it took several tries to find her, which I did by happenstance. 
 

Just be aware that:

1) If you book it yourself online, you are NOT able to move the booking to a specific PVP. 

2) If you book it with a PVP, you are STILL able to send in a price match form, call Carnival directly, or call the casino department directly to price match. 

3) Once you book with a TA, you cannot speak with Carnival about that booking unless you fire your TA. 
 

If you can find a great TA who offers OBC or something, then go for it, but I’ve not been able to. 
 

That is unfortunate your PVP let your hold expire and that would make me mad especially if I wasn’t able to get the cabin at the price I wanted.  However, even my PVP did that.  I didn’t care because I changed my mind on the cruise anyway.  
 

You may try asking for an “Elite” PVP.  That’s what mine is supposedly. See how long they’ve been with Carnival, etc.  If you’re a hands-on person who prefers things happen so you can cross it off your list, maybe a PVP would be a better fit.  

[TravelGirlinDallas]

I typically book all of my cruises myself. For my most recent one the past September, it was our first post-shutdown sailing and the first sailing of that ship. I decided to go through a PVP so that I'd have a personal point of contact with all of the uncertainty. Right after we booked, they implemented the 3-day testing requirement, then soon reduced the timing to 2 days. So much was changing all the time; it really helped to have someone to message and/or call when I had questions.

 

Then I booked an Alaskan cruise for next summer (on Royal) and I booked myself through my usual TA website. So I guess it just depends on the situation.

[Ilovesailaway]

1 hour ago, balcony bound said:

he's been great at getting me cabins that don't show available online

That's why I call my PVP when I am booking. We used to book connecting balcony rooms when we cruised with the kids... now a lot of the cruises I take are more of a bargain/party trip but I still like to be particular about where my cabin is.

[tinkr2]

I like my pvp but she is hard to reach bc she is very popular.

[PSU2LSU]

I prefer to use a PVP because when I am cruising with my wife I have very specific rooms that we prefer.  They don't always show on the Carnival website as available because the carnival website by default will only show X number of rooms.  He has always been able to get the exact room we want.  He's also helped our during covid with all the rebookings and making sure when I am cruising with a large group that we are seated for dinner etc.  

 

The downside is that he isn't always easy to get a hold of because he is always busy. 

[pinto18]

We always just booked ourselves through carnival ..but then with all the cancelations and rebooking and OBC etc etc we decided to use a PVP..found a good one that gets back to us right away. Will now use him every time 

[wgeddings]

How do you find a pvp?  Not names or specific recommendations just info because I don’t want to break any rules.  Do I search google or search on carnival?  What search terms are best?

[sgttami]

I had a few different PVP's contact me when I first started sailing Carnival.  After conversations, I found out that they had never even cruised before and had no idea what I was talking about when I asked simple questions.

 

Ever since, I just book on my own. My cruises have been simple.  Drive to the port, get on the ship.

 

If I were to do a complex trip with flights and multiple destinations that I was unfamiliar with, I'd probably seek advice from a reputable travel agent. 

 

[pinto18]

2 hours ago, wgeddings said:

How do you find a pvp?  Not names or specific recommendations just info because I don’t want to break any rules.  Do I search google or search on carnival?  What search terms are best?

We asked on the other site (fb) that breaks the rules if you talk about..

[RWolver672]

10 hours ago, wgeddings said:

How do you find a pvp?  Not names or specific recommendations just info because I don’t want to break any rules.  Do I search google or search on carnival?  What search terms are best?

 

I sent an e-mail to Carnival telling them that I wanted a PVP that had been with the company for at least ten years and had cruised on several of  their ships.  The following day, he e-mailed  me and let me know how long he has been with Carnival and all of the ships he has cruised on.  He asked me to call him so that we could talk in person.  I was very pleased with our conversation and we've been real happy with him.

 

[wgeddings]

10 hours ago, sgttami said:

I had a few different PVP's contact me when I first started sailing Carnival.  After conversations, I found out that they had never even cruised before and had no idea what I was talking about when I asked simple questions.

 

Ever since, I just book on my own. My cruises have been simple.  Drive to the port, get on the ship.

 

If I were to do a complex trip with flights and multiple destinations that I was unfamiliar with, I'd probably seek advice from a reputable travel agent. 

 

I have always booked my own and we normally drive to the ports (South Carolina is near enough to most east coast ports).  You are probably right that it is better to just continue to handle it myself and I have used a travel agent on some other things but I had tried a PVP so was curious. 

[Johnc3211]

I found our PVP on Facebook.

[sparks1093]

We use a PVP and she just put through a change for our February cruise that saved us $250. The price protection form hadn't been processed. Did it all through messenger so I didn't have to make any calls.

[capcutie2002]

I have a fantastic PVP. I originally booked through him for a group sailing. I usually price things out and figure out my room situation before calling him to book, but this last time he even surprised me with a better rate & room suggestion for one leg of my trip!

He stays up-to-date on things happening and cruises regularly. He answers all my questions quickly and has been so helpful when things come up whether I'm traveling solo or as part of a group.

[cellfree]

Have used PVP for many years, actually forget how I even got her but I lucked out, I like to do my own research and then call her to book for me, if price ever drops I send her a quick email and she adjusts it, always quick to answer any questions. Reason I am posting today - found a cruise in January I wanted and put it ‘on hold’ for a few days until I was absolutely certain (only one cabin left on deck I preferred), called her just now to lock it in and she got me Cheers for an additional $80 on an eight night cruise, didn’t find that online, hurrah!

[avp1234]

Can you DM your PVP's name?  Is that allowed?