Why Bother with a Travel Agent?

[SRF]

FYI, I had to call the C&A desk yesterday and was on hold about 45 minutes or so.

 

It seems the reservation system and the C&A are different.  And the C&A system will not accept a suffix (Jr, Sr, 2nd, etc) to a last name.  But for reservations, it is required (reservation name must match ID name exactly).

 

So when I try to check in, it fills in my name and C&A number, but when I try to move to the next page, it tells me my C&A number is wrong.

 

BTW, the fix for this is to remove your C&A number from the check in page.  It does not remove it from the booking.  It seems the error checking is ONLY for that page.

[DesireeC03]

On 3/20/2022 at 10:41 AM, Tree_skier said:

While I think there are many benefits to using a TA, one benefit that I recently experienced is their access to inventory that I couldn't see.  We were planning a family cruise with 4 adults and 3 teenagers in three different cabins. We wanted 2 OV balcony and 1 inside with one of the OV balconies being allowed to have 3 people in it. We wanted the OV's side by side and the inside across the hall. No matter what deck or section of the ship I searched on Royal's website there was nothing available.  When I emailed my TA, I said we preferred but the above configuration but I didn't think it was possible based on the inventory available so just get us the cabins as close together as possible.  He came back with exactly the configuration I wanted.  This could not have been done booking on my own directly on the website.  I tried searching and going through the process just to see what was available prior to contacting him and to get a rough ballpark on pricing.  On top of that benefit, because of group space the overall cruise was substantially cheaper.  Almost $600 cheaper.  While there are scenario's where doing it yourself may be quick, simple and easy and a TA unnecessary using a TA is as simple or simpler.

 

As an example I'll cite this email exchange on a booking last month.

 

Initial email. Hi XXX… I’m looking at doing the Ovation Hawaii cruise in Oct. 2023.  We’ll want a balcony cabin.  I noticed that 7254 is available, this appears to be an extra wide cabin with a larger balcony. Any chance you have group space?  

 

Reply. We do and I have it on hold for you.  Refundable deposit.

 

2nd email: Thanks XXX,

 

Use AE xxxx xxxxx xxxxx for the deposit.

 

TA Reply. Perfect, Thanks

 

One hour later I received 

 

TA email. Deposited invoice attached.

 

 

Thanks

 

with a pdf of my invoice attached.

 

 

 

The initial series of events transpired over 15 minutes but only took 90 seconds of my time.  I never even stopped working. One hour later I received my confirmation by email. I saved apx. $700 vs Royal direct on got a little OBC to boot.

 

I challenge you to get through all the booking screens on Royals website, entering all the required personal info and payment info in 90 seconds.

 

While I was capable of doing it all myself, I didn't have to.  Because I have a relationship with a TA he knows my preferences booking habits. This process was easier, cheaper and comes with benefit that if there is something that goes wrong I've got someone who has easier access to higher level customer service than I would have without extensive phone time.

 

You are making me want a TA!! well, yours!

question - do we still have access to cruise planner when you book with a TA?

[DeanD]

11 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

You are making me want a TA!! well, yours!

question - do we still have access to cruise planner when you book with a TA?

Yes, you can see the reservation online and you can link to other reservations if you have the appropriate information.  

[brillohead]

27 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

You are making me want a TA!! well, yours!

question - do we still have access to cruise planner when you book with a TA?

Yes, you still do the check-in yourself and purchase internet / drink packages / dining / whatever yourself just like people who book direct.

[DesireeC03]

I just spent 1 hour and 18 minutes on the phone with Royal trying to reprice (I can save over 300 on a WOS booking) and was disconnected after her going back and forth trying to figure out what I originally paid since I used FCC - no resolution.  Had my fingers crossed for a call back - no luck.

So to the posters here singing praises of 5 minute calls - don't know what the secret it.

[MandyMooToo]

16 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

I just spent 1 hour and 18 minutes on the phone with Royal trying to reprice (I can save over 300 on a WOS booking) and was disconnected after her going back and forth trying to figure out what I originally paid since I used FCC - no resolution.  Had my fingers crossed for a call back - no luck.

So to the posters here singing praises of 5 minute calls - don't know what the secret it.

I was disconnected from an agent yesterday after about 45 minutes or hold/conversation time. I immediately called back to get in line again but after about 10 minutes or so he called me back. Said there was a power outage and he had to reboot his whole system 🤷🏼‍♀️ No problems the second call. 

[Tree_skier]

3 hours ago, DesireeC03 said:

You are making me want a TA!! well, yours!

question - do we still have access to cruise planner when you book with a TA?

Yes all or your cruise planner options are still available.  Even your checkin is still yours.  It is just the initial booking and resolution of any future problems that default to the TA.

[LHARTWICK]

On 3/18/2022 at 7:48 AM, loman said:

I didnt have much luck with TA`s either . 

Ignored my phone calls and emails regarding price drops .

They cost me money .

After the first couple of sailings , i simply called RC direct and dealt with them.

Picked my cruise and cabin and phoned in the order.

Get emails from RC right away confirming everything. 

If there was a price drop they handle it right away and thats all i want from them.

I monitor the prices myself.

Along this same topic, does RCCL have agents that you can sign up with to handle your cruises like CCL does?  My CCL PVP is absolutely amazing - she responds to requests very quickly, even for price drops.  For RCCL, we've either used an independent agent or booked directly ourselves just using the website.  This is an interesting and helpful thread.  Thank you all and happy sailing!

[loman]

55 minutes ago, LHARTWICK said:

Along this same topic, does RCCL have agents that you can sign up with to handle your cruises like CCL does?  My CCL PVP is absolutely amazing - she responds to requests very quickly, even for price drops.  For RCCL, we've either used an independent agent or booked directly ourselves just using the website.  This is an interesting and helpful thread.  Thank you all and happy sailing!

If i find a price drop i just call in on the general number and i get a different person every time . They are very professional and efficient . This was all before covid . I booked a cruise last september and called in my order and it was handled very well also.

Im not sure if you can deal with one specific person every time . I think its a call center and the next available agent picks up the call.

[mad13]

On 3/25/2022 at 1:55 PM, DesireeC03 said:

You are making me want a TA!! well, yours!

question - do we still have access to cruise planner when you book with a TA?

 I had a similar experience - I wanted a JF Junior family balcony suite that sleeps 5. It's not advertised on the website. My TA was able to find me a room, and let me choose it for LESS than it would have cost me to to have RC assign me a room. Also explained how RC handles a booking of 5. She automatically price changes when the cruise price goes down. We do everything by email.

Our other cruise that we booked with her had a price adjustment. We were able to get a larger room for $600 less and I didn't have to do anything, but respond to her email.

 

She gives me the prices of several different rooms and then I choose the room level AND specific room based on that. The longest I had to wait for her to book me was about 24 hours, but that was because the sail was extended and I was booking a cruise a year out.

We've been on 2 cruises and this was the first time  we used a Travel Agent. She's a local acquaintance and has a fulltime job besides TA'ing. I still book my own excursions

[DesireeC03]

45 minutes ago, mad13 said:

 I had a similar experience - I wanted a JF Junior family balcony suite that sleeps 5. It's not advertised on the website. My TA was able to find me a room, and let me choose it for LESS than it would have cost me to to have RC assign me a room. Also explained how RC handles a booking of 5. She automatically price changes when the cruise price goes down. We do everything by email.

Our other cruise that we booked with her had a price adjustment. We were able to get a larger room for $600 less and I didn't have to do anything, but respond to her email.

 

She gives me the prices of several different rooms and then I choose the room level AND specific room based on that. The longest I had to wait for her to book me was about 24 hours, but that was because the sail was extended and I was booking a cruise a year out.

We've been on 2 cruises and this was the first time  we used a Travel Agent. She's a local acquaintance and has a fulltime job besides TA'ing. I still book my own excursions

WOW - now that is amazing service.  Wish there was a way for me to get her info

[geenafeena]

I am a researcher, to say the least..lol

I use a cruise company to book.  Savings when I book (my deposit is non-refundable which is fine, it can be used as a credit).  Also, I find that RC does not give much as far as perks.  Just booked Oasis, getting $175 OBC and 1 specialty dining for 2.  Better than RC is offering at the moment. Also use same company for our Anthem cruise from 2 weeks ago.  Checked about 5 websites before booking both of these cruises and none offered the perks I received.

[mitz18]

On 3/25/2022 at 8:13 AM, SRF said:

FYI, I had to call the C&A desk yesterday and was on hold about 45 minutes or so.

 

It seems the reservation system and the C&A are different.  And the C&A system will not accept a suffix (Jr, Sr, 2nd, etc) to a last name.  But for reservations, it is required (reservation name must match ID name exactly).

 

So when I try to check in, it fills in my name and C&A number, but when I try to move to the next page, it tells me my C&A number is wrong.

 

BTW, the fix for this is to remove your C&A number from the check in page.  It does not remove it from the booking.  It seems the error checking is ONLY for that page.

As a 3rd, I've had this same problem with RCL & X for years....frustrating that they still cannot figure it out.

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

On 3/17/2022 at 6:17 PM, boscobeans said:

I closed my own agency in 2003 and retired from the business. I searched around to find a good agent and finally after a while I found one.

 

Over the last 18 plus years and dozens of cruises the savings have been very substantial with reduced or very extended deposits. She takes care of our casino perks, insurance and all the other details. No charges for cancellations and always willing to make changes as we often must change dates.

 

We are lucky to have found her and always do better than with the cruise lines but do understand there are agents and agencies that do not perform as well as ours. 

 

I think she will be retiring soon, and we will look for another if we are still cruising. 

I totally agree.  A good TA is worth their weight in gold.  We have the same one for 35 years.  She saves me hours on hold when things go wrong or I need a last minute change.  Bottom line, if all goes well you probably don't need a TA.  But, when things go wrong you will wish you had a TA.  

[bia]

On 3/17/2022 at 11:06 PM, BirdTravels said:

Most people use TAs for the perks and kickbacks. 

We use our travel agent for all our cruises.  Cost us nothing, I like to find my cruises and cabin then we call her she books it and that is that.  Perks are nice but if you have trouble in a foreign country like we did she was Johnny on the spot and helped us get back home.  Would not trade her.

[Morecruisesplz]

14 minutes ago, bia said:

We use our travel agent for all our cruises.  Cost us nothing, I like to find my cruises and cabin then we call her she books it and that is that.  Perks are nice but if you have trouble in a foreign country like we did she was Johnny on the spot and helped us get back home.  Would not trade her.

Ditto!

[lovemylab]

Travel agents are certainly worthwhile for some people; however, after a few bad experiences I now handle all my own travel plans.  

 

The most I've ever received in perks are things like beach towels or beach bags that have the travel agency logo on them.  We don't book expensive cabins so getting hundreds back in OBC is never going to happen.

 

When things have gone wrong, I've always been able to rectrify the situation myself in a timely manner.  

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, lovemylab said:

We don't book expensive cabins so getting hundreds back in OBC is never going to happen.

The overwhelming majority of the time we book inside cabins.  I just booked a 3 day cruise on the Freedom of the Seas as a backend attachment to an 11 day cruise.  The total for our cruise was 785 dollars.  Got a 63.00 discount and 75.00 in OBC from my TA and 100 in OBC from Royal combined with redeeming 192 in FCC money.  

All TA's are not created equal and sometimes even if you've used one for awhile, you need to keep them honest.

But of course there are many that don't care about perks or discounts and think that keeping control of the booking is the most important thing to them.  There is no right or wrong reason to which path we take.

[John&LaLa]

Found on FB Allure group. Very common from what I read

[CruisingSince1982]

On 3/18/2022 at 9:15 PM, luckyinpa said:

 

are there any concrete examples of commissions..say on an 800 balcony on oasis. and a 3K CLS. must be decent rate because i got 500 OBC on my CLS. and he's still making money of course. 

It depends on your annual sales. The base line is 10%, up to 30%

Edited April 1, 2022 by CruisingSince1982

[luckyinpa]

7 hours ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

It depends on your annual sales. The base line is 10%, up to 30%

 

i searched and my agency has 

Employees:

<25

Revenue:

<$5 Million

 

i have no clue if thats a lot or not. but i am able to call and get someone else to hold a room if my guy is on vacation etc. so i guess thats better than some solo TAs.  i also notice on some cruises he gives me obc and some takes it off the top with no obc

[Lane Hog]

It's not total annual sales for the agency that drives the commission, it's the total of what they book with Carnival that drives the commission.

 

Getting to $1m in revenue is difficult - $40K in sales or booking fees per weekday assuming a 10% commission.  Thats a lot of work.

Edited April 1, 2022 by Lane Hog

[luckyinpa]

i just wrote to my TA asking why some of the payment on my CC is to royal and some to his agency. he wrote and said sometimes they run payments inside and then pay the cruise line thru the agency and he said it helps with OBC or any discounts i may have gotten

 

so i just did a final payment to royal. 5362.36 was due. my gf and i split it evenly. on my CC i got 2229.18 charged to royal and 452 to his agency. our  OBC was 500. does this mean his commission was likely 452x2 and he gave me 500 of it? i'm assuming obc is totally at his discretion and we literally use him for nothing but booking, never need advice, we are literally perfect customers..very ez. so maybe we get higher OBC vs someone who needs his advice and handholding?

[Missymo]

Except for 1 or 2 times I always booked my own cruises for many years.  I should have learned my lesson a few years ago when my BIL used a TA for our family cruise.  We were in a Sky suite on Solstice.  The day AFTER final booking, the price on my SS dropped $800 PP.  I was so angry.  My TA worked round and round with Celebrity and got us upgraded to a Celebrity Suite.   Recently I went back to using an online TA. mainly to  get  lots of OBC with each booking, some more than others.  

[brillohead]

7 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

i just wrote to my TA asking why some of the payment on my CC is to royal and some to his agency. he wrote and said sometimes they run payments inside and then pay the cruise line thru the agency and he said it helps with OBC or any discounts i may have gotten

 

so i just did a final payment to royal. 5362.36 was due. my gf and i split it evenly. on my CC i got 2229.18 charged to royal and 452 to his agency. our  OBC was 500. does this mean his commission was likely 452x2 and he gave me 500 of it? i'm assuming obc is totally at his discretion and we literally use him for nothing but booking, never need advice, we are literally perfect customers..very ez. so maybe we get higher OBC vs someone who needs his advice and handholding?

I would never work with a TA that doesn't charge everything through Royal.  You're taking a huge risk that if the agency doesn't pass along the entire payment, your cruise could get cancelled.  Ditto if the agency goes out of business and you have to make up the difference b/c Royal never actually got paid.  

They should be paying all funds to Royal, and then Royal pays them a commission check.

 

@Ourusualbeach can give more info on this.