Book online or use my PCC?

[Florida_gal_50]

7 hours ago, crystalspin said:

I see this thread being locked quite soon! PCCs have saved me more than 10%. Hank doesn't think so. That's fine for both of us.

I can see this being more important if you are booking a cruise that costs $50k, not so much if it’s $5k.  Every ta I’ve worked with has caused me more time and work.  I’m not interested in that because my time is worth more to me.  Also I have found this “claim” to save this much is not available to Canadian residents in my research.

[dogo88]

Used a PCC many years ago. Was not impressed with the rate or service or extras.  In the early years there were no online sales. When they arrived we found online rates were always better, but initially service was lacking. They offered great prices but that's about all. Eventually we got a great agent/agency and they consistently get me a better rate than HAL PCC could get. Plus extras. For our March 2023 cruise we received a 12% less rate plus OBC than what the HAL online rate offered during their Black Friday Sale which is what a PCC can offer. 

 

Perhaps on some odd situations a PCC may be helpful, but I have never experienced  any that my TA hasn't been able to handle. I will say that finding a good TA may take some time, but every TA we have used has always gotten us a better rate than HAL online prices.   

[Florida_gal_50]

I don’t think there is any debate about it.  A pcc will not get you a better rate or piles of obc other than what is being offered to every person.  The only  way the might be able to do something is if there was a drastic price reduction after final and that’s debatable.  

Edited December 17, 2022 by Florida_gal_50

[NCTribeFan]

I started this thread with a fairly simple question.

 

Pretty sure we all know about big online TAs.  I'm not interested.

 

And I'm also pretty sure that those of us here don't need the lectures about how stupid we're being if we opt to not use one.   So please stop hijacking threads to "educate" us dummies.

[KAKcruiser]

I agree that travel agents can save you money.  I used to get 8 to 10 percent off my fare.  But, it was too much of a hassle if any changes had to be made.  I would rather not save the money and be in charge of my own booking.  

 

I also agree that PCC do not have the ability to save you money or add perks.  

[BermudaBound2014]

3 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

I started this thread with a fairly simple question.

 

Pretty sure we all know about big online TAs.  I'm not interested.

 

And I'm also pretty sure that those of us here don't need the lectures about how stupid we're being if we opt to not use one.   So please stop hijacking threads to "educate" us dummies.

 

If you are referring to my post implying you are 'stupid" please accept my sincerest apologies. I meant nothing of the sort. Just because I'm 'baffled' by your decision not to use a travel agent doesn't mean I think you are stupid. That's quite a leap.

 

As far as hijacking (or this thread being locked), I don't either happening in this particular discussion. All forms of social media have a tendency to flow. You mentioned booking the cruise yourself, and several people offered yet another option. As I read it, the replies in this thread are attempting to be helpful since it's clear not everyone understands how the system works.

 

Don't get me wrong, it benefits me personally to have people book directly with HAL because that improves HAL's bottom line cashflow. But the title of this thread begs the question; why do so many people choose to book directly with HAL and forfeit OBC.

 

 

[Hlitner]

I would add that the overwhelming majority of folks booking cruises on HAL (and other lines) book through travel/cruise agents.  A few years ago, while on the Prinsendam, we had dinner with the future cruise person and got into a discussion about how folks book.  She told us that over 80% of HAL bookings came from cruise/travel agencies and described it as a win-win.  The agencies handle the "hand holding," and much of the work, do a lot of marketing, etc.  If they did not have the agencies the cruise lines would need to hire a lot more reservations employees which is quite expensive.  

 

The other question we asked (and later had a similar discussion with a Princess rep) was why most of the cruise lines will not compete with travel/cruise agencies in terms of deals.  I actually told the Princess rep I would book direct with him if they would match the deal I could get from my favorite cruise agent.  I was told that the cruise lines "do not want to compete with agencies since they need the agencies."   To this day, having booked far more than 100 cruises, the only time we booked direct was back in the days of Renaissance Cruise Lines who did not work with agencies.  They did everything in-house which may have contributed to their bankruptcy.

 

Hank

 

 

[sunviking90]

On 12/15/2022 at 5:28 AM, NCTribeFan said:

So, my PCC left after being with HAL for many years.  I was surprised when he was still with the firm after the restart (because so many said theirs had departed)..  But he's gone.  I have a new PCC and she was ok the first couple of times I needed her.  I called and left a voicemail to cancel the fall cruise I'd recently booked and heard nothing from her.  Sent an email a week later and got no response for five days when I finally got the cancellation email.

 

I'm looking to replace that cruise and see a decent fare online.  If I go ahead and book it myself (while the deposit is 50%), will she still get credit for the booking and be able to handle any questions I may have or upgrade/additions I may want?

 

My guy I had at Carnival for years always told me to go ahead and grab what I wanted (I always know exactly what I want when I get ready to book), because he'd get the credit and could help with any changes.  Don't know if HAL hand'es it the same way or not.

 

Thanks for your help!

Back to the original question, my understanding is that it is best to put on hold and get in touch with your PCC, or request a new PCC. That’s what I usually do, and she has found me a “better” deal every time. There are a lot of prices, codes, etc running concurrently that may not always show up online.

Edited December 17, 2022 by sunviking90

[NCTribeFan]

Yes, when I spoke with her to finalize the booking, she got me OBC that hadn't shown up when I put the cruise on hold.  So, there is some obvious benefit to using a PCC.  Would someone from the general 800 # have found that?  Possibly.  But I just prefer to work with one person.

 

I use a TA for booking other lines.  She declined to book my "free" casino offers on HAL so I decided to give all my HAL bookings to my PCC.  I use my TA for other lines.

 

Back to the thread title - I didn't ask about booking with an online agency.  I asked about online with HAL vs a PCC.  So, yes, dragging up (yet again) the "benefits" of booking with an online agency was outside the scope of my original question.

 

If people want that info, they're welcome to start a thread about it so I can avoid it altogether. 😁

[BermudaBound2014]

1 minute ago, NCTribeFan said:

Back to the thread title - I didn't ask about booking with an online agency.  I asked about online with HAL vs a PCC.  So, yes, dragging up (yet again) the "benefits" of booking with an online agency was outside the scope of my original question.

 

Respectfully disagree. The thread title states "Book online or use my PCC?"   No where does the title limit the discussion to booking direct with HAL.  Responses which included the benefits of online agencies seem logical to me based on the thread title.  Again, I think most people were attempting to be helpful.

 

Thanks for explaining that you are booking a casino offer. Now it makes more sense.