Response from TA

[Bluebird forever]

Right needing some guidance. Need to move an Az booking due to sailing cancelled. Asked my TA to find out what cabins are available on different sailings  and received this response. Please  can I have anyone’s thoughts?? 
Isn’t this a TA’s job? 

the problem is they will not tell me the cabins available, they have a system where we can not see the cabins and nor can they, and the language barrier is also a struggle. Isn’t this a TA’s job? 

 

Are there any cabins that you are interested in. They did say if we give them a cabin number they can put it into the system and they can see if it is available, otherwise their system automatically chooses a cabin.

 

Since they left the Royal Caribbean group it has become challenging doing the most simple things with them.

[wjfan417]

Yes, it is part of a TA’s job. Mine is able to see all cabins available on their website. 

[laurieb]

2 hours ago, Bluebird forever said:

Right needing some guidance. Need to move an Az booking due to sailing cancelled. Asked my TA to find out what cabins are available on different sailings  and received this response. Please  can I have anyone’s thoughts?? 
Isn’t this a TA’s job? 

the problem is they will not tell me the cabins available, they have a system where we can not see the cabins and nor can they, and the language barrier is also a struggle. Isn’t this a TA’s job? 

 

Are there any cabins that you are interested in. They did say if we give them a cabin number they can put it into the system and they can see if it is available, otherwise their system automatically chooses a cabin.

 

Since they left the Royal Caribbean group it has become challenging doing the most simple things with them.

A TA can see all cabin availability online; sounds like someone doesn't want to do their job.  It's a very simple thing to look up for the TA

[uktog]

Bluebird I think is UK based

I know one UK high street travel agent appears to have to phone and could not log in to view last time I went in (about five weeks ago) 

Edited November 20, 2023 by uktog

[Bluebird forever]

Yes Uk. Even if they have to phone that’s their job isn’t it? 

[anniegb]

Time to find a new TA?

[uktog]

37 minutes ago, Bluebird forever said:

Yes Uk. Even if they have to phone that’s their job isn’t it? 

I agree I was just highlighting it does need a call for some agents. A three way call is a good option 

[Riocca]

37 minutes ago, Bluebird forever said:

Yes Uk. Even if they have to phone that’s their job isn’t it? 

Yes, Azamara’s response times on the phones is very good these days I’ve only had to wait a maximum of 10 minutes recently and the ring back feature is also working well. Having booked recently onboard Onward I’ve seen the system the Azamara agents are looking at and it gives full availability of all the available cabins, it’s just the customer website that displays a limited number of available cabins. 

[lisiamc]

We just had to move three cruises, due to the first leg being cancelled. Our TA was able to tell us which cabins were available on the replacement cruises. 

[Bluebird forever]

Thanks everyone as I thought 

[Whitby100]

On my most recent booking through a major North American TA she offered me limited cabin selection.  I then asked her for a specific cabin.  She said it was not showing available with AZ.  I double checked with a US online agency and it showed more availability, including my preferred cabin.  I called my TA back and she called AZ at my insistence. The cabin was available and she was able to book it.  We asked a friend to join us on the cruise.  She used the same travel company, different agent.  She got the same limited cabin availability, asked for another cabin, had to direct the TA to call AZ, eventually getting her cabin choice.

 

So not all travel agency systems are showing full availability.  If cabin matters, you may have to put in a little effort.

[uktog]

5 minutes ago, Whitby100 said:

On my most recent booking through a major North American TA she offered me limited cabin selection.  I then asked her for a specific cabin.  She said it was not showing available with AZ.  I double checked with a US online agency and it showed more availability, including my preferred cabin.  I called my TA back and she called AZ at my insistence. The cabin was available and she was able to book it.  We asked a friend to join us on the cruise.  She used the same travel company, different agent.  She got the same limited cabin availability, asked for another cabin, had to direct the TA to call AZ, eventually getting her cabin choice.

 

So not all travel agency systems are showing full availability.  If cabin matters, you may have to put in a little effort.

Yes you are correct that’s the point I was making. If you want a particular room with some major agencies a three way call is the best approach in case your choice is no longer available 

[fruitmachine]

4 hours ago, Bluebird forever said:

Yes Uk. Even if they have to phone that’s their job isn’t it? 

If you can find the time, check one of the major US cruise specialists and do a dummy booking.  All the free cabins are shown for the selected room category, either as a list or on deck-plans of the ship.  Then you go into the call fore-armed!

[tgg]

53 minutes ago, Whitby100 said:

On my most recent booking through a major North American TA she offered me limited cabin selection.  I then asked her for a specific cabin.  She said it was not showing available with AZ.  I double checked with a US online agency and it showed more availability, including my preferred cabin.  I called my TA back and she called AZ at my insistence. The cabin was available and she was able to book it.  We asked a friend to join us on the cruise.  She used the same travel company, different agent.  She got the same limited cabin availability, asked for another cabin, had to direct the TA to call AZ, eventually getting her cabin choice.

 

So not all travel agency systems are showing full availability.  If cabin matters, you may have to put in a little effort.

 

If I'm interested in a particular cruise, I check a major online travel agency for a deck by deck diagram of all available cabins. I choose a few that would be acceptable and then call my travel agent.  She has the same interactive listing I've seen and she confirms that I've made the best choice. (She doesn't work for the online TA whose site I check.) I've never heard of a TA not having access to a complete list of all available cabins.

 

Perhaps you need a new TA.

 

[Whitby100]

I’m happy to add the extra step for the cash back discounts I get with my TA.  I’m merely sharing so all of the people who read these posts are well informed.  Each cruiser can make their own choice.  

[tgg]

2 minutes ago, Whitby100 said:

I’m happy to add the extra step for the cash back discounts I get with my TA.  I’m merely sharing so all of the people who read these posts are well informed.  Each cruiser can make their own choice.  

 

I get 5-10% refundable OBC from my TA on every cruise. And she can see every available cabin on the ship. 

[Riocca]

47 minutes ago, fruitmachine said:

If you can find the time, check one of the major US cruise specialists and do a dummy booking.  All the free cabins are shown for the selected room category, either as a list or on deck-plans of the ship.  Then you go into the call fore-armed!

There is a U.K. agency that offers the same facility unfortunately it can’t be named or even hinted at.

 

Not used a travel agent since the pandemic but it sounds as though some agents are just using the same system we can use to check availability. Would be interesting to know exactly what is being made available to agents and if they are choosing to use it, but probably we will never know.

[Whitby100]

8 minutes ago, tgg said:

 

I get 5-10% refundable OBC from my TA on every cruise. And she can see every available cabin on the ship. 

Excellent for you but since we don’t share TA companies, that doesn’t really help others. It is also likely that your US TA is country specific.

[Whitby100]

4 minutes ago, Riocca said:

There is a U.K. agency that offers the same facility unfortunately it can’t be named or even hinted at.

 

Not used a travel agent since the pandemic but it sounds as though some agents are just using the same system we can use to check availability. Would be interesting to know exactly what is being made available to agents and if they are choosing to use it, but probably we will never know.

It certainly frustrated my TA that she was not given the whole picture of available cabins.  It was extra work for her which she didn’t mind.  My concern is customers who don’t know to dig a little deeper.  Perhaps only US get  to see the full slate of rooms?

[tgg]

3 minutes ago, Whitby100 said:

Excellent for you but since we don’t share TA companies, that doesn’t really help others. It is also likely that your US TA is country specific.

Not helping others?  If people know what is being offered in the marketplace, they will know what to look for. We know many Canadians who book with US travel agents.

[Whitby100]

32 minutes ago, tgg said:

Not helping others?  If people know what is being offered in the marketplace, they will know what to look for. We know many Canadians who book with US travel agents.

You’re right, booking with US travel agents is a valid option.  However, currently there is a huge disparity on the value of the Canadian dollar and many Canadian credit cards charge an additional 2-3% foreign transaction fee.  Also, as a resident of Ontario, we have automatic  TICO insurance which covers us if the travel agency folds.  I’m ok to use the US websites for info though. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

6 hours ago, Whitby100 said:

Also, as a resident of Ontario, we have automatic  TICO insurance which covers us if the travel agency folds.

In the US we don't need insurance in case the travel agency folds, because the travel agency doesn't hold our money.  All the TAs I have ever used take my credit card info and input directly to the cruise line – my credit card receipt shows the cruise line, not the travel agency.

[paf225]

18 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

In the US we don't need insurance in case the travel agency folds, because the travel agency doesn't hold our money.  All the TAs I have ever used take my credit card info and input directly to the cruise line – my credit card receipt shows the cruise line, not the travel agency.

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has a compensation fund that gives limited coverage (up to $5,000 per person per booking) to consumers who incur a loss due to the failure of a travel agency, airline or cruise line provided the booking was made through a member agency.  I was able to recover the amount of my deposits for 2 cruises through TICO after Crystal's bankruptcy.  The credit card payments I make through my travel agency also go directly to the cruise line.  Regards, Paul