Turning Over a Direct Booking to TA

[Gourmet Gal]

Well, I did the thing I usually advise against and booked directly with an SS Cruise Consultant.  I have a wonderful TA and am planning to turn the booking over to her to receive hotel perks and OBC but the Cruise Consultant has been so helpful and responsive.  I initially was just making an inquiry about the cruise but I’ve been very impressed with this individual and completed the booking.  He has told me I can assign the booking to my TA but now I worry that after all the work the Cruise Consultant did he will receive less compensation than if I didn’t involve a third party.  Does anyone know how that works for the SS Consultants?

[Gourmet Gal]

Lots of views but no responses…perhaps I should rephrase the question.

 

If I transfer a booking made directly with SS to my TA will she receive any commission?

[drron29]

Yes.

[Catlover54]

I was told I had to do the transfer within 30 days and it would be fine to transfer to a TA.

However, the SS "cruise consultant" (who consulted on nothing) failed to mentioned that you cannot do a transfer after final payment, even if within the 30 day period (so if you do a "short notice" booking, i.e., 90 or less days before sailing, or online on your own or with a "cruise consultant at a time when full payment is due), even if you try and transfer to your TA within 30 days it will be no-go.

 

 

 

 

 

[Port Power]

On 12/4/2023 at 8:58 PM, Gourmet Gal said:

Well, I did the thing I usually advise against and booked directly with an SS Cruise Consultant.  I have a wonderful TA and am planning to turn the booking over to her to receive hotel perks and OBC but the Cruise Consultant has been so helpful and responsive.  I initially was just making an inquiry about the cruise but I’ve been very impressed with this individual and completed the booking.  He has told me I can assign the booking to my TA but now I worry that after all the work the Cruise Consultant did he will receive less compensation than if I didn’t involve a third party.  Does anyone know how that works for the SS Consultants?

I though I had answered you, but my iPad sometimes has a mind of its own!

 

The Silversea rep is a paid employee, so I don’t think they earn a commission as well.  They job is to seal the deal!  When you transfer the booking to your TA, that person does get the commission.

 

40 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

I was told I had to do the transfer within 30 days and it would be fine to transfer to a TA.

However, the SS "cruise consultant" (who consulted on nothing) failed to mentioned that you cannot do a transfer after final payment, even if within the 30 day period (so if you do a "short notice" booking, i.e., 90 or less days before sailing, or online on your own or with a "cruise consultant at a time when full payment is due), even if you try and transfer to your TA within 30 days it will be no-go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There might be a way around this.  Usually you have 24 or 48 hours of whatever to pay in full.  You can pay a portion on the ship and then transfer to your TA and pay the balance through them the next day.

[drron29]

Indeed once when it was time to pay in full when we made the booking on board a deposit was accepted as a hold for I think 3 days. So we emailed our TA to pay from our card that they have on record.

The extra benefit for us is that our agent is a Virtuoso agent and most SS cruises are Virtuoso cruises so you get OBC or an Excursion thrown in. There easn't going to be that much difference if we lost the 5% booking on board and our TA doing it and getting the Virtuoso benefits. It was much better though to get both.

[Gourmet Gal]

Thanks so much for the replies.  My TA can also get the Virtuoso benefits but does anyone know if the hotel upgrade, breakfast, early check-in, late check-out and credit would apply to an SS hotel?

[drron29]

Have never used the SS hotels so don't know. but I am presuming you are talking about the benefits of a Virtuoso booking. If so I doubt you would get them as Barbara muckerman's talk to us on the muse a month ago said SS has contracts with hotels for a fixed number of rooms which means a discounted rate.

When we book a Virtuoso hotel the Virtuoso rate is more expensive than doing it direct however the benefits make it a better option. Especially so with Intercontinental hotels as i have diamond status. have never missed out on the Virtuoso upgrade with a second diamond up grade. So often get a suite and sometimes club access as well.

[Gourmet Gal]

Interesting…the hotel rates from SS don’t seem discounted at all.  Also, I’ve never paid more than the direct-booking rate for a hotel using Virtuoso or Signature.  

[Winemaker_1]

What are Virtuoso and Signature, travel agencies?   

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 minutes ago, Winemaker_1 said:

What are Virtuoso and Signature, travel agencies?   

They are travel agency consortiums [and can be discussed on Cruise Critic].  Travel agencies can join one or the other.  They negotiate discounts and amenities that are passed on to the customers.

[Gourmet Gal]

Turns out on my cruise the Signature benefits will apply to one of the hotels.