How to thank my TA?

[megalyce]

I love my TA.

 

In the past 9 months, he's helped me plan our wedding cruise, book 47 guests in 21 different cabins, coordinate our on-board reception, assisted with various travel-related crises and he continues to update me with tidbits of info (great for my control freak nature!)

 

My question is, how do I thank him? Although I know he is making $$ from our large group, I still think he has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

 

Any ideas??

 

Carnival Imagination 4/00

Holland America Veendam 3/03

[KellyJean]

Assuming the TA is in the same town or whatever, how about a gift certificate for a local restaurant.

 

Kelly

 

My Cruise Pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/kfrancis5

 

Cruise Critic Partae Pirates Cruise

 

Carnival Miracle 02/13/05

Sovereign of the Seas, Cabin #4057 - 9/21/03

Brilliance of the Seas, Cabin #8670 - 11/09/2002

Paradise, Cabin E194 - 09/01/2001

Atlantic, 12/1991

[PhoenixCruiser]

We like the local restaurant gift certificate idea, and how about adding a nice hand-written thank you and recommendation letter. Is he traveling soon?

 

Navigator of the Seas 6/26/04

 

 

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[Nancyquilts]

Yes - if he is working for a boss, it is nice to have a note of appreciation to show.

[London, Canada]

What about something from one of the Islands. Something for her/his desk, plus as others have said..a gift cert.

[wverg]

First of all make him know how much you appreciate all he has done for you. I know from past experience (I was an agent for 10 years) that very few people told me that they liked what I did for them. I mostly heard from the ones who complained about what went wrong. Now that I no longer work as an agent I will see ex-clients in the store and they now tell me how much they miss the extras I did for them and they wish I was still working. If I had known that before I might have stayed with my job. Most are hard working individuals who are working in an environment where a lot of people are trying to get a lot for less. A lot of people think it is a glamorous job, and the agents are in it for the free trips they get. But I spent more days at my desk than I ever travelled.

 

Enough of my rant.....Give him the best THANK YOU!!! you can think of and give it from the heart!

 

Days till we sail again

 

[FnyFACEnAL]

Has anyone ever tipped the TA with cash?

[bthorn1108]

As a TA, I would be uncomfortable accepting cash from a client, however, that is just my opinion.

 

To the original poster: I like the idea of a restaurant gift certificate. Even if you do not live in the same area as your TA, there are restaurants that are national (such as Fridays, Chilis, Bennigans, etc.), so you should have no problem with that. I'm sure your TA will be thrilled to receive something in recognition of his hard work. Enjoy your wedding cruise.

 

Beverly

Southward 1988, Britannis 1994, Dolphin IV 1995, Star Princess (old version) 1996, Sea Princess 1999, Seabreeze 1999, Rembrandt 2000, Destiny 2000, Seabreeze 2000, Triumph 2000, Norwegian Majesty 2001, Destiny 2001, Sensation 2002, Victory 2002, Destiny 2003, Vision of the Seas 2003, Triumph 2003, Voyager of the Seas 2004,

[MemoryMaker2669]

I agree about the cash gift, I too wouldn't be comfortable with that. What I do LOVE though are true Thank Yous of appreciation and best of all......RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!!!!

 

Carnival Destiny 12/98

Carnival Triumph 10/99

Explorer of the Seas 12/02

Carnival Pride 07/03

 

Mariner of the Seas

[shamrox91]

We are sailing on the Mariner on 4/25 for our honeymoon. Our TA happens to be a friend of my fiance's family. So for all of her help, we are planning on taking her out to dinner once we come back. Since we know her on that level we are comfortable with doing that, but if we did not have that friendship with her, we would probably have done either a restaurant gift certificate or a gift from the cruise.

[lunyma]

The restaurant gift certificate is a great idea... another thought might be to send them flowers, a gift basket, or a cookie bouquet. There is a cookie co. that even has cruise ship themed bouquets, which would be perfect! I *think* it is http://www.cookiesbydesign.com/

They deliver nationally... Check it out!

I think it's awfully nice of you to do something in appreciation for your TA. And I also agree with the others that said to write a letter to the agency, if they are employed by someone other than themselves...

 

Pam : )

Emerald Seas 6/20/83

Nordic Empress 6/93

Imagination 3/30/00

Ecstasy 9/4/00

Majesty of the Seas 10/27/00

Triumph 12/16/00

Radiance of the Seas

3/26/01 & 3/29/01

Crown Odyssey 6/24/01

Golden Princess 10/11/01

Spirit 11/11/01

Sensation GGC 1/13/02

Sovereign of the Seas 3/24/02

Imagination 5/18/02

Pride 11/2/02

Explorer of the Seas 3/29/03

Enchantment of the Seas 9/1/03

Serenade of the Seas 10/28/03

Grand Princess 11/16/03

 

check out my pics at http://community.webshots.com/user/lunyma

 

[This message was edited by lunyma on 04-18-04 at 10:11 AM.]

[TheWog]

Sounds like you have a big party, take him with you, what's one more? He'll blend right in.

 

Disney Magic 01/10/04

Enchantment of the Seas 01/22/05

[ChoosinCruisin]

Pick up one of the picture frames from an island that has some of the local flavor on it. They're not expensive, usually around $20 or so for a 5x7 and frame either a gift certificate or a note. Then he gets something a little more personal as well.

[megalyce]

TheWog,

 

We did invite him! However, he is at a conference that week.

 

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I think I will do a gift certificate and a letter.

 

If anyone else has thoughts, I'd still like to hear them!

 

Meg

 

Holland American Veendam 3/03

Carnival Imagination 4/00

Lake Champlain Ferries 88-95

[Salty Dawg]

Megalyce,

 

Along with that letter of appreciation, how about a gift certificate for a week-end stay at an upscale local resort/hotel for your TA? Sort of like a mini-vacation for him & his guest to take at their convenience.

 

Most of the resorts offer a week-end package that includes champagne and either breakfast or lunch for a fairly reasonable cost.

 

Congratulations on your wedding!

 

Ken & Nancy

[Florida Beach]

I would request a bunch of his business cards, write a recommendation note on each and pass them around to people I know.

 

March 28, 2004 - Mariner of the Seas

[Chuck & Phyllis]

I'm sure this TA was very grateful to land a client like you. Unless he discounted the cruise for everyone, he made a nice buck. A restaurant gift certificate and a note of thanks is plenty good for a reward. Congratulations and have a great wedding cruise.

 

Chuck & Phyllis

 

Doing Voyager on 5/21/04

 

Doing Empress om 9/18/04

 

 

[gene624]

Having just gone through coordinating a trip for 10 family members (not in same city), I swore I would never want to be a TA. Mine has always done fine.

Gene in Birmingham

[flamingosun]

We love our TA, too. She really gives us the 'royal' treatment. I try to do little things for her from time to time, thought I know I haven't done nearly enough often enough, here's what:

 

Took her a small vase with several roses when we went to pick up our cruise docs once.

Enclosed a book store gift certificate in her Christmas card.

Picked up a hand-carved note-pad/pen holder for her on our last cruise.

Working on assembling a small photo album for her with several pics from each of the cruises she has arranged for us.

 

 

  'til Sovereign of the Seas

 

 

Sovereign 01/02, 11/02, 6/03, 08/03, 09/03

Fantasy 06/2002

Mariner 12/03

Radiance 04/04

[Murphy]

I truly appreciate all my TA does for us and I've sent the cruise ship cookie bouquet previously mentioned from www.Cookiesbydesign.com. FYI, you do not need to send the full 7 cookie bouquet shown on the website. I actually like a 3 cookie in a mug better.

 

I've also picked up some cute "Cruise Angel" pins at my local Dollar store. Cheap gift that was appreciated because of the thought, not because of the value.

 

And I've directed lots of friends to her for their cruising needs. As stated above, a very valuable gift in deed!

 

7 previous cruises, Hawaii on Legend scheduled May 2004, and Enchantment Oct 2004

[Diane&4girls]

I've received a lot of interesting gifts, even a check for $1000 from a client. I sent the check back to him and he sent it back and threatened to cancel all of his bookings if I didn't cash it within 24 hours.

 

I have to say, though, my most memorable gifts are from those that book from me repeatedly and often bring their extended familes and their friends. The referrals are way more than I could ever ask for. The compliments from my clients and the true faithfulness is all I need!

 

Diane

Check out our cruise pictures:

http://community.webshots.com/user/thebowers

 

 'Til the Navigator

Again!

 

 

Carnival Fantasy 7/28/2000

Carnival Triumph 9/22/2001

Carnival Imagination 4/21/2002

Carnival Triumph 5/29/2002

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Mariner of the Seas 12/14/2003 (Golden Anchor Cruise!)

Navigator of the Seas 4/10/2004

Caribbean Princess 5/22/2004

Star Princess 11/21/2004

 

[Sam of the Seas]

DH and I could not have asked for a better TA to guide us through our first cruise experience on EOS last year. We sailed during Thanksgiving so we presented her with a crystal Christmas ornament and a heartfelt thank you letter for all of her hard work. However, I think the best way to thank her was what we did three weeks ago-- booked another cruise!

 

Navigator of the Seas 11/04

Explorer of the Seas 11/03

[reggierail]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TheWog:

Sounds like you have a big party, take him with you, what's one more? He'll blend right in.

 

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

What a great idea.

 

Reggie

 

Rhapsody 10-17-04

 

Mercury 12-06-04

 

Monarch 3-29-04

 

Viking Serenade 1998

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Monarch 11-17-03

Monarch 1-19-04

 

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