TA won't give us our Booking Number

[cruisingangel]

Help,

Our TA said she can't give us our booking number till we make final payment. I don't understand, this is the same TA we have used for the past 5 years and we have always had our booking number by now. Any help would be appreciated.

[BaumD]

Time to find a new TA

[cruisingangel]

I was hoping someone could tell me if there is a reason we can't get our booking number.

[localady]

I know of no reason the TA should not supply the booking number. That is your reassurance that your deposit has actually been made with the cruise line vs. the TA using the funds for other purposes, among other things. :eek: Is this a group cruise by chance? If there is a legitimate reason, I would love to hear it!:cool:

[KSCnCA]

I would call HAL directly and discuss it with them, the sooner the better. They should be able to give you the information you need, and if not you should request a refund from your TA immediately and book with someone else!

[Esme]

What is up with these TA's? First one won't send a client their docs beause it's too expensive and now this. This boggles my mind. That's pure baloney that they can't give you the booking number until final payment is made.

They have to give you your booking #. For one thing how are you to fill out your Immigration form or book Shore Excursions? You HAVE to have it to fill out these forms. Call the TA tomorrow or Monday and tell her politely that you want to fill out the forms, NOW, and would appreciate her giving it to you. If she still says, NO, ask to speak to the owner or the Manager and demand the number. If this fails, call HAL and tell them what has happened. They may give it to you then maybe not. If you still can't get it, find another agent and transfer the booking.

[lyndamr]

Is the travel agent holding a group booking on your cruise? If so, I had experienced this with my cruise agent, and everything went fine. If it is not a group booking I do one of two things:

1- Call the cruise line and explain your ta didn't give you a booking number that you just want to confirm you are booked on that ship and give the cabin number you chose they can confirm that.

2- call the TA and if they still refuse tell you the booking number or the reason why they cannot give you one just tell them to cancel it (providing you are in cancellation timing) as you want a booking number.

Sometimes agencies holding group space runs differently...and they deal with the group department that at that particular cruise line and not central reservations.

[cruisingangel]

We booked thru AAA and it is only my DH and myself, so one SS cabin. Not a group.

[jhannah]

In that case, your TA is simply holding you hostage. She/he is trying to keep you from having your booking number so you can't transfer the booking somewhere else for a better price. There is NO reason why you should not be given your number. It's always printed on the receipt my TA gives from HAL and the receipt from my TA's system ... which is AAA by the way.

[Aussie Gal]

Even here in Australia where we are considered 2nd class citizens by HAL we are always given a booking number so that we can check on the website if we have been assigned the cabin that we have asked for, fill out the immigration form and even book our shore excursions if we so desire. Something doesn't ring true and I would be ringing HAL as soon as possible. At least you can deal directly with them, not like us over here where we have to go through either a Marketing Agent or send an email.

Jennie

[CaptData]

You may still be part of a group cruise if it is AAA. They run them quiet frequently. I'm on a group cruise from CAA (Canadian). I did not not my booking number until I made final payment. Yes, it is like a hostage situation. Groups do run differently because of the volume involved. We are get our docs on the 25th at a Wine and Cheese party for the Maasdam 6 Feb cruise. The docs are in now. But the reduced rate and the other things that come with it are good.


I would ask if you are part of a group cruise and what are the benifits of this before I cancel. If you are not part of a group I would cancel and find another TA.

Doing the doc dance now.

[Stevesan]

Help,

Our TA said she can't give us our booking number till we make final payment. I don't understand, this is the same TA we have used for the past 5 years and we have always had our booking number by now. Any help would be appreciated.

Have you asked your TA why she can't provide the booking number?

We've booked three cruises with AAA. Our AAA TA has not only provided our booking numbers, but has willingly given us a copy of our booking confirmation sheet. That's something many other travel agencies refuse to do.

It's very likely, as others have suggested, that you've booked a "group" cruise. Call your TA and ask. If it's not a "group" cruise, contact your AAA office manager and tell him/her that your TA is uncooperative and you want a change.

[schack2]

We had this problem with AAA but had to keep after our agent for booking number. It seems when you book cruises through AAA they go through SignaTours (their tour group) and it takes a lot of persistence of the agent to get the booking number from Signa. Keep hounding your agent and have her contact Signa if that's who the cruise is booked through.

You can get your booking number before your final payment.

Hope this helps.

[hdawson]

I have read of this several times over the years and always the problem was with an AAA local branch. Once you are booked and deposit paid that number is yours. Tell the TA to cough it up or you want to cancel and you will take your business elsewhere. As someone said, how can you complete your online preembarkation registration? Did you receive a printed invoice?
Ask if the booking is part of a bigger group booking.

[Ziggy7]

We book thru AAA and never had any problems, we are included in a group booking and got our booking number right away, we have not made final payment either.

[lyndamr]

Ok, I have booked a few cruises through AAA, you can trust them. I still think your part of a group or some rooms they just hold, may or may not be a group but AAA does get a certain number of cabins on certain sailings on different cruise ships even if its not exactly a group booking. Its just a thing they do so they can provide you a better rate.

Just ask them for a receipt from them stating your ship name, sailing date, room category and room number with the price of the cruise broken down with cruise and port charges, that should be sufficient if there would be a problem. Also did you pay by credit card or cash? I think that would be enough proof, you can trust AAA they aren't going to jeopardise their reputation, they are big when it comes to travel. Hope this helps.

[xpcdoojk]

Tell your TA to give you your booking number or cancel the booking.
I would not use them ever again, but don't tell them that. Life is too short for a bad TA.

jc

[shipcafe]

I was hoping someone could tell me if there is a reason we can't get our booking number.

Simply put, there IS no reason. You are paying for the cruise and the cruise, in turn, is paying the agency commission. You have every right to the booking information. It's before final payment, you still have the opportunity to transfer the booking. Perhaps that will elicit a more favorable response!

[elmorejj]

I book all of my cruises through AAA, I am there when my TA talks to HAL directly, and I am there when the booking is sent by Fax with all pertinent info on it. My TA gives me a copy of this Fax, even the part that shows her commission...something smells fishy, IMO.....jean :cool:

[jhannah]

My TA gives me a copy of this Fax, even the part that shows her commission.
I get this, too -- but without the commission part. They probably don't want to publicize that too much or we'll all say that's more than enough so give me some of it back! :D I got it once (by mistake, I'm sure) from the first TA I ever used. This person was sloppy with their duties in many ways ... and that's why I never took any business back to them.

[cruisingangel]

Thanks everyone, it sounds fishy to me too. We have always had our booking number right away. This TA has been giving us some problems this time around, I think its time for a new one. Any one have the phone number for HAL ?

All your help is greastly appreciated

Thanks again.:)

[hdawson]

It's in your catalogue.

[cruznon]

Getting a new TA sounds like the smart thing to me. I wouldn't trust any TA who wouldn't give me my booking number.

[CDRMark]

1-800-SAIL-HAL

CHEERS
MarkB

[cruisingangel]

Thanks Mark for the number. I have no catalog so could not have found it otherwise.


Thanks again.:)

[seawyllow]

There is only one legitimate reason for a TA to not give you a booking number and that is if you are part of a group and it is a reduced deposit of say $25. That is a special promo that the lines run and it does not assign cabins until the full deposit is paid, usually the $250.00. The TA does have a group booking number regardless. Booking through AAA means you are part of a group that AAA took and they are offering reduced rates but to as many people as possible. Just for arguments sake, a group technically belongs to the TA running it, and whether they want to devote it to one single group or make it a group of people that are the TA's clients, it is a group none the less.

Call HAL customer service at 1-877-932-4259

Chris ;)

[ekerr19]

Did the OP ever get the number???

I'd have been on the phone with HAL asap...

[cruisingangel]

I am on the line with AAA Travel manager right now, hoping she will sove this dilemma.:rolleyes:

[cruisingangel]

Just want to let everyone know that I finally got our booking number. Had to go to Travel manager of the AAA office. She did tell me that this is a new HAL policy not to give the number till the final payment, it went into effect in December. She also said that she does not think it will last as they have had many complaints about it already. Duh, no kidding:rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Michele:)

[hdawson]

Passing the buck? Heaven's forbid!

[jhannah]

...this is a new HAL policy not to give the number till the final payment, it went into effect in December.
It would be nice if HAL issued some notice of this to us. If this is really the case, it sounds like it could be related to the TA advertising of discount prices policy change that was recently implemented. TA's are apparently looking to HAL to further protect their turf by not making it as easy for us to switch our booking to a different TA who comes up with a better price for us. How do you spell "restraint of trade?"

[peaches from georgia]

It could also be to prevent booking HMC cabanas and ordering through Ships Services long before final payment is made. Then if cruise is cancelled and deposit refunded before or at the time of final pymt, which happens a lot, then there is also the need to refund a bunch of other stuff already ordered. If you don't have your booking # until after final pymt then this problem is eliminated.

[the2ofus]

Your TA's latest answer still sounds bogus to me. If you call or e-mail HAL with a question about your upcoming cruise, or to make reservations for Pinnacle, book an excursion, reserve a clamshell, etc., they always ask your booking number after they get your name. This "change" would mean you could only contact HAL through your TA. No way I'd sit still for that!

[peaches from georgia]

Your TA's latest answer still sounds bogus to me. If you call or e-mail HAL with a question about your upcoming cruise, or to make reservations for Pinnacle, book an excursion, reserve a clamshell, etc., they always ask your booking number after they get your name. This "change" would mean you could only contact HAL through your TA. No way I'd sit still for that!
No, it would mean you couldn't book an excursion, reserve a clamshell, make reservations at the Pinnacle, etc. until AFTER you made final pymt and baring an emergency you were planning on actually taking the cruise. You still could contact HAL yourself.

HAL no doubt has many bookings, dining reservations, orders of all kinds that were later cancelled and meanwhile they were telling other booked pax that 'all the cabanas were booked' when in reality many of those bookings were cancelled when final pymt was due. I think we all know if you are looking for a particular cabin and it appears booked to always check it out again when final pymt is due and chances are there are a number of cancellations.

W/out booking #'s these orders/reservations/xcursion bookings wouldn't be taken until after final pymt. Why assume anything more threatening? :eek:

[localady]

It could also be to prevent booking HMC cabanas and ordering through Ships Services long before final payment is made. Then if cruise is cancelled and deposit refunded before or at the time of final pymt, which happens a lot, then there is also the need to refund a bunch of other stuff already ordered. If you don't have your booking # until after final pymt then this problem is eliminated.

There is a problem with that too unfortunately. The fact is HAL is allowing folks to book the cabanas LONG before the final payment. Those who have a booking number withheld would be at a disadvantage. For our next cruise I tried to get a cabana 90 days before....they were all full as was the waiting list.:o :cool:

[peaches from georgia]

There is a problem with that too unfortunately. The fact is HAL is allowing folks to book the cabanas LONG before the final payment. Those who have a booking number withheld would be at a disadvantage. For our next cruise I tried to get a cabana 90 days before....they were all full as was the waiting list.:o :cool:
Localady, you make my point exactly. If booking #'s are not given out until after final pymt then no one has them and none of these bookings such as cabanas could be made that far out. Everybody would have the same equal chance of getting what they want as no one would have their booking # before anyone else.

[BigDogMom]

Just want to let everyone know that I finally got our booking number. Had to go to Travel manager of the AAA office. She did tell me that this is a new HAL policy not to give the number till the final payment, it went into effect in December. She also said that she does not think it will last as they have had many complaints about it already. Duh, no kidding:rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Michele:)

That's baloney!!!! I have it on good authority, my best friend is a TA and owns her own agency, and they received no such notice from HAL. Just another AAA scare tacitic if you ask me!

[shipcafe]

Just want to let everyone know that I finally got our booking number. Had to go to Travel manager of the AAA office. She did tell me that this is a new HAL policy not to give the number till the final payment, it went into effect in December. She also said that she does not think it will last as they have had many complaints about it already. Duh, no kidding:rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Michele:)

Doesn't sound right as it is encouraged to book shore excursions and complete the immigration form online early -- all of which require the booking number ...

[General Max]

We used to trust AAA until we booked our first cruise. We were just about booked for our first cruise; an Alaskan cruisetour when I checked the price through Pavlus travel. The same package was $1000 per person cheaper throught Pavlus. Guess who I booked with?

We just booked our second cruise for )ctober 2005. We booked the cruise with Pavlus for $8906.52 for two people. AAA wanted $14,275.56 for the exact same cruise, cabin and airfare. I would say there is quite a markup to play with.

By the way I am a AAA member.

General Max

[cruise freak]

I just booked with HAL last week through an online agency and got booking number with no problem.

[Stevesan]

Just want to let everyone know that I finally got our booking number. Had to go to Travel manager of the AAA office. She did tell me that this is a new HAL policy not to give the number till the final payment, it went into effect in December. She also said that she does not think it will last as they have had many complaints about it already. Duh, no kidding:rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Michele:)

As I type this, I'm looking at my copy of our booking confirmation form dated 12/30/2004. We booked thru AAA in Missouri City, TX. The Travel Manager's explanation ( excuse) doesn't pass the smell test.

If she were correct, HAL would be inundated with calls asking to confirm their bookings. Unless you pay your deposit by credit or debit card, The confirmation number is the only true proof that the booking actually exists.

[Bill HaHa]

I have two cruises booked thru AAA. One in March(Ryndam) one in October ( Ininity) I received both confirmation # and a copy of same from both Hal and Celebrity showing all of the information. Have already filed my documentation info. I could not be happier with my TA

[schack2]

For people who haved used AAA and don't have any problems getting booking numbers...here's a reason and it deals with Florida residents. For some reason when AAA books cruises they go through Signa Tours (a part of AAA) and they have to get the booking number from them...it does take a while and being a pest to your TA. We deal with AAA all of the time and the individual agents must go through Signa Tours which I think buys as a group.

Hope this helps FL residents.

[elmorejj]

I always book my cruises through AAA, and I hate to tell you but your TA is full of BS!! I booked a cruise for the end of the year and have my booking number......jean :cool:

[CanadianMAG]

. She did tell me that this is a new HAL policy not to give the number till the final payment, it went into effect in December.

I booked the week before Xmas, and my TA gave me my number, thats strange. All I paid was my deposit.

[JohnQ]

Cruiseangel
We booked a early June Alaska cruise on HAL thru AAA in 2002. We were in there several times getting info and discussing alternatives and finally booked our cruise in early January. We didn't know about the fax, getting only our request sheet and receipt from AAA. About a month later when researching excursions, I found out HAL did not have us booked. After hollering at AAA and waiting a day, they claimed that HAL had messed up, and that our cabin was not available. After giving HAL more of a bad time, they found a less desirable cabin in same cat on same floor, which we felt we had to take, since we had already booked airfare, hotels, excursions, etc. I think the AAA agent messed up due to being busy and getting ready for their travel show, and just didn't make sure we got our fax.
They did give us a $100 shipboard credit for the mixup. Bottom line::when we got to ship, they gave us our original cabin afterall. Quite surprised, especially after they had called us another month after all this to see if we would change cruises for a credit and upgrade, which we couldn't do for all the reasons mentioned. So you are correct to be skeptical and listen to the advice the cruisecritics are giving you. Good luck on your cruise.

[DFD1]

I once knew of a travel agent, a lady who had been in the business for 30 years, who would take bookings from clients, including all the details, then lay them aside on her desk while she "did something more pressing", and simply forget about them until the clients called back wondering where their comfirmations were.

She was constantly making up stories blaming the operators or cruise lines for her mistakes.

This went on for months before something was finally done about it. The agency finally closed and this sort of conduct was a large part of the reason.

There are l,000's of good travel agents out there, but there are some really bad ones as well.

[RuffinReady]

My TA always mails me a copy of the fax she gets from the cruise line which is a detailed listing of prices etc. Sometimes she faxes it to me if I am going to be home (I use the same phone number for conversations) I would never put up with a TA who does less.


Ruffin

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Just want to let everyone know that I finally got our booking number. Had to go to Travel manager of the AAA office. She did tell me that this is a new HAL policy not to give the number till the final payment, it went into effect in December. She also said that she does not think it will last as they have had many complaints about it already. Duh, no kidding:rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Michele:)

I just booked January 7 of this year and got my booking number. :confused:

Bill

[Dolphintime]

Travel agents receive a fax from each cruise line at time of booking with a deposit or full payment. On this fax is your booking number.
One last thought AAA is not competitive in cruise pricing. Shop around. AAA may offer shipboard credits which sound fine, but if the total cost of your cruise is below your AAA price minus shipboard credits it pay's to switch to another agency. After all its your money you save.