What should we expect from our TA?

[goforfun]

We have booked a HAL cruise and paid the deposit. We are not yet paid in full and are well within the no-penalty cancellation period. The basic price with our on-line TA for our cabin category remains the same as when we booked; however, the agency is now offering a special for new bookings that includes a shipboard credit at that rate. Our TA's company (we've tried to get in touch with the TA but have not heard back) says that they can't offer that promotional credit to existing bookings--even if we cancel and rebook.

Is it realistic to expect that our TA (or her company) would work to extend that promotional offer to us before the date at which we must pay in full?

[jhannah]

Legally, they are not bound to extend the offer to you since you would no longer be a new booking. This is one of the negatives (to me) of using online travel agencies. While I'm sure there are exceptions, most are too impersonal. A good TA you can go visit with, build a relationship with, is worth their weight in gold, IMO. My TA goes to bat for me. She knows what I've spent with her, and has a reasonable assurance I'll be back to see her next time I want to travel.

But back to your issue. My suggestion would be to cancel completely. Get your money back. Then go shopping for a new TA.

[iluvcruzin]

I agree with Jim. It's one of the downsides of booking through an online agency. It's really up to them if they want to apply additional discounts & shipboard credit. A good TA will go to bat and try to obtain that shipboard credit.

[Dolphintime]

Shop an online agency with a phone number. Call them and get the best of both worlds, a discount and a shipboard credit.

No phone number shop somewhere else.

Dolphintime.

[LynnObie]

My suggestion would be to cancel completely. Get your money back. Then go shopping for a new TA.

While I agree with jhannah, another approach might be to simply give your TA the choice of matching their own new deal *OR* cancelling. If they choose to match their own deal, you not only save the $$ but also the time it will take to find another agent & rebook. The online TA I use will gladly meet or beat any advertised deal which others will also gladly do.

[goforfun]

Hi Maureen and Jim,

In the past, I have worked with good sticks and bricks TAs and that is my preference. In fact, I explored transferring the booking in question to another TA who has given me good service. She was very gracious and willing to take our booking over, but it was going to cost her because she didn't have access to the discounted rate (group space?) that we had booked. I think she was relieved not to have to take us over this time!

Other folks have talked about receiving good service from on-line people. Might it be a matter of finding the right agency and the right agent?

Jim--If it were just us, we'd feel more free to cut the ties and cancel. But we're travelling and meeting friends from another part of the country--shared table, adjoining cabins. Whatever we do, we don't want to disappoint them.

Thanks for getting back.

[goforfun]

In response to Dolphin and Lynn,

The on-line agency I have used has several phone access numbers. Downside is that once you have booked with a particular TA, others at that agency are sometimes (usually?) not able (willing?) to help and you must talk directly with your booking TA. Even if they won't return a call.

Lynn--would love to have info emailed about your awesome TA. I think it's a no no to post it on the board, but you can respond directly to sbljnl at earthlink dot net.

[iluvcruzin]

If it were just us, we'd feel more free to cut the ties and cancel. But we're travelling and meeting friends from another part of the country--shared table, adjoining cabins. Whatever we do, we don't want to disappoint them.


A good reason to stick with what you have. It can be cumbersome getting everyone reconnected. I don't have a local TA, I found mine online years ago and she's in another state. So far I've been pretty lucky as she meets or beats the online sites. I've just read too many horror stories from others experience which forms my opinion.