Having trouble w/BPC, anyone not get responses from them?

[hilltopfamily]

Hi all, we booked 2 cruises thru BPC. Looking for thoughts on their customer service. Our Elation cruise for this summer was the 1st we booked thru them, then added the spring cruise, which we went on and had no problems, however the price on that cruise only went up the closer it got to departure.

Now for the Elation, for the past 4 weeks I've been seeing prices on BPC site down approx $325 total cruise cost from what we booked at and I emailed the TA that we've dealt with twice asking if our price could be adjusted, but she has only responded once with this short response "I'll check into it" http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif . I did initially book online but was given or "assigned" a TA since we book 2 rooms and needed them "linked" for dining, etc.

Wondering if I want to continue to give her the benefit of the doubt and keep emailing her? Maybe I should call, complain about her, and ask for someone different to handle our bookings? To further complicate matters, I have considered changing the category of rooms we're in and possibly adding a friend of my DD to our booking. Mostly just wondering if anyone has had minor or major problems w/BPC as I've only read great things about them. And if you made any changes, either with your booking or your TA, and how that went? I see they charge a $75 fee per booking to cancel, $35 fee per booking for changes, so have any of you encountered this? Any thoughts?

Penny
Disney Magic Eastern 7/2003
Spring Break 5 days onboard Celebration! Mar 22 '04
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Aug 1 '04 Carnival Elation--Our 3rd Cruise!!!
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[pazooter]

We called when we saw prices going down for our Inspiration cruise last year. The fellow who was our booking person was very helpful in an upgrade and upon our return from the cruise we also had a refund. Yes, this was from BPC. Just try calling rather than emailing, then you can speak to a person and solve things more quickly.

We've booked our last three cruises with them and have had great service. Good luck. Cathy

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Until our **STAR** search
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June 27, 2004

Fantasy 12/25/03
Inspiration 4/13/03
NCL Majesty 12/27/02
Jubilee 3/23/02
Norwegian Sea 11/23/01

[HOSKI]

We booked 4 cruises with them so far and had great service on all but one and it was the payment girl not our TA. There was a misunderstanding with our Carnival credit card certificate. However, I recently emailed the manager about booking again and if we would have the same problem with the certificate and praising our TA. Guess what, no response so I booked elsewhere.

Fascination 1997 Destiny 2000
Victory 2000 Sensation 2001
Norway 2002 Legend 2002
NCL Dawn 2003 Inspiration 2003

[derf5585]

BPC
need a little help here

BPC weekly GB average
from
http://www.potato.org.uk/

Bradford Pothole Club
from
http://www.bpc-cave.org.uk/

BPC International Inc.
from
http://www.bpcintl.com/

USS Chilton APA-38 1966-1968
USS Guam LPH-9 1968-1970
Pacific Princess Oct 21 2001 Bermuda
Golden Princess Dec 7 2002 "Eastern Caribbean"
Coral Princess Dec 9 2003 "Panama Canal"

Carnival Miracle 17 Oct 2004

NOT UPDATED again 25 Feb www.geocities.com/fsbsdel (http://www.geocities.com/fsbsdel)

[ginag]

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gifPenny dear....wish I could be of some help to you! The only advice I can give is...do what you have to do to resolve the situation. Good Luck!!

~gina~ http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

11/20 Ecstasy cruise http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;11;20;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600

[wannacruz]

We just got a refund from BPC on 4 cabins for a total of $$1650.00. We also got upgraded to an extended balcony. We called BPC about a week ago (a few days before final payment date)because we noticed a drop on our cruise through the Carnival web site for about $600.00 total. Called BPC and they gave us a refund of $1650.00!! I thought that was great. By the way, I posted this information on the boards only to have it removed. I did not mention my TA's name, just the info I just wrote about. I thought everyone should know about the refund - I guess the hosts of this board feel differently.

Jackie

[kristikae]

Posts are not removed because of a Hosts opinion of a TA. If your post was removed it was in violation of our guidelines. If you would like specific information regarding this, feel free to email one of us.

Kristi - http://www.bigotis.com/Glory/Atom.gif (kristikae@aol.com)
"No shoes, no shirt, no problem..."
Fantasy 3/95, Fascination 12/01, Conquest 1/03, Glory 9/03, Conquest 1/04, Mariner 9/04, Miracle 2/05

[peggy655]

I have used this agency frequently and do not always get an immediate response from the agent I use there but I have never had a problem with any of my bookings. (Their prices usually are the lowest so I am more patient.) The website usually lists two prices so if you have any concerns or questions it is better to call directly than to book online and pay the extra money. (Is it possible that the agent you have been assigned is not really getting any credit for booking and therefoe not calling you back?) I believe the online booking price reflects the fact that you are not dealing directly with a specific agent so that savings is passed on to you. Although I usually book directly on website I do have the email address and telephone extension of a specific agent to address any questions that arise. I would call and get email address of specific agent and have a record of times you have tried to contact them with no response. Good luck

[csk]

I have used them twice, and have had great service, my one cruise is not until next week, I agree you should call them and not e-mail, I booked on line and when I had a question called on ask for the online travel agent, he was very polite and courtesy and solved my problem immediately with Princess while I waited on the other line, Someone mentions the Carnival credit card certificate, How does that work with them, thought you had to book directly through Carnival, have enough points for a $1000.00 off my cruise

[ican]

What is BPC and how can I get to their website?

[halos]

ican,
BPC is bestpricecruises.com

hilltopfamily,
I have had the best rseults with BPC when calling directly and speaking to a live person. I have noticed they aren't as good with getting back to you by e-mail. Call until you get to speak to a live person....don't bother leaving messages.
If you have upgrades to make and refunds coming to you...keep at them until you get what you want!!

I believe in Miracles
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MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[TerriDHair]

I booked with BPC last year and had very good luck. However, in February I booked a cruise that said it included a $300 value onboard booklet. I e-mailed before we sailed to get details about what it was-no response. We never received the booklet so I both called and e-mailed when we returned-no response. My agent no longer even answers the phone, instead there is a message stating that due to the volume of calls, everything is now being handled by e-mail.

Not a huge thing and I figure out of the $300 in values there may have been about $20 we would have actually used, but it's the principal of the thing.

Holiday 7/95
Enchanted Isle 7/96
Jubilee 7/97
Destiny 7/99
Triumph 7/21/01
Explorer 6/22/02
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Mariner 10/17/04
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[hilltopfamily]

Hey all, thanks for the replies. I will take everyones advice and call BPC to talk with someone in person. I guess I figured since I booked online and dealt via email with a TA, that I could manage things that way. Kind of disappointing that she has put me off (whether intentionally or accidentally).

I did call my DD's best friends' foster family today and invite her along w/us this summer, so hopefully I'll know within a couple of days if we need to add another person to our booking. If so, we'll need to change rooms, so I may really screw this up yet! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif I'm guessing I will incur a fee for changing the booking??? http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

Penny
Disney Magic Eastern 7/2003
Spring Break 5 days onboard Celebration! Mar 22 '04
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=006400&cdt=2004;03;22;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600
Aug 1 '04 Carnival Elation--Our 3rd Cruise!!!
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[halos]

I don't think you'll be charged for changing the booking...BUT, I know that if you booked on line and now you are speaking to a 'live' person, you'll be cahrged the $20 (per cabin)you originally saved off the cruise price when you booked on line.

I believe in Miracles
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[countercast]

I booked online with BPC and then needed to make several changes. They are slow to answer with email so I did end up calling. My questions/changes were answered and I don't believe they cancel your online discount charge (after all, you can prove you sent emails trying to contact them). I would prefer them to be quicker responding on email but as a previous poster stated, their prices were the best I found so be patient. But always call when in doubt.

Working hard to cruise hard!
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[hilltopfamily]

thanks again, this is EXACTLY what I was hoping to hear about~~ others experiences with problems in communication, changes to bookings, timeliness of responses/queries, and how quickly they looked into and adjusted for price drops for you at BPC.

I didn't end up calling them today afterall, as I hope to hear on whether DD's friend will be able to join us by the next day or so, then I can call and have the changes made (if needed) to our bookings at the same time I ask them about the price drop. Still no response to me via email from them. So, as soon as I hear anything, I'll report back about how they helped me in this matter. Hopefully it will all be great, and I'll save some $$ off our cruise! Anymore thoughts or reports of your own experiences, please continue to send them my way! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Penny
Disney Magic Eastern 7/2003
Spring Break 5 days onboard Celebration! Mar 22 '04
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=006400&cdt=2004;03;22;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600
Aug 1 '04 Carnival Elation--Our 3rd Cruise!!!
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;1;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600

[hilltopfamily]

ok, funny thing is I called a Carnival PVP Monday out of curiosity to try to get a quote to see if it would be worth cancellation fees if I dropped BPC and booked with PVP. He was really nice but didn't want to get into a conflict so he didn't give me a quote, but he did take note of my difficulties in getting a response from BPC. He seemed genuinely concerned that I receive appropriate customer service & offered to connect me with a ressie supervisor, which I declined.

Well, low and behold today (Wednesday) my TA from BPC called me AND emailed me as well to give me the good news that "I saved you $320" off of our total cost. Yippee! I'm not sure if my call to the PVP got my TA moving or if it was just a coincidence, but I'm now such a happier cruiser! If my DD's friend ends up going with us, this will go along way in helping us pay her fare. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

thanks once again for your reports on personal experience with BPC, you were all correct and it did end up working out fine for us!

Penny
Disney Magic Eastern 7/2003
Spring Break 5 days onboard Celebration! Mar 22 '04
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=006400&cdt=2004;03;22;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600
Aug 1 '04 Carnival Elation--Our 3rd Cruise!!!
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;1;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600

[pazooter]

Good for you, your persistance and initiative paid off. I'm glad to hear that BPC is continuing to give good service. We are booked with them this time around, too. Cathy