My friend and I have always booked through HAL ourselves. We were assigned a PCC that we didn't care for and wasn't very quick with replies etc. So we decided to help out the local mom and pop travel agency in our little town to support local business. We are discovering that we are not in control of our booking at all and have to rely on our TA for everything. We would like to be more self sufficient. Basically, the TA is the customer, not us, and it is frustrating because we have gone on HAL cruises recently and know more than the TA knows (since they are dealing with all kinds of travel and every cruise line). So, my friend and I are frustrated with not being able to do things for ourselves and would like to switch to a PCC who has been highly recommended. We wouldn't do that if it would affect our TA negatively, take away commission, etc.
We know for the future. We will go back to booking the way we always have in the past.
Thanks for listening!!! We thought we were doing a good deed but we are not happy with the result.