A bit of whinge...

[Ozcruise2]

AARRGHHH!

I've been trying to get a booking on a cruise next year to Panama Canal - I've now sent off three emails to various 'online' cruise specialists, and guess what? No-one has contacted me!!! (I don't count an automatically generated email saying 'thank you for your query'!)

I know it must be tough for agents sometimes, with probably a lot of time wasters, but gee - I've actually booked a couple of cruises with one of the agents already!

Oh well, I'll go and take a Bex and have a lie down now...

[aussiedisneyfan]

Well that sux!

Have you tried ringing? If an overseas call, do you have skype or something that would be much cheaper?

[Ozcruise2]

Yep, I think I'm going to have to ring. All are Aussie agents, so cost isn't really a problem. Just that doing this sort of thing over the net is soooo... much easier (usually !)

[arxcards]

Originally Posted by Ozcruise2

AARRGHHH!

I've been trying to get a booking on a cruise next year to Panama Canal - I've now sent off three emails to various 'online' cruise specialists, and guess what? No-one has contacted me!!! (I don't count an automatically generated email saying 'thank you for your query'!)

I know it must be tough for agents sometimes, with probably a lot of time wasters, but gee - I've actually booked a couple of cruises with one of the agents already!

Oh well, I'll go and take a Bex and have a lie down now...

GEE,
If they don't want your business, take it elsewhere. Email is supposed to be easier, cheaper, more flexible to both parties. Maybe they are chasing up details for you, but they should still have the courtesy of contacting you.

Cheers
Geoff

[badgerbill]

Frustrating...... if they can't service the internet they shouldn't be on it..... i emailed one on the other side of Australia....gave them 24 hours no return email..still waiting........tried another in Sydney got a generated email back stating somebody would get back to me in about 3 days....!!!!!!!... so i now have 3 cruise bookings with an overseas company that advertises on this website which we all completed within 24 hours....no fuss no bother just great service.....by the way it did take 3 days for the Sydney one to contact me.........grrrrrr cheers shiona

[h & m]

Originally Posted by badgerbill

Frustrating...... if they can't service the internet they shouldn't be on it..... i emailed one on the other side of Australia....gave them 24 hours no return email..still waiting........tried another in Sydney got a generated email back stating somebody would get back to me in about 3 days....!!!!!!!... so i now have 3 cruise bookings with an overseas company that advertises on this website which we all completed within 24 hours....no fuss no bother just great service.....by the way it did take 3 days for the Sydney one to contact me.........grrrrrr cheers shiona

hi Shiona

I'm just curious - which cruise line ? I have booked directly on line with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, and find it easier than using an agent. For our upcoming Princess cruise I used a US agent (and have saved over $3000). Do you find there are advantages in using an agent (when they respond that is)

See you on the Rhapsody in 2009, if not before

Hilary

[badgerbill]

Hi Hiliary
I haven't gone direct with any of the cruise lines yet...lol...although i do use their sites to price check.. i too use a us agent and they have been brilliant i get my booking number straightaway so i can log onto my booking with the cruise lines......i even booked our Sth Pacific cruise through America.........Our Hnl/Syd cruise in Sept 07 booked on earlybird fares with local t/a cost us $1200.00 more than what we have paid for the 2009 one... plus we are getting OBC's....we have saved heaps on the cruises booked..... I have one t/a here who sends me flyers for last minute deals when she gets them.. if we are interested i ring her.....she can't match the u.s prices....pity coz she would have our business.. Not too many months now till we're off....cheers shiona

[AuzzieCruiser]

The Internet can be a frustrating place. It is not like a phone call where the results are instant. It takes time to wade through the emails and requests.
We have used three 'online' agencies, with different results. The first one, we went to their 'sale day' and grabbed their flyers. My mum actually booked over the phone and not online. They answered both phone requests and email requests promtly.
The second time was with a different agency. Again we went to a 'sale day' and booked on the day at the venue. Paid the deposit on the day, and anything after that was like the end of the world to them.
My mum asked a simple question and got a very rude and abrupt response from the guy who runs the company!! She later got an apology, but felt as though she didn't deserve the treatment. Nobody does.
We thought about cancelling, but would lose thousands of $$$, and no-on else was carrying that cruise.
After the cruise, we decided we wanted to do Hawaii. We emailed them for quotes, never heard back from them. Rang them up twice to get a quote, never heard back from them. So much for wanting return business.
My mum found another 'online agency' for our Mexico cruise. They weren't only $1000 cheaper, but their customer service was excellent. Nothing was too much trouble. We had the one consultant handle our booking, and our requests for our flights and cruise were noted and carried through.
We used them again for our Pacific Sun cruise, though that was very straight forward.
I booked our Rhapsody cruises online directly with Royal Caribbean, and use their reps here in Australia for any issues and concerns. Only one agency was carrying our cruises, so decided to book directly through Royal Caribbean. Now the 'online' agencies have come onboard selling our cruises.
The thing with 'online' agencies is that people have different experiences. Some have wonderful treatment, while others have a rough ride. Shop around, and see what their customer service is like. Sometimes it does work out paying the extra $$ for better customer service, though not always.

[nzmatt]

sounds easier to do it from usa?anyway hope you find a good travel agent here in aust,my winge is Australia post!!!i am waiting on plans for the Arcadia that i brought from a model company in Italy it was posted 20 of last month and still not here,it was done by registered post,but what gets me Australia post or Italy post know nothing,that seems strange that i have given them the tracking number,it cost be 80 euros but if it does not come by months end the guy will send them again,that was going to be my xmas gift,anyway have a good xmas,cheers matt

[arxcards]

Originally Posted by nzmatt

sounds easier to do it from usa?anyway hope you find a good travel agent here in aust,my winge is Australia post!!!i am waiting on plans for the Arcadia that i brought from a model company in Italy it was posted 20 of last month and still not here,it was done by registered post,but what gets me Australia post or Italy post know nothing,that seems strange that i have given them the tracking number,it cost be 80 euros but if it does not come by months end the guy will send them again,that was going to be my xmas gift,anyway have a good xmas,cheers matt

Matt,
I have been involved with mail & internet sales for around 15 yrs. Aussie Post is very reliable, and have had the same experience with international postal agencies too.
Your plans are approx 1 week overdue, but it is also the busy time of year. The other possibility is that they may be sitting in Aussie Customs which can slow things down a bit as well.

Hope you get them soon, would make for another nice model.

Cheers
Geoff

[nzmatt]

thanks,if i can get enough photos,i might do the queen Victoria which has the same hull as for Arcadia,anyway thanks for your comments,cheers matt

[CruiseKidz]

I'ved booked direct with the company,with a local TA and RCI agency in Oz for various cruises. Direct was a med cruise with specific cabin category which suited, the booking with the local TA was arranged totally with my prompting, basically I fed him all the info including cabin No and he still manged to put some of our gropup on a different flight, wouldn't bother again. The RCI agency booking is going well, we have been given price reductions, moved our booking to a later cruise with no loss of deposit and can pay in US$

[pink poodle]

Originally Posted by Ozcruise2

AARRGHHH!

I've been trying to get a booking on a cruise next year to Panama Canal - I've now sent off three emails to various 'online' cruise specialists, and guess what? No-one has contacted me!!! (I don't count an automatically generated email saying 'thank you for your query'!)

I know it must be tough for agents sometimes, with probably a lot of time wasters, but gee - I've actually booked a couple of cruises with one of the agents already!

Oh well, I'll go and take a Bex and have a lie down now...

Hi Ozcruise2, Isn't it frustrating!I know exactly what you mean! Some other CC's said they got really good cruise deals from on line places so about 8 months ago I emailed three different ones to ask for prices on the cruise I wanted to go on but I never heard anything at all back from any of them . I ended up getting a great deal from a local travel agent. I would've missed out altogether if I'd waited for the others.Anyway, hope you feel better after your Bex and your lie down Pink Poodle.

[kaseyoz]

these are probably all the reasons we are not allowed to mention Ta by name.
for everyone who has a good thing to say about a TA there are always others who have had a poor dea;l with them.

like most things that we are paying thousands of dollars for , it pays to shop around

[arxcards]

Originally Posted by kaseyoz

these are probably all the reasons we are not allowed to mention Ta by name.
for everyone who has a good thing to say about a TA there are always others who have had a poor dea;l with them.

like most things that we are paying thousands of dollars for , it pays to shop around

Karon,
Two more main reasons for not mentioning T\As.
- They would be spruiking their own services
- Some online T\A's pay CC for advertising space

Cheers
Geoff