crazypriest

Hello!

Some ships are made so that magnets will work on the walls and doors in the cabin.  Does anyone know if magnets will work on the Horizon???

Thanks!

Ernesto

I don't mind an informed client, I just hate one that expects me to give them part of my income to keep them as a client. Just like they work for a living, so do I.

I would love to work with someone like you!!! Thank you.... you are so refreshing!!!

I agree that there should be no expectation of lowering the commission for the TA.... It also bothers me when a TA, in trying to get my business offers me some of their commission (strange as that may sound).

I apologize if I in any way of communicated something different.... it may be because I was burned by my TA my last go round... and was told "our problem with you is that you know much more than the average client."

Thanks again for the good information.

Ernesto

Hi again! I am back because I am still confused. We have a very large group going on a cruise in October. We have 24 rooms booked. They are comprised of 9 balcony,9 oceanview and 6 inside ( 3 of these are promenade). I am stilll confused about how much credit we will get.

Hello.... When the TA booked the group... RC would have sent them a sheet titled something like "Group Booking Confirmation." This document will state exactly what all the benefits are for your group.

It is all based upon the numbers the TA gave RC... so you'll want to take that into account if they happen to be holding more cabins than the ones you have reserved.

On that sheet you should see the total about of the Tour Conductor Credit AND the number of GAP points assigned to the group.

Being allowed to see this sheet avoids any idea of hiding anything... I find it helpful to see it...

Because you have the same number of cabins in Balcony and Oceanview.. I don't know what category they will base the Credit to since it is based on the category that has the highest number.

Ernesto

I have tried several times to call the RCL group phone number to no avail. Just put on hold forever. Is there another way to determine GAP points for our cruise on Independence next March 28? I would like to know before discussing it with our TA. We now have eight couples going together.

Sorry for the delay..... you will not be able to know the GAP points until you book as a group..... what I do is ask the TA for the booking confirmation.... this is where the real GAP point number will be found.

E

Hello.... I have been reading with some interest John's experience and am thankful that there are others that think a long the lines I think and operate with travel companies... Thank you John!!!!

Two cruises ago... a cruise my wife and I titled The "Interesting" Cruise... it seemed that everything that could go wrong (without anyone dying) did... water in the room... tuxedo very late.... laundry folded but not washed.... we made the decision to stay with Royal after they made it clear to us that they heard our concerns and sought to address them...

I will be interested in the response you get..

Blessings,

Ernesto

Can any one recommend a transfer company from MIA to the port in Fort Lauderdale. I know there are several who advertise online. thanks.

I would seriously consider the train..... it is easy and least expensive.

Ernesto

Can anyone give me the exact address(es) from which C&A sends their special offers and announcements to members?

After yrs of them "researching" why, despite reentering and checking my email (they are not blocked on my computer and say it's a glitch on their system) I never get any emails from them, but get them from the Marketing Dept. I am going to research it on my end. I have an aol email through Time Warner Cable which I believe uses Roadrunner server

The same thing happened to me... I was "blocked" for about 2 years.... It was not a problem on my end it turns out.... They admitted this happens to many of their customers....

I ended up calling the non toll free number of Royal and going to the supervisor... they had to put in a ticket.. and finally it was fixed... but it was all on their end..

Ernesto

I have a group cruise booked for this summer and we are receiving 1 free berth as well as a $50 OBC per stateroom. Is the OBC because of the GAP points? I have never heard of the GAP points before. When I booked, the group specialist at RCCL told me that these would be the two perks that we would receive for this cruise. Does this sound correct or am I missing out on something here?

That is what is sounds like.... my only questions would be...

1. Did your cruise have more than 4 GAP points?

2. Why were you not given the option of choosing how you wanted to use your GAP points?

Ernesto

This forum is great!!! I think a very good use of CruiseCritic!!!

My apologies if I ever gave the impression that I didn't value the work done by a Travel Agent....

And thank you for any corrections you all have offered.... I am just this crazy/silly guy who loves to put groups together when we travel... it is way too much fun... and I am thankful to share some of the things I have learned.

I found myself smiling when there were some comments made because of my saying "TA's don't like you knowing some of this information.".... because a couple months ago I was having a meeting with my TA and her boss because some of the charges were not being shown on their new invoices.... and in a kind of jest.. the boss said... "Ernesto... you simply know too much!!"

She continued to tell me that if I didn't know what I knew that they would have not told me about GAP points and would have have kept the majority for themselves... because it is real money and then gifted us $25 OBC or a fruit plate (worth 2 GAP points)...which had we not known would have seemed like a nice gift from them.

All I am looking for is fairness...... This next cruise we are doing I actually choose to give my TA 2 of my GAP points because I felt the non-commission fare was too high and that she was working a lot for our group.... but that was my choice

Ernesto

Crazypriest - you stated this a few back: personal opinion.... when I do this.. I tell the TA that they get to keep the commission that is set at the time of booking (which is 15% of the commission-able fare)... this is because I am "high maintenance" and expect a lot of work from the TA. The fare is broken up into 3 categories... Commission-able fare / non commission fare / Port taxes.

 

Its really bugging me as to why you would think you have the ability to tell the TA they get to keep their commission?

 

While I do think you should get every single perk you are entitled to - but their commission is their salary and a group is a lot of work. Whether you are high maintenance or not, I don't believe you have the ability to tell them they can keep their commission.

Thank you for your excellent question!!!! The reason I say this to the TA is actually your point... I DO VALUE all the work they do and I want to be clear from the beginning that I do..... I understand that some "group leaders" ask for additional benefits and "try" to get those from the commission amount... they attempt to play one TA from another.... so the reason I say it is to be clear that I will NEVER do that...

At the same time...I expect the same from the TA.... I am an Episcopal Priest and for some reason, when my wife and I travel, A LOT of people want to come along. Our trips are amazing. I plan all the excursions... and can usually offer to our group excursions that are 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of what the ship offers... and they are more personable and unique (ie... we have one stop in Crete and we took a bus up to a little town where I had befriended a night time manager in a hotel... her mom served us baklava and her dad served us some amazing drink... at the hotel we were served a Greek wedding feast.. we had music and dancers... and then the party turned into a dance fest... all for $45!!!) We work very hard to make the trip wonderful and full of hospitality.... my expectation is that our work is honored as well which is why I insist on being able to get our part....

I don't know if I said this above....but I work this all out with the TA up front and one of the things I ask for and offer is FULL TRANSPARENCY... (both ways).... I found that I can only get that if I am clear that I will not try to impose on their commission.

Blessings!

Ernesto

Hello...... here is a link that explains all the GAP points

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/General_Info/Flyers/10021360_GAP_Amenity_2011.pdf

In order for the "tour leader" to get cash... you would want to use the "marketing fund."

This, of course, is IN ADDITION to the TOUR CONDUCTOR CREDIT.....

Since the normal ratio for the Tour Conductor credit is 1 for 16.... (which is really 1 person for every 8 cabins booked).... you can increase it with GAP points to 1 for every 7 cabins... or 1 for every 6 cabins... or even 1 for every 5 cabins.

****

This whole "non commission" rate took me a while to understand.... but is one the reasons the TA's are being weird about all this.. and why I tell them up front that I will not touch their original commission (because I make them do A LOT of work for me and the group).

TA's get a commission of 15%....

1. Let's say the fare was $1200 per person... with $100 being port taxes...

2. In the old days the TA would get 15% on the $1100...... this would be $165 per booking.

3. Now... Royal says.... from the $1200... $100 is for taxes.... $400 is non-commission... and $700 is commissionable.... so the commission is only on the $700... which would be $105 per booking....... (if you are using anything like a balcony discount.... which for my last cruise was $300... then that amount is taken off the commission fare and not the non-commission fare..... so here the commission would be based on $400... which only then delivers $60 to the TA.

On a personal note.... some TA's hate that we know this stuff...

I hope this is helpful.

Ernesto

For the TAs---

When does Royal refund the free berth monies?

I know Carnival sends a check after the cruise has been completed. Sometimes TAs will advance this to their clients for the cruise.

 

Also, is it the full fare or only the commissionable part of the fare?

 

(More info for OP the better.)

1. I don't know the answer to your first question... only to say that I get my money prior to the trip... it is something I work out with the TA

2. The amount is everything supposed to be everything but the "taxes."

Ernesto

Well that is really confusing too because we have 23 rooms so far. Of those we have abt 10 balcony, 9 ocean view, 3 inside and 1 promenade. Don't even know how they figure that. And the Ta keeps saying, Oh I don't think that includes the NCCF. You have to pay that. So I am confused. Ready to pull the booking but the TA has to agree for us to switch to RC or a different agency.

Whatever you have the most of... in this case the balcony... that is the free berth you get..... but it really is the MONEY is costs... and you should get it before you leave...

Right now at 23 rooms you get the same as 2 berths... if you booked one more cabin... then you would get 3 berths..... (unless you used your GAP points and change the ratio.... which is something you can do)

I would be throwing a FIT if I were you and change TA if you need to...

The quick way to find out how many GAP points you have is to call the Group Desk and ask them.... just pretend you are booking a new group....

Good Luck!!!

PS... one way to change is to go talk to another TA and ask them to help you... that way you wouldn't be in the middle of it.

Ernesto

Like I said I would love to know the truth about the benefits. Anyone?

Hello... I have actually booked several groups now with Royal and have a pretty good understanding of the process.

1. I would highly recommend working with a Travel Agent (so you are not the middle person for money)..... but agree to the following before you begin.

a. You get the entire Tour Conductor Credit.

b. You get full access to the GAP points

c. Their commission is based upon the fare your first book it the cruise on, inclusive of any discounts your are starting with.

d. You agree that any reduction in price prior to final payment will be honored (This to me is most important if the price is more that $50.... sometimes we have had the price drop twice.... but I usually don't have them do the work if the drop is something small like $25.. unless it is a 3-4 night cruise)

e. Full transparency

personal opinion.... when I do this.. I tell the TA that they get to keep the commission that is set at the time of booking (which is 15% of the commission-able fare)... this is because I am "high maintenance" and expect a lot of work from the TA. The fare is broken up into 3 categories... Commission-able fare / non commission fare / Port taxes.

Now for the good stuff.

1. Groups are considered to be a group of 8 cabins.... they then say you get one berth for free (you still have to pay port taxes). If a person books a single and is paying full price... then that is considered a cabin.

2. The free berth is actually an amount of money..... so if everyone is paying... you just tell the TA you want a check for the amount prior to sailing.

This is called the Tour Conductor Credit. It should be the amount of the cabin category you qualify for minus the port taxes.

3. The amount is based on what is the most booked category on the group. If the majority are interiors.. the the berth rate is the interior rate... if the majority are balcony...then the berth rate is balcony.

4. In addition most cruises on Royal offer GAP points (Group Amenity Points). I have seen the number be as low as 2 and as high as 8.... TA's count on you not knowing about this and will take the value of the points....I always insist that I see the letter from the Group Department so I can see exactly what the true GAP point number is.

5. There are a lot of choices to choose from in the GAP points... but the normal value is $25 per cabin for 2 GAP points.

6. If you group has a need for a private meeting area... just send have the TA send in a request for the room for what ever times and dates you want. We always to a photo show that second to last day of the cruise.. so we use a conference room with all the tech stuff we need - ALL FOR FREE!

6. Ask the TA to request a meeting with the Group Coordinator on sailing date.

***

On the ship..

1. Every ship has a Saint of God called the Group Coordinator. When you get on the ship.... become their best friend!

2. They can get your group anything you want... with in reason.... including group tickets to the shows.... first boarding for tenders.... "it never hurts to ask!"

I hope this is helpful.... please let me know if you have any questions.

Blessings,

Ernesto

Cocoa Beach Shuttle was great... they have a little stand right to the right of the exit!

What settings do I need to change to make sure I don't run up charges or use up data? My service provider is Verizon if that matters. My ipad is one that is wireless and has the true GPS.

 

What do I need to be concerned about? What questions have I not asked that I needed to ask?

To be safe I would do 2 things:

1. Turn on Airplane MODE (this takes you off cellular)

2. Turn of Wifi (the reason for this is that sometimes if you go to Wifi and then try to log off... because you have to do that on the ship... the phone forgets how to do that.. so it keeps you logged in.... next thing you know is that you have a huge bill..... So I turn on wifi when I need it... try to log off... and then turn off wifi.

E

It showed $749 for balcony but when I clicked it was $979. Do they think we won't notice a $700 price difference or is there something I'm not doing. I've booked all our cruises on line and have never had this happen.

Hello... I have "enjoyed" learning all the ins and outs of prices on cruises... One of the factors you might consider is the amount of "port taxes." Depending on what port you depart from and what are the ports of call... there can be a significant difference in the final price..... these prices are only seen at final payment mode.

It is amazing to see that a short 3 night cruise out of Miami has a much higher amount of port taxes than a 14 night transatlantic out of Fort Lauderdale.

So I am wondering if your base fare is actually the correct fare... but the port tax was what increased your final fare...

Ernesto