CoachT

Thanks for posting. If people don't like the airport security, they should find another way to get where they are going! I'm all for keeping everyone safe.

Cheers!

 

Except the TSA is NOT security. It is nothing more than theatre with the illusion of safety!

There are usually none planned by the ship. Could be pastor passengers or lay people.

 

The cruise lines do not plan services as a general rule.

We did a food tour in Cozumel a few weeks ago and ate at hole in the wall places. Never once did we run into anyone from any of the ships in port. Best tour we have taken!

R-Bar will replace it on every ship.

Source? Link?

The Champagne Bar will go the way of the dodo bird.

Can't imagine why. It was always hopping two weeks ago.

Does anyone know if you can transfer a reservation from one TA to another that is offering better perks? I reserved 2 cabins (total of 9 people) with TA #1 and get free gratuities for 2 in each cabin (we have 5 in our cabin so we still have to pay for 3). Another family has also booked (linked with my booking), and there are 2 more possibly booking. I've read that other TAs have offered prepaid gratuities for 2 AND $100 OBC AND spa treatment AND specialty dining. I'm feeling deserving of more perks since I'm a repeat customer to this TA and have brought in at least 2 other bookings. Before I call, I wanted to know if anyone else has been in a similar situation or transferred TAs for any reason. Our cruise is on Allure in April, 2015.

 

And there are still people who wonder why some TA's charge cancellation fees. :rolleyes:

I will probably get points or banned for this, but there is so much more to an agency than just perks or a lower price.

 

Personally I am still dealing with fallout from the Millennium cancelled the remainder of their Alaska season at the end of August. All of those Future cruise credits issued earns the agency zero commission when they are booked. So we do a lot of work for free. Those agents with clients on those sailings either got phone calls when first told they wouldn't be sailing and booked excursions in Seward, cancelled other excursions and are now helping with the new booking. Or we called our clients about to sail to tell them the bad news.

 

So yes we do charge a consultation fee to match the client with the right trip and believe me there are more cruisers out there then there are posters on cruise critic. We also charge a cancellation fee in some cases just as any other professional consultant would if their services were used, a job started and then cancelled or changed.

 

Try getting a contractor not to charge a cancellation fee once the work is done or a change fee.

 

I may be losing business to those who "know what they want and won't pay", but I am also turning business away every single day. I currently have a waiting list to become a client and won't take on just anyone. You wont find me online or in the phone book. I am only by referral and only by appointment.

Yes

I don't think 75% of cruises are booked with a TA I think 75% are booked directly with the cruise line.

Wrong!

Computers have replaced a lot of service industry jobs and TA's will be another casualty.

Been hearing that since the 90's and I am busier than ever. People call TA's because they want advice and service.

Another good reason to have control of your reservation by not using a TA.

What does THAT have to do with anything?

 

As a TA, I have gotten clients several upgrades with purchase on new booking only sales.

 

As far as the OP is concerned, consider it this way. They have to fill the ships. What would be unfair is if you had to pay a higher rate on a sailing that is selling well because someone was willing to pay more for your location!

 

I know one cruise line that looked at floating rates that could go up before final payment unless it was paid in full!

Wrong. The price is locked in for 24 hours.

WRONG the stateroom is held. I do this every single day and I have seen price changes without a deposit.

Unless you had a deposit on the cruise, a "hold" on cabins is meaningless. The prices can and do change are are not guaranteed until you have money on the booking. Sorry your price increased so much.

And I have zero sympathy for someone who doesnt take out insurance and gets burned!

[quote name='waterbug123']I have taken over 20 cruises and at least an equal number of land-based vacations in the past 10 years. I have never purchased travel insurance for these and have never had to cancel a trip so have never needed insurance. I look at it like this: If something came up and I had to cancel, fine- I may be out the cost of the cruise. But in the grand scheme of things, I have saved far more than the cost of a single cruise by not buying travel insurance 40+ times. Yes, I have insurance on my home, because suddenly being out several hundred thousand dollars at once WOULD be a burden. But being out $1000 or $2000 for a single cruise would be disappointing but would not materially affect my ability to go on with life.

YES, I realize I am taking a risk. I have weighed that risk and decided that [U]for me[/U], it is worth it and I'm willing and able to accept the cost consequences if it doesn't pan out. I don't criticize anyone else for getting insurance though, and if I planned a really long or expensive trip I would probably consider it for myself. To each his own in that regard.

Oh, and I assure you that if something happens and I can't go on my cruise next month, you will not hear me on hear bitching and moaning about needing insurance that I didn't buy![/quote]
Okay, but what if something happens to someone to your immediate family causing you to miss the cruise? Okay you can afford to be out the few thousand for the cruise if you miss it.

How about if you need to be evacuated from a foreign country should you have a medical emergency? The cost of an air ambulance from the Caribbean alone starts at $25K and goes up. If you can afford to self-pay great. I can tell you of one case in Jamaica where the ambulance wanted $5000 on a credit card just to take them from the ship.

It is a peace of mind thing, but I can share that we just had recent clients who had flown on JetBlue just after a cruise at the beginning of the year and were stuck in FLL from Monday until Saturday morning. Travel insurance is reimbursing almost all of those expenses for hotels and meals.

I have seen these offers, but after my one and only Carnival experience on Dream, I won't ever set foot on a Carnival ship again free or not!

One great thing about HAL. Once you board, you can go straight to your stateroom and it is ready. An amazing benefit when you cruise on them. No waiting around until 1pm or 1:30 if you like to board early!

But a lot of this discussion is occurring because someone said something about people thinking TA's should work for nothing when in fact the majority (at least all I have dealt with) work on commissions only for cruise business.

Because people are making changes and cancelling their booking is exactly why more and more agencies are charging fees.

 

Just because you have never heard of an agency that charges a consultation fee doesn't mean they don't exist. Remember more people cruise than read or even know about cruise critic.

I've never heard of a cruise line compensating a TA for a cruise sale with a fee vs. a commission, nor have I heard of situations where TAs don't get commissions but instead charge a fee for cruises which is what I understand has been the case with air bookings for some time. Am I incorrect in this or has there been a change in the fundamental way cruise lines compensate TAs?

The cruise line pays a commission for bringing them the client. Clients pay many travel agents a consultation fee for all the work they do for them. Many Travel Agents are paid by both the client and the cruise line.

 

So when a client cancels or makes changes, with many agencies, they must pay the TA for all of the work that has been requested regardless of the commission. Some work on a flat fee, some charge a la carte just like the airlines. These agencies also do not give up a dime of their commission and are turning away business they do not want or need.

Travel Agencies are a commission business and a retail business.

Many travel agencies do not just work on commission. They are fee based just like a Certified Financial Planner who also makes a commission on some of the products they recommend.

 

Fees are becoming the way of the industry and some will go direct but those who seek out the advice of a travel consultant are going to pay for that advice and pay when they make changes and cancellations.

We have a policy of refusing business from those clients who will not take out insurance and/or do not have a valid passport for a cruise.

I am amazed at the number of people who think TAs should work for nothing.

 

If you went to work and the boss sent you home after 2 hours would you expect not to get paid?

Well said. Thankfully not all TAs have to take on clients that won't pay consultation or cancellation fees. There are far more people cruising than are on cruise critic.

 

Imagine doing customized work on a home and then deciding to make changes midstream or cancel the project all together. Some who don't know what they are talking about think it is JUST booking a cruise, but for the professionals it is far more than that!

Unless you have something in writing, you are going to be out of luck. You can try to file a claim in small claims court, but that could cost you more than the credit you are trying to get when you factor in time.

 

Chalk it up to lesson learned. This happens far more often than anyone will admit.

The officer interviewing me (by the way the nicest dealings I have ever had with a member of the government) said if the kiosk at an airport is not working, you go to the closest line at the front and show your sticker affixed to your passport. You then will be the next in line.

 

I said what about coming off a cruise ship, she said the same thing. Show your sticker and you will be the next in line.

Got our GLOBAL ENTRY done last week and the CBP agent said this can also use to get to the front of the line at any SeaPort. I know if the kiosks in airports are not working, we are to go to the closest agent and show our sticker and/or card and we then get to be next in line. She also said it is the same at seaports.

 

Has anyone done this with a GLOBAL ENTRY card when coming off a cruise?

This is why we cruise carrying only carry-ons. Works great!