Travel agent questions

Hello~

We are looking to book a cruise on the Horizon next year. We called Carnival and a local travel agent. The Carnival person gave us a better deal (by about $10!) and a $25 OBC. I'm curious, how does Carnival offer a better deal than what is on the website and what the TA can get? Is it rude to ask the local TA if she can meet and/or match Carnival? I would prefer the local TA, but I'm probably going to be outvoted by the other members of my group.

Does having AAA get us any kind of discount?

We would really like to get FTTF. What are the odds of it becoming available? Could Carnival or the local TA help us get FTTF?

Thanks!

Hello~

 

We are looking to book a cruise on the Horizon next year. We called Carnival and a local travel agent. The Carnival person gave us a better deal (by about $10!) and a $25 OBC. I'm curious, how does Carnival offer a better deal than what is on the website and what the TA can get? Is it rude to ask the local TA if she can meet and/or match Carnival? I would prefer the local TA, but I'm probably going to be outvoted by the other members of my group.

Does having AAA get us any kind of discount?

We would really like to get FTTF. What are the odds of it becoming available? Could Carnival or the local TA help us get FTTF?

 

Thanks!

If your TA charges more than what Carnival is charging, Run don't walk from that TA.

Most people book with TA's to get cheaper prices not more expensive prices.

The ones who are going to out vote you are doing the right thing.

Bill

Something else to consider is that if you use a travel agent, Carnival won’t discuss your booking with you. So, if you find fare reductions and your travel agent is unavailable for some reason, you could lose out.

Hi

One of the main reasons for using a travel agent is to secure better pricing. Not all TA's can do this. Be up front, tell them you are looking for the best price (for same product/cabin). Tell them the price you have available and if the can do better. It is not improper to ask. In fact you should ask what type of service you can expect from them such as checking for price drops and verify if there could be any possible additional fees. If they try to brush you off, you simply have to thank them and say goodbye.

You may get better prices with any number of service clubs that offer travel sales, but you need to ask each to get the bottom line...again for the same cabin. It can take some extra time and effort, but that's the nature of shopping around. As you pointed out, you could just go to your local TA, but you know that you can go to Carnival for a better price. You might find an even better saving elsewhere, but you won't know if you don't ask. Put in the effort you are willing.

If you know that FTTF is not available at this time for your intended booking, there is nothing that anyone can do. Just be patient and check regularly to see if it becomes available before you sail.

have a great cruise

Are you sure you're looking at the exact same cabins? There can be price differentials for mid ship vs. aft and forward. Obviously the decks, too.

Carnival gave you a better deal that was is on their website? Yeah, I've never heard of that. I would get it in writing and show your TA. They shouldn't be able to give you a better deal than the TA, unless the TA is charging a fee.

I would clarify exactly how the offer is better than what is advertised. That is pretty much unheard of.

I would clarify exactly how the offer is better than what is advertised. That is pretty much unheard of.

Not only unheard of, it violates the contractual agreement Carnival has with TA's. Op, you can get FTTF regardless of how you book. Are there other booking considerations that Carnival cannot help with (pre or post travel to/from port, hotel etc)? Insurance is usually better and cheaper on the outside if any of these are true.

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I always book the cruise myself through the cruise line and then transfer to my TA with 90 days of the booking. I get about a 10% OBC from the TA and the price is the same as the cruise line unless the TA is able to put me into a group booking with a better rate. Then I email any payments or changes to her and she promptly takes care of it for me.

Your $10 price difference was probably because one put you in an early saver rate and one put you in a past guest rate.

how does Carnival offer a better deal than what is on the website and what the TA can get?[/b]

Travel Agencies and Carnival direct Sales Agents should always ask about all of the "qualifiers" available in order to give you an accurate pricing quote. Apples for apples, the pricing should be identical regardless of TA or Carnival Direct.

Those qualifiers are things like:

Past Guest (VIFP) .. Military.. Senior .. Residency .. Interline .. etc.

The one most overlooked by TA's is Past Guest (VIFP). If you don't provide the TA a VIFP # they need to look it up using a separate step by logging on to the Carnival TA online GoCCLwebsite. Carnival Direct agents have much quicker, easier and efficient access to Past Guest info and VIFP numbers.

Putting an actual VIFP # into a price search can yield not only exclusive VIFP Past Guest pricing but also any Casino or other special Targeted Offers.

In this case, it sounds like the TA missed one of the qualifiers, and because you mention $25 OBC it most likely was the VIFP Past Guest qualifier.

Hello~

 

We are looking to book a cruise on the Horizon next year. We called Carnival and a local travel agent. The Carnival person gave us a better deal (by about $10!) and a $25 OBC. I'm curious, how does Carnival offer a better deal than what is on the website and what the TA can get? Is it rude to ask the local TA if she can meet and/or match Carnival? I would prefer the local TA, but I'm probably going to be outvoted by the other members of my group.

Does having AAA get us any kind of discount?

We would really like to get FTTF. What are the odds of it becoming available? Could Carnival or the local TA help us get FTTF?

 

Thanks!

There are some TA's, such as the one mentioned in your post, that are reluctant to work with Carnival, and will try to redirect you towards a different cruise line, such as RCCL. Keeping that in mind, it doesn't hurt to shop around to try to find the best deal. If you do opt to go with a TA, make sure you get someone that will work for you, and not just take your money and say "Thank-you. Have a nice trip."

I have booked directly with Carnival (not a PVP, but through the website) and have had no problems. I have booked with a TA and have had no problems. I have booked online and tranferred the booking to a TA and have had no problems. It really comes down to who offers the better deal.

One caveat: once you book (or transfer) to a TA, you won't be able to discuss your booking directly with Carnival nor will you be able to make payments on Carnival.com. You can still buy excursions, Bottomless Bubbles, Cheers, etc online through the website.

As far as FTTF, you will just have to "stalk" for it. Check every day, multiple times per day. The best time seems to be before 6am. If you see it available, grab it immediately!

I use nothing but a TA now due to better perks and loyality bonuses . . . .but it was difficult reaching them for a price drop and I almost missed out, so definitely keep that in mind.

I use nothing but a TA now due to better perks and loyality bonuses . . . .but it was difficult reaching them for a price drop and I almost missed out, so definitely keep that in mind.

The TA does become the go-to person between the cruise line and your cabin BUT all other aspects are in your direct control. She pays with our credit card number.

You personally can book excursions, book FTTF, buy stuff from the fun shops for the cabin like alcohol, water, and decorations.

We have a gem of a TA. In her file she keeps our loyalty program ID numbers for all the lines we sail and uses them in our bookings.

When we had to cancel in Dec 4 days before sailing she really had our back. With an email from me she canceled the cruise, opened a cancellation file for us with our trip insurance, sent us the papers we needed to fill out for insurance company, and resent copies of the cruise line receipts we needed to submit with the insurance papers.

We've always gotten better deals and service booking directly through the website. TA's are unnecessary unless you are doing a lot more than a standard cruise (ie: world cruise, several b2b, several flights, large group, etc...)

Thanks everyone for the tips and advice! My friends just laughed at me for considering the TA over the cheaper Carnival price. Especially considering that I am known for squeezing a nickel and trying to getting a dime! :')

We kept being told that FTTF was sold out, when it was really not made available yet. Good to know!

My challenge now is that I can transfer our booking to this new TA, and we would get about $40 off per person through a benefit from work. BUT, I am kind of a control freak. :o Other than saving $40 (which is great), what would be the benefit of a TA? I'm a little leery of giving up control to someone else. Would she get the FTTF when it becomes available? Price drops? Shore excursions, either with Carnival or private excursions?

Thanks everyone for the tips and advice! My friends just laughed at me for considering the TA over the cheaper Carnival price. Especially considering that I am known for squeezing a nickel and trying to getting a dime! :')

We kept being told that FTTF was sold out, when it was really not made available yet. Good to know!

My challenge now is that I can transfer our booking to this new TA, and we would get about $40 off per person through a benefit from work. BUT, I am kind of a control freak. :o Other than saving $40 (which is great), what would be the benefit of a TA? I'm a little leery of giving up control to someone else. Would she get the FTTF when it becomes available? Price drops? Shore excursions, either with Carnival or private excursions?

I certainly wouldn't do it for $40.

I doubt the travel agent would do any of what you are looking for but you'd have to discuss that with the TA to be sure.

Bill

Other than saving $40 (which is great), what would be the benefit of a TA? I'm a little leery of giving up control to someone else. Would she get the FTTF when it becomes available? Price drops? Shore excursions, either with Carnival or private excursions?

There are posts above this that posters took time to explain what you're asking.

FTTF is an excursion and is booked as such.

Private excursions are just that and are normally booked by you no matter who you book with although there are some folks that do have their TA recommend or book them.