Booking online vs through a PCP

Havent cruised for several years and always booked direct online or with a travel agent doing a group booking. Do you find any differences in booking through a live person vs booking online?

I typically find what I want online and the call my PVP. I feel it keeps someone in a job, no other reason.

We do sacrifice a few bucks by using a pvp but like having control over our booking

We have a PVP at Carnival but I always book direct or through them. At the time I do my booking if they're not working at the time then I will book directly on the website. If they're working then I will let them handle it. I won't use a travel agent though because for me doing the booking and planning is part of the fun and I don't want some middle man involved in my travel plans. A plate of strawberries of $50 OBC just isn't worth it to me to turn over my booking to someone else then have to go through them for everything.

pcp a general person who answers incoming calls?

or a pvp. I use a pvp, she can hold rooms while i call my roomie to clear the date, for up to 48 hours this time. I know there is a way I could have held the cabin myself, but why when i have a good pvp?

she gave me the address to submit my stockholders.

If something does go wrong i have someone in my corner.

pvp .... but not pcp

I too dont use a TA. Most of them dont like handling Carnival "smaller" bookings and act like they are doing me a favor, If there was a price drop and I wanted to upgrade I want someone I can get to etc.

We do sacrifice a few bucks by using a pvp but like having control over our booking

You don’t sacrifice anything by not booking through a PVP. PVP’s do not have access to rates that you don’t have access to yourself online. Maybe you are thinking of a travel agent? Sometimes TA’s can get you OBC' date=' but you do lose control of your booking when booked through a TA.

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Don't book on PCP, nothing good comes from that. Feel free to use you PVP though. We book direct online. We know what we want so don't see the need to use a PVP. I will never use a vacation planner. First cruise we booked through Sams Club and couldn't use gift cards (10% off AARP), wont make that mistake again. Plus anytime you need to do something cant just call Carnival.

Don't book on PCP, nothing good comes from that. Feel free to use you PVP though. We book direct online. We know what we want so don't see the need to use a PVP. I will never use a vacation planner. First cruise we booked through Sams Club and couldn't use gift cards (10% off AARP), wont make that mistake again. Plus anytime you need to do something cant just call Carnival.

That's subjective. ;p

....Now, I am going back to watching "Up in smoke"

We do it both ways. Both work and i havent seen any difference in price either.

Thank you, everyone!

pcp a general person who answers incoming calls?

 

or a pvp. I use a pvp, she can hold rooms while i call my roomie to clear the date, for up to 48 hours this time. I know there is a way I could have held the cabin myself, but why when i have a good pvp?

 

she gave me the address to submit my stockholders.

 

If something does go wrong i have someone in my corner.

 

pvp .... but not pcp

 

I too dont use a TA. Most of them dont like handling Carnival "smaller" bookings and act like they are doing me a favor, If there was a price drop and I wanted to upgrade I want someone I can get to etc.

It's interesting you say that. I was wondering the same thing.

The question is if they don't like handling small bookings, what do they handle? Are there a lot of luxury crusing bookings, group bookings, charters for TA's to work on?

How do I get a "good" PVP (for me that would mean knowledge and longevity...)?

Dec will be our first CCL sailing. I booked through a Carnival rep who started "stocking" (lol) me via phone after I made a mock booking online. I was such a newbie at that time...no clue if he was a "pcp" vs "pvp," but I know he left the company about a year later, gave us piece of wrong info about the not-yet-built ship and booked us in an adjoining cabin on an almost-empty ship...

How do I get a "good" PVP (for me that would mean knowledge and longevity...)?

 

Dec will be our first CCL sailing. I booked through a Carnival rep who started "stocking" (lol) me via phone after I made a mock booking online. I was such a newbie at that time...no clue if he was a "pcp" vs "pvp," but I know he left the company about a year later, gave us piece of wrong info about the not-yet-built ship and booked us in an adjoining cabin on an almost-empty ship...

Get a recommendation. Sorry, we're not allowed to give those out on here :(.

Since they eliminated the benefits of booking during a cruise, I have booked all our cruises online. I like having complete control over my booking and I also like knowing exactly what room I am booking.

Since they eliminated the benefits of booking during a cruise, I have booked all our cruises online. I like having complete control over my booking and I also like knowing exactly what room I am booking.

You can also do that through a PVP. If you get the right one, it’s even easier than doing it online and should you have any hiccups along the way, it’s nice to be able to talk to one person that will give you the right info the first time and and handle it all in one call.

I typically find what I want online and the call my PVP. I feel it keeps someone in a job, no other reason.

This. I used to book through an online site but our latest cruise I went with a PVP so we could get connecting cabins. Couldn't really get that online. You can also negotiate some OBC that way, too.

I too call my PVP after I've already been online and found the cabin I want. This way, she keeps a job & I get what I want (lol). We normally book due to an offer from the casino - my upcoming is an Ultra Premier - and I'm not so sure she's really informed about these anymore than I am. My last PVP left the company - he was great at keeping me advised of my VIFP offers - this one, not so much.

She was able to give me some assistance for this upcoming cruise - I wanted Anytime Dining, which was full so she put us on the waiting list & promised she would keep up with it. Lo & behold, 2 weeks later, when checking something online, I saw that we had Anytime. Now, did she do that for us, or was it automatic from being on the waiting list - who knows, but she did get me on the waiting list at least.

This. I used to book through an online site but our latest cruise I went with a PVP so we could get connecting cabins. Couldn't really get that online. You can also negotiate some OBC that way, too.

Why couldn't you get connecting cabins using an online site? They should have access to every cabin in Carnivals inventory.:confused:

Bill

I also do my research online, select the sailing and cabin I want, and call my PVP to make the booking. I always ask him if there is anything he knows that I don't regarding the selection of a better cabin; he has helped a time or two in the past, but I am getting better at it now :) If there is a fantastic deal that won't wait at a time he is not available, I just book online. I did see an opportunity to upgrade from PT to OV (with no change in cost) a few weeks ago at 5:00 a.m., so I called the general number. I was told - repeatedly - that it was not possible, and I finally gave up. I sent an email to my PVP anyway, thinking it would be too late once he reported to work, and to my surprise he read my email, made the change I wanted, and sent me an email to apologize for the other rep and let me know I had been moved.

Last cruise, wanted a specific room on a specific sailing. Carnival web site did not show the room as available. Contacted a TA I've used before. They said give them a day. Sure enough, the next day I had the room I wanted. I am confident that a PVP could have done the same thing.

I like to book on-line, but occasionally a real person can accomplish specific wants.

You've received OBC from a PVP? That would be a first.

This is the first cruise dealing solely with a PVP, and actually was able to get OBC from them....:D