PCC vs just booking on-line

[DorothyB]

I understand the differences between purchasing from an independent TA vs booking direct from Norwegian.

 

What I'm struggling more with is the benefits of booking through a PCC vs just going on-line and booking myself, then calling the main number for any changes.

 

What are the plusses of dealing with a PCC?

 

What are the negatives?

 

I cruise about once a year and May was my first NCL cruise after 4 Carnival cruises.

 

Thanks!

[Sparkygirl]

What is listed on line is only a portion of available bookings also PCC's can offer additional discounts or special incentives.

 

Negatives? I haven't found one, once booked I can do everything on line or I can call my PCC.

 

 

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[TSUmom]

Working with my PCC I sometimes get deals and discounts I am not aware of.

[punkincc]

Hi, DorothyB!

 

If I'm booking direct with NCL, I like to talk to a PCC rather than book it online. That process just seems too confusing and tedious, especially with NCL's non user friendly web site.

 

With a PCC on the line, you can figure out whether to book with the AARP discount, another promotion, Latitudes, what's combinable and what's not, etc. He may be able to present options you were not aware of. We called once to book a balcony and found out we could get a family suite for not much more. Would have totally missed our first suite experience if we had booked online.

[jemrtt]

I empathize with your feelings. I strictly booked via Internet until last year when I needed to book a last minute cruise. (2 days prior) On the website, there weren't anymore cabins available. But I called a PCC and they got my DH and I onboard...albeit an inside cabin...but we were onboard:D:D

Then as we were running late for the cruise...nyc midday traffic + my step dad's slooooowwwwww driving...we called him to ask him to alert the ship that we were enroute. (We made it) it was just nice speaking to someone I knew already.

 

This time around, booking 40+ days out, again I was going to use the website. But I needed to use a cruise reward, so I had to call. I got a new PCC who was so kind to give us a small gift in our cabin due to the fact that our 10th anniversary was soured by bad news here at home. And when it gets closer to the sail date, we can call him to see what's opened up so we can try for an upgrade. Who knows if we will move, if we don't its fine. But I've found a new appreciation for my PCC.

 

However you decide to book your next cruise...Have fun!:D

[mtwingcpa]

My PCC has been extremely helpful. So I usually start my booking online, putting it on "hold" (if possible), and then call her to give my credit card number (I assume she thereby gets credit for the booking) and finalize any details. She has also helped nail down promotions or discounts that weren't obviously doable online.

[LegallyBlonder]

I'm of the "book everything online" generation, but first needed to involve a PCC when booking a Garden Villa on the Gem- the website would only allow me to book 6 into the cabin, but I knew it accommodated 7 (it even said so on the website, but the reservation kept telling me I was exceeding max capacity). The PCC was obviously able to make the correction. I didn't find him particularly helpful outside of that, with regard to that sailing.

 

When booking another GV for our upcoming Dawn cruise however, I decided to call our PCC since I knew they had all of our parties' information (so I wouldn't have to re-enter). Well, he ended up suggesting the AARP discount even though by husband and I are in our mid-30s, because my parents would be sailing in the GV with us. Holy Moly- he saved us almost a thousand dollars just like that! If that wasn't worth using our PCC, I don't know what is!

 

He also ended up choosing a cabin for me when my husband and I randomly decided to book a CTN on Breakaway in a regular balcony cabin. He made suggestions based on a variety of factors so that I didn't even have to think (aka, obsess!) about it. And again, all our info was already stored, so booking took 5 min!

 

 

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[Medtech2]

What is listed on line is only a portion of available bookings also PCC's can offer additional discounts or special incentives.

 

Negatives? I haven't found one, once booked I can do everything on line or I can call my PCC.

 

 

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Not really. The 800 number can do the same, plus my particular PCC loves the word, "no" whereas the different people I've dealt with on the 800 number always seem to try...

[SeaShark]

I understand the differences between purchasing from an independent TA vs booking direct from Norwegian.

 

What I'm struggling more with is the benefits of booking through a PCC vs just going on-line and booking myself, then calling the main number for any changes.

 

What are the plusses of dealing with a PCC?

 

What are the negatives?

 

I cruise about once a year and May was my first NCL cruise after 4 Carnival cruises.

 

Thanks!

 

 

You can, if you feel comfortable with it, simply book your vacation yourself...in much the same way as you can pick up some OTC meds and treat yourself when you are sick.

 

Another option is to use a Travel Agent. The TA is a professional who is trained in the travel field. They learn about all the cruise lines, all the airlines, all the hotels, all the resorts, etc. IOW...they know a little about everything. Sorta like my family doctor.

 

The last option is the PCC. Also a professional, they are much the same as the TA, except they only learn about and deal with one thing: NCL. They aren't experts on airlines, hotels, etc, but they have a more in-depth knowledge of NCL than a regular TA would. Much like seeing a specialist.

 

Any of these options will work...the fact that there are people who use them is proof of that. You just have to pick something that fits in with YOUR level of comfort.

[Cubechick]

For example, I put a hold on a suite a couple of weeks ago and got the $150 OBC currently offered. I let my PCC know that I had the hold and an FCC to use. She finalized the booking for me and increased the OBC to $300 (for booking more than 9 months out) and on a weekend at that!

 

Granted if I'd called NCL I would have received the same OBC, but it is nice to deal with a familiar person!