UK Question - Transferring to a TA after booking onboard

[excitedofharpenden]

I booked an Azamara cruise for October whilst I was on Journey this past week and there is an offer of up to $1000 OBC for this particular cruise advertised through a UK TA and I'd like to take advantage of it if I can. Not having done a transfer to a travel agent for an onboard booking before does anyone know what the procedure is for a UK based cruiser? Is it just a case of me ringing the travel agent and giving them my original booking number, asking them to take it over and that's it or do I have to do something else? Any advice appreciated. The particular offer I'm looking at expires tomorrow. Many thanks.

 

Phil

[Xport]

But--in the US--there is a transfer form that needs to be completed/signed by the guest, returned to the Travel Agent, and the Travel Agent in turn submits it to the cruise line [same practice is used here for Celebrity]...

 

With commissions at stake, I tend to doubt that it'll be as simple as a phone call...

 

If no one from the UK posts here promptly, the information isn't available on Azamara's UK website [and in fact, the form may be available for download if one can find it], and you don't want to call Azamara, I'd suggest that you call the Travel Agent directly... They'll know the drill...

 

Sounds like a great deal... Good luck in getting the transfer accomplished quickly...

[excitedofharpenden]

Thanks XPort. I had a feeling there might be more to it and it's good to know the practice first hand before I take it further. I'll see what replies I get here and then take your advice and call the ta directly.

 

Phil

[Glenndale]

Thanks XPort. I had a feeling there might be more to it and it's good to know the practice first hand before I take it further. I'll see what replies I get here and then take your advice and call the ta directly.

 

Phil

Phil, good to meet you at last.

As to your question I've no idea, although nothing seems straight forward with these book on board and OPC deals.

I'll look forward to seeing the replies you get.

We've just booked another cruise on Journey for November 2015, no OPC or OBC but an easy transaction with our TA. ;)

[nordski]

I agree that your TA should know the procedure.

 

Perhaps for future reference, unlike XPort's experience we have never had to fill out a form to transfer an open booking. The Future Cruises official, after obtaining our consent, automatically sent the booking to our TA's office. This was the same process as used by Celebrity.

 

I, of course, have no idea whether this method is available to UK cruisers whilst they are on board.

 

Best of luck, Phil. It seems the TA culture is considerably different in your country.

[Xport]

I agree that your TA should know the procedure.

 

Perhaps for future reference, unlike XPort's experience we have never had to fill out a form to transfer an open booking. The Future Cruises official, after obtaining our consent, automatically sent the booking to our TA's office. This was the same process as used by Celebrity.

 

I, of course, have no idea whether this method is available to UK cruisers whilst they are on board.

 

Best of luck, Phil. It seems the TA culture is considerably different in your country.

 

Is somewhat the same as yours... If booking a specific cruise or an Open Passages Certificate while aboard once a Travel Agent has been associated with your past cruise profile, the Future Cruise Sales Specialist always asks if the purchase should be assigned to the same agent for the current purchase... Under such circumstances, no Transfer Form is required... But I'm not of the impression--perhaps I'm wrong or it differs in the UK--that Phil has used this agent before; if so, I suspect that a Transfer Form--almost surely something more than a phone call--will be required for a cruise booked aboard [hopefully, that'll be different--as it is here--for subsequent onboard bookings once a relationship is documented]...

 

I use a small travel agency--essentially a one person operation closed on weekends--and I've twice had to execute a Transfer Form in recent years [long after I initially established a relationship with my agent]...

 

In the first case, I booked a cruise by phone through Captain's Club--over a weekend--to take advantage of an expiring promotion and to get the exact cabin I wanted... In the second, I placed a hold on a cabin over a weekend via the cruise line's website and immediately wrote to my agent asking that she convert the hold to a reservation the following Monday morning... In both cases, I needed to go through the formal process [form] of getting the reservation transferred to my Travel Agent...

 

I believe, at least within the Royal Caribbean family of brands and within the US, that cruises booked directly with the cruise line by phone or by web are--by default--assigned to the cruise line or their designated agent [i know without a doubt--even if not apparent--that Celebrity sometimes directs booking calls (or has in the past)--at least on an overflow basis--to agents with whom they've contracted for such services]...

 

Paying a commission can be a very attractive/cost effective alternative to a cruise line's staffing up for anticipated peak periods--which may or may not materialize--without subjecting themselves to direct wage/benefit pressures that come with longevity, without so substantial/continuing investments in training and information systems, and--at least conceptually--frees up their own employees for higher level/more complex/less repetitive work... Commissions here are based upon an agent's sales volume with a cruise line but are, in all cases, a known percentage by agent and on average... If prices go up--and that's a good thing--the cruise line's spend on administrative overhead is still likely subject to less fluctuation/more predictable than associated with directly employing full or part-timers and requires fewer managers [they manage relationships rather than the vast operation/related hassles]... Same concepts--shift the risk and concentrate investment on core competencies rather than administrative overheads--are in play for work that is outsourced/contracted to third party partners...

Edited May 22, 2014 by Xport

[Andy]

Hi Phil,

 

Just wanted to say that I hope it all works out in your favor. With all of the reported unhappiness with the Guatemala call center, it makes sense to use a TA, and let them deal with your booking.

 

As I've said in other posts, I'd be shocked if Azamara changed their mind on Guatemala, but I hope they make a stronger effort to get the staff up to speed on the Azamara product, thereby creating an improved shoreside experience for their guests.

 

Please let us know the outcome, and good luck !

Edited May 22, 2014 by Host Andy

[Lottie A]

Hi Phil,

As you know, Hazel and myself are considering joining you on this cruise and we received a very fair quote from Hazel's TA. She said she would match Azamara's inside to balcony upgrade plus the OBC, include transfers and fly from our preferred airport. Of course, the OBC offer runs out tomorrow I think, so you have to act quickly. I'll give Hazel a heads up and perhaps she can get back to you.

 

Of course I can't mention her TA name here but if you email Hazel then she will be able to help. She has been having IT issues since she got back from Journey but I think they are fixed now.

 

Glad you are feeling better....I know Hazel had a good time on Journey. Wish I could have been there too.

[MightyQuinn]

Phil - Our experience is from Canada not the UK. We transferred an on-board booking to a new TA using an AZ form that the TA provided. We had 60 days to do so and we could not have any Choice Air arrangements on the booking before making the transfer. We completed the form, faxed it back to the TA and they took it from there. I expect the process would be similar in the UK.

 

I found this AZ transfer form on line. It's a little different than what we used since it has many more choice of reasons for the transfer. It should be good for some time as it's dated 12/5/2103! ;);)

 

http://www.cruisingpower.com/content/en_US/PDF/13036520_ACC_Booking_Transfer_Form.pdf

[excitedofharpenden]

Thank you everyone for your input. With the help of my ex-Personal Cruise Specialist at Azamara who was able to note all my bookings so that Guatemala knew when contacted and above mentioned Hazel I have now successfully transferred my bookings to a UK ta who I think will give me the service that I need. Very sorry not to be able to use Britt at the UK office any longer, but this is a good alternative, I'm sure.

 

Lottie, we spoke of you a number of times. Hazel is a delight. Really hope to meet you in October. All good wishes to you.

 

Phil

[Lottie A]

Thank you everyone for your input. With the help of my ex-Personal Cruise Specialist at Azamara who was able to note all my bookings so that Guatemala knew when contacted and above mentioned Hazel I have now successfully transferred my bookings to a UK ta who I think will give me the service that I need. Very sorry not to be able to use Britt at the UK office any longer, but this is a good alternative, I'm sure.

 

Lottie, we spoke of you a number of times. Hazel is a delight. Really hope to meet you in October. All good wishes to you.

 

Phil

 

I think you will be very happy with the very helpful and organised TA you have found Phil.

 

I know Hazel very much enjoyed your company on Journey and I do hope we can join you in October.....but if not then, well I'm sure we will meet up on an Azamara cruise sometime......I seem to remember you owe me a drink! :D

[Xport]

That it has all worked out for you, Phil... Enjoy!

[uktog]

Great to know Phil - useful for the future plans we have thanks for sharing