Can I switch TA's after I book a group Cruise

[saber32]

Would it be possible to switch TA's after i booked our group Cruise (9 Cabins).The Ta we have now didn't even tell us we are eligible for Gap points or any other discounts.

[Host Caroline]

I know Princess will let the group switch TA's.. they have a form you have to sign .. you have to have another TA in place. The alternative depending on when you are sailing is simply to cancel if you can get deposits back and rebook with someone else. It's been a while since I was a TA so not sure what RCI's policy on this is now but you should be able to?

[Linda/Ohio]

I was allowed to do so a year or so ago...the TA screwed up the booking and I was able to prove it to RCCL. I had to get the original TA to relinquish the bookings and then they were rebooked through a new TA.

[tribefan]

Did you say anything to the TA? I know with our group booking (16) cabins, I brought it up to her attention after reading about GAP points here. I even called RCCL and asked how many points were assigned to our sailing. Needless to say, after that converstation, she called back about a week later saying their agency was going to host a cocktail party for our group on the ship and what day would we like to schedule it for. She admitted to me, that it had been quite awhile since she had done a group booking on RCCL. I also stressed to her that we wanted to all sit together for dinner and sent her a seating chart. She said that she now has an "in" at group reservations, we will see how that turns out in 3 months!

[jcanino]

Would it be possible to switch TA's after i booked our group Cruise (9 Cabins).The Ta we have now didn't even tell us we are eligible for Gap points or any other discounts.

 

First of all, are you sure that your particular sailing is eligible for GAP points? Not all sailings on every ship has them. If your sailing has only one point, maybe (just maybe), your TA was going to use it for a bottle of wine (or whatever) and tell you it was from them.

 

Normally, in order to switch agencies, the one holding the group booking has to agree to give it up. After making all the bookings and handling deposits and possibly any other payments, an agency will fight you so as not to lose all their commission for the work they already did.

[thewolffs]

I would find out if your sailing qualifies for GAP points. You should get a tour conductor credit. For every 16 full paying guests, you should received 1 berth free, not including taxes/fees. Once you know what you are entitled to, I would bring it up to your TA and see what they have to say. I think you have a good reason to switch TA's. They should have told you about the tour conductor credit, even if you don't qualify for any GAP points. Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.

 

Christie

[rjg41]

I also stressed to her that we wanted to all sit together for dinner and sent her a seating chart. She said that she now has an "in" at group reservations, we will see how that turns out in 3 months!

 

Sorry to burst the TA bubble but you don't need an "in" to arrange seating situations. While the TA can do it, anyone can do it themselves and no "in" required.

[RDeagazio]

You most certainly CAN change TA's. There are 2 ways in which this can be done. First, the easiest thing would be for you to find a new TA and have them get pricing on the cabin categories you already have booked. If they can do that then you can simply cancel your original space with the old TA. Be sure to make sure the TA doesn't charge and cancellation fees before you do this. Secondly, if the pricing is not the same or there is no additional group space allocated to your sail date, you can find another TA, and get their booking idenifying info (usually their phone number) and have that TA contact their RCI Sales Rep to have the booking transferred to them. In order for the "new" TA to do this, they will need a letter from you stating you wish to have the booking transferred. Try and find a new TA that is a Key Account (Top producer) with RCI as the RCI Key Account Managers have more power and authority than the normal DSM's. Earlier this year I left the agency I was working with and went with another agency and was able to transfer all 20 of my groups with me. All I needed to do was have each of my clients write an email stating their relationship was with me as their agent and not with any agency in particular. I sent this info along with the list of my groups and booking numbers etc to my RCI Rep and the bookings were moved to my new agency in a matter of minutes.

 

If you post your ship and sail date here, I'll be more than happy to check on RCI's TA site to see how many GAP points are offered on that sailing.

[saber32]

I am sailing on May 8th - 13th Sovereign of The Seas.I have 9 inside Cat L Cabins booked.Cost per cabin was $823.30. Thank You

[tribefan]

rjg, since we are a group booking, we can not do the seating assignment ourself. Plus last cruise we were suppose to all be sittting together (20 of us) and they had us all over the dinning room. That was one main point that we stressed to our new TA, we WILL be sitting together. Sure I know we can't all be at one table, but to at least put us in tables next to each other. It sounds like our TA has found a rep at RCCL who will work with what we want. I sure do hope so!! :D

[lacruiser]

What are GAP points? I'm inferring that they are some kind of award for group bookings, but how large does the group have to be? What do you use the points for? How do you know if you get them? We always travel solo, so the group thing is a bit of an unknown to me.

[logan1_2000]

What are GAP points? I'm inferring that they are some kind of award for group bookings, but how large does the group have to be? What do you use the points for? How do you know if you get them? We always travel solo, so the group thing is a bit of an unknown to me.

 

obliviousness loves company. register me, please, as the second one asking what GAP points are, and the associated questions.

[jcanino]

What are GAP points? I'm inferring that they are some kind of award for group bookings, but how large does the group have to be? What do you use the points for? How do you know if you get them? We always travel solo, so the group thing is a bit of an unknown to me.

 

GAP stands for Group Amenity Points so saying GAP points is really redundant. To be a group, you must have 16 people in 8 cabins. Not all sailings of every ship has points to use. If the cruise line knows that they will have no problem selling out a particular sailing, then more than likely no points will be offered. The less likely a ship will sell, the more points that are offered. Points can be used to lower that 8 cabins to, let's say, 6 cabins. Points can also be used towards wine, champagne, on board credits, photo credits, cocktail parties, etc.

[RDeagazio]

Saber32... I looked up the GAP list on RCI's TA site and there are 8 GAP points offered on your sailing. 8 is the most GAP points they offer to groups and you can get quite a few perks for this. My speculation is the reason your TA didn't mention them is they're probably using them for the $100.00 per cabin bonus commission.

 

Tribefan- I don't understand why your TA has advised you they have a special contact at RCI who can get dining arranged. Each TA received a Group Dining Form about 6 weeks prior to sailing which they fill out and send in. There are 3 choices for them to choose--- 1. Actually tellling RCI who they want seated at each table (the tables for the group will be in the same area). 2. Round Robin Seating-- the cruise line will allocate a group of tables in a given area and everyone in the group can sit anywhere they want in this section. The group must purchase prepaid gratuities for this option. And 3. The group prefers not to dine together-- this will result in your group being seated throughout the dining room at table which may or may not be in the same area.

[saber32]

How can i use the GAP Points and does the TA have to give them to me.

[Mr_Cruise]

Your TA has to apply them (GAP) towards chosen amenities. I suggest that in a friendly manner, talk to them and let them know what you'd like your GAP applied towards. Also, since you are completely aware of the possibility of a TC (free berth), ask about it. It won't hurt.

 

Where I work, if a group is a group we typically offer the free berth to the one person co-ordinating/communicating to me. If everyone is communicating with me independently, I am more reluctant to offer the TC. If we've opened a spec group on a sailing and just fill our space with individual reservations, no TC is offered and if we acheive it the value comes to the agency (as the group co-ordinator).

[thewolffs]

You can use them for all sorts of things. Champagne, fruit baskets, cocktail parties, specialty restaurant and casino voucher, etc. Have you talked to your ta yet? Yes, your ta will be the one to get you those amenities. It does sound like they are taking the $100 per cabin bonus commission. I would talk to them and let them know that you know what you are entitled to. You should get 1 tour conductor credit as well. You can have that divided up anyway that you want. You could use that for one person or divide it up for everyone. Your ta should go over this with you. If they don't, I would look for a new one. The rates don't look like they've changed, so you could always cancel and re-book with someone else if you want. Good luck!

 

Christie