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PVP question

teague38

By teague38,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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teague38

teague38

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My first 2 cruises I found what I wanted online and then called the PVP who had been leaving me voicemails to call them to actually book the cruise. This time I was brave and just booked it online myself instead of calling the PVP to do it for me, not knowing if I didn't let them book it that I lost them. After booking an OV I decided I wanted to upgrade to a balcony and called the PVP and he said he couldn't help me because I had booked online so he had to transfer me to customer service to get it done so I guess my question is...if you book online is there anyway to get a PVP assigned or are you just out of luck? I would rather deal with the PVP when I have any questions or if there is a price drop and call in for it. I guess from now on I will call and let them do the actual booking.:confused:

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jma624

jma624

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My sister booked the cruise for her and her family online without a PVP. When I decided to join her I called my PVP to book my cruise, and when I told her about my sister and that I wanted to link our bookings she did so and then told me that if my sister needed anything else that she could call her. Probably just trying to get a new customer, but it is possible for the PVP to service someone who booked online.

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firemanbobswife

firemanbobswife

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My sister booked the cruise for her and her family online without a PVP. When I decided to join her I called my PVP to book my cruise, and when I told her about my sister and that I wanted to link our bookings she did so and then told me that if my sister needed anything else that she could call her. Probably just trying to get a new customer, but it is possible for the PVP to service someone who booked online.

 

Yes, it is possible (mine helped out a friend way above and beyond what he needed to), but I wouldn’t expect him to. And yes he did gain a customer from it. But in reality how many times will that happen? You’ll always have the ones that book online and then try and get a PVP to “fix” things for them.

 

If I book online, I own the booking and should expect to have to deal with the people at the 800 number. If I want full service, then I will use my PVP for the reservation. You can’t expect them to take care of someone that didn’t find them valuable enough from the beginning to use.

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woodman

woodman

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:D I always just call the 800 number and I have never had any problems with changes or upgrades. Almost 50 cruises on Carnival and I would not consider just booking on line. There is always a chance that the agent you get may find a better deal for you.

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teague38

teague38

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I am new to cruising and honestly didn't think a thing about booking it myself. The PVP that left me a voicemail was the same PVP I used for a cruise we just went on in March so I thought he would still be my PVP if I had any questions. I was at work and thought it would just be easier to do than being stuck on the phone when customers come in. I will know next time and will call to book.

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jmcathome

jmcathome

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Think some of you people need to find new PVPs > i have booked both with and without PVP. No matter which way i went if i called my PVP and they took care of any problem i had, Including filling out paperwork for price reduction. I usually use a my PVP unless i see something on last minute and sale is about to end. Been on 23 cruises, probably used pvp 19 times

Edited by jmcathome
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April42749

April42749

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It’s not worth it to me. I won’t do another TA with Carnival. For $25 or $50 my PVPs service can’t be beat.

 

The last cruise I got $150 OBC for a 4J. In addition, I had a couple of changes and the agent did them...no problem. If she wasn't there, "whoever" answered the phone did it.

 

I just started using an agent a few cruises ago, no extra fee and no cancellation fee. (I don't know how they make money.)

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firemanbobswife

firemanbobswife

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The last cruise I got $150 OBC for a 4J. In addition, I had a couple of changes and the agent did them...no problem. If she wasn't there, "whoever" answered the phone did it.

 

I just started using an agent a few cruises ago, no extra fee and no cancellation fee. (I don't know how they make money.)

 

Yeah, still not worth it. My PVP was able to get things done that a TA never could. I can’t go into it on here, but let’s just say he has gone way above and beyond. Even offered me a cruise for just port fees once. Not even a free Cheers package would sway me.

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firemanbobswife

firemanbobswife

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Think some of you people need to find new PVPs > i have booked both with and without PVP. No matter which way i went if i called my PVP and they took care of any problem i had, Including filling out paperwork for price reduction. I usually use a my PVP unless i see something on last minute and sale is about to end

 

The difference is I wouldn’t expect him to work for free. That’s not right. No doubt with all the business I give him he would but that’s not cool so I won’t. I wouldn’t fault a PVP for refusing to service a booking that they didn’t get credit for, either.

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teknoge3k

teknoge3k

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It’s not worth it to me. I won’t do another TA with Carnival. For $25 or $50 my PVPs service can’t be beat.

 

 

Agree with this 10000%. If you have a good PVP, they're amazing and can do a lot of things that others can't. I am sure (once again) you and I are on the same page on this one. I find exactly what I want online then give my PVP a call and she does the booking for me (so she gets the credit).

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nwcruiselover

nwcruiselover

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If you happen to find a cruise and cabin you're interested in and your PVP isn't available at the time, you can put the booking on courtesy hold for 24 hours. That guarantees the rate and the room. If you do that rather than putting your deposit down, you can get ahold of your PVP to take the deposit and then he/she gets credit for it.

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Tapi Great Review Rare

Tapi

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Can a PVP service a booking made online or via the 800 Carnival number? Absolutely! Will they do it? Most would say no. As mentioned many times before, they would be servicing your booking for free. And any time they spend on a booking made by some other means is time wasted where they could’ve served their own guests or made new bookings.

 

PVP’s are awesome, and many do this job because they absolutely love cruising which is great because they will passionately make sure that your cruise is awesome, from the moment they start talking to you. But they also need to make a living.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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nwcruiselover

nwcruiselover

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Can a PVP service a booking made online or via the 800 Carnival number? Absolutely! Will they do it? Most would say no. As mentioned many times before, they would be servicing your booking for free. And any time they spend on a booking made by some other means is time wasted where they could’ve served their own guests or made new bookings.

 

PVP’s are awesome, and many do this job because they absolutely love cruising which is great because they will passionately make sure that your cruise is awesome, from the moment they start talking to you. But they also need to make a living.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Well said. I totally agree with you!

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firemanbobswife

firemanbobswife

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So does my TA. Right now I have 250K mileage points just from booking cruises through her. She checks for price drops, checks for added incentives, solves issues with the cruise line, takes my payments. I can do all of this either by phone or by email and she's fast at responding. All that and I get free flights.

 

I also have that option, but I don’t find the $25 service charge to be worth it. I can buy 1,000 miles for about that price. Plus I don’t get expensive cabins so the miles I would get are so minimal. Actually my typical cabin which is an inside would net me about 1,000 miles which is about equal to the $25 fee. So it’s not for me. I also don’t like the $100 cancel fee should I need to do so, either. That’s why I normally don’t book ES Rates unless I’m 100% sure nothing will change.

 

I have went a lot of places (and am going again very soon) on my airline miles but I get them by credit card sign up bonuses and online shopping.

 

Oh and being he’s actually at Carnival, there is zero chance of someone else mucking up my reservation like what happened to the other poster. He can see everything before he finalizes it and doesn’t have to rely on someone else to do it right. He knows what he’s doing with 26 years of experience. You never know who helps the TAs at Carnival. According to the other thread it seems like they aren’t the sharpest crayons in the box. I’ll stick to my guy.

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winddawn

winddawn

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Agree with this 10000%. If you have a good PVP, they're amazing and can do a lot of things that others can't. I am sure (once again) you and I are on the same page on this one. I find exactly what I want online then give my PVP a call and she does the booking for me (so she gets the credit).

 

Ditto for me. I agree a good PVP is priceless. Mine even books my free casino offers for me even though she doesn't get booking credit for it. She said she does get customer service credit for it though. She takes care of getting my shareholder credit applied and other needs that come up. She's always prompt in returning my calls. There's no way I would trade the service I receive from my PVP for a few dollars of onboard credit. She's helped me with milestone and even applying a very old Carnival gift certificate that someone gave me years ago that I forgot to use (back from before Carnival had gift cards). She's notified me when I've qualified for free cruises. I can't even remember all the ways she has helped me and I greatly appreciate her.

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