Cruise Perks differ by agency

[edgreenberg]

When I use the "Find a Cruise" feature, I am presented with a host of different prices for the same cruise. Each agency offers certain bonus offers, some useless, some with a cash value.  How do they each get these different offers? Individual negotiation?   Why are these agencies useful over the actual cruise line booking? 

 

For instance, on page https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/itinerary-83320/?et_cid=3239020&et_rid=267042227&et_referrer=nav_site_login_us

 

The cruise line is listed as "from" $584, but the next listing is an agency, also "from" $584, but 

• xxx Exclusive – Free Gratuities, up to $900 Free Onboard Credit, Free Beverage Package, Free Unlimited Internet PLUS More!
• xxx – Up to $100 Free Onboard Credit PLUS Reduced Rates!
• American Express Cruise Privileges Program – Up to $300 Free Onboard Credit PLUS Extra Bonuses!
• Captain’s Club Benefits – Free Upgrades, Free Internet PLUS More for Past Guests!
• Travel with your American Express Membership Rewards® Points!
• No xxx fees to book, change, or cancel your cruise!

 

So, for instance, where do they get Free Gratuities, up to $900 Free Onboard Credit, Free Beverage Package, Free Unlimited Internet

[SRF]

They get it from their commission.

 

If they get $100 commission, they can give you $90 worth of perks, and make $10 on the booking.  Do enough, and you make money.

 

One thing to watch is, do they have charges for things like changing rooms or names?  Those are free from the cruise line, but if booked through a TA, you have to make any changes through the TA and they may charge.

 

And if you didn't realize it, you are NOT going to get $900 OBC and free grats on a $584 cruise fare. 😄

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

CC has a "search" feature that will help you find about a zillion threads/posts regarding the value of using a good cruise specialist TA as well as how to find them. 

 

There are many factors to consider in determining why, for any specific cruise,  one TA has a better deal than another (e.g., preferred cruise line partner,  member of consortium with negotiated perks, incentive funds from cruise lines, and [of course] willingness to share commissions). At the bottom line, the right TA will always save you money while providing tangible support should booking problems arise.

 

Suffice to say that, if you have a preferred cruise line, your main research efforts should be directed to identifying that line's top-selling TAs, particularly if the line pays commissions in a sliding scale dependent upon sales volume. 

 

And don't buy the illogic you'll hear from some CC posters about wanting to "own their booking." That top selling TA for your preferred line may book $1 million plus annually while your DIY booking doesn't even amount to a rounding error in the cruise line's bottom line. Whose phone call will get better attention?

 

Use the "search" feature and you will be rewarded. 

 

 

 

[iancal]

We won't even bother with a TA who provides gifts such as dining venue, bottle of wine,  etc.

 

We care about bottom line cost.  We are only interested in TA provided OBC's.  

[edgreenberg]

Thanks for all the responses.

@iancalWhat are "OBCs"?

[iancal]

On board credits.  essentially monetary credits that the TA has purchased for you.  

 

When we book with our TA, it is not unusual to have 8-12 percent of the commissionable fare rebated to us in the form of OBC's.

It is essentially a cash rebate.   Much better than a bottle of wine of some chocolates delivered to your stateroom.

[AdGuyMG]

On 4/29/2019 at 11:24 AM, edgreenberg said:

The cruise line is listed as "from" $584, but the next listing is an agency, also "from" $584, but 

• xxx Exclusive – Free Gratuities, up to $900 Free Onboard Credit, Free Beverage Package, Free Unlimited Internet PLUS More!
• xxx – Up to $100 Free Onboard Credit PLUS Reduced Rates!
• American Express Cruise Privileges Program – Up to $300 Free Onboard Credit PLUS Extra Bonuses!
• Captain’s Club Benefits – Free Upgrades, Free Internet PLUS More for Past Guests!
• Travel with your American Express Membership Rewards® Points!
• No xxx fees to book, change, or cancel your cruise!

 

So, for instance, where do they get Free Gratuities, up to $900 Free Onboard Credit, Free Beverage Package, Free Unlimited Internet

 

The example you cited are for a Celebrity cruise.

 

The perks listed are the ones from Celebrity's Sail Plus (Pick 2 Perks ) or Sail All Included (Get All 4 Perks) promotion.

[AdGuyMG]

On 4/29/2019 at 12:13 PM, Flatbush Flyer said:

 That top selling TA for your preferred line may book $1 million plus annually...

 

 

$1 million annually?

 

A top selling travel agency dealing with the popular mass market cruise lines will more likely book around $1 million weekly with each vendor.

 

 

[Maxmann65]

There are only so many things you can spend OBC on and at times if you don't use it, you lose it. If you want to visit the spa and the visit not be on your dime, go for it. If you have your eye on something from the on board shops, go for the OBC.

 

I have found that finding a TA that provides a rebate once the cruise is completed is much better for my lifestyle. My closet is not big enough to hold all the pocket books/purses/back packs I would like to have and I am afraid I would become addicted to the spa. A cruise addiction is all I can handle. 

[iancal]

Last time we had unused OBC of $200 on an RCI cruise.  We simply went to the casino and they gave cash, less 5 percent.   

 

We walked off with $190 rather than leave it on the ship for RCI!

[SantaFeFan]

49 minutes ago, Maxmann65 said:

There are only so many things you can spend OBC on and at times if you don't use it, you lose it. If you want to visit the spa and the visit not be on your dime, go for it. If you have your eye on something from the on board shops, go for the OBC.

 

I have found that finding a TA that provides a rebate once the cruise is completed is much better for my lifestyle. My closet is not big enough to hold all the pocket books/purses/back packs I would like to have and I am afraid I would become addicted to the spa. A cruise addiction is all I can handle. 

 

Typically, cruise line provided OBC is non-refundable and is always used up first before any TA provided OBC, which usually is refundable. If there is any OBC balance left over, if that remaining balance is only TA provided OBC the cruise line will refund the amount back to your account. 

Edited May 1, 2019 by SantaFeFan

[Maxmann65]

Thank you for the clarification SantaFeFan!

[SRF]

On 5/1/2019 at 5:32 AM, Maxmann65 said:

There are only so many things you can spend OBC on and at times if you don't use it, you lose it. If you want to visit the spa and the visit not be on your dime, go for it. If you have your eye on something from the on board shops, go for the OBC.

 

I have found that finding a TA that provides a rebate once the cruise is completed is much better for my lifestyle. My closet is not big enough to hold all the pocket books/purses/back packs I would like to have and I am afraid I would become addicted to the spa. A cruise addiction is all I can handle. 

 

Most times, only OBC from the cruise line is not refundable.  TA or credit card perk OBC is fully refundable.

 

Or, if you have a lot of non-refundable OBC, take it as cash in the casino.  You may pay a 5% fee, but 95% is better than nothing.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Many big agencies will pre-buy cabins. then are able to offer lower prices verses the cruise line itself. If you purchase regularly from one many offer there on perks or give extra OBC. The person you deal with should be the same one all the time. They can also add to your OBC by giving you some of there commission. Cruisecritic does not want anyone to give our particular cruise councilers or companies. I would if I could. Never use a person that does not work for a big company. The never have much to offer if the Cruise line does not offer it. Even a few big companies do not offer much. maybe an addition $50 or so of OBC. In some cases you can get a balcony for less than an ocean view. not with the cruise line.

[SRF]

On 5/3/2019 at 3:55 PM, twodaywonder said:

 Never use a person that does not work for a big company. The never have much to offer if the Cruise line does not offer it. Even a few big companies do not offer much. maybe an addition $50 or so of OBC. In some cases you can get a balcony for less than an ocean view. not with the cruise line.

 

Over generalizing much?????

 

I get great service out of my smaller TA.  And $400 OBC on my last cruise.  Plus coupons books for additional discounts.

[Toofarfromthesea]

On 5/3/2019 at 8:55 PM, twodaywonder said:

Many big agencies will pre-buy cabins. then are able to offer lower prices verses the cruise line itself. If you purchase regularly from one many offer there on perks or give extra OBC. The person you deal with should be the same one all the time. They can also add to your OBC by giving you some of there commission. Cruisecritic does not want anyone to give our particular cruise councilers or companies. I would if I could. Never use a person that does not work for a big company. The never have much to offer if the Cruise line does not offer it. Even a few big companies do not offer much. maybe an addition $50 or so of OBC. In some cases you can get a balcony for less than an ocean view. not with the cruise line.

 

If this works for you, great.  But personally I wouldn't do anything of this, and it is certainly not the kind of advice I would give a newby.

[MCC retired]

On ‎5‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 3:55 PM, twodaywonder said:

Many big agencies will pre-buy cabins. then are able to offer lower prices verses the cruise line itself. If you purchase regularly from one many offer there on perks or give extra OBC. The person you deal with should be the same one all the time. They can also add to your OBC by giving you some of there commission. Cruisecritic does not want anyone to give our particular cruise councilers or companies. I would if I could. Never use a person that does not work for a big company. The never have much to offer if the Cruise line does not offer it. Even a few big companies do not offer much. maybe an addition $50 or so of OBC. In some cases you can get a balcony for less than an ocean view. not with the cruise line.

I worked for one of the largest "Big" Agencies , booking only cruises for 17+ years.

We did not pre-buy cabins . We held Speculative Group allotments of certain categories , NOT actual cabins. Cost to Agency $0.

These allotments must be booked by Final , or sooner if the cruise line recalls them.

The advantage being in addition to the regular comm. , we were able to sell those "freebee" (ex: 1free cruise rate for 16 guests) booked into our Speculative Groups or collect the $ Value .

We also would have allotments available when categories are sold out or higher rates. Could also "Mark-up" a booking if our Group Rate was much, much better than current rate.

This is how a Large Agency , specializing in Cruises , can offer you more than booking Direct.

Edited May 5, 2019 by MCC retired

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Guess I was not clear on my post. My-cruise concealer works for a major company, but she is retired and does this to bide her time. She has a small clientele and is able to keep on top of each booking. Because she works for a large company, she is able to offer many perks you do not get from booking with the cruise line. Depending on how many bookings you have had with them you are offered a nice OBC when booking again. There price will usually be much lower than the cruise line. If she is not able to get a better price or any perks she will give me some OBC from her commission. Many times she has contacted me and got a better price and was able to reduce the balance and change the cruise cost. She knows what we like and what we do not care for on ships and dining and cabins. The other large company that I used for many years. You had to constantly check to see if there was a price drop and then notify them. So very nice to have a cruise counselor that does the work for you. She has sailed on many ships and different cruise lines and has first hand knowledge. 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Referring to the OBC for slots. Most charge a 5% fee to put your OBC on your ships card. Do not use it, you lose it. Whatever you win is your to cash out. Our cruise on the EDGE had a good deal a few nights. They would put on your card and charge it to your charge card with no fee and added 10% to spend. No refund. Again, whatever you won you could cash it out. Otherwise, only cash to play. I like the way Carnival does theirs. Use your ships card to gamble and it will go to your account, period. At one time there was a 5% charge. No longer. So, no cash needed unless you need to or want to.

[SRF]

You have it backwards.

 

You pay 5% to get your OBC out as cash, not to put OBC on your ships card.