Transferring booking from travel agent to cruise line

[Laznoza]

Hi all,

is it possible to transfer a Royal Caribbean booking from travel agent (flight centre) direct to the cruise line (Royal Caribbean)? They have ended up being difficult to deal with and I’d prefer to have control over my booking. We have paid deposit but not final payment. 
 

thanks 

[Big Kev]

25 minutes ago, Laznoza said:

Hi all,

is it possible to transfer a Royal Caribbean booking from travel agent (flight centre) direct to the cruise line (Royal Caribbean)? They have ended up being difficult to deal with and I’d prefer to have control over my booking. We have paid deposit but not final payment. 
 

thanks 

No.. The agent OWNS the reservation...  

[arxcards]

That is my understanding too. For 60 days after booking direct with Royal, you can move the booking to a T/A, but not in the other direction.

[Laznoza]

I thought that may be the case. After the final payment is made will we be relying on the travel agent for documents or anything else or will this be available in our Royal account?

[Hogbay]

The travel agent owns the booking and if the TA did not supply your travel documents Royal would step in as that would be a breach of contract . You should stop worrying . Im not sure whom is been difficult but Flight Centre is a very big franchise not a fly by nighter.

 

[Chiliburn]

On 8/26/2022 at 1:57 PM, Laznoza said:

Hi all,

is it possible to transfer a Royal Caribbean booking from travel agent (flight centre) direct to the cruise line (Royal Caribbean)? They have ended up being difficult to deal with and I’d prefer to have control over my booking. We have paid deposit but not final payment. 
 

thanks 

They can and do transfer the bookings back to Royal Caribbean but it’s not very common.

There has to be some gross incompetence on the behalf of the agent for it to happen.
 

As said ,the booking is owned by the agent and you are a resale ,if that makes any sense.

 

At the moment the industry is very short staff and stretched. Even the best cruise specialist aren’t so good.   Just keep hounding the agent.

[Chiliburn]

On 8/26/2022 at 2:40 PM, Laznoza said:

I thought that may be the case. After the final payment is made will we be relying on the travel agent for documents or anything else or will this be available in our Royal account?

There isn’t any real documents ,all you need is a 7 digit booking number.

Setup a account with Royal Caribbean and go to your cruise planner.

Once you do that it’s all up to you ,as it’s all done online.

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

They can and do transfer the bookings back to Royal Caribbean but it’s not very common.

There has to be some gross incompetence on the behalf of the agent for it to happen.
 

As said ,the booking is owned by the agent and you are a resale ,if that makes any sense.

 

At the moment the industry is very short staff and stretched. Even the best cruise specialist aren’t so good.   Just keep hounding the agent.

Not so sure. The best cruise specialists are still the best cruise specialists - at least in my eyes. There were lots of good experienced agents that left the business all together, but not all of them. The better agencies have attracted new talent that is being mentored by their experienced agents. 

 

But yes, with the shake-up, it is harder to sort the chaff from the hay. It is nothing new though, as in the past we have had to tell agents how it is all supposed to work - especially the big chain ones.

[TwoWestAussies]

We just booked our very first cruise direct, as after speaking to a 'cruise specialist' realised, I knew more than they did just from YouTube and Cruise Critic - she was telling me things that were included, that I knew were not, incorrect pricing and making really bad cabin recommendations - basically treating me like an idiot because she knew I had never travelled before.. So booked a 'refundable' cruise direct with RC.

I assume you booked a non-refundable as when I was talking to the 'cruise specialist' I was told there was no such thing as a 'refundable deposit' and Royal Caribbean does not price adjust if the price goes down prior to the cruise.  Both of which are false.

Weigh up the pros ands cons, if you are happy to forego the couple of hundred dollars deposit, cancel and then rebook with RC direct, but make sure you book a 'refundable' deposit next time - this way if you need to make any changes, to your booking there is no charge and you can do this direct with RC (if you make changes with your TC, they will charge you for everything), also if you book a 'refundable deposit' if the price happens to go down prior to your cruise, you can call RC and they will reduce the price to the new rate (they won't do this if you have selected a 'Non-refundable NDR' deposit though.  

 

Hope this helps and good luck 

[Chiliburn]

29 minutes ago, TwoWestAussies said:

Royal Caribbean does not price adjust if the price goes down prior to the cruise.  Both of which are false.

 

Good to see you found the forum.

 

To my knowledge Royal don't  price match anymore for cruises booked in Australia .

 

They used to under the cruise with confidence program but that was for sailings up to this September .

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/cruise-with-confidence?country=AUS

 

To my knowledge only a U.S. agent can offer the price drop match.
 

I had a agent that went to the cruise lines colleges and knew everyone.

During the pandemic he bought a cleaning business and has never looked back.

Everyone else ,as you said ,has to be told about their job.

[resordanis]

1 minute ago, Chiliburn said:

Good to see you found the forum.

 

To my knowledge Royal don't  price match anymore for cruises booked in Australia .

 

They used to under the cruise with confidence program but that was for sailings up to this September .

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/cruise-with-confidence?country=AUS

 

To my knowledge only a U.S. agent can offer the price drop match.
 

I had a agent that went to the cruise lines colleges and knew everyone.

During the pandemic he bought a cleaning business and has never looked back.

Everyone else ,as you said ,has to be told about their job.

In the last couple of weeks, I have had one of my December cruises reduced with Royal. I think she said I could get a reduction up to final payment, but I have found all the agents are different. Cruise with confidence has definitely finished, but I can’t remember what she called it. Anyway I save $300. As I have 4 payments due shortly I am checking regularly and will certainly be ringing to try if I find my prices dropping.

[TwoWestAussies]

This can be found on Royal Caribbean's Terms and Conditions for Australia (I also called them to get a verbal confirmation that they will do this) - it is separate to Cruise with Confidence which was implemented due to COVID https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/terms-and-conditions/information-terms-and-conditions-au

I believe this only applies if you have booked with a 'refundable deposit' and does not apply to the promotional 'Non-Refundable Deposits'.

 

30. PRICE PROTECTION

Should a lower standard fare or different promotional offer become available after you have confirmed your booking but before the final payment deadline (70 days for standard cruises and 90 days for Holiday, Trans-Pacific and Asia Reposition cruises), then a request to reprice your booking to the lower fare or promotion can be submitted. The lower fare and/or promotion may be applied if proof of the lower fare and/or promotional offer has been provided in order to qualify the request. The lower fare and/or promotional offer must be:

1. For the same ship, sail date, stateroom category and numbers of guests

2. Be available at the time of the price protection request and advertised and bookable by the general public

3. The policy does not apply to promotional rates including, but not limited to, group rates, travel agent rates, friends & family rates, contracted rates & casino offers.

4. The policy does not apply to guests booked within a contracted group

NOTE: If either the new lower fare or promotional offer does not combine with any promotion associated with the existing booking, or changes are being made outside of the promotional booking window, the existing promotion will be removed.

The Royal Caribbean Price Protection policy is available on all Royal Caribbean cruises booked on or after 11th June 2020. If your booking meets the above requirements, then a price protection claim form must be completed. Our team will review the price protection request and where eligible, process the fare change and send an updated email confirmation with the new booking details.

 

[Chiliburn]

1 hour ago, TwoWestAussies said:

This can be found on Royal Caribbean's Terms and Conditions for Australia (I also called them to get a verbal confirmation that they will do this) - it is separate to Cruise with Confidence which was implemented due to COVID https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/terms-and-conditions/information-terms-and-conditions-au

I believe this only applies if you have booked with a 'refundable deposit' and does not apply to the promotional 'Non-Refundable Deposits'.

 

30. PRICE PROTECTION

Should a lower standard fare or different promotional offer become available after you have confirmed your booking but before the final payment deadline (70 days for standard cruises and 90 days for Holiday, Trans-Pacific and Asia Reposition cruises), then a request to reprice your booking to the lower fare or promotion can be submitted. The lower fare and/or promotion may be applied if proof of the lower fare and/or promotional offer has been provided in order to qualify the request. The lower fare and/or promotional offer must be:

1. For the same ship, sail date, stateroom category and numbers of guests

2. Be available at the time of the price protection request and advertised and bookable by the general public

3. The policy does not apply to promotional rates including, but not limited to, group rates, travel agent rates, friends & family rates, contracted rates & casino offers.

4. The policy does not apply to guests booked within a contracted group

NOTE: If either the new lower fare or promotional offer does not combine with any promotion associated with the existing booking, or changes are being made outside of the promotional booking window, the existing promotion will be removed.

The Royal Caribbean Price Protection policy is available on all Royal Caribbean cruises booked on or after 11th June 2020. If your booking meets the above requirements, then a price protection claim form must be completed. Our team will review the price protection request and where eligible, process the fare change and send an updated email confirmation with the new booking details.

 

I will check it out,it’s good to have a fresh mind on the forum.

[Chiliburn]

15 hours ago, TwoWestAussies said:

This can be found on Royal Caribbean's Terms and Conditions for Australia (I also called them to get a verbal confirmation that they will do this) - it is separate to Cruise with Confidence which was implemented due to COVID https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/terms-and-conditions/information-terms-and-conditions-au

I believe this only applies if you have booked with a 'refundable deposit' and does not apply to the promotional 'Non-Refundable Deposits'.

 

30. PRICE PROTECTION

Should a lower standard fare or different promotional offer become available after you have confirmed your booking but before the final payment deadline (70 days for standard cruises and 90 days for Holiday, Trans-Pacific and Asia Reposition cruises), then a request to reprice your booking to the lower fare or promotion can be submitted. The lower fare and/or promotion may be applied if proof of the lower fare and/or promotional offer has been provided in order to qualify the request. The lower fare and/or promotional offer must be:

1. For the same ship, sail date, stateroom category and numbers of guests

2. Be available at the time of the price protection request and advertised and bookable by the general public

3. The policy does not apply to promotional rates including, but not limited to, group rates, travel agent rates, friends & family rates, contracted rates & casino offers.

4. The policy does not apply to guests booked within a contracted group

NOTE: If either the new lower fare or promotional offer does not combine with any promotion associated with the existing booking, or changes are being made outside of the promotional booking window, the existing promotion will be removed.

The Royal Caribbean Price Protection policy is available on all Royal Caribbean cruises booked on or after 11th June 2020. If your booking meets the above requirements, then a price protection claim form must be completed. Our team will review the price protection request and where eligible, process the fare change and send an updated email confirmation with the new booking details.

 

That’s interesting, it looks to me that it can be a none refundable deposit.

 I got about a year ago on a couple of cruises where some couldn’t.

 

I’ll ask the gurus on another forum.

[Chiliburn]

19 hours ago, TwoWestAussies said:

This can be found on Royal Caribbean's Terms and Conditions for Australia (I also called them to get a verbal confirmation that they will do this) - it is separate to Cruise with Confidence which was implemented due to COVID https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/terms-and-conditions/information-terms-and-conditions-au

I believe this only applies if you have booked with a 'refundable deposit' and does not apply to the promotional 'Non-Refundable Deposits'.

 

30. PRICE PROTECTION

Should a lower standard fare or different promotional offer become available after you have confirmed your booking but before the final payment deadline (70 days for standard cruises and 90 days for Holiday, Trans-Pacific and Asia Reposition cruises), then a request to reprice your booking to the lower fare or promotion can be submitted. The lower fare and/or promotion may be applied if proof of the lower fare and/or promotional offer has been provided in order to qualify the request. The lower fare and/or promotional offer must be:

1. For the same ship, sail date, stateroom category and numbers of guests

2. Be available at the time of the price protection request and advertised and bookable by the general public

3. The policy does not apply to promotional rates including, but not limited to, group rates, travel agent rates, friends & family rates, contracted rates & casino offers.

4. The policy does not apply to guests booked within a contracted group

NOTE: If either the new lower fare or promotional offer does not combine with any promotion associated with the existing booking, or changes are being made outside of the promotional booking window, the existing promotion will be removed.

The Royal Caribbean Price Protection policy is available on all Royal Caribbean cruises booked on or after 11th June 2020. If your booking meets the above requirements, then a price protection claim form must be completed. Our team will review the price protection request and where eligible, process the fare change and send an updated email confirmation with the new booking details.

 

So it looks like you are correct.

Ive been chatting with a sydney fellow who has just got a price adjustment 2 weeks ago . He said it was a none refundable deposit.

 

And a lady from Melbourne, just a week ago ,non refundable and through a agent and the cruise is next season.
 

Well done and you haven’t even been on a cruise yet.

 

 

[tribefan]

I can attest that YES you can have it changed from a TA to RCCL, because we just did it (back in April).  Our TA ended up being the worst and she was "engaged" to our DIL's dad (but not anymore thank goodness!)  We had booked for a B2B around Australia and NZ 2021, which of course got cancelled.  Moved it to 2022 and of course the same thing.  I would call her to have something either added or maybe changed our cabin to a better one and all she did was complain on how horrible it was to call them!!  Sorry but you don't tell a customer who is Diamond + how horrible they are!!  Plus I knew more then she did!!  Anyways, the final straw was when she was on a cruise and there was a price drop.  I sent her a FB message with it.  She read it right away but never replied (BTW, she did have an assistant who was back in the states at this time!) but replied to a comment someone else posted.  Next thing you know I'm getting this message on how she is at sea and unable to call.  Ok, understand, but you do have an assistant.  Also replied that RCCL does these sales on a rotation and it will be back around, no, not if there are only 2 cabins left in your catagory and once they are gone, no more sales for you!!    I finally had enough of her complaints and talked to RCCL.  I did have to email them everything as to why I wanted to switch our reservations, which I did include her texts on everything.  Within  a week, I got my confirmation that they now would handle it.  This all took place in April, I was still having issues when I would sign on to my RCCL account I could not see my balance.  I would call and nobody could figure out why, everything looked good on their end and yes the reservation had been switched!!  About a month ago, I decided to look at my TA account and it still showed it was there!!!  I texted her the next morning, just asking why would my account still show the 2 cruises???  OH she went off on me saying she was waiting for me to tell her that they had been transferred before she changed the status in her system!!!  Then she went on saying how she knew I was deeply concerned over a $60 or $80 potential rebook savings while she was in the middle of the caribbean, but at the time RCCL's hold time was more then 4 hours and it would have been very expensive to call and taken those many hours out of her day!! Then went on to say did I know how many hours she invested in our cruises??  Booking, rebooking, FCC's, etc!!  Way too many and she had yet to receive a dime!!  It got quite nasty after that!!  All I said was if I remembered correctly she had hired an assistant and all it would have taken was a message to her, very simple!!  And also she was back in PR on sunday .  Her response that these sale are on a rotation was not very professional, and I'm sorry that it might have ONLY been $60 or $80 (it was actually $100) but that was money back in MY pocket.  If she didn't like putting in the hours and not getting paid till after we took the cruise, then I guess she is in the wrong profession, I have nothing to do with that or that there was  a pandemic and I had to cancel 2 very expensive vacations.  This is exactly why I do my own flights and the rest of our vacation!!!  So glad we got rid of her and so is our DIL who is happy her dad kicked her out!!

 

Oh forgot to add, in March when they pulled the Radiance out to move it to Texas I think, I sent her a message that it had been changed and she told me no it hadn't!! I replied, well our friends who were going with us who are from Sydney, had already received their email from RCCL informing them!!  She really wanted to argue with me about it!!!

[arxcards]

19 hours ago, tribefan said:

I can attest that YES you can have it changed from a TA to RCCL, because we just did it (back in April). 

Different rules and exceptions here in Australia.