No more credit given to PVPs for “on hold” cruises

[audcc77]

After the end of this month (Feb ‘23), PVPs will no longer be given “credit” for cruises put on the 48-hour hold by a guest.  
 

If you find a cruise you wish to book, you must contact your PVP first.  
 

Whether your PVP needs to put it on hold while you get your travel companions the info or whether you’ll need to purchase the cruise at that moment, is unknown.  
 

This really stinks because it makes things easier for me as well as my PVP.  

 

😒

 

 

[ColeThornton]

Source for this info, please.

[audcc77]

16 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

Source for this info, please.

My PVP said this.  
I just put a cruise on hold.  Then when she called me for my credit card number, she said “starting next month, please do NOT put anything on hold because I won’t get credit.  Just call me.”

 

She’s been a PVP with Carnival since 1998.  

[Earthworm Jim]

I guess they aren't considering a cruise you put on hold one that the PVP made the sale on. Since you had already decided you wanted it, the PVP didn't actually sell you on it, meriting a sales commission. (From Carnival's point of view)

 

But it all goes back to Carnival being in financial trouble and trying to save a buck where they can. Which will no doubt end up in some PVPs quitting because they have as much work as ever but are getting paid less.

[nwcruiselover]

When I recently put a hold on a cruise and then called my PVP to pay the deposit, he mentioned that it’s much better if I text him and he’ll put it on hold for me so I can decide for sure and call him to put the deposit on.  He didn’t mention that starting soon he wouldn’t get credit, but maybe that was a gentle way of letting me know.  My only concern with that is if the PVP isn’t immediately available and there’s a certain cabin I want, I could miss out on that cabin.

Edited February 24, 2023 by nwcruiselover

[audcc77]

8 minutes ago, nwcruiselover said:

My only concern with that is if the PVP isn’t immediately available

Exactly. 
I have my PVP’s cell # for that very reason.  
 

There’s very little chance I would book without going through my PVP as the way Carnival runs its business, I need a PVP in my corner.  
 

We’re booked on Royal this year and I don’t have that safety net and I’m not liking it. 

[ShakyBeef]

Yep, this sucks all around - for the customers and our PVPs.  But thanks for letting us, know, OP.  I'll be sure not to put cruises on hold without calling my PVP first.

[jsglow]

I can 100% confirm. I've had the same conversation w my 20-year incumbent PVP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LaRue1975]

Wow, this is not good, especially for the PVPs, it’s hard to believe that this won’t push some of them out the door. I always do all my own research and when I settle on a cruise, cabin and offer to go with it I put it on hold and call my PVP. I don’t need him to “sell” me a cruise but I absolutely need him to help me manage my cruises, making changes as needed, especially with the casino offers which are constantly changing. He is also handling the NYE cruise we are doing with 4 other couples this year. I have 9 cruises for 70 days on the books right now and plan to book another one as soon as the new offers come out March 1st. Of course that date is not a coincidence, I’ll bet a lot of Carnival casino cruisers are planning to put a cabin on hold and call their PVP if they like the new offers. Carnival can do what they think is best for their business model but I am not sure they have thought this one through. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. 

[cellfree]

Just emailed my PVP, it is something I have done often, don’t like change. So am I reading this Post correctly - we now should call PVP and she/he can put “on hold?”

[nwcruiselover]

1 hour ago, cellfree said:

Just emailed my PVP, it is something I have done often, don’t like change. So am I reading this Post correctly - we now should call PVP and she/he can put “on hold?”

Yes, either call or textl your PVP.  Hopefully they’ll be available and able to snag the cabin you want.

[EngIceDave]

3 hours ago, Earthworm Jim said:

I guess they aren't considering a cruise you put on hold one that the PVP made the sale on. Since you had already decided you wanted it, the PVP didn't actually sell you on it, meriting a sales commission. (From Carnival's point of view)

 

But it all goes back to Carnival being in financial trouble and trying to save a buck where they can. Which will no doubt end up in some PVPs quitting because they have as much work as ever but are getting paid less.

Was in sales my whole life and that's fair. They should commission any add-on's your PVP can hustle up, but order taking is not sales. 

 

I wouldn't commission, least not full commission a pre-done order by the customer. That's like commissioning the order taking person at the drive thru, just for taking the order.

 

ANYONE can just take orders. A salesperson SELLS.

 

 

[Illbcruzn4life]

27 minutes ago, nwcruiselover said:

Yes, either call or textl your PVP.  Hopefully they’ll be available and able to snag the cabin you want.

The last couple cruises i booked on the weekend when the pvp was off. I put the cabins on hold till Monday when he was back in only because the sale was over Sunday night.

 

i could easily book it myself but the pvp has to eat too. 🙂

[KaiBlue]

My PVP confirmed this as well when I asked after seeing something about it elsewhere.  I have normally put a cabin on hold, then called my PVP who occasionally would help me pick out a better cabin.  Occasionally my PVP is so busy that they can't get to something quickly so I will be nervous about losing out on a good deal.  I might have to put a cabin on hold and then see my PVP can still get me one.   

[Knights on the Beach]

7 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

Was in sales my whole life and that's fair. They should commission any add-on's your PVP can hustle up, but order taking is not sales. 

 

I wouldn't commission, least not full commission a pre-done order by the customer. That's like commissioning the order taking person at the drive thru, just for taking the order.

 

ANYONE can just take orders. A salesperson SELLS.

 

 

 

I get your point but good PVPs do way more than just book (sell) a cruise for someone. In the past, I found the cruise I wanted, the stateroom I wanted and put it on hold - usually on the weekend or at night when my PVP wasn't working. Then on Monday morning or her next workday, I texted her with the booking number and she called me to take payment and finalize the booking. But it doesn't always end there. If a better room opens up, I can text her and she changes the room for me. When the Freedom caught on fire two or three days prior to our sail date, she quickly got us rebooked on Mardi Gras for the same date. Those are just two examples. PVPs do "maintenance" work on cruises, sometimes for people who didn't even book with them. They don't get credit for any of that.

 

Last Fall PVPs were told they should advise their clients not to put cruises on hold but to have the PVP handle it from scratch. The PVPs did have a little leeway for a while but now Carnival has made it official and PVPs absolutely won't get credit for booking a cruise if the client puts it on hold first. My PVP is now working longer hours in order to get to each client wanting to book. I see on her page she is still helping people who didn't book their cruise through her (and not getting credit for any of those). Hopefully the next time, those people will book through her. When we booked our 2024 B2B cruise earlier this month, instead of putting it on hold I texted her with the info so she would get the credit. I will always do that when possible because I know she'll be there to help if we have any issues. 

[audcc77]

11 hours ago, Knights on the Beach said:

But it doesn't always end there. If a better room opens up, I can text her and she changes the room for me.

This is exactly what I did.  I had a casino offer and when I went to put it on hold, the only interior cabin available was a family harbor in the bottom of the ship. 
 

My PVP said “Why did you put that one on hold? That’s for families.”   
 

I said “that was all there was.”  
 

She found me a cabin midship on level 9 for the same price.

 

We literally spent 15 minutes trying to find a suitable spot for me. 
 

Normally, she would just change the hold to a booking.  

 

IMO, this new change will be counterproductive for Carnival, as PVPs will be spending more time  on the phone with REPEAT guests,   giving them less time making bookings with NEW customers.  

[kelkel2]

Geez this really isn’t good for the pvp’s! It was such an easy way for us to book. 

[pe4all]

I actually did not know you could put a cabin on hold - lol! I have always used my pvp to book our cruises.  I do all the research - ship, sail date, cabin # I want, then email AND ask her to call me.  She gets back to me within the hour, no matter what day it is. If a better cabin opens up, I contact her and she makes the switch.  Have never had to pay a penalty/difference with her.  Any problems or questions - she is right on top of it.  Have used her for at least my last 20 cruises.  It is a shame they are changing the way the pvp's make their commission. 

[ShakyBeef]

16 minutes ago, pe4all said:

I actually did not know you could put a cabin on hold - lol! I have always used my pvp to book our cruises.  I do all the research - ship, sail date, cabin # I want, then email AND ask her to call me.  She gets back to me within the hour, no matter what day it is. If a better cabin opens up, I contact her and she makes the switch.  Have never had to pay a penalty/difference with her.  Any problems or questions - she is right on top of it.  Have used her for at least my last 20 cruises.  It is a shame they are changing the way the pvp's make their commission. 

The way you do it is how I usually do it - except I don't bother emailing my PVP unless he doesn't answer his phone when I call.  But even if he doesn't answer, just like yours, he always gets back to me within an hour, even on weekends.  My upcoming Legend cruise is the first one I've ever put on hold on my own before.  I had never done it before because I thought he might not "get credit for it".  But for the first time ever, he didn't get right back to me, and once I had realized that this sailing date was the only one that worked for my family and that there were only two Suites showing as available, I got a little anxious and put it on hold.  Later, when he got back to me and I apologized for being impatient and holding it, expressing my concern that he wouldn't get credit for it, he said no problem, he would always get credit for the cruises I put on hold as long as he took the initial deposit.  But now that that is no longer the case, I guess that was my first and last cruise put on hold without my PVP. 

Edited February 25, 2023 by ShakyBeef
dropped letter

[sanmarcosman]

I have to say I'm surprised by the number of you who text their PVP. I've only had a PVP since 2011, been through 3 of them due to promotion etc.) and not one has offered their personal phone number to text them. 

 

Is this as common as it seems to be from this tread? 

[Jamman54]

6 minutes ago, sanmarcosman said:

I have to say I'm surprised by the number of you who text their PVP. I've only had a PVP since 2011, been through 3 of them due to promotion etc.) and not one has offered their personal phone number to text them. 

 

Is this as common as it seems to be from this tread? 

Yes, if you develop that kind of relationship with them. We've had our PVP for over 15 years and consider him a friend. We visit him and his wife at least once a year when we're in Florida. 😎

[sanmarcosman]

5 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Yes, if you develop that kind of relationship with them. 

While this change in using the hold option may not affect you, I respect your opinions and would like to know what you think of this change in general?

[Jamman54]

56 minutes ago, sanmarcosman said:

While this change in using the hold option may not affect you, I respect your opinions and would like to know what you think of this change in general?

 

Oh, it could affect me. I talked to our PVP yesterday and he is not happy with this change but has to accept it. Not long ago we were on the verge of booking another cruise but was going to wait until after the weekend. Now I'm pretty good at keeping track of our offers, but late on a Sunday night I noticed an offer that would save me $800 but it expired in a matter of hours. Not wanting to bother our PVP at that late hour, I put a cabin on hold to secure that great rate. The next day our PVP completed the booking, and we were both happy. That scenario can't happen anymore. Of course, him being the friend that he is said that if you're ever backed into a corner to do what I needed to do, but I would still feel bad. 

[Knights on the Beach]

3 hours ago, sanmarcosman said:

I have to say I'm surprised by the number of you who text their PVP. I've only had a PVP since 2011, been through 3 of them due to promotion etc.) and not one has offered their personal phone number to text them. 

 

Is this as common as it seems to be from this tread? 

 

We've only had our PVP for maybe a year but she's already booked 6 cruises for us and 3 for our family members. She had posted her phone number on her page and said it was quicker to get in touch with her than emailing.

 

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

 

Oh, it could affect me. I talked to our PVP yesterday and he is not happy with this change but has to accept it. Not long ago we were on the verge of booking another cruise but was going to wait until after the weekend. Now I'm pretty good at keeping track of our offers, but late on a Sunday night I noticed an offer that would save me $800 but it expired in a matter of hours. Not wanting to bother our PVP at that late hour, I put a cabin on hold to secure that great rate. The next day our PVP completed the booking, and we were both happy. That scenario can't happen anymore. Of course, him being the friend that he is said that if you're ever backed into a corner to do what I needed to do, but I would still feel bad. 

My PVP said the same. She said she will always help us even if she didn't book it for us. That's not fair to her but I appreciate it. I will always try to give her the chance to book it if I'm not in danger of losing the room or great rate.

[ldubs]

Ok, I understand the commission issue.   Here is what I'm not following.  Someone puts a booking on hold to lock in a particular cabin, fare, or both.  Why not just click the. button to complete the booking?  Why involve the PVP person?  Note that I have not used a PVP in the past.