Booking a cruise / choosing a travel agent
May 19, 2023, 8:33 pm
#61
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA
Programs: UA 1KMM, Bonvoy LTE+A, HH D, Nat'l EE, Hertz Plat, Avis PC
Posts: 3,713
No, but I've been tempted. But the past few cruises I've booked through Costco and I have no complaints. Whenever I've needed something from them, there's been next-to-no phone hold time and their agents seem very competent and service-focused. I used to prefer it when they would offer their rebate as on-board credit, but now that it is Coscto credit I use it anyway. Plus, as an executive member, the additional 2% back at the end of the year is also nice.
May 19, 2023, 9:25 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,087
When one books a cruise through an airline who is your TA? Is sit an airline employee who only works as a cruise specialist or is it farmed out to independent TA? I'm curious about the "quality of care" one will receive.
May 20, 2023, 5:55 am
#63
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
But looking at these booking options also made me curious about who/how these bookings are handled, particularly since when you think about it, the cruise lines are also very high volume customers of the airlines with their cruise air programs.
May 20, 2023, 6:34 am
#64
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
Excellent question and obviously varies by airline.
The lowest value would be 1 cent per mile (DL). My recent business class booking on a Star Alliance partner (UA miles) to Europe yielded 3.8 cents per mile vs. the current airfare. So that 70,000 miles could be valued between $700 to $2660. Either value is higher than the incentives offered by other TAs for the booking I was looking at.
The lowest value would be 1 cent per mile (DL). My recent business class booking on a Star Alliance partner (UA miles) to Europe yielded 3.8 cents per mile vs. the current airfare. So that 70,000 miles could be valued between $700 to $2660. Either value is higher than the incentives offered by other TAs for the booking I was looking at.
Last edited by pbjag; May 21, 2023 at 7:35 am
May 20, 2023, 7:04 am
#65
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
But also think about how much effort you need the TA to put in for you. Do you need someone who knows how to book flights from your local airports? Every time I price out airfare included from a TA, it's never a good deal for me and I book my own. (also I'm a control freak; I only use the TA when it gets or saves me $$, otherwise I enjoy travel planning) If you don't need the handholding & total trip planning & just need/want the good deal, start calling and emailing around - you've had a lot of input - what are your actual options saying or offering as far as discounts?
[I use Pavlus for luxury cruises; I have no idea if they operate outside the US and I can't find the answer on their website - I use them solely online but they are a company in NM]
[I use Pavlus for luxury cruises; I have no idea if they operate outside the US and I can't find the answer on their website - I use them solely online but they are a company in NM]
Thanks for the comment on Pavlus. Someone else had recommended them and I used them for my most recent luxury cruise booking, A bit frustrated, though - the agent did not notice that the 5% loyalty offer was not applied to the quote (even though I mentioned it in the original outreach and provided my prior passenger number) and I’ve had to follow up twice over several weeks to be sure that was taken care of. Also concerned because although she says she’s been a TA for 20 years and Pavlus is well versed in luxury cruises, this TA says she has never heard of the AmEx Platinum cruise privileges program 🤷♀️.
May 20, 2023, 5:49 pm
#66
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Thanks for the comment on Pavlus. Someone else had recommended them and I used them for my most recent luxury cruise booking, A bit frustrated, though - the agent did not notice that the 5% loyalty offer was not applied to the quote (even though I mentioned it in the original outreach and provided my prior passenger number) and I’ve had to follow up twice over several weeks to be sure that was taken care of. Also concerned because although she says she’s been a TA for 20 years and Pavlus is well versed in luxury cruises, this TA says she has never heard of the AmEx Platinum cruise privileges program 🤷♀️.
Last edited by Randyk47; May 20, 2023 at 5:58 pm
May 21, 2023, 7:32 am
#67
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
Would you mind sharing your agent's name with me via PM? I've got another booking to make before the end of the month and perhapps I can switch to your agent. TIA
May 21, 2023, 10:08 am
#68
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
I had only heard great things about Pavlus and yours and Hoyaheel's comments reinforce that. When the agent said that she had never heard of the AmEx Platinum cruise benefits, I initially thought that perhaps she usually handles mass market cruise bookings - but the AmEx program offers benefits on several of the larger cruise lines too.
Would you mind sharing your agent's name with me via PM? I've got another booking to make before the end of the month and perhapps I can switch to your agent. TIA
Would you mind sharing your agent's name with me via PM? I've got another booking to make before the end of the month and perhapps I can switch to your agent. TIA
May 21, 2023, 3:22 pm
#69
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
As you may recall, you gave me your agent's contact info many years ago. She has been great to work with, and I have referred her to others. Sad to say that over the past few bookings, the level of service has declined. While emails seem to eventually be returned (some not), I cannot recall her once calling me back after a VM. Some discounts have not been applied.
I referred our agent to one of my cruise friends who I met at a Pavlus-sponsored event aboard one of our Seabourn trips. This person was very unhappy with her Pavlus agent and I was surpised by this and gave her our agents contact info. My friend was very happy with the change and thought the world of our agent. However, I have heard dissatisfaction more recently about the agent's attentiveness.
I've wondered whether our agent has been ill or has had another life circumstance detract her attention from her service. While we are still using her, there has been a noticeable drop-off in performance. Sad.
May 21, 2023, 3:29 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
I had only heard great things about Pavlus and yours and Hoyaheel's comments reinforce that. When the agent said that she had never heard of the AmEx Platinum cruise benefits, I initially thought that perhaps she usually handles mass market cruise bookings - but the AmEx program offers benefits on several of the larger cruise lines too.
Would you mind sharing your agent's name with me via PM? I've got another booking to make before the end of the month and perhapps I can switch to your agent. TIA
Would you mind sharing your agent's name with me via PM? I've got another booking to make before the end of the month and perhapps I can switch to your agent. TIA
May 21, 2023, 4:38 pm
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,087
Interesting about the Amex program: I had never been informed about it in all the years I have been cruising and booking with Pavlus, but while booking our last cruise, the agent's support person asked me if I had the Plat and wanted to allocate some of my cruise payments toward it. I ended up getting $300 onboard credit plus a 2012 bottle of Dom Perignon which Wine.com lists for $289. Sadly, the galley tour was not honored, allegedly due to COVID.
May 21, 2023, 4:39 pm
#72
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Aloha Randy,
As you may recall, you gave me your agent's contact info many years ago. She has been great to work with, and I have referred her to others. Sad to say that over the past few bookings, the level of service has declined. While emails seem to eventually be returned (some not), I cannot recall her once calling me back after a VM. Some discounts have not been applied.
I referred our agent to one of my cruise friends who I met at a Pavlus-sponsored event aboard one of our Seabourn trips. This person was very unhappy with her Pavlus agent and I was surpised by this and gave her our agents contact info. My friend was very happy with the change and thought the world of our agent. However, I have heard dissatisfaction more recently about the agent's attentiveness.
I've wondered whether our agent has been ill or has had another life circumstance detract her attention from her service. While we are still using her, there has been a noticeable drop-off in performance. Sad.
As you may recall, you gave me your agent's contact info many years ago. She has been great to work with, and I have referred her to others. Sad to say that over the past few bookings, the level of service has declined. While emails seem to eventually be returned (some not), I cannot recall her once calling me back after a VM. Some discounts have not been applied.
I referred our agent to one of my cruise friends who I met at a Pavlus-sponsored event aboard one of our Seabourn trips. This person was very unhappy with her Pavlus agent and I was surpised by this and gave her our agents contact info. My friend was very happy with the change and thought the world of our agent. However, I have heard dissatisfaction more recently about the agent's attentiveness.
I've wondered whether our agent has been ill or has had another life circumstance detract her attention from her service. While we are still using her, there has been a noticeable drop-off in performance. Sad.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; May 22, 2023 at 8:37 am Reason: Rule 21
May 21, 2023, 5:00 pm
#73
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
Interesting about the Amex program: I had never been informed about it in all the years I have been cruising and booking with Pavlus, but while booking our last cruise, the agent's support person asked me if I had the Plat and wanted to allocate some of my cruise payments toward it. I ended up getting $300 onboard credit plus a 2012 bottle of Dom Perignon which Wine.com lists for $289. Sadly, the galley tour was not honored, allegedly due to COVID.
Check the offers on your card too before booking a cruise. In late 2021 when I booked the voyage I took last year, there was an offer of 5 points per dollar up to 50,000 AmEx points for booking a cruise on Silversea - but you have to add the offer to your card before booking. Right now, there is the same offer for Regent, but the Regent offer requires booking directly with the cruise line.
May 21, 2023, 6:17 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,087
The AmEx Cruise Privileges program is a wonderful benefit and one of the many reasons I would not consider ever dropping my Platinum card. I’ve been able to take the galley tour in the past (pre-Covid) and it was very interesting.
Check the offers on your card too before booking a cruise. In late 2021 when I booked the voyage I took last year, there was an offer of 5 points per dollar up to 50,000 AmEx points for booking a cruise on Silversea - but you have to add the offer to your card before booking. Right now, there is the same offer for Regent, but the Regent offer requires booking directly with the cruise line.
Check the offers on your card too before booking a cruise. In late 2021 when I booked the voyage I took last year, there was an offer of 5 points per dollar up to 50,000 AmEx points for booking a cruise on Silversea - but you have to add the offer to your card before booking. Right now, there is the same offer for Regent, but the Regent offer requires booking directly with the cruise line.
Watch those AMEX offers.
May 22, 2023, 3:49 am
#75
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
That is concerning to hear. Just two weeks ago the agent pulled off a switch from the Shadow to the Nova without a hitch. Best friends/cruise partners daughter had called them and said she was expecting and the baby was due right when we would board the Shadow. Just say that this is a miracle baby and they want to be with their daughter. Nova is doing the same itinerary we were doing on the Shadow but four months later. The agent got everything moved including all the booking incentives from us booking on board the Dawn, Venetian Society discount, OBC, etc., etc. Got us two cabins by number right where we wanted them. All in all she couldn’t have been quicker or more attentive. Answered emails and calls even on a Saturday. I know if no other agency that offers what Pavlus does in terms of incentives but if you still have problems I can understand changing keep me posted.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; May 22, 2023 at 8:36 am Reason: Rule 21