new pricing system and travel agents

[swissmiss]

Hi, not been looking at cruises much lately whilst hubby was having chemo. Just got the 2014 brochure and it appears that if you book direct with P & O and can find it cheaper elsewhere within 48 hrs they will refund the difference. Does this mean that travel agents are not giving any discounts now? We have always gone with a t a in the past to save money.

[david63]

Travel agents have not, supposedly, been giving discounts for a couple of years now.

Whilst this may seem a good idea there is also the possibility of "Big Brother" in that it will highlight which TAs are giving discounts and P&O could take whatever action they deem appropriate against them.

[Kendhni]

A while back they changed the discount structure so that TA's areonly given 5% (or so) on a sale ... this (allegedly) was to stop the excessive discounting being carried out by some agents (e.g. Gills) who left the cruise companies to pick up the pieces when they folded.

I believe RCI and other lines however still use the olf pricing model (ie. give the agent about 15% commission and allow the customer to negotiate 10% off the brochure price).

[noddy10]

In my opinion that is the reason why P&O are struggling because a lot of the big main cruise TAs no longer push P&O they would rather sell other cruise lines because they get more commission.

[david63]

In my opinion that is the reason why P&O are struggling because a lot of the big main cruise TAs no longer push P&O they would rather sell other cruise lines because they get more commission.

From a marketing point of view you are probably right - we all like to think that we have got a bargain or some discount. The reality is that the TA is still making as much (possibly more) from selling a P&O cruise as that of any other cruise line.

[Kendhni]

... but some customers do not know to push the agent for up to 10% discount from other lines ... so in those instances the agent makes more commission.

[towny44]

A while back they changed the discount structure so that TA's areonly given 5% (or so) on a sale ... this (allegedly) was to stop the excessive discounting being carried out by some agents (e.g. Gills) who left the cruise companies to pick up the pieces when they folded.

I believe RCI and other lines however still use the olf pricing model (ie. give the agent about 15% commission and allow the customer to negotiate 10% off the brochure price).

Not according to my TA Ken, RCI group have followed Carnival and now ask (demand is probably more accurate) that they keep to the issued price.

[Kendhni]

Interesting, towny, I ha dhtought RCI had followed suit but had quickly reversed that decision and gone back to the 'old way'.

[towny44]

Ken, This statement was only made to me in April when we booked a cruise for 2014, and quotes from the two TA's I normally use were identical, the one I chose did however offer credit card payment without a fee.

[david63]

Ken, This statement was only made to me in April when we booked a cruise for 2014, and quotes from the two TA's I normally use were identical, the one I chose did however offer credit card payment without a fee.

.. and that is where TAs can have added value

[Kendhni]

Ken, This statement was only made to me in April when we booked a cruise for 2014, and quotes from the two TA's I normally use were identical, the one I chose did however offer credit card payment without a fee.

.. and that is where TAs can have added value

I don't call that added value since it is worth virtually nothing.

[david63]

Ken, This statement was only made to me in April when we booked a cruise for 2014, and quotes from the two TA's I normally use were identical, the one I chose did however offer credit card payment without a fee.

.. and that is where TAs can have added value

I don't call that added value since it is worth virtually nothing.

Perhaps not but as the saying goes "Every little helps"

[Dancing Queen]

Ken, This statement was only made to me in April when we booked a cruise for 2014, and quotes from the two TA's I normally use were identical, the one I chose did however offer credit card payment without a fee.

Out of interest John which agent didn't charge a booking fee, I ask because I recently booked two getaways ( paid in full at the time of booking ) we don't keep that sort of money in our cheque account so no other choice than to pay by cc ( total fee £382 ) in the past I have had agents who have waived the fee on a deposit but just wondering if yours waives it on all cc payments.

[Wina G]

Out of interest John which agent didn't charge a booking fee, I ask because I recently booked two getaways ( paid in full at the time of booking ) we don't keep that sort of money in our cheque account so no other choice than to pay by cc ( total fee £382 ) in the past I have had agents who have waived the fee on a deposit but just wondering if yours waives it on all cc payments.

We use Cumbria Cruises & have never been charged a fee for using a credit card although I now believe that since they were taken over by Thomas Cook you have to have booked 4 cruises with them to benefit from this perk

[ItsmeAnnC]

Celebrity Cruises do not charge for credit card payments, and that also applies if you book through an agent that normally charges. We got a much better deal by booking with Celebrity direct than through an agent we have used for decades, i.e. lower fare and more OBC. We paid our deposit and will pay the balance with as cashback credit card, thereby saving a further 1.5%. £60ish buys a few drinks!

[Dancing Queen]

Out of interest John which agent didn't charge a booking fee, I ask because I recently booked two getaways ( paid in full at the time of booking ) we don't keep that sort of money in our cheque account so no other choice than to pay by cc ( total fee £382 ) in the past I have had agents who have waived the fee on a deposit but just wondering if yours waives it on all cc payments.

We use Cumbria Cruises & have never been charged a fee for using a credit card although I now believe that since they were taken over by Thomas Cook you have to have booked 4 cruises with them to benefit from this perk

Thanks Wina, I've used Cumbria once so I wouldn't have been eligible, it's just a bit annoying to have to add the cc fee to the cost, it's usually fine if I've pre planned as I would already have transferred money to the cheque a/c so would just put a small amount on my cc b****y hell that would have bought me two new dresses

[Dancing Queen]

Celebrity Cruises do not charge for credit card payments, and that also applies if you book through an agent that normally charges. We got a much better deal by booking with Celebrity direct than through an agent we have used for decades, i.e. lower fare and more OBC. We paid our deposit and will pay the balance with as cashback credit card, thereby saving a further 1.5%. £60ish buys a few drinks!

Thanks Ann, that's worth remembering, we have only been on one Celebrity cruise and I can't remember if I used debit/credit card but useful to know as I am sure we will go with Celebrity again.

[towny44]

Celebrity Cruises do not charge for credit card payments, and that also applies if you book through an agent that normally charges. We got a much better deal by booking with Celebrity direct than through an agent we have used for decades, i.e. lower fare and more OBC. We paid our deposit and will pay the balance with as cashback credit card, thereby saving a further 1.5%. £60ish buys a few drinks!

Thanks Ann, that's worth remembering, we have only been on one Celebrity cruise and I can't remember if I used debit/credit card but useful to know as I am sure we will go with Celebrity again.

DQ, This is also how we avoided the CC fee, only Celebrity & Royal Caribbean offer this facility, but only Bolsover offered the no CC fee as well, our other TA would have charged us 1.5%.

[Barb44]

Towny 44

When did Bolsover stop charging for using a CC?

We have always booked with Bolsover, the most recent booking being in April this year. I paid by Debit Card because I assumed they still charged for Credit Card.

Barbara

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Towny 44

When did Bolsover stop charging for using a CC?

We have always booked with Bolsover, the most recent booking being in April this year. I paid by Debit Card because I assumed they still charged for Credit Card.

Barbara

Same here.

John

[towny44]

Towny 44

When did Bolsover stop charging for using a CC?

We have always booked with Bolsover, the most recent booking being in April this year. I paid by Debit Card because I assumed they still charged for Credit Card.

Barbara

Same here.

John

This only applies to RCI group cruise lines, and presumably you need to ask about no fee CC charges, probably if you offer to pay with a debit card they will just accept it.

[Barb44]

Thanks for the clarification. We have only booked P&O cruises through Bolsover.

Barbara

[arcadialover]

Some TA's also charge you to pay by a debit card, Barrhead travel is one example.

[david63]

Some TA's also charge you to pay by a debit card, Barrhead travel is one example.

I thought that was now illegal

[Dancing Queen]

Celebrity Cruises do not charge for credit card payments, and that also applies if you book through an agent that normally charges. We got a much better deal by booking with Celebrity direct than through an agent we have used for decades, i.e. lower fare and more OBC. We paid our deposit and will pay the balance with as cashback credit card, thereby saving a further 1.5%. £60ish buys a few drinks!

Thanks Ann, that's worth remembering, we have only been on one Celebrity cruise and I can't remember if I used debit/credit card but useful to know as I am sure we will go with Celebrity again.

DQ, This is also how we avoided the CC fee, only Celebrity & Royal Caribbean offer this facility, but only Bolsover offered the no CC fee as well, our other TA would have charged us 1.5%.

Thanks for that, I used to use Bolsover and may well go back to them if they are no longer charging for cc.

I've just noticed you said RCI so obviously not for all cruises .. oh well