TA strikes again

cruisinmama · August 17, 2005

Thanks..I'll take another :wink:

cruisinmama · August 17, 2005

My kids don't know about the Cruise....Its a Christmas present for them...

JoeyandDavid · August 17, 2005

Ann,

I was thinking, about your current situation and wanted to present to you an alternative to hiring a TA.

Depending on cruise line I normally buy directly from the home office. I just prefer dealing with the people that are providing the services and guarantees.

I use Orbitz Travelocity etc. to do power searches so I can see what ships will be where, at what time, and at what ball park price.

With that information I choose and deal directly with the brands own TA.

I get everything we discuss sent to me in an email with in 2 days of my initial deposit. Thus the paper trail, documentation.

And as Judge (fill in the TV blank) would say Ã¢â‚¬Å“did you get it in writingÃ¢â‚¬Â.

I just like to do more hands on than most tweaking and refining up to the date of departure.

Is this an option for you in the future?

HereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s to a surprise Holiday!!

Hugs

cruisinmama · August 17, 2005

I agree with you, we will never go through a TA again..I will say when I've had to call RCI for example..Its also hit and miss to who knows what there.. you can get conflicting answers.....all the way around its been frustrating....

But this whole trip to be has been a complete fiasco..down to the part where I'm supposed to worry about her commission..I've done more work on this than her...

Even the insurance where she told me parts of it were not included , and when I called the insurance carrier myself..they were covered....so again I saved $ 600.00 just on that part..by checking up on what she said...

So I think I will do everything myself..as hey if I screw its only me to blame...

Knowledge is Power..well I sure learnt my lesson on this on..The draw back is we are so new to things..so we are learning as we are going along.. but when you get wrong info..or a TA knows absoutluty nothing or so it seems....its been a hard road..of which is now starting all over again....as they are changing things...

and then she kidded and said I hope they don't move your reservation and someone else takes your cabins while they do it..Oh great...just what I wanted to hear...I'm so glad I didn't book our air yet...until I know for sure this has all been dealt with..

Your right if this wasn't so sad it would be funny....But we will know next time..DO IT OURSELVES!!!!

JoeyandDavid · August 17, 2005

And remember once you get a TA that u feel comfy with at the home office you can keep them by dialing their ext.. that way you develope more of a relationship thus getting a few bennis in the process..

Hang in there!

cruisinmama · August 17, 2005

Its finding one... :wink:

Laney · August 17, 2005

Boy, I had forgotten how lucky I was till I read some of these horror stories. I have used the same TA now for 10 years and have never had one problem. Prior to finding my TA I had some sort of problem every trip. I hope everything works out without too much more stress. ^..^

hamster92256 · August 18, 2005

Ann I've been following your story from the begining and it is like something you read in a magazine, and you say to yourself there is no way that this could be real. No one person could have this much trouble. I think about when I booked our anniversery cruise, I did exactly what Joey said he does, all the research on line and such and booked direct. The airfare I did at a later date, the same way, except that when I booked it it was with US Air, a month after I had paid they filed for chapter 11 and there was a chance that they wouldn't fly after Jan 15 05 because of lack of federal funding. We were returning on Jan 16!! That was the only glitch, I almost want to break down and cry :cry: when I read your account. You should really document everything that you've done so far, maybe you could make some of your money back writting an article for one of those mags :grin:

And for those drinks, better make it a double :tongue:

JohnG · August 25, 2005

Not all TA's specialize in cruises. Find one that does. The cruise line reps are order takers, not experienced cruisers like TA's who specialize in cruises. They likely have cruised little or not at all, have little first hand knowledge, and you likely get a different one each time you call. No wonder people get conflicting answers from them.