Thread: Am I a lousy customer?

Maybe it's me. But, I'd like to fire my TA.

Granted, I am high-maintenance, I'll admit. OCD. Anal-retentive. Whatever.

We booked through a local TA, in order to get a better fare, and, supposedly, better "customer service" than we could through an internet agent or through the cruise line directly.

Well, once the initial booking was made and confirmed, I've had very little contact from him.
Our last cruise, he was good about calling to let us know about upsells, any changes, and to help me deal with being Vegan on HAL.

Now, we're back on Princess, and I've had to call Princess myself a couple of times to find out things, because over a week after asking him, I still haven't heard from him. In fact, at this point, I think it's closer to two weeks without a word.

I've had to email DH's info to Princess, and then later verified the Veteran's OBC with Princess. I've put our FF numbers on our flights. And, I'm annoyed that we still have no stateroom number, without any indication that he's even looking for upgrade/upsell opportunities (yes, I'll pay to move up, if it's available).

Is it too much to ask for an email, say once a week, to let me know if there's been any changes to our cruise?

So, here is my real question - how does one fire one's TA? can you? Is there a way to get info direct from Princess in spite of my TA?

Sorry to hear about your problems with your TA, but quite frankly, there are alot of them out there that are more interested in the numbers than the clients.

If you email or call your TA, you should receive an answer relatively quickly to any and all of your questions. You should never have to call the cruise line.

Problem is, just because they are a travel agent, does not necessarily mean they know alot or anything about cruises. It's always best to work with a cruise specialist when dealing with cruises. Someone who can answer all of your questions and help you through the process.

Keep in mind that each agent is different. Some choose to call or email their clients on a regular basis just to stay in touch, while others don't want to appear to be too agressive or bothersome, but make themselves available whenever the client needs assistance and choose only to contact their clients for important reasons. While others, unfortunately, just care about the money and not the client.

As for firing your agent, you can simply transfer your booking to another agent who is more interested in providing you the service you're looking for. All you need to do is contact the new agent, let them know you want to transfer the booking to them. They will provide you the information on how to proceed with the transfer. Most of the time, you do not even have to communicate with the old agent.

But the bottom line is, if you're not happy with your current agent, by all means fire them and find a new one. Trust me when I say alot of those agents will not take it take it personally, because to them it's just business.

Hope this helps.

By the way, where in Washington do you live? We lived in Spokane for 5 years - loved it! People there are wonderful.

Pete

We live in Grays Harbor, on the coast...

I finally got an email from him today. *insert eye roll*

At this point, the booking is fine... he just isn't getting any business from us after this one!

Hopefully, he has provided you a confirmation from Princess so at least you can check on your reservation on the Princess website. Too bad he's so busy he can't respond to your requests - not good customer service.

But don't give up on all of us agents as it's still a better way to book than going directly through the cruise line or an online site.

Yeah, you guys over there on the coast don't know what Winter is like compared to Spokane. Gotta like Winter to live there! Temperature would go down below zero and stay there for about 2 weeks in January. Summers are absolutely beautiful, but long Winters.

We also lived in Portland, OR for 3-1/2 years. Loved it! But hated all that rain!!!

Our middle son was born in Portland and our daughter was born in Spokane - our oldest was born in Washington, DC and our first grandson was born in Florida - so we say we have a national family.

Pete

Originally Posted by Cruise Planner

But don't give up on all of us agents as it's still a better way to book than going directly through the cruise line or an online site. Pete

Very much agree!

Our long time TA is a Cruise Planners franchise owner like Pete and we get excellent service!

Originally Posted by LuLu

Very much agree!

Our long time TA is a Cruise Planners franchise owner like Pete and we get excellent service!

I have been thinking about hiring Pete as my travel agent because it is impossible to want to fire a message board buddy, but I live in Ohio and can't get to his office in Washington.

When I read the subject title, I thought the OP would complain about the cruise line not satisfying a laundry list of requests. Maybe the thread title should be, "Should I fire my TA?" or something like that.

I have only booked one cruise from a local agent, and that was my very first. I have never been unhappy about not going local.

BTW, Pete. You have never had a winter until you have had one in Minneapolis or Winnipeg! We used to bundle the whole family for a dinner out the first day the temperature dropped to 50 below.

Originally Posted by nealberk

I have only booked one cruise from a local agent, and that was my very first. I have never been unhappy about not going local.

BTW, Pete. You have never had a winter until you have had one in Minneapolis or Winnipeg! We used to bundle the whole family for a dinner out the first day the temperature dropped to 50 below.

I am surprised this post was written by a guy in Dallas.

Actually, I don't have to spend winter in Minneapolis to know how bad it is. Ohio gets all of that snow and ice too and, yes, temperatures below zero. It is one reason I am moving to Jacksonville, Florida next year. (Another is my pregnant sister lives near Char and Bob.)

Andrea, I was born in Jax, went to college in NC (my first experience with cold), and moved all over before (Salt Lake City, San Francisco, LA area, Maryland, Orlando) before marrying and moving to Minneapolis. Cold was bad but you could always put on more clothes. In Texas heat, there is a limit to how much you can take off. Give me the cold any day!

Originally Posted by nealberk

Andrea, I was born in Jax, went to college in NC (my first experience with cold), and moved all over before (Salt Lake City, San Francisco, LA area, Maryland, Orlando) before marrying and moving to Minneapolis. Cold was bad but you could always put on more clothes. In Texas heat, there is a limit to how much you can take off. Give me the cold any day!

I would rather be too cold than too hot, but everywhere there is snow, there is ice to walk over and around - often in places where I can't avoid it. Once I got seven stitches because I slipped on ice. Other days, I did not go to work because I could not get out of the house. So I need to live where water can't freeze outside.

The only reason I am moving to Jacksonville next year is i have to live near my mom, who is moving to northeast Florida to be near my pregnant sister after she retires. I would rather move to San Diego, where spring never ends.