Thread: Does Carnival work well with Travel Agents?

That's the one thing about most (not all) Carnival cruisers - they want cheap, so they are constantly shopping around to see if the prices have changed or who can get them the best rate.

The one thing about Carnival is that they instituted their "Early Saver Fare" about 1-1/2 years ago and it's been very popular. Of course it's a non-refundable deposit booking, but other cruise lines have now implemented similar specials and passengers are taking note. But with Carnival, this is another area where they are making it more difficult for the agents as this special can only be booked online. Now they're offering a lower fare, which results in a lower commission, but they require us to do all the work. So we're doing more but making less. And to top it off, they're raising the NCF's (non-commissionable fees - or port fees) without justification so they can make the same amount of money. Sometimes it's a no-win scenario for the agent.

But one thing I have really liked about Carnival is their Business Development Managers (our local sales reps). The last couple we've had have been absolutely wonderful and are a pleasure to work with when the need arises. When we have problems or need assistance, they are our first line of contact and they can be of tremendous help. Always great to have a good working relationship with the local reps and we have some great ones in our area with all the major cruise lines, with Carnival & RCCL being two of the best.

Pete

Carnivals new group policy is beyond hard to work with ... and double hard to explain to clients. Clients dont want to hear all these confusing group booking "rules" or try to understand why, say a quad cabin requires full deposit vs. the double cabins in the group. I have a large group on a 4/1/12 sailing and I talked them into individual bookings knowing that people would be booking right up until a month before sailing. It was just getting too frustrating for the group to deal with the new group policy's. Dont even get me started on the brochures, or lack there of. Even the computer savy love to feel and browse through a brochure.. There online brochures are not easy for people to use. Its frustrating..

Hanna - I love that site. I am about to print out the deck plan for our next cruise. It is SO Much easier to use that the HAL website, easier to read than the brochure and less labor intensive than using Vacations to Go's site.

Pete mentioned that RCCL is making it harder on themselves in Florida. They are also doing to themselves in Texas. They used to have one ship year round and an extra one in the winter. They moved the year round ship - and everyone's favorite - to Asia and now only have a ship from Thanksgiving to the end of April.

Most families want to cruise in the summer, when the kids get bored! Instead they can only go during the Xmas holiday - when prices are sky high - and during Spring Break. It's a shame.