I just read that if you change travel agents, Regent plans to charge $200 to make the change. We had heard that in 2009 there would be a charge of $200 pp to cancel a cruise, but this is something new. I hope that Ngaire with all her helpful knowledge will be able to give us more info on this.

That seems a little crazy to me. Where did you read this?

EDIT TO ADD: I just read the thread over on CC. If that is the source no need to reply.

Yes, that is true, but the passenger does not pay this the agent that is getting the client pays it out of commission. There are many good reasons for this policy and as a TA I am not unhappy about this change at all.

Also on the $200 cancel fee per cabin for the 2009 bookings if you make another booking in 6 months that fee is allocated as a future cruise credit against your new cruise.

Am I reading that correctly? The travel agent has to pay the $200.00 if someone decides to change and go elsewhere? That does not sound at all fair to me or am I missing something. Is it the new TA that the person goes to that has to pay the fee or the TA that the person just left? Not that I plan on leaving any TA that I have cruises booked with to date as I'm very pleased with the service but it is confusing. If it's the new agent then I can see why.....helps prevent poaching of clients.
Pat

It is the NEW TA that pays the $200.00.

This is ONLY on a current booking where a person changes travel agents AFTER a booking has already been made.

For example:
Passenger books with agent ABC.
Then wants to transfer that same booking to DEF agency.
The DEF agency pays $200 in transfer fees.

What about an onboard booking then transfering that booking to my usual travel agent ?

This is not affecting DIRECT Regent bookings. If you book onboard and make the booking directly with Regent (no agent on record) then you can assign that booking to any TA you wish, there is no fee involved.

It is only when one travel agency is taking a booking ALREADY MADE away from another travel agency. It is as Pat said "to try to stop solicitation by travel agents of other travel agents clients" This unfortunately is a real problem. I do not think this will really work but this is the reason for the fee by Regent.

I have only been in the Travel Agent business for about 7 years and have been in other industries in the past and unfortunately the solicition by many methods in this industry is more evident than in any other industry I have been involved in before.

Thanks, Ngaire, as always, I knew you would be able to give us the correct information. It sounds plausible to me now. Have a great holiday all you LCT's and thanks for all the wonderful information we have received from this terrific web site.

Thanks Ngaire for the clarification. It makes sense to me and does protect agents from poaching after the booking is made. People should inevitably do their shopping before booking and if life was perfect this wouldn't be necessary but this will certainly discourage such practice after a booking is made. Now that I understand why......I do applaud Regent for trying to protect their booking agents/reps and all of the time etc, they have invested in a client....rather then have it usurped by some other agent that is offering the client something more or perserved to be more.
Again I stess I am very, very happy with my 2008, 2009 bookings!
Pat

And I am very happy to be another satisfied client with Ngaire and her BK group!

Like Oliva said .. us too! Cheers, Anne

In 2002 a local agency owner tried to charge me to transfer an on-board booking I had made during a 2001 Alaska cruise on Mariner with a specific request that NO AGENT be listed, but the on-board booking letter did list the agency that had booked the Alaska cruise I was on when I booked, and I didn't notice it. I contacted Radisson and the agent then told me I could transfer to any other Virtuoso agency, or she would sue me in small claims court for the lost commission! After speaking with an attorney, I found another Virtuoso agency and took my business there. The next year I found Ngaire and lived happily ever after! The second Virtuoso agency was good, but no one compares with B&K.