RULES REGARDING CHANGES
Marla Archer, April 2006

In order to understand this article on "Requesting Changes", we should start by looking at the Travel Agent's Time Line.

There are three critical dates in the Cruise Travel Business:  First Deposit, Final Payment, and Sailing Date.

Accordingly there are three Time Periods for every cruise trip: Flex Time, Revisions, and Crunch Time. 

Flex Time ends on the First Deposit date.  Revisions end after Final Payment.  Crunch Time is the period after Final Payment until Sailing.

The term "Prevailing Rate" should be explained too.  There are always two prices:  Group Rate and Prevailing Rate (same thing as  "Market Rate" and "Daily Rate").   

FLEX TIME

When a Travel Agent like Marla books a cruise, she is given an initial option to sell 50 cabins at a discounted price known as the Group Rate.  The agent has 90 days to sell that space.  This 90-day period is known as "Flex Time". Flex Time ends on the First Deposit Due Date. 

During this time, Marla has a great deal of "Flexibility" regarding making changes; hence the title.  Marla can change roommates at will, upgrade cabins, downgrade cabins, and handle special requests as to room placement ("put me by the elevator", "near to the Dining Room") without any trouble at all because she has control over 50 different cabins.

Royal Caribbean basically lets her do whatever she wants. They are not even involved until the week before First Deposit which is when she finally begins to register the passengers and process the deposits. 

You should always try to sign up for your cruise during Flex Time for three good reasons:

1. It is much easier for Marla to match roommates by age, dance experience, and other common interests.
2. You are assured of getting the type of room you prefer.
3. You are guaranteed the lowest possible rate for your room. 

Furthermore the time to make "changes" is clearly Flex Time.  Changes can be made effortlessly during this time nor is there any service charge or the need to worry about Prevailing Rate.
 

REVISION PERIOD

The Revision Period is the toughest time for the Travel Agent.  According to the rules, once the deposits have been applied, each passenger MUST BE assigned a roommate.  This means that as Marla registers her passengers for First Deposit Day, she must assign two people in every cabin (or just one person if they pay double deposit).   Marla explained it to me in her own words:

Revision Period is a really difficult stretch for me.  For something like the Alaska Trip where we had mostly couples, there were only a few roommate changes to be made.  But on the Rhapsody singles cruises, sometimes it feels as if people swap roommates like kids swap baseball cards.

Anytime you mix the birds and the bees with SEVERAL MONTHS of time, things are going to happen and things are going to change.  While on the one hand, I want to accommodate everyone, I want you to understand that each time you change your mind, from now on, you will need to pay for it.

Before First Deposit during Flex Time, I can have up to 10 cabins with only one person in them. I have plenty of roommate flexibility and can wait on people to make roommate and cabin upgrade decisions.  However, After First Deposit, RCCL will not allow only ONE PERSON to hold a room (unless you pay $500 deposit).  They insist I assign roommates immediately.  Therefore everybody has to be matched up on the spot.

This means I must operate with my hands tied after the First Deposit date.  I have lots of restraints!  When people sign up without roommates after the First Deposit cutoff, I put them on Wait Lists and they get the next available person to become their roommate. These people MUST take the next person available.  And when people want to change roommates, they tend to overlook that in a sense someone else is getting left behind. I have to deal with all sorts of awkward situations.

Let's just say Revision Time is rough sailing.

What this means is that Marla does not have the luxury to wait any longer and see who else is going to sign up.

One of the reasons for the success of the SSQQ Cruise Trips is that we don't require our guests to find their own roommate.  During Flex Time, Marla actually puts thought into whom she pairs people up with.  But if you sign up during Revision Period, you get the next available roommate automatically.  It is common for Marla to 'wait list' people during this period.  All 'Wait List' people will definitely go on the trip, but it might take a week or two until your roommate shows up. Just be patient.

PREVAILING RATE

Another problem for people who sign up during the Revision Period is that the "Prevailing Rate" kicks in. Once First Deposit Day passes, the Group Rate goes away. Now you pay whatever is advertised to the general public. Your cabin might just be $20 more than other SSQQ passengers who signed up during Flex Time, but sometimes the difference can be several hundred dollars. 

CHANGES AND CHARGES People change their minds.  That is a fact of life.  It is a shame that people are expected to make decisions so far in advance of the actual trip, but that is the nature of the cruise business that we have to accept.  If changes are made during Flex Time, they are relatively easy to take care over.  All this changes during Revision Period.  When people ask to switch roommates, the rule is that the person asking for the change has to vacate the room.  The original roommate stays put and pays the Group Rate while the "changing roommate" now has to acquire a new room at the Prevailing Rate to share with his or her new roommate.

During the Revision Period, there will be a Service Charge of $25 for each person's for each change.

The reason for the Service Charge is that each change requires a lot of time. The main problem is that every change depends on "cabin availability".  The change can't be made until a new cabin is found to accommodate the change. Since many cabin categories are sold out, no change during the Revision Period is ever simple. Put another way, each change this late in the game generally requires a great deal of scrambling.

Before anyone complains about this Service Charge, let me simply remind everyone that "time is money".

I researched the topic of Service Charges.  It is a common practice in the travel industry to either simply refuse to make changes or to charge an arm and a leg for the service.  For example, I found one cruise site that charges a mandatory $150 service charge for "changing names".  If you don't believe me, email me and I will send you the link. 

You can grumble if you wish, but in reality very few people make more than one change.  $25 is a simple slap on the wrist. 

CRUNCH TIME

Crunch Time starts the day after Final Payment. You now have 60 days till the ship sails.  Passenger Cruise Documents are issued and making changes is extremely difficult.  Most sailings are sold out at this point, therefore changes are practically impossible anyway.

Service Charge Examples

The following  will serve as examples for our Service Charges.  Let me add that each example really did happen on one of our cruises in 2004 or 2005.  These people were not charged any additional fees for the changes; however Marla just got more grey hair.  Beginning with our next cruise, Greece 2008, the examples cited below provide examples of what the service charge will be based on each passenger's change request.

Example One.  Max signed up with Janet as his roommate.  One day during the Revision Period, Max phoned to say that he and Janet were no longer dating, but that his new girlfriend Kathy wanted to go with him. Janet did not want to go any more.  Max is charged a $25 Service Fee, but does not have to pay the "Prevailing Rate" because he retained his original cabin. Janet pays the cancellation fee.   Max then calls a week later to say the same thing had happened again. This time Valerie wanted to go, but now Kathy is vacating the trip. This time Max is charged an additional $25.. However he again kept the original Group Rate for his cabin.    Valerie pays a cancellation fee.

Example Two.  Jack signed up with his uncle for Oceanview.  Jack's uncle decided not to go before First Deposit, so I matched Jack up with a roommate in Oceanview. The uncle pays the cancellation fee.   However one month later, Jack decided he wanted to room with Joe who was already on the trip and occupying an Inside Cabin.  Joe had a roommate. I made the switch and here is what I had to do:  Jack and Joe had to get a brand new room at the prevailing rate.  Their original roommates retained Jack and Joe's original room. $25 charge to Jack for roommate. $25 charge to Joe to find a new room. 

Example Three.  Margaret signed up with her boyfriend Peter.  After First Deposit, Margaret broke up with Peter. Peter is canceled from the trip. Peter pays the cancellation fee.  I found Margaret a new roommate named Jackie.  Before Final Payment, Peter and Margaret got back together and Peter asked to rejoin the trip.  Margaret is charged $25 to add Peter as her new roommate. Plus they both have to pay the "Prevailing Rate" and SO DOES Margaret.  The reason Margaret had to pay more money is because Margaret has to leave her room; Jackie inherits the original room.  The rule is that whenever there is a change, the people who "change their minds" have to "change their rooms too".  Since the price of cabins had risen since the first time Margaret signed on, both Peter and Margaret have to pay the "Prevailing Rate". 

Example Four. After First Deposit, Warren is rooming with Jeremy.  Warren's long-lost cousin Frank wants to join the trip.  I move Warren and Frank to a new room at Prevailing Rate and Jeremy retains his original cabin at the group pricing rate. Before Final Payment, this is not a big problem. After First Deposit, but before Final Payment, there is a $25 service charge for Warren. (Please note that AFTER FINAL PAYMENT, I can't allow it because documents have been issued. Cousin Frank will just have to get his own cabin.) 

Example Five. Bob, Ted, and Alice signed up for triple occupancy in a Balcony.  They decided to upgrade to a bigger room after First Deposit so I get them a Suite.  $25 service charge to change rooms AFTER FIRST DEPOSIT.  Then Alice canceled prior to Final Payment.  Alice pays cancellation fee.  As a result of Alice's decision, Bob and Ted decided they now wished to go back to the Balcony.  $25 service charge to change rooms plus they have to pay the prevailing rate for the Balcony. 

Example Six.  Nancy and Nicholas signed up independently of each other and were each given roommates.  They began to date after First Deposit and became an Item.  Now it was natural they wished to room together.  Since I had to find two new roommates, they were each charged $25 and they both had to pay the Prevailing Rate.

Example Seven.  Lois signed up alone and was given a roommate Lucy.  After First Deposit and prior to Final Payment, Lois asked that her new boyfriend Larry be added.  Lucy retains the original room and Lois and Larry move to a new cabin at Prevailing Rate. $25 service charge.

Example Eight.  Beth and Bert signed up as a couple. After First Deposit and prior to Final Payment, they decided they were moving too fast and maybe it would be a better idea if they still went on the trip, but not as a couple. Two new roommates had to be found. $25 service charge to both and they had to pay Prevailing Rate for their new cabins.

Example Nine.  Jean signed up alone and was assigned a roommate. After First Deposit, she wanted to add her daughter Violet.  Jean and Violet were given a new room at the Prevailing Rate and there was a $25 charge.  Then prior to Final Payment, Violet canceled.  Jean had to be assigned a new roommate. $25 for the roommate change and Violet pays cancellation fee.  Then prior to Final Payment, Jean also decided to cancel.  Jean pays cancellation fee.   Let me add that I have omitted the gory details, but in reality this story involved several hours of phone calls, emails, and total nonsense with the final result being two cancellations and much ado about nothing.

Example Ten.  David signed up with Sally as his roommate.  Meanwhile another woman, Cynthia, was also on the trip. One day David phoned to say that he and Sally were no longer dating, but that his new girlfriend Cynthia wanted to room with him. In addition, Sally still wanted to go but she would obviously need a new roommate.  David is charged $25 plus Cynthia would also be charged $25 plus they would have to pay the "Prevailing Rate" to obtain a new cabin. Sally retained her original cabin and Cynthia's original roommate and I started to find them both new roommates. There was no charge for Sally and for Cynthia's roommate.

Example Eleven.  Trish signed up alone during Flex Time.  I roomed Trish with Maria.  During Revision Time, Maria decided not to go.  I had to find Trish a roommate, but since Trish was uninvolved with Maria's decision, there was no service charge.  Maria pays cancellation fee.

Example Twelve.  Kirk signed up with his daughter Mary during Flex Time.  During Revision Time, his daughter Mary decided not to go.  Now I had to find Kirk a roommate.   Kirk pays cancellation fee for his daughter Mary.  One week later, Kirk asked to have Delores added as his roommate.  Then Kirk and Delores broke up.  Delores pays cancellation fee.  Kirk requested for me to find him a roommate.  Then Delores and Kirk got back together and Delores decided to rejoin the trip. $25 change fee to Kirk to add Delores back on because now I had to find a new roommate again for his roommate.  Delores and Kirk broke up a second time.  Delores canceled again.  Another cancellation fee to Delores.  At this point, we were in Crunch Time and the ship was sold out. I had already put another roommate with his roommate and there were no new cabins available, so Kirk had to cancel.  Again I have omitted the gory details, but this incident contributed to my decision that starting in 2007, I will add a $100 cancellation fee that begins at time of Registration. 
 

Article below reprinted from the 2005 February Newsletter
Rick Archer, January 2005

To be included as a part of the SSQQ Group, you must book your cruise through Marla.   NO EXCEPTIONS!

This rule is known as Book It or Hook It. 

Surely you wonder, why would anyone even need to make up a "Rule" like the one above?  

The answer is that someone did something so utterly thoughtless they made life difficult for everyone else.

Do you have any Stop Signs in the middle of nowhere in your neighborhood?  There is practically no "through traffic".  Every time you are forced to stop, you frown every time you stop because there isn't a kid or a competing car in sight.  You ask yourself, 'Why is that sign there?' 

For example, we have an unnecessary 4-way Stop Sign in the Heights where I live.  One street is fairly busy while the other street has perhaps one car an hour.  In the old days, the sleepy street had a Stop Sign to allow to busier street its deserved right-of-way.  

One day there was a terrible two-car collision. Some idiot ran the stop sign and hit someone who had the right of way.  So they added a Stop Sign on the busy street as well which made it a four-way stop.

Now for the past ten years I have been forced to slow down and stop even though I see at most one car a month coming from the other direction. I might add that car always stops anyway because there is a Stop Sign on the other street.  It is a complete waste of time.

On a darker note, have you ever stewed because you have to take your shoes off at the airplane screening station?  Millions of people every day take off their shoes at airport screening stations because a total jerk named Richard Reid tried to smuggle a make-shift bomb onto an airplane.  One person did something so utterly stupid that the rest of us have suffered ever since.

THE ORIGIN OF THE SSQQ 'BOOK IT OR HOOK IT' RULE

I have to make rules to protect my business from predators. I am stunned at the number of people who continually try to exploit my dance  business.  And now, I am sorry to say, when it comes to our Travel Program, there are people who try to take advantage of us in this area too. 

Here are a couple axioms for you:

1. Rules are made for a reason.
2. People hate Rules! 

I know I hate rules, especially the ones that make people with common sense suffer needlessly.   In my youth, I was a huge rebel.  I resisted haircut rules, uniform rules, and parking rules any time I could.  As a result, I was a frequent visitor at the Saturday morning detention hall.  But that's another story.

Considering I was a high school rebel, I find it highly ironic that in my position as owner of SSQQ I find myself making up rules all the time!   Such a contradiction - The Rule Breaker becomes the Rule Maker. 

I have learned that whenever a new problem comes up, if I don't have a rule to cover it, the argument that is sure to follow will go poorly.  Without a stated rule, people tell me they have the right to do whatever they want!   Bend me, break me any way you make me, you got the power, you got control.

In other words, without a line in the sand, my hands are tied.  So rules must be made. 

HERE ARE THE STORIES BEHIND THE RULES

Jubilee 2003:  THREE LADIES JOIN OUR GROUP

During our Jubilee Trip in 2003, three women mysteriously showed up at our Cocktail Party on the first night of the trip.  I noticed them out of the corner of my eye.  Since there were 144 people aboard - a record that still stands as of 2006 - quite frankly I had no idea who a lot of these people were.  I got distracted and did not have the opportunity to talk to them.  

Later that evening during dinner a couple came up to me at my table to complain that there was no place to sit.  I asked Marla about the problem.  She told me to inspect their boarding pass ID card to look for which table they were supposed to sit at.  I identified the table and glanced over at it.  By coincidence, the same three women were sitting there plus there was was one empty chair. 

Who were these three women?  I pointed them out to Marla, but she didn't have any idea who they might be.  However she whispered that in her opinion this was not the time to take the chance of embarrassing them or ourselves.  This was something that should be done quietly.

Since the couple in question had come twenty minutes late to dinner, I didn't see any point in disrupting dinner to figure out the problem.   We had one free seat at our table, so I found another chair and we made room for them to sit with us.  I told the couple not to worry about it and that I would clear up the problem by the following evening.

Marla and I went back to the cabin and looked at her seating charts.  Sure enough, our couple was assigned to the correct table.  We remembered the three women and looked to see if there was a cluster of three women.  It turned out that table had five couples assigned to it. I knew everyone at that table by face and name.  Apparently one couple had skipped dinner altogether and the couple I talked to came late. Obviously those three ladies had discovered a table with 4 open spaces, so they decided to help themselves.

We scoured our records to see if we could identify a cluster of three women who might be with us.  Marla and I were stumped.

The next day at our dance lesson, I saw one of the three ladies from the night before.  She was speaking with one of the women in our group in a friendly way. Judging from the interaction, they seemed to know each other fairly well. Again, I didn't say anything, but I did watch her carefully.  Since we had a dozen more women than men, I felt some heat rising under my collar since her presence only made the boy-girl ratio worse than it already was.

After the lesson, I pulled the lady aside who was in our group to ask if she could identify the mystery woman who crashed our dance lesson.  It turns out this fourth woman knew the whole story.  All three women had heard about the trip through a mutual friend at her church singles group.  One of the three women had a sister who was a travel agent.  She asked her sister to book three spots.  Then they decided to invite themselves into our group. 

I didn't see any point in shooting the messenger.  I thanked the woman for her information and went in search of my culprits. I found them out at the pool standing next to group in the hot tub. They were participating in our "group activities" as much as anyone else in our group! I did not want a scene so I waited.  Finally they moved away.  I caught up to them as they headed elsewhere.  I then asked them politely not to join our activities again.  Two of the three were visibly embarrassed, but the third asked me where I got the nerve to tell them what they could and could not do. Now I was angry. I said they were not part of our group and had no business participating in our activities. I said if I saw any of them anywhere near one of our group activities, I would call them up and introduce them to the entire group.  The lead woman left in a huff with the other two in tow.  I did not know what they intended to do, but I barely saw them again for the rest of the trip.

Jubilee 2003:  TWO MEN JOIN OUR GROUP

There was a second incident in 2003.   I noticed a gentleman who was also aboard this trip, but whose name wasn't on our list. I liked this man and I liked his son. This man had taken many dance classes from us over the years. I wasn't nearly as inclined to lower the boom on him as I was the three party crashers.  I simply asked him what the story was.

He said he had saved $40 on his two tickets by booking the trip through an internet site.  I didn't have the heart to fight another battle. I welcomed him to the group and didn't say another word.

This man in later years has since gone on many cruises with us as part of the group and has helped us in many ways. 

I am glad I didn't make an issue out of it in his case. 

There were no posted rules in 2003.  That was the year we started to learn things the hard way. 
 

Jubilee 2003: THE CASE OF THE ATTEMPTED PIGGYBACK CRUISE

There was yet a third incident in 2003 which provides a further example of people who have no problem exploiting our work. 

2003 was Marla's first year as a Travel Agent.  She booked the summer Jubilee Cruise with 144 people.  Two months after the cruise was completed, one of the passengers on that trip took the entire email list from our summer trip and used it to solicit people to go on her own cruise in November 2003.  This was back in the days before Marla learned the hard way why she should use "blind carbon copy" on her emails.

Did this person ask permission to piggyback Marla's email list for a trip of her own?  No.  Not only did she fail to ask us first, she also tried to do it behind our back.  What was interesting was that she emailed 150 people, but neither Marla nor I received an email.  Since my email address and Marla's were on the original list, it is fair to assume our email addresses were deliberately excluded.  You don't suppose the woman was trying to conceal her activity, do you? 

However the email regarding the November trip raised many eyebrows, especially since it was obvious that Rick and Marla were not involved.  Several people forwarded us copies which is how we learned what was going on.

Both Marla and I were angry.  Marla had just begun to publicize our February 2004 Mardi Gras Cruise.  The November trip meant we were now being forced to compete with the rogue organizer for our own customers!   No one had enough money to go on two different trips scheduled just three months apart.  Our Mardi Gras Trip was being sabotaged.  

This time I didn't need to post a rule.  I quietly asked the lady to reconsider and the problem discretely went away.  

Rhapsody 2004: THE CASE OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVEL AGENT BYPASS

In July 2004 there was a bizarre incident involving a couple who booked their Rhapsody Cruise through another travel agent, then asked to be included in our Group.

This couple had previously emailed Marla several times about going on the 2004 Rhapsody Trip.  In other words, they became interested in the trip because of our publicity.  Six emails were exchanged, but they never signed up for the trip.

Two months before the late September sailing, this same couple sent Marla an email asking if Marla would arrange their seating for them at the SSQQ tables. They said they definitely wished to be part of our group.

To: Marla@ssqq.com
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 5:22 PM
Subject: rhapsody cruise

Marla,

I hated to bother you with my late registration for the cruise since you seem to have a full plate, so I registered for the cruise along with my roommate, xx, on line using another agency.  I hope that doesn't screw things up for you.

Our  reservation code:  2248326  I didn't know if I should have told them that we were going with SSQQ.  Will you please seat us at one of your tables?

Thank you

Marla and I stared dumbfounded at the email.  This couple had bypassed Marla to sign up for the same Rhapsody trip through another travel agency.  Marla had lost $100 in commissions.  And our Group total was deprived of two more guests.  (All group perks are based on the overall number of people signed up, so every name is valuable.)

However what left us totally flat-footed was that they emailed Marla asking her arrange their seating at dinner time with our group as if she was their travel agent of record.  This made no sense at all.

The mystery deepened when Marla discovered this couple had paid $170 more for their ticket than they would have paid by booking through Marla.  We know this for a fact because the Royal Caribbean group specialist who worked directly with Marla confirmed the ticket price.  Our group rate was significantly lower than the Prevailing Market Rate at the time, so by going online, this couple paid 20% than necessary.  This entire incident made no common sense and it made no economic sense. 

We were completely mystified.  Why would they bypass Marla? Why would they pay MORE for their ticket?  And why would they turn around and expect her to book their seating as if she were their travel agent? 

I am embarrassed to admit I have never figured it out.  Several years have passed and I still don't know the answer.  The woman told Marla that she knew Marla was getting married on this trip and figured Marla was too busy to fool with their reservation.

You tell me... does that explanation make any sense?

Why would someone deliberately bypass Marla for the chance to pay more money?  It made no sense.  Maybe it was "Personal".  But that wasn't likely.  Truth be told, these were two pretty nice people. There were no axes to grind that I know of.  Plus they turned around and asked Marla for help in securing their seating arrangements.  And during the trip, they were very gracious to us. 

Were they trying to put some money in someone else's pocket that needed the money?  That might be the answer.

Or perhaps they decided to go on impulse and discovered they could order over the Internet.  Who knows.

In the end, Marla and I decided to let them join our group for two reasons. 

The first reason was that we did not have a posted rule that said they could not book on their own.  The second factor was that Marla and I LIKED both people.  They were classy and attractive.  I had been hoping they would join the trip all along.  Marla agreed with me, so we welcomed them to the group.

But I also decided this was this last time we would permit this to happen.  2003 had seen two previous incidents along this same line.  This third incident was the one that made me decide to put my foot down. 

Now you know the stories behind the "Book It or Hook It" Rule. 

"To be included as a part of the SSQQ group, you must book your cruise through SSQQ. NO EXCEPTIONS!"

Alaska 2005:  THE DISGRUNTLED GENTLEMAN WHO WANTED TO SAVE $49

In January 2005, as Marla and I put together our promotion for the Alaska 2005 trip, I decided to post the "Book It or Hook It" Rule for the first time.  I quickly discovered that someone out there didn't like this rule one bit.  He complained bitterly about the injustice to an SSQQ Hall Monitor who then passed his tale on to me.

It seems this student had discovered a travel agent who in his opinion was selling the same trip at $49 less than SSQQ. He was bitter about this Book It or Hook It rule because he thought he could book next July's SSQQ Alaska Cruise at a cheaper price than we had listed on our web site.

He intended to book his cruise separately, save $50, then join the group anyway.  But before he could carry out his plan, I passed the "Book It or Hook It" Rule which effectively closed the back door.  Angry about the new rule, he related his feelings to the Hall Monitor who turned around and shared the story with me.

I never knew whether his claim was correct or not.  The Hall Monitor preferred not to share his name with me or the travel agency where he thought he could get a better price. All I heard about were the sour grapes.

Why do you suppose this gentleman was interested in this particular trip in the first place?

After all, there are a dozen cruise lines operating in the Alaskan waters and literally hundreds of trips to choose from next summer. Or for that matter there were plenty of cruises to different places all over the world. 

How do you suppose out of all those infinite choices, our Disgruntled Gentleman (DG for short) managed to choose our particular July sailing to be the one he wanted to go on?

My guess is that he chose this one-in-a-thousand sailing for the following reasons:

1. He knew a group from SSQQ was going.

2. SSQQ had earned a reputation for well-organized trips.

3. He looked forward to having plenty of attractive women from our group to dance with on his trip.  

In other words, Mr. DG wanted all the benefits being part of our group, but didn't want to pay the extra 50 bucks.

He told the Hall Monitor because he had taken a dance class here at SSQQ, he should get included in the group automatically.

Had Mr. DG spoken to me, I would said this, "If you choose to book independently through another agent, you are on your own.  Of course this is your prerogative.  Please ask yourself this question, would you have been interested in this cruise without the SSQQ Group being on the ship?"

He wanted to have it both ways.  So why would would DG be interested in our group in the first place?

Cruising with a large Group has many advantages.

Take for example the SSQQ Alaska 2005 Trip.  As it turned out, the Alaska Cruise was a wonderful trip. We had 73 passengers aboard who danced and partied their way through the most beautiful area we have ever visited.

It was an expensive trip, but it was also a trip many people had wanted to take all their lives.  Many of our guests told us they decided to go specifically because the thought of sharing their adventure with the SSQQ Group made it sound worth the money.  Without our group, many people said they probably would have put it off for some other year. 

In other words, the chance to sail with the SSQQ Group made this vacation seem much more attractive.  Going with a group like ours made a big difference. 

For starters, traveling with the SSQQ Group meant you could always find a friend for any occasion.  One nice thing about our SSQQ Groups is how easy it is to make new friends.

Who on earth would want to take an exciting train ride deep into the heart of the magnificent Alaskan forest alone?

Or what's the point of visiting the famous Denali National Park all by yourself?  Eagles, caribou, grizzlies, and moose wander everywhere. Half the fun of seeing these animals is the chance to point them out to a friend or loved one!

What's the fun of witnessing the grandeur of the massive Hubbard Glacier or seeing magnificence of America's largest mountain - the towering Mt. McKinley - all by yourself?

What's the joy of hiking rugged trails through glacial waterfalls outside Juneau alone?

And who would dream of taking a sea kayak trip on the protected harbor of Tongass National Park without a friend to share the boat ride?  

For people who are single, the chance to join a group like this is a perfect opportunity.

I suppose some people can be happy reflecting on the rugged beauty of Alaska all by themselves, but most people would rather have a friend to share this magnificent experience with.  Furthermore, many single people appreciate the added safety of traveling with a group, especially the ladies. 

And what about Romance?  If you have read the story of the trip, one couple got engaged during the trip and FIVE COUPLES got married within four months after the trip ended.  Romance was definitely powerful on the Alaska trip!

The Single members of our trip enjoy the added chance of Romance.  The success of our trips with Singles is legendary. Who can take one look at the pictures of our cruises and fail to conclude that the birds and bees are way out of control?

In addition to the Singles, Couples seem equally attracted to traveling with a group like ours.  Couples often want to share the experience with other couples.  Besides, it's fun to dance with everyone at the parties even when you come along with a loved one!  As they say, the more the merrier.   The proof is in the pudding - we have over a dozen couples that try to make each SSQQ trip they possibly can. Their repeat business is the highest compliment imaginable. 

And Couples always have the choice to cut free from the crowd when they choose.  If you are a Couple, what could be more romantic than a spectacular adventure like Alaska or Hawaii?  Couples on a cruise have the best of both worlds - each other plus lots of friends for extra fun. 

After sharing the adventures with friends during the day, the evening Dinner is a great "group activity".  After a full day of excitement, Dinner Time is marvelous fun as people can talk about the day's events.  In Alaska, for example, members of our group made new friends quickly.  From that moment of our first dinner together, each evening offered the chance to share stories of the fantastic adventures of the day. We heard about a brown bear interrupting lunch in the wilderness, whale sightings, and stories of plane tickets into the Misty Fjords. 

Imagine what the trip would be like sitting with a bunch of strangers all week.

The trip started with a terrific SSQQ Cocktail Party. We danced, we drank for free, we laughed, and we made friends with everyone. Traveling as a "Group" gave us this party. It was a 'Group Perk'.  Large Groups like ours are always rewarded with many benefits like this that people traveling as singles or couples will never see. 

Furthermore, traveling with a group means you can take the friends you make back home with you.  It is so much better to hang with a close group of friends who you will be able to see again back in Houston.  

When you travel as a Loose Moose instead of with the Herd, anyone you meet on the trip likely becomes "Here Today Gone Tomorrow". But when you travel with our group, a friend found in Alaska could become a friend for life.

In addition to the sightseeing adventures, SSQQ DANCING was another marvelous reason to be a part of the group. Let's face it, when SSQQ isn't around, dancing DOES NOT happen on these cruises - at least not the way we are used to dancing.  We become instant Cruise Celebrities simply because our dancing brings so much energy to each trip.

And the trip doesn't end when you return home. There's an "After Trip" Party at the studio complete with a Slide Show.

And what a simple pleasure it is to relive the trip by browsing the SSQQ Travel web site writeup to see the pictures again! 

Plus there is always the racy Trip Story.  After all, what if you do something spectacularly naughty?  How is the whole world going to find out without our cheerful gossip about the Trip? And what about the countless pages and pages of incriminating pictures to take you down memory lane that will stay on our website forever?  One glance at the amazing Alaska pictures reminds you immediately at how wonderful this trip was (and how good the next one will be!)

In addition, there are many advantages to traveling with a large group like ours that you would never get if you traveled alone.

For example, we get free cocktail dance parties, we get champagne, we get dance lessons, and we get free room upgrades. We get group discounts on our tickets.  And I bet those ship cabins sure get expensive without a roommate.  SSQQ Cruises are perfect for Singles because they make those "need-a-roommate" problems conveniently disappear.

But gee, if you can save 50 bucks on a $2000 cruise trip, hey, 50 bucks is 50 bucks!  

And then after those big savings, why not just crash the party anyway?  After all, the SSQQ Group is where the action is.

On every trip, the SSQQ Dance Group is the largest, most powerful, the most energetic, and the most tightly-knit group on board.  On each trip, after they see us in action, outside people ask to be seated with us and join our dance classes all the time.  And why not?  They are drawn to our energy. So now you see why this article had to be written.  Everyone needs to understand that no one comes in the back door.  If you want the benefits of our Group, then you must sign up with the Group, contribute to the Group, and accept the rules of the Group.    After our 2004 Rhapsody trip I wrote at great length why it is important for each person to stick together and be part of the SSQQ Group. If there is any doubt in your mind, please read what I had to say: The Business Side of Organizing a Cruise Trip.   But when it comes to our Disgruntled Gentleman, I suppose it is the nature of the beast to want to have your cake and eat it for half price.

However there was something about Mr. DG's complaint about saving money that made Marla curious.  Who was underselling her? She told me she thought she had the lowest price on the market. 

After listening to the story of DG, the thing that made no sense to Marla was that he claimed he could find a way to improve on our prices. Marla did a quick Internet check that confirmed the SSQQ prices were running $150 to $350 below Royal Caribbean's Prevailing Rate for the same trip!  

Take a look for yourself (prices in RED were added by me):

Here is how to understand the picture taken from the Royal Caribbean Web Site above.

First add $27 in taxes to each of the RCCL prices. This bumps up Interior Cabin from 1199 to 1226, Oceanview from 1534 to 1561, and Balcony from 1779 to 1806.  Now compare these prices to the SSQQ prices for the same categories:

As of January 26th, the RCCL price for an Inside Cabin including taxes was $1226 and our price was $1027. That was a $199 difference.

The RCCL price for an Oceanview was $1561 and our price was $1216. That was a $245 difference.

The RCCL price for a Balcony was $1806 and our price was $1452. That was a $354 difference.

After checking the RCCL prices, for the fun of it I sent Marla to the web site of Houston's largest travel agency, Vacations to Go. Known for their excellent discounts, as of January 26, 2005, Marla found their Inside Cabin price was $1158 (our price was 1027), their Oceanview was $1483 (our price was 1216), and their Balconies were $1738 (our price was 1452).

It certainly appeared that the SSQQ prices were actually quite a bargain.

I asked Marla why our prices were lower. She explained that our price was way below market for the simple reason that she got a Special Group Rate based on our group performance from our two previous trips last year.  In addition Marla got an excellent price by booking a group trip so far in advance!   Thanks to Marla's efforts, SSQQ has become an RCCL favorite.

In fact, our posted Internet prices were so low we even had suspicious travel agents calling Marla to question how we got that price.  They didn't like being undersold.  In other words, the SSQQ Group Rate was terrific!


So you might ask, "Even though the SSQQ prices are significantly lower than prices published on the Internet, was it still possible the Disgruntled Gentleman could actually find a price $49 lower?"

The answer was: Maybe.

It may be that DG was confused about the prices.  Take for example the picture above that listed Royal Caribbean's daily Prevailing Rate.  I had to remind you to add in a $27 hidden tax.  Lots of things have a way of not being listed!

Since it is common for travel agencies not to list hidden charges such as taxes and port fees, it can be very tricky to make accurate comparisons.  Just like when you look at the price of the same car at different car dealerships, they change the accessories enough that you are never sure which place is actually cheaper. The travel industry plays the same games.

However there might be another explanation. It is possible that Disgruntled Gentleman found a travel agent willing to discount their own commission.

Travel Agents make commissions on their sales. For an expensive trip like Alaska, Marla might get $100 per passenger. Since she splits that money with her sponsoring travel agency, Marla ends up making about $50 net.  This is good money, but believe me when I tell you that Marla works her butt off. It may be good money, but it isn't easy money.

The cruise industry would love to find a way to completely bypass Travel Agents. If they could cut out the middle man they could lower costs and boost profits.  For example, on our Rita Rhapsody 2005 Trip, on the last day of the trip an announcement came over the Intercom hinting at huge savings if people would book their next trip RIGHT NOW.  

People came running to Marla for an explanation.  Should they book now?  Once Marla explained that the SSQQ Group Rate would always out-perform whatever was being offered to individuals, they calmed down.  Nevertheless several ssqq passengers on that trip reported to Marla they almost signed up right on the spot since the message seemed so compelling.

This serves as a simple example how the cruise industry tries to cut out the middle man by booking customers on another trip before they even leave the ship.

Do I blame them?  Of course not.  I certainly understand this thinking. Commissions to travel agents have been a curse to Cruise Lines because they can be manipulated to the Travel Agent's advantage.  You already know how nuts Mr. DG got over $50.  What you don't know is that in 2003 a man and his son signed up through someone else just to save $20 apiece, then asked to join the SSQQ group.  People can't bear to think someone else is getting a better price, so they are drawn to anyone who can undersell by a few bucks.

For example, let's say Royal Caribbean wants $1500 per booking. If RCCL books the customers by themselves, they pocket the entire $1500. But if a Travel Agent gets involved they expect a commission in return for their service.  Assume RCCL will give the travel agent a commission of say $100.  However this opens RCCL to being undersold by the travel agent.

Here is how it works: If DG goes directly to the RCCL Web Site, he pays $1500.  But if Disgruntled Gentleman finds a convenient Travel Agent, he can pay the travel agent $1450, then the travel agent turns around and pays RCCL $1500. Then in a couple months further down the line the travel agent gets back $100 in commission. Disgruntled Gentleman saves $50, the travel agent makes $50, and RCCL loses out on $100.

Now you know one of the reasons the cruise industry would rather simply bypass the travel agents.

It is true that if RCCL catches an agent doing this, they can lose their license. But it isn't easy to prove a transaction like this. Since $50 is better than nothing, I imagine some travel agents are willing to occasionally cut a deal under the table with certain customers to keep them 'loyal'.  As long as they are sure they won't get caught, this is a simple way to steal someone else's commission.

So maybe DG could have saved 50 bucks by using a cozy relationship with another travel agent.  But once we posted our "Book It or Hook It" Rule, that ruined his plans and made him angry.

THIS IS A  BUSINESS RUN BY SOMEONE WITH A BIG HEART

In conclusion, it is no secret that Marla organizes these trips because she receives a travel agent commission on each sale.  

I wish to point out that Marla works unbelievably hard to make each trip a success.  She goes way past the call of duty all the time.  I know because I watch her in action.  I have great respect for Marla's abilities. 

If anything, she tries too hard. Marla cares so much about her job, sometimes she goes slightly crazy when things go wrong (please read the Dark Side for further insight.)

I hope all of our customers understand Marla has a right to be rewarded for her efforts.  

It is a shame that there are people like clever Mr. DG who are quite willing to stiff Marla her commission, but can't wait to get in line to grab a share of the group goodies.

No one likes the smart guy who cuts in line.  It was a nonsense plan all along.  Our group isn't "That Big".  We would have noticed.  We always do!  After all, this is a cruise trip, not the "Wedding Crasher" movie. 

Had this person tried to crash the party, someone would have asked a couple questions, his story would have come out and ruined his plan anyway.  You are on board for seven days with nowhere to hide. Why go to so much trouble for $50?

Wouldn't it be nicer if the gentleman would simply join us and contribute to the fun?  

For one thing, my hunch is after the smoke screens were cleared away, he would see that our price was competitive all along.  Best of all, his conscience would feel better and he would find how comfortable it is to be part of such a neat group of people.  

 

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY: TWO MORE STORIES ABOUT SSQQ'S BOOK IT OR HOOK IT RULE Written by Rick Archer Part One: May 23, 2006 2006 marked Marla Archer's fourth year as a part-time Travel Agent. There are rumors that being a Travel Agent is a glamour profession marked with many perks such as free cruises. While it is true that we sail for free, I can guarantee you there have been no silver linings to date. This job of Travel Agent is hard work. And sometimes the position is an absolute nightmare. For example, Marla nearly went crazy last year trying to handle the voluminous problems caused by Hurricane Rita on our 2005 Rita Rhapsody Cruise. Even when things are going pretty well, Marla sits at her computer practically the entire day answering calls and emails about our upcoming trips as well as interfacing with Royal Caribbean agents regarding the countless details of each cruise trip. Take my word for it - Marla works hard for the money. At this point, SSQQ takes two cruises a year. For the past three years Marla has planned one dance cruise and one high-end cruise. Last year's Alaska Cruise was such a slam-dunk success we experimented with three cruises this year. Our Pacific Northwest Cruise almost "made", but not quite. We found our client base is simply not big enough yet to sustain three trips. So this year Marla settled on two cruises - the annual Rhapsody Dance Cruise around the Gulf of Mexico plus a very interesting trip to Boston in September to take a cruise along the scenic New England and Canadian coastline during the beautiful "autumn leaves are falling" season. Oddly enough, despite the incredible popularity of Rhapsody Trip, it doesn't have a big payout. Marla estimates she gets a commission of perhaps $25 a person on this trip. When I explain this to people, they scoff. What these people don't realize that Marla has to split all commissions with her parent travel agency. Considering the hoops she has to jump through, she earns every penny. Because the New England cruise is so expensive, Marla actually makes a fairly decent commission of about $150 a person. Lots of people have told me they would LOVE to go, but the stiff price is a realistic obstacle. Since there are not very many people with this kind of money, the numbers for this exciting trip are limited. The SSQQ Cruise Trips have grown in popularity each reason for two reasons. The first reason is that our Group Trips are a lot more fun than going alone. There are friends to be made. It is effortless to find company to share the shore excursions with. There are the dance classes during the day. Dinnertime is great fun as stories of each day's activities get passed around. There is safety in numbers. There are always people to watch your back or help you if you get stuck. There are opportunities for shared travel arrangements. There is a special 'energy' in numbers as well. 40 people in a Group have pull that 40 individuals don't. There are shared experiences that come back to Houston. Plus there are many perks that come with traveling with a group like ours as opposed to going on your own. The best-known perk is our free welcome aboard cocktail party complete with hors d'oeuvres, dancing, and free drinks. Normally a large group guarantees a free cocktail party for example. Usually you need 50 people to make this cut-off. In the case of this year's New England trip which is hovering around 35 people as I write this story, Marla decided to simply reduce her commission and pay for this party out of her own pocket.   Last week Marla thought there was an outside chance we might make the 50 Cut-Off when there was a flurry of new interest in the trip. Instead she received two consecutive slaps in the face. INCIDENT ONE On May 1st a woman phoned Marla about the New England Cruise. She explained that she had a friend who was already signed up for the trip. The woman said that she and her husband were interested in going on the cruise as well. She asked Marla several very general questions about the cruise. She answered all her questions and then referred her to the SSQQ cruise website. Soon the woman phoned Marla back and left a voice mail to please phone her. The message stated this woman had some more questions that needed to be answered before she could sign up. Marla returned her call the next day. The woman asked several very specific questions in regards to cabin dimensions, pricing, locations, including finding out what cabin her friends would be in. She said that she wanted to make sure that she would be able to be near her friend. Marla assured her that if she would let Marla book her trip quickly, she would be located close to her friend. Marla then phoned Royal Caribbean. After about 15 minutes of holding plus some back and forth with the RCCL agent at the other end, Marla confirmed she could book the cabin next to the woman's friend. Marla called the woman back. At the end of the conversation, the woman then asked if she could use a certain credit card to pay for the trip. She said that she wanted to make sure she got her "points". Marla assured her that the card named was accepted as a form of payment. The woman concluded the phone conversation by saying she needed to verify with her credit card company that she could book with Marla. Marla raised an eyebrow at that statement. Something told her this meant trouble. At this point, Marla explained we had a distinct rule known as "Book It or Hook It" that clearly states Marla is the travel agent of record on each trip if people are going to join our group. After a few days, Marla phoned her to see if she still was interested in making the cruise. She informed Marla that her credit card company told her that she had to book the trip through their travel agent to take advantage of the points offered. Marla misunderstood what this meant. Marla had interpreted this statement to mean the woman and her husband were not making the trip after all. It turned out this was not the end of the story. Two weeks later a mutual friend - yet another acquaintance - approached Marla on this woman's behalf. It turned out this woman and her husband had booked the cruise after all using the credit card company's travel agent. Now she and her husband wanted to be included with the SSQQ Group at dinner and for other activities as well. It would seem the woman was too embarrassed to approach Marla directly. Would Marla please arrange for this woman and her husband to sit with the SSQQ group at dinner???? Marla's eyes grew wide as saucers. She had spent a serious amount of time "selling the cruise" only to have the woman go behind her back and book the same cruise with someone else. Afterwards, Marla did some research on the credit card in question. It seems this card has specific rules regarding booking travel. The rules say you must book with "their agent" to receive the benefits. First Marla had lost $300 in commissions so the couple could save a few bucks in credit card points. Then they had the nerve to ask to be included in the SSQQ Group Activities. That is called adding insult to injury.   INCIDENT TWO A few days after the third party brought up the highly awkward request to have these people included in the New England group, a second incident occurred. On Friday night May 19th, a couple that had been on a previous SSQQ cruise showed up for Friday Practice Night. As I danced with the woman, she mentioned that she and her husband had taken a Mediterranean Cruise the previous year. I told her how envious that made me. Then the lady asked me if SSQQ was going to take any cruises this year. I mentioned our two trips as we danced. After the song was over, I escorted the lady over to see Marla. The two women talked about the SSQQ Cruises for about fifteen minutes. Marla quickly realized this couple had cruised extensively. After determining their background, Marla targeted the New England Cruise. She also discussed her role as the Travel Agent for the studio since on the previous trip there had been another travel agent. On Sunday May 21st at 1:30 pm, Marla received a voice mail from the lady asking what Dinner seating the group had plus she needed to know how to book the trip. She asked that Marla return her call right away. On Sunday May 21st at 3:30 pm, Marla made several attempts to return the call, but had no luck. Later that same day at 5:00 pm Marla and the woman were able to connect by phone. The woman stated that she had just booked the trip using Continental's online site because she wanted to receive miles for the cruise purchase. (Grand total of 3000 miles) APPROXIMATE VALUE = $40. Marla groaned. Here we go again. She explained the "Book It or Hook It" rule. She also reminded her that we do this for a living and that these cruises are a lot work-from their inception to the cruise post parties. The conversation went back and forth for fifteen minutes discussing Cruise Website Write-ups, Cruise Meeting, Cocktail Parties, Dance classes, dining arrangements etc. Finally Marla offered her the option of canceling her reservation and letting Marla take over so she could still be included as a part of the group. That didn't go over very well. There was dead silence at the end of the phone. Marla stated that of course she could book whatever cruise she wished whatever way she wished, but unfortunately she would not be a part of the SSQQ Group . . . Her response was "So, can we still come to the Group Activities? Marla wondered to herself if the woman had listened to a word she said. Add another insult to injury. Marla was not only out $600 in commissions; her chances of adding enough people to the group to qualify for the "free" Cocktail Party were diminishing by the minute. To be frank, when Marla told me these stories, I was livid. In both situations Marla had literally "sold" these women on the trip and offered to book them. Instead they NOT ONLY deliberately bypassed her to save a couple bucks, BUT ALSO turned around and asked to be included in the group activities. And now you know why we wrote the "Book It or Hook It" Rule in the first place. The difference this time is that both women knew about our rule ahead of time, then they deliberately ignored it. ADDENDUM One week after Marla spoke to the woman in Incident Two, the lady emailed her to say she had changed her mind.  It was more important to be part of the Group than to save a few dollars.  ----- Original Message ----- From: To: marla Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 10:58 AM Subject: New England cruise with SSQQ Marla, I talked with you on Sunday afternoon about the New England cruise.  We would love to be included in your group. We would like you to book us a Balcony cabin on the port side of the ship if at all possible. I've checked the Balcony rooms available and my first pick would be 8042 (port side and near a main stairwell). Second pick would be 9006. Call me for my credit card number. Thanks so much!   Not only did Marla respond to this good news with open arms, both she and I felt much better.  It is no fun to argue with people you like over money.  That said, this is an issue where we intend to stand our ground. Otherwise it will come up again and again and again.   (Editor's Note: Believe it or not, when the New England Cruise took place in September 2006, there was an interesting new development to the story you have just read.)

4. THE PARTY CRASHERS
(excerpted from the New England 2006 write-up)

There is a Yiddish word known as chutzpah.  It describes someone who is quite self-confident, but who also lacks respect for the feelings of others. 

This is the story about a woman who, in my opinion, had the shameless audacity to force her way into our group even after we told her she was not welcome. 

If this story about the couple from Houston who crashed the party upsets her friends, I apologize in advance.  But I resent the treatment my wife received and I intend to speak out.

Marla and I have had a firm rule in place for a couple years known as "Book It or Hook It".   The rule goes like this:

"To be included as a part of the SSQQ Group, you must book your cruise through SSQQ.  NO EXCEPTIONS!"

Surely you wonder to yourself, why would anyone even need to make up a "Rule" like the one above?   At some point before this incident, someone did something so utterly thoughtless and stupid that we felt taken advantage of. 

The Book It or Hook It Rule was published on our web site in 2005.  The couple that crashed the New England Trip were well aware of our rules ahead of time.  They ignored them.

PART ONE - MARLA LOSES A $300 COMMISSION

On May 1, 2006, a woman named Hope phoned Marla about the New England Cruise. She explained that she had a friend who was already signed up for the trip. Hope said that she and her husband were interested in going on the cruise as well.

She asked Marla several very general questions about the cruise. Marla answered all her questions and then referred her to the SSQQ cruise website for more information.

Soon Hope phoned Marla back and left a voice mail to please phone her. The message stated this woman had some more questions that needed to be answered before she could sign up.

Marla returned Hope's call the next day. Hope asked several very specific questions in regards to cabin dimensions, pricing, locations, including finding out what cabin her friends would be in. She said that she wanted to make sure that she would be able to be near her friend.  Marla assured Hope that if she would let Marla book her trip, she would be located close to her friend.  Hope said she wanted to be sure. So Marla then phoned Royal Caribbean. After about 15 minutes of holding plus some back and forth with the RCCL agent at the other end, Marla received confirmation that she could book the cabin next to Hope's friend.

Marla called Hope back to report the good news.  At the end of the conversation, Hope asked if she could use a certain credit card to pay for the trip. She said that she wanted to make sure she got her "points".  Marla assured her that the card named was accepted as a form of payment.  The woman concluded the phone conversation by saying she needed to verify with her credit card company that she could book with Marla.

Marla raised an eyebrow at that statement. Something told her this meant trouble. At this point, Marla explained to Hope we had a distinct rule known as "Book It or Hook It" that clearly stated Marla is the travel agent of record on each trip if people are going to join our group.

Hope did not call back.  Since Marla sensed that Hope was serious about going on this trip, a few days later Marla made a courtesy phone call to Hope to see what was going on.

Hope informed Marla that her credit card company told her that she had to book the trip through their travel agent to take advantage of the points offered.  Her explanation was sufficiently confusing that Marla misunderstood this to mean the woman and her husband were not making the trip after all.  

At this point, Marla was completely in the dark as to what was going on.  She was frustrated since she had put in quite a bit of time and effort into helping Hope, but she had been in sales long enough to be philosophical about it. 

If this was the end of story, I would not have had a problem.  But this was not the end of the story.
 

PART TWO - CAN WE STILL JOIN YOUR GROUP?

Two weeks later, one of Hope's mutual friends on the trip approached Marla on Hope's behalf.   The mutual friend explained to Marla that Hope and Joe had booked the cruise using Royal Caribbean directly.  They had some points or credits of some sort from previous cruises that they wanted to cash in.  To do so, they had to book directly with Royal Caribbean.  

This contact is how Marla finally found out what Hope had really done.  Marla did not appreciate being deceived, but she was okay with it.  As far as Marla was concerned, it is a free country.  An individual can book a trip with whomever they wish.  No hard feelings. 

What angered Marla is what came next.

The mutual friend said Hope and her husband wanted to be included with the SSQQ Group at dinner and for the other group activities as well.  It would seem that Hope was too embarrassed to approach Marla directly, so she asked her friend to be her intermediary.

Would Marla please call Royal Caribbean and kindly arrange for this woman and her husband to sit with the SSQQ group at dinner????

Marla's eyes grew wide as saucers.  She felt like she had just had the rug pulled out from under her.  Marla had spent a serious amount of time organizing an attractive cruise.  Hope would not have even been on the phone were it not for Marla's work in the first place.   Then Marla had answered every question Hope asked plus spent part of a morning on the phone with RCCL trying to help the woman.  Now Marla realized it had been a complete waste of her time because it was obvious Hope intended to book the cruise elsewhere from the start. Marla was incredulous that Hope now wished to join the group. After all, Marla had specifically told the woman she had to book with Marla or forget about the group.  Didn't the woman hear a word she said?

Marla put her foot down. She told the mutual friend to tell Hope that she could not be a part of our group in any way.

First Marla lost $300 in commissions so the couple could save a few bucks in RCCL points.

Then the couple had the nerve to ask to be included in the SSQQ Group Activities despite having already been told what the rules were.

There is a term for this. It is called "adding insult to injury".

You might expect a kid to disobey your rules, but a grown adult?

Marla and I were both upset at Hope's shenanigans.  However once Marla said 'no' for the Second Time to Hope's friend, we figured she would get the message and that would be the end of it.  This story should have stopped right here, correct?  

Well, it didn't.

PART THREE - SOMEONE WILL NOT TAKE 'NO' FOR AN ANSWER

A month later, Marla received this email from Hope's other friend on the trip.

----- Original Message -----
From:
To: dance@ssqq.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 1:22 PM
Subject: New England Cruise

Hi Marla,  Thanks for the cruise update; I'm getting really excited about it.

Our friends Hope and Joe, who are veteran RC cruisers, are signed up to go on this trip. They had RC credits they "had" to use up.

They are not dancers so I doubt they will be participating in any serious dancing with us. I would like to have dinner with them though, as well as with the SSQQ group. Is there any way we can include them in our dinner group?  Maybe they can make arrangements for dinner with us from their end, so you don't have to do any extra work.

This was my reply.

 -----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 3:42 PM
To:
Subject: Joe and Hope

Marla and I have a firm rule that people must book with Marla to be part of the group.

Given the way American business throws around incentives and discounts, this rule was created to discourage people from bypassing Marla's role as the travel agent.

For example, you mentioned that Joe and Hope are trying to cash in on some Royal Caribbean credits. Did you know that Royal Caribbean would dearly love to completely cut travel agents out of the middle?

I have seen RC offer deals that Marla simply can't match. I frown because it is obvious Royal Caribbean knows EXACTLY what they are doing. I am sure old Joe Rockefeller used similar techniques while he was starving out the little oil producers at the turn of the century.   This game that Hope and Joe are playing is a perfect example of a travel agent being squeezed and I don't appreciate it. 

Royal Caribbean seems to forget that many people would not even be interested in their trips if travel agents like Marla were not involved.  She was the one who drummed up the idea for this trip in the first place. You have no idea how hard Marla works behind the scenes to plan these trips and handle all the details. She deserves to be rewarded for her efforts.

I am sure that Joe and Hope are very nice people and that their decision to book elsewhere was not evenly remotely "personal", but the fact remains that they are on their own.

There are likely to be several ways to find a compromise. There might be openings at their table one evening. Even better, you might try eating together at one of the special elite restaurants. For example, on the Alaska trip, there was another couple that did not book with us, but had friends within our group. On one night, the two couples had dinner together at one of the special restaurants (Portifinos). The food was so good they went back and did it again two more times.

I would dearly love to find a way to thank you for all the kindness you have shown me over the years, but this is one rule I can't bend on. Please forgive.

A reply

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 3:31 PM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: Re: Joe and Hope

Hey Rick, no need to explain, I understand completely. We will all have a great time, I'm sure.

The big accounting firms (which I used to be a part of) have been trying to squeeze out the little guys for decades. Now, it seems the table has turned on them, ergo Arthur Anderson & Co and others. My business has never suffered though because most people worth their salt value the personal attention of a good service provider ... accountant, travel agent, dance instructor extraordinaire.

I have really enjoyed you and your SSQQ over the past couple of years. Keep on dancin'.
 

This incident marked the Third Time that we told Hope we did not want her to be a part of our group.  First Marla explained the situation on the phone, then she had enlisted a friend to talk with Marla at the studio, and now she had asked her other friend to intercede as well.  Marla and I were remarkably consistent in our responses. 

No, No, No!