The Gold Standard Luxury Travel Forum

[ANONYMOUS VISITOR]

GrannyLorr's blogs are synonymous with sailing Seabourn but I wasn't sure that thanking her online would be something that Iamboatman would want posted on this board. So, why did I post under anonymous?
First of all, I sometimes offend others by speaking (writing) my thoughts. As well, I tend to stay away from conflicts as, in my opinion, travel is too wonderful and life is too short to worry about getting bogged down in personalities related to the conflicts.
If Eric, notice the change from Iamboatman, could distance himself from conflicts he has with Host Dan and Regent, I think that he would be an amazing agent. But, as Iamboatman and Eric cannot distance himself in this way, I cannot feel comfortable giving my name and/or booking through his agency.
Eric, I do believe that you are an expert when it comes to Seabourn and have much to offer clients; hence, I read your site. I have no issues with you deleting this post and will continue, unless I'm blocked, from reading what you write.

[GrannyLorr]

well you see, people ARENT deleted here for speaking their mind...having an opinion...making a statement etc etc. That is exactly what is WRONG with CC! The "hosts" and I use that term extremely loosely, because they are certainly not hosts, they are dictators. Write what they want or you are deleted....question them and you are banned. I dont mind conflict at all....would be a pretty dull old World without a few "differences" in opinions. Sad thing is, on CC those "differences" are not allowed.
Then again you see the "fantasy" writers (again a term I use extremely loosely) like the latest travelogue, applauded by Host Dan and a few of the other "regulars". I certainly hope Seabourn has read that travelogue, and has noted the names of the "cheerleaders"......they have all done a terrible disservice to Seabourn...they have "enjoyed" hearing about all the feral people who now sail on Seabourn! As you probably know, I have recently returned from an 88 day cruise, and am very happy to report that NONE of those sort of people were on our cruise....its all fantasy in the very simple mind of a person I was quite sure was a blonde bimbo from California!! To be perfectly honest, the ONLY two completely feral people I have met on Seabourn, were on the only Crossing we have done....and were both "very good friends" of a certain person who does lots of Crossings.

oh oh.....now Im off topic.....LOL Hope Eric doesnt delete me!!

As far as a TA is concerned. Until my last trip I had never used a TA....just booked direct with Seabourn. Eric has always known that so I think he was a bit surprised when I gave him our booking. (Oz isnt the best for TA's so I have always been happy to make my own arrangements.) Everything went well with my booking with Eric and it also saved me a very large amount of money! So I would have no hesitation recommending him. His problems with Host Dan are not one sided you know! LOTS of people have problems with Host Dan....on and off the ships......

Dont know if Eric would want me to mention the amount he saved me on the booking, but it was enough for another cruise!!

[Iamboatman]

Thank you BOTH for your comments.

It points out a couple of important things...OK, more than a couple.

First, I am not a perfect travel agent for everyone. If I try to please everyone then I would not be doing my job, but rather appeasing clients...and, to my mind, that leads to one booking, not multiple ones and referrals.

Related to that I work very hard to assure my clients that I am not pushing them to a particular cruise or cruise line or, for that matter, a cruise. In the past month I have booked an extraordinary luxury safari, some Tauck land tours, river cruises on two lines, a charity event with a Silversea and obviously a number of Seabourn cruises and...Well, you get the idea. In fact, I had an easy sale of a long Seabourn cruise and talk the clients out of it because a land holiday was really more important. One quote, a speculative quote, 10 quotes; whatever the client needs to make their decision.

And, to be sure, I have noted my dissatisfaction with marketing (and not just Regent's, though Anonymous is clearly sensitive to those). If someone has all the information and wants to book a Regent cruise, why would I care? What I don't want to do is simply yes somebody that comes to me and seeks my advice or guidance. You've been on 4 Regent cruises and love it, fine: I'll happily book it for your. But, then again, I have a number of people who I guided to Celebrity and found it to be as good or better. (Not my observation, but ones said to me.) With all of my bookings I have never had a client tell me "Regent was better"...and I have lots of bookings with various cruise lines.

But there is more to what I do than just book cruises and give discounts/added value. I had a client who was turned down on an insurance claim last weekend. I got a call on my mobile and called them right back. By Thursday the claim was paid in full. Another didn't know about American Express Platinum benefits and I explained them - pros and cons.

Anonymous, I appreciate your comments and, to be sure, never thought of deleting them. I think they are great for discussion of this sort of thing. And, to be sure, GrannyLorr was skeptical, but posted here and later, when more comfortable, booked with me. No pressure. And she is happy here, happy with me as her travel agent (and has lots of additional money in her pocket).

In short, The Gold Standard is for everyone to post and enjoy in an adult manner and if Goldring Travel gets some bookings along the way (hopefully so) all the better.

[diebroke]

Anonymous,

Aloha from Hawaii where I have been living for the past 7 weeks. It has been a spiritual experience (although the food & service have not been up to Seabourn standards.) The good news is that it might be "real travel." I actually enjoy being a racial minority. (I am a hauli.)

You are quite right. IAMBOATMAN is a very controversial figure who rubs many people the wrong way. During my enlightenment experience here in Hawaii, I have come to many insights that explain IAMBOATMAN. They are too in-depth & complex for discussion on a board like this. (Also, I am not a very good typist.)
I am pleased to report that on Eric’s food & Wine Cruise in September, 2012, I will be conducting a seminar on the complexities & issues in IABOATMAN’s web personality. In anticipation of a large crowd for this event, I have reserved the Show Lounge. I am also pleased to announce that my co-facilitator will be Eric’s wife. It should be an interesting experience. Food & wine will be served but no cigars will be allowed. In keeping with Seabourn’s all-inclusive policy, there is no additional charge for this session.

After that session, my wife will be conducting a session on my idiosyncratic behavior. It will be conducted at the Sky Bar. I am sure there will be lots of empty stools.

Full disclosure: I am a happy & satisfied client of Eric (He actually practices what he preaches); I have had a less-than-excellent experience on Regent (arranged through another TA;) and, I have never actually met Eric. (But that does not stop me from fully analyzing him.)

Now that this topic has evolved into a discussion of Eric instead of Granny, I assume it is off-topic & will be deleted or locked.

[Iamboatman]

I appreciate the kind (and backhanded compliment) words, but something has struck me that I think is somewhat consistent with what I read and hear pretty regularly.

People have perceptions and many form opinions without really having the data...whether it is a cruise line or an internet personality (like mine). So without input from others it can be rather hard to actually know what a cruise line is like or what a person is like.

I strive to learn about and try all of the various cruise lines so that I am not swayed solely by what others think or say (whether they be the lines, the cheerleaders or the complainers or whatever). And, let's face it, I am doing pretty good in a world filled with travel agencies that have or are going out of business and/or which provide clients with marginal service because volume is their focus.

I also don't go around shouting about all the nice emails I receive all the time. So here are a few from just the past seven days:

"I would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone who asks how we booked and that it saved us stress." UK Client

"Just wanted to e mail you and say thank you for the most wonderful cruise [we] have ever been on. Thank you so much for your wonderful service and for everything that you did for us in booking our cruise to questions that you answered for us it was all so friendly and professional...We will certainly be booking with you again for our next cruise. Once again thank you so much for giving us the best memories, your service was outstanding." Australian Client

"Thanks so much Eric. In Eric we trust!" - Texas Client

"Again thanks - we will toast your efforts this evening with a glass of our local wine. Do you prefer red or white?" Australian Client

And, finally, when an insurance company turned down someone's claim...and was very unhappy...I got the claim approved in three days and gave the client $1,000 off another cruise due to the issue. She wrote back very simply: "Thank you for your efforts". New Jersey Client

And I promise you each of those quotes are from the last seven (7) days.

I guess the point is that I love my job and I am passionate about what I do and how I do it. I know I am not the perfect fit for everyone (heck, I received a quote request last night from someone that I will be shocked if they use me), but I know I do my job the best I can.

But also remember this: This forum came about not because I said, "Gee, let me start a forum" and my blog did not come about because I said, "Gee, let me start a blog." They both came about through the same motivation that Goldring Travel came about: Frustration with poor service, misinformation and people trying to impose their opinions upon me (even to the point of fabricating stories and using intimidation).

I am probably guilty of being brash, arrogant and opinionated. But I am also guilty of being an effective advocate for my clients, a smart worker (manipulator) of the cruise system, a knowledgeable source of industry information and a guy that is thrilled to laugh at myself enjoy a nice wine, whiskey, cigar, strange food, new friends, old friends and be amazed by the people I meet and the places I go.

If anyone has suggestions on how I can improve what I do (and I try to do that every single day) I am wide open to it. I may be pretty darn good at what I do, but I know I can be better and can do it in a way that probably will be more comfortable for those that perceive I am different than I actually am.

So, I have not deleted Anonomous's post, I am making it its own thread.

[southerncruiser]

Well said Eric!

I enjoy reading this forum, although I don't post. It's been several years since we were able to cruise, so not much new & relevant to add. Having met you in person on a Seabourn cruise, I would certainly book my travel with you, without hesitation! It seems to me you've perfected the balance between being an advocate for your client, and not completely pissing off the vendor. ☺

[ANONYMOUS VISITOR]

Eric, I apologize. I truly appreciated what your site has to offer as well as the majority of the posts on your blog. My posts were not meant to offend. Enough said by me.

[Iamboatman]

PLEASE DON'T APOLOGIZE!!!

I am very confident there are others that have the same feelings and concerns you do...and I am sure they have thought "I am so glad Anon brought that up!"

The whole point of the Gold Standard Forum, and my business model, is to be able to talk openly and honestly (and in an adult manner) so that we all have the best information for each of us (as individuals) and so that we can do things (cruise, sell holidays, etc.) better.

If you had not brought the topic up I think we all would be just a little worse off.

So I honestly thank you for doing so. Seriously.

[Iamboatman]

I just posted this on my blog:

Eric Goldring to Speak at The New York Times Travel Show

The New York Times Travel Show is an annual event (held this year March 2-4, 2012) at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. It is a huge event where both the travel trade and traveling public can explore over 500 different destinations in one place.

As part of the The New York Times Travel Show focused on travel agencies I have been asked to speak as part of the Focus on Specialization series of panels; more specifically on the topic: HOW TO BUILD YOUR TRAVEL BUSINESS - Get tips from successful travel specialists who turned their specialty into profitable travel businesses.

During my talk I will discuss how I developed into the specialty in luxury cruises, but also how that speciality along with my experiences outside of cruising (such as superyachts and land vacations) have allowed me to provide clients much more than a singular type of travel option.

I will also discuss how my remaining focused on luxury cruise business allows me to leverage my specialty and my marketing power with other travel vendors. Hence, the one-time Celebrity suite passenger becomes a Seabourn guest becomes a Safari enthusiast and then back to a Seabourn,. Orion Expeditions, Silversea or Crystal luxury cruise.

And, of course, how that sort relationship building not only takes years and a very "hands on" approach, but referrals (the true lifeblood of long term growth).

During my talk I will also note how "high tech" goes along with "high touch" as social media (actually the next topic of the Focus) - such as this Blog, The Gold Standard Luxury Travel Forum and Facebook - is crucial for specialists in today's market.

If done correctly, though I am always looking for ways to improve, you receive emails like the one I did this morning from a new client in Australia:

Just to let you know. Out of all the quotes and discussions with a number of cruise wholesalers, cruising websites, etc. you where definitely the most eager to secure my business, and the most professional. And yes, your service is far superior to any other person I have dealt with. Thanks again Eric.

If you are interested in hearing me or just stopping by to say hello, I am scheduled to speak on March 2, 2012 at 10:45 a.m. (Remember, though, this is a trade only event...but I do talk with other travel agents!)