Richard Kaban · Sep 8, 2025 · 10:04 PM
Outbound · 24:08 · Planner: Susan Bender · +19177713461
“It says two for one air plus, the ship or credit... but it doesn't say anything about which dates, it really isn't the choice sale if it's limited.”
Send the finalized invoice with deposit details immediately and confirm receipt by October 31, 2025. Separately, reach out proactively with Iceland quick-trip options (7+ day organized tours) for late September and ask Richard to clarify dates and preferences so you can present firm pricing before he makes a decision.
Full analysis
What happened
Richard called with a booking intent for a 9-night Viking River Cruise departing April 12, 2026, from Amsterdam to unknown end destination, with a French balcony cabin. The primary friction was promo code SBC9 advertised as 'two-for-one airfare' but actually offering only a $375 onboard credit or beverage package. The agent conferenced in Viking support (Carter) to troubleshoot the discrepancy and ultimately clarified that the free airfare was only available on select dates—not April 11–12. Richard chose April 12 (D-cabin, $5,999/person) over April 11 (C-cabin, $6,199/person), accepted $999 economy airfare from JFK, and added a 3-night pre-trip Brussels extension at $1,005.99 per person. He asked about the post-trip Amsterdam extension but learned it was sold out with no waitlist. The agent quoted total cruise fare of $16,099.99 (including airfare), a $25 deposit due October 31, 2025, and mentioned $200 Pavlus vouchers and $300 onboard credit pending deposit. At call end, Richard also inquired about a last-minute Iceland trip (late September) that he'd messaged about while the agent was away; the agent explained Pavlus books organized 7+ day tours and invited him to resend the request now that she's back.
Emotional read
Richard began the call frustrated and skeptical, particularly about the misleading promo code advertising and marketing fine print. He asked pointed questions about cabin differences and pricing inconsistencies. As the agent worked through the confusion with Viking support on the line and clarified the actual offer terms, his tone shifted toward acceptance and even light humor ('That's funny'). By booking completion, he was cooperative and thanking the agent, though still expressing mild concern about the Brussels extension waitlist.
Emotional arc through the call
Started visibly frustrated and skeptical about the misleading promo code ('Wow, I have another question... it really does not say anything except...'), warmed considerably once the agent worked with Viking to clarify terms and provided transparent pricing, ending the cruise booking portion on a positive note with light humor and gratitude.
How customer sees Pavlus
- negative · Customer left a previous message about Iceland inquiry that went unanswered: 'when you were away we left a message but nobody got back to us'
- positive · Customer praised agent for clarifying onboard credits and discounts: accepted the $200 voucher reduction and $300 additional onboard credit structure without objection
- neutral · Customer asked agent to resend Iceland inquiry details now that agent is back: 'just send resend the email to me cause I'm back now'
Process friction
- Previous Iceland trip inquiry left by customer was not followed up on while agent was out of office
- Promo code SBC9 marketing materials were ambiguous and failed to clearly communicate date restrictions on free airfare offer
- Post-trip extension (The Hague) is sold out with no waitlist system in place
Value perception
Richard did not explicitly state his view of Pavlus's value versus going direct. However, his willingness to proceed with booking after the agent resolved the promo code confusion and provided detailed pricing breakdowns suggests he found the service worthwhile, particularly with the $200 Pavlus voucher discount and additional onboard credit.
Customer behaviors
Comparing cabin options (C vs. D) based on price and availability differencesNegotiating cabin upgrade decisions between April 11 and 12 sailing datesAsking detailed questions about transportation logistics for extensions (Amsterdam to Brussels)Deferring airfare upgrade decision pending spouse approvalRequesting quick-turn Iceland trip information for late September travel
Topics & signals
| Topics | Viking River Cruise bookingPromo code discrepancy (SBC9)Cabin selection and pricingPre-trip extension (Brussels)Onboard credit and discountsIceland trip inquiry |
|---|---|
| Destinations | AmsterdamBrusselsIceland |
| Cruise lines | Viking River Cruises |
| Buying signals | Selected specific sailing date April 12, 2026 with French balcony cabinChose $999 economy airfare from JFKCommitted to pre-trip Brussels extension at $1,005.99 per personProvided passport names and dates of birth for both travelersAccepted deposit due date of October 31, 2025Received booking confirmation number 9249183 |
| Objections | Confused by promo code SBC9 not showing free airfare as advertisedFrustrated that marketing materials were unclear about date restrictionsDisappointed Brussels post-trip extension was sold out, only pre availableConcerned about lack of waitlist for sold-out extensions |
Analyzed 2026-05-28 16:00:15 by claude-haiku-4-5-20251001. Confidence 0.82.
Transcript (21,063 chars)
Customer: Hi. Agent (Susan Bender): Hi, Richard, okay, so let's look at, yeah, oh, yeah, Mondays. Oh, yeah, let's just back from vacation. Okay. The code was SBC nine. Customer: Hi, how you been busy today, huh. Customer: Right. Customer: Right, and it said your choice now 241 FA, and then it had also choose ship or credit package. Yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Oh, what this? Agent (Susan Bender): Let's get Viking on the line, let's do a three-way and see why this code is not giving me the free error. Does it have any certain dates? Customer: Says expire September 30th it doesn't say free 241241 yeah, yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Customer: And I picked selected sailing, I did, I hit the April 12th. They didn't show the eleventh? So I did the twelfth. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, I'm gonna get Vican on the line with us. Bear with me. Customer: We selected sailings what does that say? Customer: Pricing. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Customer: You come back one. Customer: Do it? Customer: Yeah. Customer: I don't have the eleven. Agent (Susan Bender): Can you hear? Customer: Two of them. Yeah, yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Please press, if you are a consumer, please press one if you press one to check availability or as of your next or calling regarding ocean press one for rep. Calls may be monitored and or recorded for quality assurance and analytical purposes. Wish you shortly connect you to a Viking representative. At the end of your call, we would be grateful if you stay on the line to answer a short two quest seven. Customer: Did they say that now? Agent (Susan Bender): Thank you for calling bake and cruisers. My name is car Expos rule today. Hi Carter, it's Susan with Pavlus travel. I have a guest on the line with me we were trying to make a booking and the SBC nine is not giving the free error like their ad that they received shows that it should. So if you do, what do you need first Dianda you. Yeah, what's your Cleo? 32535134. Customer: Sure. Agent (Susan Bender): And Susan, I know I've talked to you many times. Can I have youri your best contact number and email? Yeah, and that would be 505-477-3523 Susan @pavlustravel.com. Agent (Susan Bender): And I guess for the US or Canadian residence, they are US. Agent (Susan Bender): US, and let's see here. Brand-new, you are a past guest, right, Richard. Yeah, let me get into, oh, yeah, I see it in your profile. Yeah, their past guest, what are we looking for? We are looking for the tune-ups. And windmills February 3rd, 2026. Nope, oh, sorry, April 12th or eleventh. April eleventh or twelve I don't know where I got February 3rd. I guess my notes are jumbled, must have been someone else. Okay. So, eight well eleventh or twelve a French balcony. Customer: Yes, yes, it is fine. Customer: No, no, no. April, twelfth, April 411411 or eleven? Customer: And it just give me one. Right it's. Agent (Susan Bender): And I saw it available. I saw a D. available on the twelfth earlier, let me see if it's still there. Agent (Susan Bender): The guaranteed cabin. Yeah, see yeah, under the SBC promo. Now the SBC nine promo mm-hmm. It is just a move promotion but it's giving a bonus ship or credit. So, where's the free errors that apparently they have an ad that they receive from biking Tom Richard can you tell him what it's, what it says on your a. Customer: What's the difference? Customer: It says two for one a. Customer: Yes, it says your choice sale, two for one AirPlus. The ship or credit or Bever beverage package with and the offer code is SBC nine expires September 30th. Agent (Susan Bender): Now, it's either gonna be, it's either going to have an asters or a up to in front of that. Now you would have to turn to the page of the actual itinerary to find out if this actually, this particular crude offers for a so if you turn to the page, the two window page. Customer: Ma, this is again, just one minute. Okay, go to eleven I think that. Agent (Susan Bender): It itinerary has for your. Agent (Susan Bender): That is, it is select the park or select itineraries and select months that offer the free air, that's what I figured it must be but the ad apparently isn't there. Customer: But it says, it say free, it doesn't say free, it says 241. Agent (Susan Bender): So, it's well essentially it's one free 241241 we can look that up. Customer: Right. Agent (Susan Bender): Here. Let's see. The 12th of April, 2026 the French balcony D. is $5,999 per person airfare would be out of. Which game was city JFK? Customer: JFK. Agent (Susan Bender): Alright, and this ceiling? Let's see. Agent (Susan Bender): I am not showing the two for one air for this it so if you again if you charge the page of the itinerary, do you have a physical ad that you can turn the page for this itinerary? Customer: I have the, I have the, I have it up here and I have dates and pricing, and I have French balcony for the. Agent (Susan Bender): Are you looking on your computer or at a physical ad? Customer: No, no. On the computer on an, on an email that came. Agent (Susan Bender): On the computer. So where do you look on the computer? Carter? Let's see. So if you're looking at dates and pricing. Agent (Susan Bender): There as well. Bear with me. Agent (Susan Bender): Sure, and so you're agent pricing. So, when you're under dates and pricing. Agent (Susan Bender): Do you see the date that you are interested in April eleventh and twelfth. Customer: Yeah, either, either the, either the eleventh or the twelfth, right. Agent (Susan Bender): And it shows that they're on the computer screen, right? And on the computer screen what does it say the prices for the air? Customer: It shows. Customer: It says nine it says 999 and they had 4099. Course. So have the 14999. It's not, it's not half of it's not 241, it's not. Agent (Susan Bender): Right. Agent (Susan Bender): So on this date, so that means it's not applicable on this date on the itinerary. Customer: Oh, okay, it doesn't say that but okay, okay, cause down here, it just says all prices list are available from selecting. It doesn't mention anything about which it doesn't say only on select date, right? Just says, it gives all these dates and then it's, but the top of the heading is your choice sale on it. It really isn't the choice sale, if it's limited, yeah, it doesn't save. Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah, so really your choice. Is the onboard credit or the beverage package. Is that correct? Carter, yeah, the SBC nine we'll give the ship or credit of $375 per person. Okay. Customer: Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Or the beverage package, which I think they would rather have the onboard credit. Customer: So we. Yeah, okay, because where it says two for one it doesn't say only have bookable certain things and, and all listing are right under it. So weird, okay, the other thing. Agent (Susan Bender): Huh, well, how do you find? Carter, can you tell us how would you find what dates it is applicable to? Customer: Yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Well, because we, if it's just a generic brochure that they're looking at, yeah, and then they're going to the website, the website it's gonna show just the generic pricing, right? The pricing for this cruise. Now if they've got a special they would have to turn in the booklet the brochure they would need the brochure on the tiner. Okay, correct. So online it's not gonna tell you. Customer: Well, the email. Agent (Susan Bender): If you just, they're just looking at your website it's not gonna tell you there, correct what dates. Customer: This is not the website. Yeah, this is from the email that was sent to me. It's not on the website. It's the email. Agent (Susan Bender): Oh, okay. So you're looking at the email, the add email where, what they look there, so they go to the client print underneath. Customer: Well, what I'm saying is. Customer: It says it. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, specify prices are for you know, and then it'll say, you know, March 2026 or November 2026 is that in the sign in the fine print? It is in the fine print. So, can you move down and see if you see fine print on that page? Customer: Yeah, but it does. Customer: Yup, but it's not. But the only, the only thing to find print says is that free air is, you know, it's about three-year. You know there's a double, there's a star and it says no after risk and it says it's yeah, that's the free airfare but this is not free. It doesn't say anything about the 21. Oh, wait, oh, wait a minute from September 1st through thirtieth booking it's it'd be, or. Agent (Susan Bender): On select dates. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah, it doesn't. So, anything about two for one. Agent (Susan Bender): I think that's the ad the date that. Customer: Oh, here it is it just says the air offer restrictions expire September 30th. Customer: Hasn't. I'm looking at all the fine print. Customer: Honestly it literally it really does not say anything except that it expires September air offer restrictions. Expires September 30th we just tell you when you have to pay by special fair plus up to free international. Agent (Susan Bender): Uh-huh. Customer: Maybe that's oh, 24124 S. here. Mila select November, let's for November that okay, that's what that says it there. Okay, I. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah, yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): It just you have to dig and dig, but eventually. Yeah, you'd find it. So it should you, sorry. So do you uh-huh go ahead. Customer: Wow, I have another question. I have another question. On the eleventh they have the balcony CNG available? What's the difference between c&d on the balcony? Oh, it's not falcon, it's just, like, not size or anything. It's just, it's not size, it's just location. Agent (Susan Bender): Location, it's just location. Agent (Susan Bender): It's not what, I'm sorry. Agent (Susan Bender): No, it's not size, it's just location. Customer: Okay, I'm in French. Okay, so we have any other questions. Agent (Susan Bender): Would you rather have the eleventh? Customer: If they, if it's available, yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): The. Agent (Susan Bender): It looks like it is. You see that Carter. Agent (Susan Bender): On the eleventh. Okay. Well, what am I looking for on the eleventh, a French balcony, it shows only C. Is available now. Yeah. I only see C. As in Charlie at $6,199 per person and does it give you a cabin number or is it a guarantee? Customer: Oh. Customer: Mm-hmm. Agent (Susan Bender): Cabin, so it's $200 more per person. Richard and Arlene it's $200 more per person on the eleventh because that one has, this only has C. available on the twelfth that has D., which is $5,999 per person. Customer: Yup, yup. Customer: Oh. Customer: Take, take which one I take control will take the twelfth we'll work with the twelfth. That's funny. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, Carter, do you want to book this for us? Okay, absolutely. Let me go ahead and pull he will, he spent time. Customer: It's funny because on the, on the I. Customer: Yeah. Go ahead on the iPad. It's funny on the eleventh it says both of them are sold at. Okay, we get the eleventh okay. Agent (Susan Bender): I'm sorry. Agent (Susan Bender): Well, let's get the, let's get the D. guarantee on the twelfth before that wouldn't show sold out. Let's GrabIt right. And then airfare out of JS cake and economy $999 per person if you guys wanted to upgrade premiums $200,298 person and business is $400,998 person a. Do you have the rate? I think you wanted business, right? Customer: Yeah, yeah. Customer: Okay. Customer: Yes, you're paying for it. Okay, now we're getting, right now we, yeah, we're good. So we'll take the $999 at this point. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah. Well that's what you said earlier. Agent (Susan Bender): So for now, what would you like me to show on the quote? Not you want to do the for now? Customer: I would, yeah. And we pay on the Bruce and stuff if it's available. Agent (Susan Bender): Perfect. Okay, so, so the $999 for the air and then we have that pro, we have a program on the portal, ninety days from departure today, you or the guest connector, you guys log into the portal at ninety days, you can start selecting the air preferences, no service fee to do this on the website. But depending on what you choose for the schedule will determine if there's gonna be an ad collect or not, they're differential, okay. And that's at three month departure, right? Customer: Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Now we do offer pre and post packages. If you guys want to extend your stay. We offer a two night. Pre Amsterdam 799 person that includes transfers breakfast every morning of biking rep and a short excursion. Customer: What about the Bruce? Agent (Susan Bender): This, let me see here. Yeah, the Brusen brus should get that is three nights at $100,599 per person and that's also available prior to the cruise, you wanted to add that one, right? Customer: Yeah, that one and the question I have on that one is are we, how do we get from Amsterdam to Bruce is that bus train or a plan? Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): The Bruce package, we actually flying in Brussels answer you to you pick up the actual extension itself and then after the. Customer: Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): The cruise begins what we're looks like. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah, that's gonna be a motor coach transfer. Customer: Yes. Agent (Susan Bender): Back to Amsterdam to get on, correct. Okay, correct. Customer: Is the post right, this is the post trip. Agent (Susan Bender): Is it pos or pre package? It's pretty. Customer: No, we want, we don't want, no, we want to go for, we want to do the, we want to do a post if possible after we do them to Amsterdam. Agent (Susan Bender): Is that offer to, it's not, it's only offered as a pre, only offered as pre, I don't know if you heard them. Customer: I don't, we thought it was. Oh, okay. It just needs to coming. Agent (Susan Bender): The post extension is sold out, but it would be the hog but it is sold out. That's the only post. I see. That's the only post extension that we offer. That is correct. Customer: The so. Customer: I guess it's okay then you may look at the see that when I got the cook cause no cooking. Also. The other one you do three days before, three nights before you're flying earlier I see what you do. Hi, we'll add that on to. Customer: Let's move it. Yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Ru, Rus, and gant as a free uh-huh okay. Customer: Pre, so that's like instead of the twelfth leaving there was a post but it's twelve failed is that it? Customer: Is there a wait list for that to transfer to it if it's possible? Agent (Susan Bender): That is correct. The hag is sold out. Agent (Susan Bender): I don't think I can does wait list, right? Is that correct? Correct? We do not have a wait list. We have to keep checking back and hope that we find one open. Customer: Okay. Okay, problem. Is that means you really, very much early. You're leaving three days for him. Okay. Alright, that's it. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, okay. So, at the version again got a travel protection, are you going to get that on your own insur travel insurance. Okay, okay. Customer: Yeah, yes. Agent (Susan Bender): And I can give you Carter, I'll give you their own, their most recent booking number so you can pull the information from that. If you'd like. That'll definitely help be my process, I'll still need to verify passport names and date of birth but that'll help narrow down the profiles, okay? With that booking number 6603148. Agent (Susan Bender): And can I have you mentioned their passports and date of birth for both I guess? Yeah, I have Arlene Susan can and Richard. Frederick Frederick can, Frederick is F-R-E-D-R-I-C. And you want date of date for Arlene October 2nd, 1942 for Richard. Thank you, is July 1948. Agent (Susan Bender): Perfect, very good. Thank you for verifying that. Okay, so I've got profiles. Agent (Susan Bender): And it's 375 account. I'm sorry go ahead. I was just gonna mention PAS discounts $100 off per person. Right? And then what were you mentioning the onboard credit? Did you say it was $375 per person. That is correct? $375 per person. Okay. And can they use that before they get on the ship to book shore excursions, yup. Absolutely. Why short excursions? Mm-hmm, okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, so I'll do that and I always quote for protection just so you can compare trial protection is $949 per person. It has to, can for any reason waiver pretty exist medical. If you purchase within fourteen days deposit and this is full comprehensive job protection. I said you guys will book this on your own but I just at least wanted to give you the information. Okay, okay, okay, so our grand total on the booking is $1.60099 million. Agent (Susan Bender): That's cruise fair at 500-899-9999 for the economy air, and then the 100599 for the bruising again it is the 25 profession deposit and that's going to be due on Thursday, same time we have now on Thursday, okay. Customer: Mm-hmm. Customer: Oh, by Thursday. Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): File is going to be due the thirty first of October 25 okay, you paid with E E. 3.3. Percent off you could set up the auto pay fee to with the E E. And I also have to advise passports need to be valid six months after the return date, right? Agent (Susan Bender): And I do have a booking number. When you're ready, I'm ready. It is 9249183 okay and I'll send that off to you now, okay? Thank you Carter. Appreciate your help today. You're very welcome. Thank you for the opportunity. You guys have a great rest of your day, you as well. Bye-bye. Thank you, uh-huh. Bye. Customer: Thank you. Customer: Yup, bye. Customer: Bye, okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, so I will forward the invoice to you and if you will just get back with me by this time on Thursday and we'll go from there. Customer: Okay. Alright. Agent (Susan Bender): Now I will be, I will be applying vouchers the pal vouchers will reduce your cruise fare by $200 per person. However, I cannot apply those until you make deposit. So you're not gonna see it on the invoice. Customer: Right. Customer: Until. I see, okay, I was right we won't see the min, the ul 200 credit. Okay, okay, okay, thanks. Agent (Susan Bender): Not yet, yeah. Okay, and then also, you're going to get an onboard credit from Uli, let's see. Is this a seven night? How many nights is this? Customer: 1010 actually, ten days, I don't adding to. Agent (Susan Bender): Ten. Agent (Susan Bender): Just a moment. Customer: It's ten days plus three for the. Agent (Susan Bender): But it only counts what the onboard credit is based on how many nights you're on the ship that doesn't count for extra night. So, this is nine night. So, that will give you another $600 onboard credit from Pavlus that's $300 per person. Yeah, so, keep that in mind as well cause you will not see that on the, on the Viking invoice, okay? Alright, I'll send this over to you. I should have it momentarily and I'll forward it over to you and then yeah, just let me know what you decide. Customer: There, he's on do it. Customer: Right. Customer: Right. Customer: Terrific, thank you. Customer: Okay, sure. Customer: 166. Oh. Customer: Okay, we'll let you. Thanks for your help. Thank you. Customer: Oh, did you have to get on a message about us inquiring into a a trip to Iceland. Agent (Susan Bender): My pleasure, my pleasure. Thank you and thank you for your patience. I'm glad. Customer: This, I guess when you were away we left a message but nobody got. Agent (Susan Bender): When did you send it? Agent (Susan Bender): No, someone else should have that. Usually what the management does here at. They divvy up the emails for the agent who's out of the office, they send them to other travel planners and then they're supposed to contact you to follow up on our behalf since we're out. So if you did not receive a, a phone call or an email, just send resend the email to me cause I'm back now. Customer: So. Customer: Oh. Customer: Okay that would, would be very last minute. Cause we were thinking of going sometime during the last two weeks in September we could still think about it. Just let us think about it tomorrow before we get back. Okay, well, yeah, but the bigger question is do you, if you've done some quick trips for the ice cream with your customers whether you just flying and do a couple of anyways, 23, you know, three days of tours you know, at a Recky evict. Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Oh. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Sure, one thing at a time. Uh-huh. Agent (Susan Bender): No, no. We booked, we booked pre organized tours which I think the minimum, the shortest one I've ever seen is seven days, 697 days. Customer: Yeah. Customer: Okay, alright. Okay, well let's think about that. Okay, we'll see alright, I'll talk to you. Thanks, thank you. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, thanks. Alright, have a good night. Thanks again. Mm-hmm, my pleasure. Customer: You too. Bye-bye, bye.