We have been on 8 cruises and have booked all but the first one with the same PVP at Carnival. I can NEVER get in touch with him. I leave him messages and email him but I never hear back. Its just luck of the draw if I ever actually get to talk to him. And if I really really need something, the other PVP can only answer questions for me, they can't make changes or anything. So........ I don't know if booking thru Carnival is any better than booking thru a TA.