Potentially an 'official' style thread, I'm tired of posting the deals I find into the most recent 'quick cruise question' thread. I'm not particularly knowledgeable, I've only taken one short cruise and have another booked, but I AM a little OCD, and might be able to offer up some useful information on cruise deal hunting, if not actual cruise advice.
This being a FatWallet guide to cruise searching, there are a few starting conditions: I'm normally talking about inside rates, except when an upgrade is free or available for a very good price - usually, inside cabins really are the best value. When I talk averages, I'm using current (4 Aug 2006) Carnival and Royal Caribbean prices for all their 7 night sailings for next May through October - a good mix of high and low seasons. The other lines are typically more expensive, so a $50pp/pn rate is a particularly good value on, say, Princess or Norweigan. I use per person rates, but they are only valid for each of two people sharing a stateroom. Sailing alone or with more than two people can change the price dramatically.
What is a good deal for a cruise? Well, the average brochure cost of an inside cabin (no view) for a seven day cruise is about $1700 per person, or about $243 per person per night. Don't pay that. The average actual cost of those same cruises was about $700, or $100pp/pn. Anything less than that and you're doing better than an average 'deal' at a cruise discounter. I set my target rate at didYOUsearch's recommended rate: $50pp/pn, inclusive of taxes and port fees. Rates like that aren't too common, and are next to impossible for some itineraries, but they make for a good barometer of value. Davido is dead on, prices are very much a function of the season - prices are higher when kids are out of school. Being able to sail when the ships are slow to fill, and/or willing to sail more inexpensive itineraries makes it much easier to get a great deal, but there are good deals everywhere all year long if you keep your eyes open. Also, additional passenger rates can make or break a cruise deal - on some sailings, third and fourth passengers might add half what the first two passengers paid; while on others, it'd be the same or even cheaper to get them their own room. For families or friends willing to share a small sleeping space, low additional rates can cut the total cost of a cruise - sometimes making even peak-season sailings affordable.
What does a cruise include? or, How much will it end up costing me? Most cruises include enough that you can go without spending a penny over the fare, taxes, and tips* - totalling $60pp/pn at the 'target rate.' Cruise fare includes your cabin (with housekeeping), free dining in a number of facilities (most lines offer free room service,) a selection of (all non-alcoholic) beverages, varying qualities of Vegas-style entertainment and comedy shows, many cruise-led activities, and transportation to whatever places the ship is headed, weather permitting. You will usually have to pay extra for tips*, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages ($5ish each, automatic 15% tip included,) dining in onboard specialty gourmet restaurants, spa or salon services, the casino and bingo, and any activities at the ports. As with room upgrades, you can spend as much or as little as you want - you decide what is worth the cost of indulging in.
Don't forget about transportation - airfare can add a lot to your total vacation cost. You have to fly in for some itineraries, but sailing out of a local port saves you airfare and some hassles. Even a cheap flight and hotel room for the night before (recommended) will cost $150 per person, which adds more than $20pp/pn over a 7 night cruise. That makes it less desirable to fly to short cruises, and I use it to justify spending more per night on the short cruises we like to take out of our local ports. They cost less just by being shorter, and they make for cheap credit towards loyalty programs. You will have to pay parking if you drive - it's $10-12 a day per car at my local ports in Florida.
*For the record, I pay the recommended gratuities (normally $10pp/pn), a little extra at the end to people I feel gave a little extra to us, and a couple singles for each room service delivery. They live on tips, even moreso than food service personnel in the US)
Resources:
General cruising information: Recent FW Thread on cruising, lots of quick explanations and an especially valuable post by dani24 Another Thread where davido explains why you don't see much pricing difference between TAs until you contact them directly Insure My Trip is a good consolidator of travel insurance - a VERY good idea to get, especially during storm seasons or if your trip includes a flight. I like the insurances that include payment for travel delay, late or missing baggage, and have decent medical allowances. Cruise Critic has up-to-date cruise reviews and an active forum - the BEST place to find answers to general cruising questions. You can also find lots of cruise pictures (of ships, rooms, public areas, menus, newsletters, you name it) by searching Google with the added term "site:webshots.com"
Finding the best cruise fare: (don't forget to count the taxes and fees!) Vacations to Go - My first stop for finding inexpensive sailings to check on other sites - they have an awesome search process that even lets you search by type of cabin. They also have lists of deals with past passenger, senior, military and interline rates. Even better, their system lets you bookmark your common custom searches, like this link that lists all sailings out of my local ports that have oceanview rooms available for less than $300 per person. Note: I have to sort the list by date or price to see the full URL that links to that search. Cruise 411 - Searches regular prices and many senior, resident, and past guest discounts. Lets you see actual taxes and fees at step 4, before you give them personal information. CruiseQuick - I get a lot of errors and page not founds here, but they list the taxes for each cruise alongside the rate as soon as you search. Awesome! (thanks, davido!) SmartCruiser - Seems to search all the specials, and includes what looks to be pretty good insurance on a lot of sailings - even on the cheap cruises with very little commission. (thanks, davido!) Cruise Deals - Searches the same basic stuff, sometimes offers free extras like travel insurance or vacation certificates. Crucon - I think their search is lousy, but they do have a list of their current best deals. They often offer token gifts (drink coupons, free wine bottle, fruit delivered to the cabin) for booking with them or having your carnival-direct booking transferred to them. Cruise Vacation Outlet - Searches about the same, with the same basic extras. Cruise Value Center - Sometimes has the lowest prices and free insurance or vacation certificates, but doesn't search past guest discounts. (thanks, davido!) Homeport Cruises - Maintains a list of interline and military rates, some of which are phenomenal. It's easy to get a password to view the rates, check out the elegibility requirements here
After you've seen what a few sites are charging for your sailing, check out the cruise line's own site. Normally, this is fruitless, as TAs have more incentive to offer you deals, but I've had luck recently getting lower rates and upgrades on Carnival.com using the promotional codes DP7 (for past guests) and PR1 (a residency discount code.) If you don't qualify, or it's not valid on that sailing, you'll get a message that says that the code is invalid. If it works, you might see lower prices, upgrade deals, or both. The DP7 code gives free upgrades from 4A to 5A (with portholes) on a number of sailings. Sometimes, it says the 4As are being upgraded to a 4D (inside), but selecting the 4A room lets you choose a 5A room anyway.
Cruise Compete is my last stop - the site lets you request a quote for a sailing from a number of different. Make sure to include what price you want them to beat for what room type, if you are a past guest, and your state of residency - not all TA's go out of their way to see what you might qualify for. If you've already done the work anyway, you might as well tell them what you found (and the fare code if applicable.) Even if you've found rock bottom prices, you'll likely be offered some sort of extra amenity.
Posting Deals: If you find a cruise for less than $50pp/pn, post it even if you aren't going to do a stitch of research on it. Otherwise, use your better judgement - there are itineraries where $80pp/pn is a steal, $75pp/pn might be a great price for a holiday cruise, and locals might be thrilled to pay $65pp/pn for a three day weekend sailing next month. Below is the format I'll try to stick to (unless it's discovered I've left out important stuff) but there's no obligation for anyone else to use this format when posting deals. Remember you need the total cruise cost - both the fare and the taxes - to really compare prices. The discount description is important too - include restrictions like past guest, military, age or residence requirements, promotional codes or coupons, where the fare can be found, and any included 'extras.' If it's just a good fare you've happened upon, but haven't looked for any additional discounts, mention that too.
Length, Destination, Ship, Line Departure Date & City, Return Date & City Cabin Category, Price (Fare+Taxes), Cost Per Person Per Night Third and Fourth Passenger Price, Cost Per Person Per Night Discount Description and/or link
Remember, these are just the best prices so far - you should submit your own request at Cruise Compete to see if someone can cut the price or offer you any extras. Move fast - prices can and sometimes do change very quickly.
Users like you can add images, links and other relevant information about this topic.
posted: Aug. 3, 2006 @ 4:48p
davido
Addicted Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2006 @ 12:29p
Good information. As a fellow cruise addict and a bargain hunter here are a few more bits of helpful information for cruise deal hunters.
- One of the biggest variables in determing price is "when". Prices can fluctuate greatly between sailings of the same ship to the same ports. Anytime school is out costs more is a general rule (summer and holiday weeks or spring break). If you cruise with kids this may not be as much of an option but if you have flexibility in your dates you can save more. Winter and hurriance season are the lowest prices.
- Decide what is important to you when choosing cabin levels = We book the least expensive rooms we can get find as we'd rather spend money on doing activities in ports. To some people it is important to have an outside or balcony room and do not mind paying hundreds of dollars more for it. Regardless of the room, the other shipboard food and activities are the same so look at what is important to you for the limited time you will spend in your cabins. Whenever possible book a guarantee cabin. This gives you a minimum quality level and a possible free upgrade.
- I strongly second cruisecritic for information and research. Research what you want to do in port and book them on your own to save money also.
- For doing price research I would also add to the list www.cruisequick.com and www.smartcruiser.com. and www.mycruisevalue.com.
- I also strongly endorse using Cruise Compete. You can usually save money doing this.
- When choosing a cruise look at itinerary, cruise line, and price. Don't choose based on just one factor or you may get a cheap cruise that goes to places you don't want to.
- Don't get in the thought process of being locked in to a specific cruise line only. The various lines are similar but have variations. Research on cruise critic to learn more. Be willing to try different cruise lines that you think might appeal to you and you'll have more flexibility in finding a good price.
angelsou
Thrifty Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2006 @ 5:05p
A little late, but here are some deals I've looked at recently:
5 night Bahamas trip on the Carnival's Fantasy 25 September 2006 Port Canaveral to 30 September 2006 Port Canaveral Cat 4D Inside: $274.83 ($229 plus $45.83) => $55pp/pn 3/4 passenger rate $244.83($49pp/pn) for inside ($264.83($53pp/pn) for OV) Past Guest Pricing via carnival.com - using fare code DP7
4 night Baja Mexico cruise on Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas 15 Jan 2007 Los Angeles to 19 Jan 2007 Los Angeles Cat Q Inside: $231.63 ($199 plus $32.63) => $58pp/pn Cat I OV (obstructed): $261.63 => $65.50pp/pn 3/4 passenger rate (inside and outside) $241.63 => $60.50pp/pn No requirements, price available via royalcaribbean.com. Haven't compared online. ***prices only slightly higher for the 8 January sailing, starting at $59.25pp/pn***
15 night Transatlantic cruise on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas 1 Dec 2007 Barcelona, Spain to 16 Dec 2007 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Cat Q Inside: $748.97 ($699 plus $49.97) => $50pp/pn 3/4 passenger rate (inside and outside) $348.97 => $23.25pp/pn No requirements, price available via royalcaribbean.com. Haven't compared online. ***similar deals available: 15 day Barcelona to Miami on Brilliance of the Seas on 2 Dec for $799+$76.96 => $58.50pp/pn ($25pp/pn for 3/4 passengers) and 15 day Barcelona to Galveston on Voyager of the Seas on 8 Dec for $799+$70.01 => $58pp/pn ($24.50pp/pn for 3/4 passengers)
ADDED 8 August 2006:
AWESOME deal for single travellers 4 night Bahamas cruise on Carnival's Fantasy 24 Sep 2006 Port Canaveral to 28 Sep 2006 Port Canaveral Cat 1A (guarantee!) Inside: $252.83 ($219 plus $33.83) => $63.25pp/pn for a single! Residency requirements - Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas - probably more, just check carnival or your favorite discounter. Non-residents sail for $297.83. Use PR1 code at carnival.com ***similar deals available: same pricing on 7 Sep and 21 Sep*** ***also available on Sensation, $260.58 ($65pp/pn) for 1A guarantee on 27 Aug, 10 Sep, 17 Sep and 24 Sep.
I'm copying these to the quick summary, because they're current, but I'd like to see people offer up deals as posts, so folks can see what prices have been doing over time. I'll try to keep up with keeping only available deals in the quick summary.
angelsou said: A little late, but here are some deals I've looked at recently:
5 night Bahamas trip on the Carnival's Fantasy 25 September 2006 Port Canaveral to 30 September 2006 Port Canaveral Cat 4D Inside: $274.83 ($229 plus $45.83) => $55pp/pn 3/4 passenger rate $244.83($49pp/pn) for inside ($264.83($53pp/pn) for OV) Past Guest Pricing via carnival.com - use fare code DP7 ***also a decent deal for inside or porthole rooms on the 11 September sailing - $60pp/pn***
4 night Baja Mexico cruise on Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas 15 Jan 2007 Los Angeles to 19 Jan 2007 Los Angeles Cat Q Inside: $231.63 ($199 plus $32.63) => $58pp/pn Cat I OV (obstructed): $261.63 => $65.50pp/pn 3/4 passenger rate (inside and outside) $241.63 => $60.50pp/pn No requirements for discount, available at these prices via royalcaribbean.com ***prices only slightly higher for the 8 January sailing, starting at $59.25pp/pn***
I'm copying these to the quick summary, because they're current, but I'd like to see people offer up deals as posts, so folks can see what prices have been doing over time. I'll try to keep up with keeping only available deals in the quick summary.
Are these deals any good? What is the normal price range for cruise trips?
angelsou
Thrifty Member
posted: Aug. 5, 2006 @ 2:35a
Ivanist, I rewrote the first post, it should be a little clearer.
Brochure prices for 7 night cruises average about $250 per person per night. The actual price of those cruises from a discounter averages about $100 per person per night, so you don't really want to pay any more than that. Basically, any cruise under $50 per person per night is a great deal if you can find reasonably priced transportation. Between $50 and $100 is sort of a grey area - for some itineraries/ships/seasons, $80pp/pn might be the best price available all year. For a 7 night Caribbean trip out of Miami in September, that'd be paying too much. The lower the nightly rate, the better the value. I think short cruises for less than $60pp/pn are great deals for folks who don't have to fly to get to the port. It's hard to find a better 4 night vacation for two for less than $500.
Great deals on the 15 day cruises. I booked 2 of them today (the Legend and the Brilliance)...now I just need to decide which one to take, and which one to cancel.
angelsou said: I set my target rate at didYOUsearch's recommended rate: $50pp/pn, inclusive of taxes and port fees.
an excellent target rate
NORWEGIAN DREAM 17 night Transatlantic London to Houston Sep 20. OCEANVIEW $52.50 per night per person directly from NCL.com or possibly less through cruisecompete
Cruising in Sept out of NYC on NCL with my family of 4 (2 babies), for an 8 day cruise to caribbean (St Thomas/Tortola)/Bermuda for $1725 It's an inside cabin, but the TA managed to bump me up to deck 11 so I'm quite happy with that.
Was with vacationstogo.com
Using 35,000 credit card reward points for a $500 rebate after the cruise is over. For my cards reward points, this is the best 'bang for the buck'. This will be me 4th cruise and 4th time I used reward points for a rebate Kinf of like, cruise 3 times get the 4th one free *L*
This is great info as I plan to take my first cruise next summer, leaving right out of my city. I just have one question though that I hope someone can answer. If I plan to cruise in Summer of 2007, when is the best time to book? I don't know how far out I should go to make sure I get a spot. I also want to take enough time to get a good price. The cruise I am thinking about leaves out of Norfolk and goes to Bermuda. Thanks!
momgoingbroke said: This is great info as I plan to take my first cruise next summer, leaving right out of my city. I just have one question though that I hope someone can answer. If I plan to cruise in Summer of 2007, when is the best time to book? I don't know how far out I should go to make sure I get a spot. I also want to take enough time to get a good price. The cruise I am thinking about leaves out of Norfolk and goes to Bermuda. Thanks!
I'd book it now. I always cruise with Royal Caribbean, and they will adjust the price if it goes down before final payment is made. Summertime cruises are usually among the most expensive, so booking earlier will get you a lower price. Cancellation policies (if booked directly with the cruise line, not a travel agent) are very liberal as well.
angelsou
Thrifty Member
posted: Aug. 19, 2006 @ 9:12a
I second that idea - if you need to sail a certain week, or peak season, it's probably best to book early. You have up until something like two months before sailing for a complete refund - and a good travel agent should be able to get your refunds, onboard credit, or upgrades if your sailing does decrease in price.
I'm going to sit down tonight and update the quick summary - I'll make sure to look for some Norfolk cruises. Don't count on anything like $550pp/pn rates, though - summer gets expensive!
pokerbear
New Member
posted: Sep. 7, 2006 @ 11:49p
Great information angelsou! Thanks. Is there any secret to complementary upgrades? Time of day to check in etc.? I have hear several people say that they asked for an upgrade and got it. Any ideas?
angelsou said: Finding the best cruise fare: (don't forget to count the taxes and fees!) Vacations to Go - My first stop for finding inexpensive sailings to check on other sites - they have an awesome search process that even lets you search by type of cabin. They also have lists of deals with past passenger, senior, military and interline rates. Even better, their system lets you bookmark your common custom searches, like this link that lists all sailings out of my local ports that have oceanview rooms available for less than $300 per person. Note: I have to sort the list by date or price to see the full URL that links to that search. Cruise 411 - Searches regular prices and many senior, resident, and past guest discounts. Lets you see actual taxes and fees at step 4, before you give them personal information. CruiseQuick - I get a lot of errors and page not founds here, but they list the taxes for each cruise alongside the rate as soon as you search. Awesome! (thanks, davido!) SmartCruiser - Seems to search all the specials, and includes what looks to be pretty good insurance on a lot of sailings - even on the cheap cruises with very little commission. (thanks, davido!) Cruise Deals - Searches the same basic stuff, sometimes offers free extras like travel insurance or vacation certificates. Crucon - I think their search is lousy, but they do have a list of their current best deals. They often offer token gifts (drink coupons, free wine bottle, fruit delivered to the cabin) for booking with them or having your carnival-direct booking transferred to them. Cruise Vacation Outlet - Searches about the same, with the same basic extras. Cruise Value Center - Sometimes has the lowest prices and free insurance or vacation certificates, but doesn't search past guest discounts. (thanks, davido!) Homeport Cruises - Maintains a list of interline and military rates, some of which are phenomenal. It's easy to get a password to view the rates, check out the elegibility requirements here
How reliable are these online travel agents?? I'm looking for a Cruise to Alaska in May 2007. Some of the prices from these online travel agents aren't too bad. I'll save about $300 booking through one of them (Cruise Value Center)... anyone ever bought a cruise from them?
davido
Addicted Member
posted: Sep. 11, 2006 @ 5:31p
I have booked through three of the companies on that list before with no problems (including Cruise Value Center which you mentioned). All of the ones on the list are well known cruise companies that are reputable. When you book a cruise you will give your credit card information to the agent but the actual credit card charge is always done by the cruise line itself.
Even if you find a good deal online you should go to www.cruisecompete.com and get quotes. Put the best price you have found in the comments section. I have used cruisecompete several times and only once did the offers not beat the best price I found on my own.
Alaska is beautiful, you will love the cruise there. You are smart going in May because the prices increase noticably for Alaska once June starts. Be warned that excursions are more expensive in Alaska and you'll spend a bit more on them then on a Caribbean cruise.
David
davido
Addicted Member
posted: Sep. 11, 2006 @ 5:42p
pokerbear said: Great information angelsou! Thanks. Is there any secret to complementary upgrades? Time of day to check in etc.? I have hear several people say that they asked for an upgrade and got it. Any ideas?
When you book your cruise you should book a guarantee category whenever possible. Not only is this sometimes cheaper but you have the chance of a free upgrade. A guarantee cabin means you will get a room at the category you booked or above. The type of upgrade you get varies greatly depending on how full the ship is and a bit of luck.
Often upgrades are within the same general class such as moving from an inside cabin to a higher category inside cabin. I have gotten an upgrade from an inside cabin to an outside cabin before as well. My favorite guarantee room was getting an inside handicapped cabin because the room was twice the size of a normal cabin. The cabin assignments are done before the day of check in and printed on your cabin key card in advance so it does not matter what time you check in. Asking for an upgrade probably won't make any difference.
Some lines do upsells where they offer you an upgrade at a reduced price (how much reduced varies). This is done in advance of sailing as well. I have never been offered one but have heard online of it being done. This probably vaires with how full they are.
As long as the guarantee category you book is one you can live with if you did not get an upgrade I think you will be satisfied and sometimes pleasantly surprised.
Thanks angelsou and davido - while not a cruise addict yet (plan on our second cruise this coming summer) it's great to find this thread. Green for both of you!
I remember reading about the cruise industry in the early 1990's, when the average PPN was $250-300 - how the economics have changed with a huge increase in capacity. (Took an interest in it then because my parents were absolute cruise addicts, going an average of two cruises per year for many years. Alas they are now not healthy enough to travel.)
$399, with taxes and fees comes to about $450PP 11 nights.
Awesome deal SIS...makes me wish I had enough vacation time left to jump on it, but unfortunately, I don't. We took a 15 night Hawaiian cruise in May (with RCCL) which was great. If anyone has the vacation time (and the $$$) to do this, you won't regret it. A cruise is a great way to experience Hawaii and all of the different islands.
Great thread all! I might as well jump in as well.
* I have found an "allure" starting to form with some agencies offering crazy-low cruise prices only to skyrocket the "taxes and port charges" portion. While I cannot confirm the following, I believe "taxes and port charges" dollars are a bit misleading as that money represents more. Just my opinion. Some sites (e.g. http://www.cruisequick.com/) show taxes w/o going into booking process making bargain searching easier. * There are several companies out there that are national in scope yet have local reps. I have used CruiseOne before. The pricing was just a tad over the cheapest found on CruiseCompete, but it was a local person trying to make a living. Plus, the service was very personable. You can run down your closest agent from their website (zip code, map, etc). * As far as pricing of cabins on cruises, certainly prices increase as the rooms go to higher levels and outside is almost always higher than inside. I booked an inside cabin on the highest level/deck (adjacent to suites) last cruise. We were just steps from the pool (actually one flight up from pool level.) The pricing was around $50 PP more than the lowest deck inside. While we didn't have a window, and it certainly wasn't a suite, we didn't have to take a hike to get to/from our cabin to anywhere. It was very, very nice! This was the best bang for the buck as far as any of the cruises I have taken. Take a moment when pricing, look at not just the catagories, but what deck. Most sites will allow you to pick a cabin before pricing. Comparing this with several agencies (many book blocks of cabins), you can also get an idea of how many cabins are remaining (a potential crystal ball to increase of rates).
Have fun all! And best of luck in your bargain hunting!!
The prices are just starting to fall for the Janurary and Feburary cruises, too, if December is a bad month for you. I tried to talk my husband into a cruise right before Christmas with no luck.
First time here in your wonderful Cruise forum, very good stuff!!! I have a quick question all these places like cruises-n-more etc. seem to always change the price by $30 to $50 when I check prices with a child why is that?? Is that for the child's ticket too?? I checked many fares for just two adults and as soon as i added a child those same prices went up $30 to $50 thanks in advance for anyone answering my question.
cyberpitstop said: First time here in your wonderful Cruise forum, very good stuff!!! I have a quick question all these places like cruises-n-more etc. seem to always change the price by $30 to $50 when I check prices with a child why is that?? Is that for the child's ticket too?? I checked many fares for just two adults and as soon as i added a child those same prices went up $30 to $50 thanks in advance for anyone answering my question.
Most cruise lines do not differentiate between adults and children when it comes to ticket prices. For example, let's say you have 2 adults in the cabin, at a ticket price of $599 per passenger. If just 1 adult and 1 child went, those ticket prices would be the same. Most cruise lines (RCCL is definitely one) offer a discount for the 3rd and 4th persons in the cabin. For example, persons #1 and #2 might be $599 per person, but persons #3 and #4 might only be $399 per person.
I usually find it beneficial to establish a base price for a particular cruise by checking the 'official' website first...for example, www.rccl.com or www.ncl.com, etc and THEN search for deals.
Be sure to check out the forums at cruisecritic.com too.
12 Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise Price From: $499.00 (USD)
Travel Dates: Apr 21, 2007 through May 03, 2007 Number of nights: 12 Ship: Voyager of the Seas
In a world where everything is harried and hurried, take a step back to a time when traveling was the adventure. Imagine the excitement of setting out to cruise across the ocean, and the horizon. And discover the adventure of exploring foreign ports and shores, while returning to the comfort of your stateroom every night. Come with us for an unforgettable transatlantic voyage.
how reasonable is the threshold of $60 pp/pn for longer cruises of say 10-12 nights? I want to look for a 12 night cruise to nrothern europe/russia, and I saw an ad on travelzoo for a 14 night cruise (incld. airfare) to Russia and the surrounding areas on Celebrity for $2700. Initially seemed a bit a good deal, but after seeing the deals here, I think I can definitely do better.
TenerifeSharon
Senior Member
posted: Dec. 28, 2006 @ 3:33p
Baltic cruises (northern Europe) are generally pretty expensive because of the limited season - late April - September. Very early (April) or very late (Sept.) will be a bit cheaper, but still not compared in price to a transatlantic or Caribbean. TAs usually need 2 one-way flights = expensive, and Caribbean has lots more inventory of ships posted there. Weather in northern Europe can be pretty cold in April and wet and/or cold in September
Was the Celebrity offer for an inside or outside, balcony, concierge class or what? $2700 for a Celebrity 12 night Baltic cruise in high season including airfare and transfers isn't a bad deal!
djack15
Cranky Member
posted: Dec. 28, 2006 @ 11:55p
CaptainAlias said: how reasonable is the threshold of $60 pp/pn for longer cruises of say 10-12 nights? I want to look for a 12 night cruise to nrothern europe/russia, and I saw an ad on travelzoo for a 14 night cruise (incld. airfare) to Russia and the surrounding areas on Celebrity for $2700. Initially seemed a bit a good deal, but after seeing the deals here, I think I can definitely do better. It really all depends on when you are planning to travel. I am not sure about the hot times for that area of the world. I do know that mid-summer when school is out is really big for Caribbean cruises. Prices are usually fairly high, along with the regular holidays.
djack15
Cranky Member
posted: Dec. 28, 2006 @ 11:59p
cyberpitstop said: First time here in your wonderful Cruise forum, very good stuff!!! I have a quick question all these places like cruises-n-more etc. seem to always change the price by $30 to $50 when I check prices with a child why is that?? Is that for the child's ticket too?? I checked many fares for just two adults and as soon as i added a child those same prices went up $30 to $50 thanks in advance for anyone answering my question. I'm not really sure why the price would go up for your first two tickets, but the child tickets are usually quite cheap. I remember when I was much younger my ticket would be anywhere from 350-600 or so depending on the line. I think it might depend on the age, but I'm not sure (My parents pay, not me). Also, depending on how many are going in your room and if you have the extra money, getting two rooms is a great option. My mom and dad always have a room and I get my own room and get to bring along a friend. Staterooms now-a-days are connected by the balcony in newer ships, so it's a very viable solution.
Just a reminder that Discover is offering 5% back on Airlines, Cruises, Hotels, Car Rentals, Trains, and Buses for their Get More Program this quarter. I'm planning a trip for this Spring Break and definitely plan on using my card.
bcnmhk
Member
posted: Jan. 14, 2007 @ 12:34p
which site should I book for a cruise 3 days? starting Feb 16th?
Let me know. Thanks.
tasha
Senior Member
posted: Jan. 14, 2007 @ 2:14p
Hi everyone. I used to be a groups agent for Royal Caribbean, so here's some general information about getting the best deals on their cruises.
0. It's been said before, but I'll say again that the biggest factor in cruise price is WHEN you travel. If you can go off season, you could either go cheaply or stay in a huge suite for the same price as people traveling when school is out. If you have to go in the summer, later is usually cheaper, so pick August. This may be related to hurricane season (I think August is worse than June) but seems to hold true for Alaska, too.
The cheapest itineraries are repositioning cruises except for Panama Canal and one way Hawaii (Transatlantic, Miami to Newark etc.--these are often $50/day).
1. Royal Caribbean doesn't allow discounting. Therefore, unless you find a travel agent who booked group space earlier, odds are, you won't get a cheaper price from a travel agent. I'm sure I saw mostly the big problems, but keep in mind that if you go through an agent, Royal Caribbean will not talk to you. Yes, that's right--if you have a mistake on your booking, the agency that made it will need to correct it, even though it's your money. Usually, I think it's best to not use a travel agent. Keep in mind that websites such as Expedia, Travelocity etc. are online agents and you would need to call them rather than RCI if you have any problems. I'm not dissing travel agents--a good one can really help you get the best deal and you WON'T get a cheaper price going through RCI even though there's no commission involved. It's just that a bad agent can ruin your trip and I've seen it happen many times.
If you are going with a group you can often get amenity points (here's a case where a travel agent may help because a group is 8 rooms with an agent but 10 rooms without one). Groups get a free berth for every 8 staterooms if booked through an agent. I'm not sure if it's every 8 or every 10 for direct bookings since that was a different department than the one I worked in.
2. If you have a specific date/itinerary and it's during a popular time (Summer, Spring Break (generally late February through April), Thanksgiving week or Christmas) make your reservations insanely early--more than a year ahead of time. This also goes for those who want balconies off the back of the ship or on the hump in the middle, no matter when it's sailing.
Keep checking because if the price goes down, you can get a price adjustment. Check back for resident and senior specials, too, because they don't usually show up until a few months before sailing. RCI used to only have military rates through SATO, but they were adding them for all agents just about the time I left, so if you're in the military, let them know.
Reserving early gets you the best choice of rooms. Generally prices start low and go up. They often dip a couple months before sailing, then skyrocket way up in the last few weeks.
3. If you are more relaxed about where you are going and where you are on the ship, RCI does its Happy Hour specials on Tuesdays. Those are usually very cheap and already in their penalty period--ie, you have to pay, and there's no getting your money back if you change your mind. The prices are for new bookings only, so this is a price drop you can't get if you've already booked.
4. If you ever have to change your plans and it is before the penalty period, DO NOT (DO NOT!) let the agent at RCI talk you into keeping the same booking and just changing the ship and sail date. That is the standard practice and is completely to RCI's advantage. Why? Because penalties start from the dates they would have been on the original booking. If you had to change or cancel again, you may not be able to without paying for it, even if your cruise is months away. What stinks is RCI's computers don't even show this--accountants catch it later. Do yourself a favor and cancel the booking, get a refund, and put new money on your new booking that has a new booking number.
5. Shore excursions--The company line is book through the cruiseline for safety. It is true the ship will wait for you if your excursion gets held up, but I think you can get better deals and better, less crowded excursions by looking online (cruisecritic.com is a great resource) and arranging them yourself.
All this is for Royal Caribbean International only, but would probably be true for Celebrity also. I know it isn't for other cruiselines--my dad usually goes Holland America, and they do allow discounting, making travel agents the way to go with that line.
TenerifeSharon
Senior Member
posted: Jan. 15, 2007 @ 12:48p
Although Royal Caribbean and Celebrity (same "mother" company) don't allow discounting, a good agent can usually offer you some good "perks" - onboard credit, travel insurance, wine, specialty restaurant voucher or something else etc. Naturally, for a 3 day cruise, you can't expect much in the way of amenities because they are not making much of a commission.
When you've found a cruise you're thinking about booking, go to www.cruisecompete.com Once you've put in the information for your selected cruise, agents will compete for your business by making the best offer they can. You're anonymous to them, so you won't be hounded to make a decision. The service costs you nothing and it's a great way to find the best price.
We've used this service several times. If nothing else, you can decide if you have already booked for the best possible price and none of the offers is better than what you already have.
Happy cruising!
Skipping 82 Messages...
kiwistar
Member
posted: May. 6, 2009 @ 6:49p
The quote CruiseCompete gave is $60 higher than what I found online for a 4 night cruise, Can these agents still compete with online search service?
Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.
Members of our community may attach files to a post in accordance with the User Agreement. FatWallet is not responsible for the content, accuracy, completeness or validity of any information contained in any attached file. Files have *not* been scanned for viruses. Be especially wary of Excel files which may contain malicious content.
