Suggestions on Booking a Cruise
Aug 5th, 2011, 09:33 AM
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Suggestions on Booking a Cruise
We are a family of four considering a cruise for June 2012. DH and I have cruised in '94 and '97 (before we had kids). We booked through a travel agent for those sailings. Now that the internet makes information so accessible, are we better off to book a cruise ourselves directly with the cruise line? Does it matter if we do it online vs. over the phone with a cruise line rep?
I had a rep from the line call me earlier in the week. She said I would be better off booking with her over the phone vs online because she can see cabin availability that I can't. After doing some research that doesn't seem to be the case.
Thoughts??
I had a rep from the line call me earlier in the week. She said I would be better off booking with her over the phone vs online because she can see cabin availability that I can't. After doing some research that doesn't seem to be the case.
Thoughts??
Aug 5th, 2011, 09:40 AM
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If you aren't familiar with the lay of the land in cruising these days, I think you're better off working with a good travel agent (not some discount booking house but a real travel agent who is a cruise specialist).
It's not that you can't do it yourself. I just booked a cruise for myself and my family a few weeks ago and was able to see the ship diagram and choose my cabin directly on the online agency web site. But I knew exactly what I wanted and had already done the research. A travel agent can help you do that and doesn't charge a fee since cruise lines still pay commissions.
You can sometimes get a better deal by booking a cabin category guarantee on a discount booking engine (and you can certainly get some onboard credits by going through specific agencies), but if you don't know what you want, an agent can really help you narrow down your list.
It's not that you can't do it yourself. I just booked a cruise for myself and my family a few weeks ago and was able to see the ship diagram and choose my cabin directly on the online agency web site. But I knew exactly what I wanted and had already done the research. A travel agent can help you do that and doesn't charge a fee since cruise lines still pay commissions.
You can sometimes get a better deal by booking a cabin category guarantee on a discount booking engine (and you can certainly get some onboard credits by going through specific agencies), but if you don't know what you want, an agent can really help you narrow down your list.
Aug 5th, 2011, 09:48 AM
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It depends on what makes you more comfortable. If you are one to second guess things, go with the travel agent for the reasons Doug cited. If you plan on booking one cabin for the four of you, it might be best if you do it thru a travel agent; my daughter and I and a family of four (mom, dad, two teenage boys) went on a cruise. The mom in family of four booked a room that said "sleeps four." Well, it did..........it had two twin beds up against each wall with two lumpy trundles that pulled out between them, taking up most of the floor space in a cabin that was small to begin with. She had envisioned a double bed and fold out bunks. A travel agent would be better able to tell you the configuration of the cabin and whether it would work for you and your family.
Aug 5th, 2011, 09:57 AM
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We have decided on an interior room with 2 uppers. I have done quite a bit of homework and the cabins that have this room layout are coming up as cabin options on the cruise line website. So things seem to match up.
I am not comfortable with discounted booking engines/houses. I am thinking more along the lines of the agent we used way back when or through our travel membership club.
Thanks for the input!
I am not comfortable with discounted booking engines/houses. I am thinking more along the lines of the agent we used way back when or through our travel membership club.
Thanks for the input!
Aug 5th, 2011, 10:47 AM
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A few years ago, on the advice of someone on this board, I think, I got a quotation from the cruise company I selected and posted it on cruisecompete.com. In 48 hours I got several competing bids from cruise specialist travel agencies at much lower cost than quoted by the cruise company. I picked the one that had the best combination of price and onboard credits, and have used them ever since. There is no obligation to accept any bid, and you might find yourself saving some money.
Aug 5th, 2011, 03:42 PM
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I always book with the cruise line (didn't find a trusted agent, and heard too many horror stories) and once the website didn't work properly, I called the cruise line, and they offered me a cabin that looked taken on the website.
So that CSR may be right!
Doesn't matter how you make the reservation, watch the prices, and if they go down before the full payment date, make them send you another invoice for reduced amount.
So that CSR may be right!
Doesn't matter how you make the reservation, watch the prices, and if they go down before the full payment date, make them send you another invoice for reduced amount.
Aug 6th, 2011, 01:16 PM
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www.cruisecritic.com recent ship reviews
Aug 6th, 2011, 01:18 PM
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vacationstogo.com priceline.com 70% off for me recently
the Legend Balcony Carnival 1 week $449 priceline.com
Costa out of Venice $299 priceline.com
Hard to beat those prices can book online also they have
an agent who is very nice if you need help no comission.
the Legend Balcony Carnival 1 week $449 priceline.com
Costa out of Venice $299 priceline.com
Hard to beat those prices can book online also they have
an agent who is very nice if you need help no comission.
Aug 8th, 2011, 10:21 AM
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Second vote for http://www.CruiseCompete.com It's rare that I don't get the best price from one of the agencies that quotes through the site. I also like that you can see user reviews of the agencies before you contact them.
Aug 12th, 2011, 12:41 PM
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All I can say is support your local business. When you do all your buisness online, you will find that there will be lots of unemployment at your local community.
If everyone buys on line, who shops at your local store or use the local services?
If everyone buys on line, who shops at your local store or use the local services?
Aug 15th, 2011, 05:17 AM
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"All I can say is support your local business. When you do all your buisness online, you will find that there will be lots of unemployment at your local community."
Even if the price is substantially higher than the internet??
Even if the price is substantially higher than the internet??
Aug 16th, 2011, 04:16 PM
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Substaintially higher is in the eye of the beholder. For some people, they will drive all around town to save $1, without thinking the cost of time and gas. For others, $1000 is nothing. You can always shop around or ask the local business to match or coem clsoe to the price you get on line.
My point is you get what you paid for. There are consequences that the consumer may not be aware of. The inetrnet companies are cheaper because a lot of them work from home, no rent to pay and probably doesn't pay any tax or business license. They may even be overseas. If you have a store front, it cost money and so they will have to charge more.
Here is an example for you. If everyone buys from ebay and Amazon, nobody buy things from the local stores. The local stores closes. The people are unemployed, they have no income, they have no money to spend. No applicances, no cars, no food, nothing! so it is like a domino, one after another. A lot of the internet stores are not even in this country. They jsut"pretend" or trick you into thinking that they are.
I ordered a battery on-line as it was half the price. It was shipped from overseas. It wasn't the "real" battery, it was a clone. It didn't work as advertised. That was only one small example.
The moral is either spend extra money to support your local community now or give money later for food bank and soup kitchens to support the people who lost their jobs because no one buy things from the local stores any more.
My point is you get what you paid for. There are consequences that the consumer may not be aware of. The inetrnet companies are cheaper because a lot of them work from home, no rent to pay and probably doesn't pay any tax or business license. They may even be overseas. If you have a store front, it cost money and so they will have to charge more.
Here is an example for you. If everyone buys from ebay and Amazon, nobody buy things from the local stores. The local stores closes. The people are unemployed, they have no income, they have no money to spend. No applicances, no cars, no food, nothing! so it is like a domino, one after another. A lot of the internet stores are not even in this country. They jsut"pretend" or trick you into thinking that they are.
I ordered a battery on-line as it was half the price. It was shipped from overseas. It wasn't the "real" battery, it was a clone. It didn't work as advertised. That was only one small example.
The moral is either spend extra money to support your local community now or give money later for food bank and soup kitchens to support the people who lost their jobs because no one buy things from the local stores any more.
Aug 23rd, 2011, 07:43 PM
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Have to disagree with you on this one, Eschew. Buy your cruise from whoever best meets your needs. If you need to meet with someone face-to-face and have them do all of your research for you, by all means pay the extra money and book with a local travel agent who can provide that service. On the other hand, if you can do your own research online and all you need is someone to put the booking through for you, it's foolish to waste your hard-earned money on services you don't need.
Every business is local to some community. Even if that community is "not even in this country," the people living there have families to take care of. Would you deny these people the right to compete based on the merits of the products/services they can provide? Alternatively, would you have a start-up in your own town fail because people in the next state over won't buy their products because they're not local (even though they're better)?
The companies that meet their customers' needs most efficiently survive; those that don't go out of business. If you don't think that's a good thing, please tell me what would we do with all of the buggy whips, VHS players, and bell-bottom pants that would continue to be manufactured today. Or tell me who would take delivery from all milkmen--and even ice men--still plying their routes, looking for customers?
Every business is local to some community. Even if that community is "not even in this country," the people living there have families to take care of. Would you deny these people the right to compete based on the merits of the products/services they can provide? Alternatively, would you have a start-up in your own town fail because people in the next state over won't buy their products because they're not local (even though they're better)?
The companies that meet their customers' needs most efficiently survive; those that don't go out of business. If you don't think that's a good thing, please tell me what would we do with all of the buggy whips, VHS players, and bell-bottom pants that would continue to be manufactured today. Or tell me who would take delivery from all milkmen--and even ice men--still plying their routes, looking for customers?
Aug 24th, 2011, 12:41 AM
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Well Triathlete, everyone is entiled to their opinions and I won't say you are wrong or right, and we can agree to disagree.
When all the out-sourcing is done and when all the jobs left this country as our infra-structure is more expensive, the rent is higher, the wages is higher, the cost and standard of living is higher and we can no longer compete with other countries (US cars are built in Mexico, iPhone & iPad is made in China, our toys, our clothes are made elsewhere etc etc)
I am not talking about obsolete products like VCR, I guess I am talking about obsolete people (who demand too high a wage to live on and support the family?) and the way we do our business (stores vs internet), the higher taxes, health care cost and so on.
The people who operates from home through the internet without having to pay a store front (rent) is having a competitive advantage to the people who have to pay rent, so they should be cheaper - by lots; but they are not. They are just cheaper by a bit to get the business and did not really pass on all the savings.
Most of the phone support (for techs) are in India and other countries as their labor is cheaper. So I guess we are the VCR and they are the Blue-Ray DVDs? I am not against people making a fair living. I am just suggesting to people that we should look at the bigger picture and support you local businesses. If you have not been to Detroit laterly, whole neghiborhood (subdisvison) disappeared as people lost jobs and then the houses. Businesses are all boarded up and it is virtually a ghost town.
I can see where you are coming from. Those people who "gouge" and charge a higher price and offer poor service should not survivie regardless where they are from (even if they are from my community).
When all the out-sourcing is done and when all the jobs left this country as our infra-structure is more expensive, the rent is higher, the wages is higher, the cost and standard of living is higher and we can no longer compete with other countries (US cars are built in Mexico, iPhone & iPad is made in China, our toys, our clothes are made elsewhere etc etc)
I am not talking about obsolete products like VCR, I guess I am talking about obsolete people (who demand too high a wage to live on and support the family?) and the way we do our business (stores vs internet), the higher taxes, health care cost and so on.
The people who operates from home through the internet without having to pay a store front (rent) is having a competitive advantage to the people who have to pay rent, so they should be cheaper - by lots; but they are not. They are just cheaper by a bit to get the business and did not really pass on all the savings.
Most of the phone support (for techs) are in India and other countries as their labor is cheaper. So I guess we are the VCR and they are the Blue-Ray DVDs? I am not against people making a fair living. I am just suggesting to people that we should look at the bigger picture and support you local businesses. If you have not been to Detroit laterly, whole neghiborhood (subdisvison) disappeared as people lost jobs and then the houses. Businesses are all boarded up and it is virtually a ghost town.
I can see where you are coming from. Those people who "gouge" and charge a higher price and offer poor service should not survivie regardless where they are from (even if they are from my community).
Aug 24th, 2011, 06:00 AM
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E:
I appreciate the thoughtful response. So many people just have knee-jerk views of the world--no surprise to me that you've thought things through and have a cogent world view, and I respect you for it.
A couple of points to ponder, and I'll let this go.
1. The US still leads the world in manufacturing output. With 5% of the world population, we make 20% of the hard goods. While we will probably lose this lead to China in the years to come, I think it's worth pointing out a) China has a population 4 times our size and b) hard goods have a smaller and smaller share of the overall value produced in an increasingly technology-based "intellectual property" world. As this realm is is where we have our largest advantages, this is where we are and should be moving.
Yes, we have some manufacturing cost disadvantages--largely due to the fact that we expect Americans to make more than $300 month. But these are outweighed by a huge number of infrastruture, educational, and cultural advantages. The more flexible we remain and the more we focus on innovation--not trying to preserve jobs and/or industries we should let go--we'll have a prosperous future. I understand that means a lot of short-term pain for a lot of people, but the various forms of protectionism cause more pain in the long run than free trade.
2. Yep, Detroit is a wreck, but I think it proves rather than disproves my point, which is: the market needs to be allowed to work without interference. If prices, wages, and product mix are dictated by the market and not unions/government; and bad companies are allowed to fail and aren't bailed out, we'll have better results long-term. (I realize I'm putting words in your mouth to some extent--sorry about that. I see that you're advocating choice as a method rather than coersion, but I see it as part and parcel of the same philosophy).
3. If I can save $100-$400 on my cruise (some price, some onboard credits) I'm pretty happy. How the agent delivers that price/service isn't my concern. If they're easy to reach/communicate with, get me the best rates and are available when I need them, it doesn't matter to me if they answer the phone in the penthouse suite of the Plaza or a tar-paper shack. That said, I've never dealt with a travel agent that was overseas.
I did once have problems with Indian customer service for Travelocity (a hotel reservation, not a cruise). Interestingly, it was a cultural, not a language issue (her English was probably better than mine!). Got to a hotel and the place was a pit--smelled bad, moldy. When I related this to the service rep., she just didn't get why that was a stinky roo was a problem that merited a refund. To Travelocity's credit, a short fax to their CEO's office in Texas got me my refund with no questions asked.
Anyway, thanks for the discussion, and have a great day!
I appreciate the thoughtful response. So many people just have knee-jerk views of the world--no surprise to me that you've thought things through and have a cogent world view, and I respect you for it.
A couple of points to ponder, and I'll let this go.
1. The US still leads the world in manufacturing output. With 5% of the world population, we make 20% of the hard goods. While we will probably lose this lead to China in the years to come, I think it's worth pointing out a) China has a population 4 times our size and b) hard goods have a smaller and smaller share of the overall value produced in an increasingly technology-based "intellectual property" world. As this realm is is where we have our largest advantages, this is where we are and should be moving.
Yes, we have some manufacturing cost disadvantages--largely due to the fact that we expect Americans to make more than $300 month. But these are outweighed by a huge number of infrastruture, educational, and cultural advantages. The more flexible we remain and the more we focus on innovation--not trying to preserve jobs and/or industries we should let go--we'll have a prosperous future. I understand that means a lot of short-term pain for a lot of people, but the various forms of protectionism cause more pain in the long run than free trade.
2. Yep, Detroit is a wreck, but I think it proves rather than disproves my point, which is: the market needs to be allowed to work without interference. If prices, wages, and product mix are dictated by the market and not unions/government; and bad companies are allowed to fail and aren't bailed out, we'll have better results long-term. (I realize I'm putting words in your mouth to some extent--sorry about that. I see that you're advocating choice as a method rather than coersion, but I see it as part and parcel of the same philosophy).
3. If I can save $100-$400 on my cruise (some price, some onboard credits) I'm pretty happy. How the agent delivers that price/service isn't my concern. If they're easy to reach/communicate with, get me the best rates and are available when I need them, it doesn't matter to me if they answer the phone in the penthouse suite of the Plaza or a tar-paper shack. That said, I've never dealt with a travel agent that was overseas.
I did once have problems with Indian customer service for Travelocity (a hotel reservation, not a cruise). Interestingly, it was a cultural, not a language issue (her English was probably better than mine!). Got to a hotel and the place was a pit--smelled bad, moldy. When I related this to the service rep., she just didn't get why that was a stinky roo was a problem that merited a refund. To Travelocity's credit, a short fax to their CEO's office in Texas got me my refund with no questions asked.
Anyway, thanks for the discussion, and have a great day!
Aug 24th, 2011, 06:57 AM
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This whole thing seems to be about price. A local agent that you can meet with, whose home phone number you have, offers a lot of comfort. Things happen - cancelled flights, missed ships, illness. It helps to have someone that you can reliably turn to. What does it matter to save a couple hundred dollars when you are spending eight to ten thousand for a cruise?
Aug 24th, 2011, 03:23 PM
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Triathlete, points well taken. A fair amount of our economy is now "service" based. Intellectual property, yes, but still a much smaller percentage incomparison. We make the expansive stuff (planes trains etc) and that's why the % is higher but took less less people to build and lower employment. The servioce sector is the largest employer. Fast food joints provide over 100 million jobs, at mimimum pay.
At any rate, you get my points and I get yours. Bad company should be allowed to failed. I agree whole-heartedly. There is also greed involved ... thanks for the open discussion and hope to cross path with you and have a beer and shoot the breeze one of these day. Wherever you may go, I hope you find happiness.
Aristotle, it is not about money. It is about the economy and support your local community. I guess at the end of the day, it boils down to money. I know people who will drives hours (and spend lots of $ on gas) to save a few bucks. It is called penny wise and dollar stupid.
At any rate, you get my points and I get yours. Bad company should be allowed to failed. I agree whole-heartedly. There is also greed involved ... thanks for the open discussion and hope to cross path with you and have a beer and shoot the breeze one of these day. Wherever you may go, I hope you find happiness.
Aristotle, it is not about money. It is about the economy and support your local community. I guess at the end of the day, it boils down to money. I know people who will drives hours (and spend lots of $ on gas) to save a few bucks. It is called penny wise and dollar stupid.
Aug 24th, 2011, 03:45 PM
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E: You are a class act, my friend. The internet would be a different world if more people were like you.
Full disclosure, there are times when I do spend more to support a local business--my local bike shop come to mind. An internet bike superstore can sell me cheap accessories, but they can't tune my bike, so I do pay extra to buy local in that case--point for you on that one.
Aristotle:
You're right: I definitely check reviews before booking to get confidence that the agency will be there if I have a problem. I wouldn't advise anyone to do otherwise.
But just because you find a travel agent online doesn't mean you can't reach them easily if you have a problem. I would wager that the mid-sized agencies that I find have the best rates are probably more accessible than a small, local agency as they are staffed more hours. They have better rates because they do more business with the cruise lines, and as such they tend to have more pull/experience dealing with them should problems arise. As they depend on online business, they're also very aware that bad service leads to bad online reviews which cost them a lot of money which works to the customer's advantage as well. Even the folks I've dealt with who work from home have host agencies you can contact directly in an emergency if you can't reach your agent.
Finally, I usually find that I can save 10%-12% shopping around online, so on your $8K-$10K cruise it's more like $800-$1,000 in savings/OBC than $100.
Happy cruising!
Full disclosure, there are times when I do spend more to support a local business--my local bike shop come to mind. An internet bike superstore can sell me cheap accessories, but they can't tune my bike, so I do pay extra to buy local in that case--point for you on that one.
Aristotle:
You're right: I definitely check reviews before booking to get confidence that the agency will be there if I have a problem. I wouldn't advise anyone to do otherwise.
But just because you find a travel agent online doesn't mean you can't reach them easily if you have a problem. I would wager that the mid-sized agencies that I find have the best rates are probably more accessible than a small, local agency as they are staffed more hours. They have better rates because they do more business with the cruise lines, and as such they tend to have more pull/experience dealing with them should problems arise. As they depend on online business, they're also very aware that bad service leads to bad online reviews which cost them a lot of money which works to the customer's advantage as well. Even the folks I've dealt with who work from home have host agencies you can contact directly in an emergency if you can't reach your agent.
Finally, I usually find that I can save 10%-12% shopping around online, so on your $8K-$10K cruise it's more like $800-$1,000 in savings/OBC than $100.
Happy cruising!
Aug 24th, 2011, 03:48 PM
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One quick comment. People on this board seem to be uniformly respectful and polite. My positive comments about Eschew in are in no way a slam on anyone else here. Was thinking about certain Facebook threads I've been sucked into.
But does anyone else remember the two guys who used to go at it tooth and nail on this board years ago? I think their names were Phil and Paul, and they would just rip into each other. It was very entertaining.
But does anyone else remember the two guys who used to go at it tooth and nail on this board years ago? I think their names were Phil and Paul, and they would just rip into each other. It was very entertaining.
