Cruise Discounters
 

Going on a cruise on Grand Princess next March. My question is: has anyone booked their cruise through a discounter? If so, was it a good experience? If booking now is there a good chance of being upgraded? I have heard that Cruise Value was good. I've got CruiseValue.com, i-cruise.com, cruise.com to check on. Any other ones anybody has used and has been happy with. Thanks for the help!

Hi Janice, <BR>Before you book, try Guy at Southbeach Cruises. I usually call at least 15-20 agents for quotes on a specific cruise, and Guy always blows everyone else out of the water. His service is very friendly and prompt, too.

I am on my 2nd cruise going with uniglobe.com. They gave me a great price on both my cruises. They weren't the cheapest at first on my 2nd cruise, but decided on them because of their great service on the first, and they ended up matching the lower price after all! Try em! <BR> <BR>steve

Thanks Elaine & Steve. I'm going to check on both of them.

I've used cruise.com and was very satisfied.

I booked a cruise through Cruise.com. Best cruise - and cheapest cruise - I ever took. Got a great deal on a <BR>transatlantic, Legio of the Seas, cruise. We bought a category D verandah. We loved the cabin. My wife almost <BR>told the purser when he called us that we were not interested in moving to another cabin. She assumed that he <BR>wanted to move us up one deck to a similar cabin. Fortunately I came back in time to suggest we at least see the <BR>cabin - it was one of the "theme" cabins - 750+ feet, forty feet away from the bridge. Don't believe that cruise.com <BR>had much to say about our upgrade, but lots of others had more "seniority" on the ship (one lady had been on <BR>around 100 RCCL cruises), and had used travel agents. <BR> <BR>I got interested in finding ouit how people got upgrades. Lots goes into it, but not one person I asked said that <BR>travel agents had that much influence with cruiselines. Of course, they might not have known - and I am inclined to <BR>believe that TA's in big firms will do more for customers who control lots of leisure funds. So a cruiser who also <BR>schedules all his/her firms travel, might be given more than a "solitary cruiser." <BR>What amany told me is that there are deals between the cruiselines and TA's to sell cabins with "guaranteed" two <BR>class upgrades - or two for one's. What has happened here is that the cruiseline gives the TA a lower rate for a <BR>cabin and instead of giving passengers the difference, they actually sell a higher category cabin, disguising it. So <BR>the category D cabin is advertised as a category F with a "free" two category upgrade. <BR> <BR>Check out the "freeness" of such offers by calling one of those .com companies and asking for the D cabin. Bet <BR>you will get a cheaper rate than the "free" offer of the traditional TA. How cruise.com explained it to me was that <BR>they "split the commission" and gave me back half in terms of a lower price. I saw all of the communication <BR>between RCCL and cruise.com. I believed them. <BR> <BR>That being said, this next cruise (Eastern Caribbean on the Zaandam) we are using a travel agent. She met <BR>cruise.com's price and discovered the AARP's bonus ($50 off each person) which actually beat cruise.com's <BR>price. <BR> <BR>I get angry at the arrogance of some TA's. Last year I told local travel agents of the cruise.com price - none would <BR>even come close to it because "they had all this service they were going to do." There may be some truth to that - <BR>but I was not asking for any service other than the transfer of money for tickets. I did all of the "servicing" my self <BR>- I figure out which cruise I want, make the plane reservations and pre and post stay reservations. I explain up <BR>front what I want the TA to do, and as was the case last year... succeed quite nicely. If they were going to do all <BR>that work, then perhaps it would be worth it. But how do they expect to stay in business if they ask for $1600 <BR>dollars to do no more than and hour's work when others will do the same thing for anywhere from 50% to 75% <BR>less?

Sorry for the odd way I registered but I don't want anyone to think I'm advertising as an agent. As to the upgrades,etc. I hate to admit it but we travel agents don't have much to do with what is offered on board. The agencies that work well with certain cruise lines do get better prices and some good incentives though. These may or may not be passed on to the consumer. Agents often cut their own commission to meet the prices offered by competitors. I have only been a TA for a little over a year and fortunately my clients have had some very "good luck" I've had two couples moved from a low guarantee to a suite for no apparent reason and one couple moved from the lowest inside to a balcony. One couple that booked an inside for their first cruise not only was moved to an oceanview but asked to dine at the Captain's Table. I have never been so lucky on any of my cruises. I'd love to take the credit but really can't so you might want to remember that when you're giving an agent credit for everything. Some will accept the credit anyway as will some of the large internet companies.

I have used cruises.com--not the same as cruise.com (also know as the travel co.) They have quoted excellent prices. Even if you've already booked, check out their web site for the really neat videos showing the interiors of the ships--including cabins.