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Topic: How Do You Book Your Cruise?

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 12-29-1999 10:07 PM

Paddy’s post on Dec. 22 – Fly Cruises – prompts the following -
We've seen a many great cruise deals departing from US ports - trouble is we live in Toronto. Airfare deals NEVER coincide with cruise deals – to get a really good airfare we need minimum 21 days (on average) lead time. Seems the only people who benefit are Americans living more or less next door to cruise departure ports.
Don't know how 'sell off/deal' prices are quoted in the U.K - ours are usually in U.S. Dollars and do NOT include Port and other Taxes. Air, arranged by the Line, is an option, so too are transfers between airport and ship. Added up and converted (approximately $1.50 CDN. for every U.S. Dollar) plus full price air (CDN$), it's seldom a great deal.
It should be noted that I am talking about bookings made directly with a Cruise Line, through a Travel Agency. Most cruise Lines, realizing the value of Travel Agents, do not accept bookings directly from passengers i.e. Carnival, Cunard, HAL, NCL, Princess, RCL,. etc.
Many Agencies make group bookings for 16/18 or more passengers travelling together. The Agency receives a discount from the Line which may or may not be passed on to the group – such offers normally include all Taxes, air and transfers between airport and embarkation point. Then we have the Wholesalers, (Sunquest, Air Canada, Encore to name a few) who contract with the Cruise Line(s) to sell X number of cabins on a particular ship(s) for the season. The Wholesaler obviously has discounted prices for offer to Travel Agents for sale to it’s clients. Again, Taxes and air are included in the quoted price. Transfers may or may not be included.
Personally, having studied the various brochures, we book with an Agent for a specific Line, requesting specific cabin and location – usually we take the Line’s air – particularly in winter - never sure there won’t be a bad snow/ice storm and consequent flight delays – if the Line books your air, it’s going to wait for you or arrangements will be made to fly you to the first port. Book you own air - you’re on your own! Some, but not all, travel insurance policies include ‘catch up’ costs!
Would be interesting to hear how others go about it.

The best to all for 2000 - happy cruising!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 12-30-1999 08:29 PM

In full agreement with you Kas. We don't want this forum to become an advertising venue for the agents or companies.

Green to answer your question I book through an agent who has certainly done me no wrong in the past. She has worked every angle for me and mine and I muchly appreciate her efforts.

I must admit though that some of the advertised deals are not necessarily that great a deal. As you say when you add in the extras $$$.

Gocrusinfolks:-)

[This message has been edited by CTrail (edited 12-30-1999).]

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Jelllybean
First Class Passenger
Member # 992

posted 01-09-2000 12:11 PM

We are from Toronto, too. We faced the same situation of being north of the border and different set of constraints when we book our cruises.

Our first cruise(we have only two cruises on our belt), we booked through a cruise specialist recommended by our friens. The agent is very good and helpful. The price is reasonable.

For our second cruise, I went on an extensive research and found that only few cruise lines advertise last minute deals in Canada(Sunquest,Bolero,Carnival). Also, accroding to those whom we met on our first cruise, their last minute special comes in only 2 weeks prior to sailing(This was an RCCL sailing). Let's say if we catch the wind of it, it's not really possible to book,buy air, pack, and give reasonable notice for vacation in order to go.

This is how we book in order to save(we could only afford what is cheapest, but we are choosy as well):

- Try to book around as early as possible,(5 month ahead is not too early)
- Know what we want on the cruise, what's more important to us? Food? Ship? Entertainment? Port of Calls? Relaxation or shopping for goodies? Length of travel? Time of year? Cabins?
- Be flexible around few different dates so we have few prices to consider: do we want to spend more for the date/trip we wanted?
- Get prices that includes everything(cruise+port charge+ air+ taxes). Ask for Travel agent's advise on the Air option if above expected range. Our agent are very helpful and up front with us, that is a plus for us.

About the Air that offered by the Cruise line, I heard mix opions. For peace of mind, we bought them from the cruise line. However, the usual suggestion of booking you own air is to arrive at least a day early to avoid any possible delay. Two points of view: (1)unless it justify saving after hotel cost, it would not be worth it;(2)nothing beats the comfort of direct flight. So, it is a give-and-take situation.

One last observation, the sell-off deals that I see(good discount, that is)in Toronto paper/travel agents are from Sunquest ships, Bolero, and few Carnival ships.

I am definitely no expert. So if anyone could give any tips. I am looking forward to learn from them. I hope this at least helped.

Posts: 20 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Phil
First Class Passenger
Member # 983

posted 01-09-2000 02:12 PM

You are looking at apples and oranges when you are looking at the Bolero, Sundream etc. They are sold by Sunquest but run by Airtours out of the UK. If you like RCI ships and those quality ships you would not be happy with Sunquest ships (the Sunbird is OK though). You really do have to know what you are buying but again your Travel Agent will book those last minute ones as you cannot go directly to Sunquest and if you godirectly to Carnival it will be in US $.

Posts: 32 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 01-09-2000 07:43 PM

Jelllybean (Phil - perhaps I am misunderstanding you) - Sundream, Sunbird and Carousel cruises are all bookable in Toronto - I have the Sunquest - all-inclusives - 1999-2000 brochure in front of me - listings run through until April 2000. There's also information on Alaska and the Mediterranean. Category and rate details are not shown - guess you get those from your Travel Agent. I also have a mini-brochure on Specialty Transatlantic Cruises, also Sunquest.
Early booking discounts are mentioned. Just noticed that deck plans, terms and conditions are in the Sunquest Winter 1999-2000 Cruise Brochure which I don't have.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Phil
First Class Passenger
Member # 983

posted 01-09-2000 09:21 PM

Yes you did misunderstand me, sorry. We sell a lot of Sunquest. What I was saying is that Airtours owns Sunquest here in Canada and Airtours is a British Company.

Posts: 32 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Jelllybean
First Class Passenger
Member # 992

posted 01-12-2000 07:33 PM

I think I am trying to say is that: for last minute cruise specials, I have only seen those of Sunquest,the Ship Bolero, and few Carnival ships.... rarely RCCL or Princess or NCL. In my mind, to book a cruise & being Canadian, being early is the best bet.

Posts: 20 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

VOYAGER
First Class Passenger
Member # 1016

posted 01-16-2000 11:08 PM

I have just a few things to add to this topic...first of all, there are cruise lines out there who do not cater at all to direct bookers, therefore the incentive type upgrades and rates can usually be obtained through a travel agent. Second of all, it is good to book the air with the cruise line but BE SURE to request a deviation if you want a specific itinerary on your air because it is basically a toss up on what the cruise lines have available as far as air assignments....and once the air is assigned, you are stuck with it. It's best to pay a little more for what you want than to be subject to some charter,red eye flight.
And usually if you purchase air with the cruise line, all your transportation to and from the ship is provided.
And the third thing...again about the air. The cruise lines only do air as a COURTESY to its passengers. Therefore, if the airline cancels or delays a flight, it is the airlines responsibilty to get you to the next port of call.(regardless of whether you booked air with the cruise lines or not)
Believe me as I have been stuck in some horrendous situations in which I learned the hard way!

Posts: 24 | From: Wichita KS | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 01-16-2000 11:18 PM

In Canada a lot of the cruises ie Celebrity and RCI to name a couple are booked through wholesalers and can be booked cruise only or with air. We book Air Canadia Vacations where possible as then the air is through a scheduled airline Air Canada. I think things are a little different in Canada due to the fact of us not always dealing direct. However, we still get all the special offers.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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