CC_user

Thanks a lot for the quick response. This is a second opinion I need to ensure that I am not biased by just money saving.  I 'll discuss this with my parents and see if they are comfortable with the Japanese  guided tour.

My parents is going on the Diamond Princess cruise  (Circle Japan Explorer, June 15 2019). Princess is offering same excursion with a big price difference between English Guided and Japanese Guided. For example is the Mt.Haguro and Zenpo-Ji Temple is $209,95  English Guided vs $129 Japanese Guided. I understand what you loose if you don't know the language. My parents only understand very basic English just enough to know how to get around (i.e. when to get on the bus and to get off). Any explanation during the tour will not mean much to them. If what I am paying for is just the transportation, I was wondering if I can just get them on the Japanese guided excursion. However I do worry about if the excursion really speaks zero English , what could happen ? I was wondering if anyone has joined Japanese Guide excursion , because they understand Japanese or in the same situation as me, to share their opinion and experience. 

That's a good point. But the agent I contacted told me that they have reserved some cabin at a lower rate, that's why they can quote me 650 instead of 719. But they some how make the tax higher to get money from me. I guess 'reserved cabin at lower price' is again not true.

Thanks for all the good advises. I am grad that I asked and found out that agent get their commission from the cruise line instead of assuming that it is normal that they charge us more. I'll call a few more agents to compare the price.

I know about the $13-15 gratuities which I know is not included in the quot. In this quot , I am obviously charged $71 more.which I thought is perhaps commission.

"A good travel agent does not charge you for the service, as they get a commission from the cruise line.". I need to call them to find out about this extra charge or I should just call another agent.

I am new and tried to get a good idea of how much is the cost of the cruise. For example I got an email from princess like this

7-day Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers

Between Vancouver, B.C. and Anchorage (Whittier) Per guest

Interior fares from

$719*CAD

*Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses of up to $260 CAD are additional.I am from Toronto Canada. So does it means the cost of the cruise is

719 + 260 (taxes, fees and port charge) = 979 CAD

I know that this does not include flight , transfers between Airport and port any any other on-board expenses or excursions. The reason I asked is I got a quote from a travel agent which looks like 650 for the cruise 400 for tax and the total is 1050. I know that they have to charge me for the service. Is that really 979 (if I book on the web site myself ) + 71 dollar service charge or There is actually other tax that I have to pay and their service charge is less than 71 dollar.

I and my wife will be arriving Chan May on Sep 12 and Nha Trang Vietnam the following day on the Royal Caribbean cruise. Just like to get some recommendations on what shoe excision I should take for the 2 ports. I've never been to Vietnam. So landscape, culture and history will be my preference. Anyone on the same cruise has join any tour other than the excursion offered by RB can share their thoughts would be greatly appreciated.