tim_london0

And I find that comparison quite astonishing, on a rate of 1-10 as to the impossibility of doing those things for yourself, those alternative things rate a 9 or a 10. the need for a TA to book a package holiday plus (possible) air connections rate a 1. Obviously, if I am booking a bespoke package of individual ground arrangements then using a TA is helpful (though I have to say that my being able to find one who will do this much below luxury level has proved difficult), but we are not discussing that scenario here.

Quite, but I didn't ask why should one not be using a TA that has been well recommend to them. I asked, why do people (here) think that it's normal for others to have just gone and booked this holiday though an everyday TA. Most of which are just resellers of bucket and spade holiday from a brochure. Most people don't have a recommendation for a great TA. The just respond to advertising campaigns from majors brands (such as still exist)

Perhaps not, but at least they only had one company to deal with

Then you were lucky. Tens of thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands) of people found out that having a TA in the loop was bad news when Covid caused their holiday/flight to be cancelled and operators decided to try to fob everyone off with deferred refunds. Tying to resist this was a game of TA saying "nothing to do with us, complain to the operator", and the operator saying "your contract is with the TA contact them", back to stage 1 ... rinse and repeat.

what stress?, it's fun self booking 😀 and why would I have a problem? one of my own making, worst case as I've only paid a small deposit I can walk away one of the cruise company's making: as was proven during Covid having a TA in chain can actually make that worse for customers.

until the TA goes bust, half way through the process of booking your holiday (and yes, as has already been said the money should be protected by some bonded scheme or whatever, but all that gets you is your money back, not your promised holiday)

Hm, I haven't actually got as far as the "pay now" button, but a trial booking of excursions seems to work for my cruise My final balance isn't due for another 3 months

worked for a company once who had engaged a corporate travel consultant for their travel needs. they were flipping useless, both at working out the best routing and at getting the best deal. They (seemingly) chose to book with companies that gave them the best commission.

Only for the return of monies paid No-one at your CC will run around trying to find you an alternative holiday for the one that you have lost.

Yes I'm confused by the number of people who think that using a TA to book this type of travel is normal. It's just so trivially easy to book your cruise cabin online, even when they operate in a different country (apologies to OP, this comment isn't aimed at you)

I don't see why a TA can't create a package with rental cars. Though many people wouldn't see the requirement to drive a self drive car for 4 weeks as even coming close to replacement for a cruise. As to AirB&B, I think you'll find that it's not all what it's cracked up to be. It's routinely no longer cheaper than a hotel nor an immersive experience with a host. If I were putting together a tour of major cities in Europe, I'd be sticking with booking mid range international hotel chains

I think this is pretty standard for the industry When cruises used to be the almost exclusive preserve of the "nearly dead", cruise companies used to make quite a bit of money from people who booked a cruise 18 months ahead and then never confirmed the booking because there were, um, I think you can guess. They didn't follow this up, it tends to be destressing for the individual's relatives.

Almost certainly. Recently been to Guam and immigration just looks like part of the US. The Americans on our tour just walked though the "fast track" section with their pre-checked passports, and the rest of us had to queue for an hour.

wow so you are saying that they make you wait 8 hours before you can get off at the first (US) port of call to check your ESTA. meaning that effectively you don't get to see that destination at all. That's disgusting why can't they do that during the previous At Sea day? first port of call is San Juan. Everything that a first time visitor might want to see is walking distance from the dock. Why would I want to book a tour?

OK though there is no US immigration that might waste a day. The connecting flight is a Thomson flight to Barbados. There is, however, 2 US Dominions (or whatever they call them) on the trip which require an ESTA (yes I do have one) which someone will need to check and record. Possibly even with the finger print confirmation.

I'm on Marella Discovery - Tropical Shores/Exotic Islands next year - 12 ports in 14 days. I've been told that it's normal for a cruise ship to hold my passport for such trips and that they will deal with immigration requirements at each port. Is it usual for Caribbean island countries to stamp passports in this circumstance or do they just rely upon the ship holding my passport as "security" and not bother? As per title, how many free pages am I likely to need before embarking upon this trip - some number close to 0, or some number close to 12? thanks tim

but you might miss a port due to being confined to cabin with Covid (or whatever) BTDTGTTS. - And I did have missed port cover on my insurance, but didn't know that until it was too late to claim 😞

I'm booked on VISION OF THE SEAS next June. I can't say that I booked it because of the ship, I booked it because of the set of destinations. I haven't got a clue what I am going to find when I get on the ship - is it older traditional cruising style or one of those new family oriented mega ships with a theme park plonked on top? I have no idea. And I'm not going to check either. For me, it's just a floating hotel room that enable me to visit a couple of destinations where hotels costs mega bucks which alone would cost more than I have paid for the cruise. Just giving you a view point from a different type of customer

Sorry to reopen this so late 🙂 I booked a solo cabin on a Marella cruise for next Feb, on 12 months notice If I go back now there is still availability in that cabin class for 2, but not if you want to book as a single. I agree it's outrageous, but it seems everybody does it.

I gave up coming back to this post to check for replies and I seem to have missed notifications of a reply but I haven't got a clue what you are trying to say here

Sorry to reopen this but don't people target destinations rather than ships? I'm personally looking for a cruise around PNG, and so far the choice seems to be P&O or P&O (or a ridiculously expensive option with Silver Cloud). If people really have this downer on specify shipping lines, where is it that I can upgrade to a better cruise option and still visit my desired destination? (that's rhetorical BTW)

I have booked an extra day at each end of the trip. Otherwise too much fapping about trying to re-arrange things if a flight is cancelled (or less likely, the ship docks late), I always pay an extra $100 or so for a hotel to avoid the complete loss of a $3000 holiday (air fare included, though I suppose I could make use of the time doing something else if I miss the boat.) I have investigated airport shuttle to hotels, that is not an issue. The availability of hotel shuttles to the port is more interesting and something that I hadn't thought of. Though IME if a hotel's listing says "shuttle (chargeable)" that usually means that the desk will call you a taxi (a service which every hotel in the world will offer you). Oh Yes. I have a 5:15 dining time (wait listed). But I just don't like sitting down waiting 30 minutes per course for my meal to be served. I'm also a fussy eater, so at a buffet (even one that has a server behind the counter) I can easily say, skip the portion of X and give me a double portion of Y instead, awkward doing that for every menu item on a sit down meal. And I'm really fussy about my eggs (white 100% cooked, yoke still soft). Never once has an American hotel provided me with that (I don't know why they find it so hard, I can do it myself and I'm not a trained chef). If the fried eggs don't look good, I'll have an omelette. But I need to watch the chef at work before I decide. Oh and if the deserts are really yummy, I'll have 2 or 3 each day 🙂 You are right about the excursions. Even 9 months out some are showing as "only 5 places left". Fortunately, I have no interest in going to the special "adults only" party at CocoCay- I'll stick with whatever I can do walking around for free at that location, thank you very much! I booked though the American website. I don't think it even asked me for an address. It did ask for a country, and provided UK as an option, but still wanted a zip code. It didn't complain when I left that bit blank. Finally, this is for next year's season I have plenty of time to get all the answers that I need. Just doing it now, because I don't always have the free time to ask.

OK, Thank's peeps Windjammer Buffet it is then. As to the other points. I booked direct with the US website, getting a special deal that was $200 less than one of the discount cruise resellers (that I don't think I'm supposed to name here) was offering me. But that showed me nothing about anything extra that I might like to add to my booking. No request for my preferred dining time in the main restaurant (I don't have one because I don't like my meals to be an "event", even on more fancy cruises - and I'm sure that these Bermuda/Bahamas cruises don't fit into that category), no info about how any tipping will be collected, no info about how I might book the connecting transfer from the airport (yes, I would like that please) only a link to where I might like to book a connecting flight, which varied from "sorry we cannot find you a connection from that airport (LHR)", to an offer at $4500 - I looked in vain for any suggestion that might be a first class fare and then gave up with that. (I have self booked BA Premium Economy at £1200, but that leaves me waiting at BWI - I'm sure there's a taxi option). I later discovered that I could have booked the same thing on the UK website, paying in pounds at a fair conversion rate. Oh well, will know that for next time (if there is one).

So, I've just booked me on the 9 night Bermuda & Perfect Day cruise on Vision of the Seas and I can't find a single thing, on the web page, within my booking confirmation mails, telling me what dining options are included there are upgrade packages available for speciality dining at the Plan my Cruise page, but as a solo traveller, I'm not interested in that Can someone tell me what is it that's available as standard? Or am I going to starve all week 🙂 Thanks tim

Oh Wow, thanks' for so much information. Tuk Tuks, I hadn't thought of that. Though even $30 for an hour sounds like too much, or thinking in a philanthropic way giving someone a tiny windfall is a nice gesture. I have 2 other tours to Manila scheduled within the next year (I didn't plan it like, that it just happened) and they are going to take me (hopefully in a Van) around Intramuros and Chinatown, and even going to the American Cemetery. So I am looking for off the beaten track stuff to do on this visit. And the only thing I can find is the Bamboo Organ, but that way too far to walk, or a complicated bus journey, so the Tuk Tuk would be best. Oh well I have plenty of time to plan (and a prior visit to help me)