booking directly through princess...

[m steve]

Book first w/ P and then when you get all the info and pricing, negotiate w/ your TA and you'll probably get a better deal plus you've now selected the cabin you want. No cost to transfer the reservation. My TA will give us $100 discount for doing this and often more.

[stretchcruz]

Like Toto, I was curious as well...checked one site and it beat your price for a higher category balcony, plus they were offering $75 shipboard credit.

 

When I've transferred a booking from Princess usually they just have me fax something saying I want to transfer it, I've never used a form, but maybe that has changed.

[BlueCat1105]

And I too, was curious. Two online sites were a couple hundred dollars more than Princess, where I also found the fare of $1099.

[Toto2Kansas]

And I too, was curious. Two online sites were a couple hundred dollars more than Princess, where I also found the fare of $1099.

 

Not all TA's or online sites discount. It is why it is impossible, unless you are checking a discount site, to beat the price. I would guess that only 20% or less of those sites actually discount. I have always said, when looking for a TA or Agency, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. ;)

[m steve]

so they often have big blocks of cabins committed so we get a better price.

[robgvic]

Thank you for the recommendation . Toto

[Sharke_boy]

A personal comment- These days it is so difficult to have an open discussion with folks about subjects that some may not agree with. I would like to say to all on this discussion thread..... THANKS!!! Everyone has contributed valuable insites and information.

 

We discoverd that it's best to do your homework on fares, that you need to mention your Captains Circle number whenever looking into a cruise, and to always pay with a Credit (not Debit) Card.

 

Whether you use a T/A or book direct-doesn;t really matter.. that's a personal decision! What matters is - we ALL are more informed consumers as a result of reading and contributing our insites- Like sharing a great T/A to someone... nicely done.

 

Last-Book a cruise (dosen't matter through who :)- go have some fun!

 

Thanks to all -

 

SHARKE-BOY!

[sultan_sfo]

But be a little careful to whom one gives the Captain Circle # if one plans to use or even have FCCs in your account. There have been instances when the on-line agency has used the FCC to place a hold when one only asked for a quote.

 

...

We discoverd that it's best to do your homework on fares, that you need to mention your Captains Circle number whenever looking into a cruise, and to always pay with a Credit (not Debit) Card.

...

!

[Coral]

But be a little careful to whom one gives the Captain Circle # if one plans to use or even have FCCs in your account. There have been instances when the on-line agency has used the FCC to place a hold when one only asked for a quote.

 

Unfortuantely - you do have to give someone your Capt Circle number to get an accurate quote. When speaking with them, just tell them you don't want a hold placed or to do a hold with out a deposit. Most of the time they can hold a cabin for a few days with out a deposit. Agents do holds (they shouldn't apply a FCC with out permission) to hold the rate for a few days while the client decides. Otherwise, 2 days later when someone decides to book the cruise, the cruise may have gone up in price if the agent didn't hold the rate.

[sunsetbeachgal]

Excellent point above by SultanSFO-For a cruise I recently took, I got a quote from an on line agency that had my CC on file from a prior booking...ended up deciding to use another TA, and when that TA called Princess to finalize the deal, was told that the prior agency had "used my Future Cruise Credit". It took a couple of calls back and forth, finally got the FCC released back. It was a hassle. Apparently it was a "flash promotion" and this is the way it works!

[Woobstr112G]

A personal comment- These days it is so difficult to have an open discussion with folks about subjects that some may not agree with. I would like to say to all on this discussion thread..... THANKS!!! Everyone has contributed valuable insites and information.

 

We discoverd that it's best to do your homework on fares, that you need to mention your Captains Circle number whenever looking into a cruise, and to always pay with a Credit (not Debit) Card.

 

Whether you use a T/A or book direct-doesn;t really matter.. that's a personal decision! What matters is - we ALL are more informed consumers as a result of reading and contributing our insites- Like sharing a great T/A to someone... nicely done.

 

Last-Book a cruise (dosen't matter through who :)- go have some fun!

 

Thanks to all -

 

SHARKE-BOY!

 

Well said.....:):):)

 

Bob

[Grumpy100]

We just booked the r/t Southampton on the Crown Princess for May-2011.

I looked on the Princess website and put my Captain circle number in and it discounted us $200/= #100 p/p. Then I started shopping around for big discount on-line travel agencies and everytime I called them I got lower and lower prices.

Finally settled with one on-line discount agency and they saved us over $1000 total on this cruise when compared to booking directly with Princess.

This travel agency does charge a $50 cancellation fee but will let you use it on up to a year if you rebook with them. There were two others that were within $50 of each other and would charge $100 cancellation fee if we would have to cancel the cruise. We booked with the agency that only that the $50 cancellation fee. I thought it was fair since they need to make some money for their services.

Plus when I did the booking on-line for the discount it showed up more if you called but they went ahead and gave me the booking on the internet price.

We even changed our booking once already and they have always been very quick to call us back within an hour. I am very pleased with them so far. I will let you know how it goes.

Shop around it pays.:):):)

[woodside_boomer]

I am new to cruises & trying to book my first time. Have decided on the specific cruise already (Princess Eastern Caribbean on Emerald Princess June 27). Lots of people say you can find great deals online, but I'm not finding them. Have checked at least 6 different online cruise specialists, and the best offer is only about $50 less per person. Doesn't really seem worth it for the hassle of not booking directly. I'm wondering if that's because I am looking at the less expensive inside cabins. Any thoughts?

 

I've also noticed that the air deals offered are not nearly as good as what I can book myself.

 

Another question. If you get the cruise through either an agency or Princess, but book the air yourself, does that mean you also have to buy your own travel insurance so it will cover both air & cruise? Or is there some specific insurance to cover is your plane is delayed & you miss the cruise?

[Grumpy100]

We just booked the r/t Southampton on the Crown Princess for May-2011.

I looked on the Princess website and put my Captain circle number in and it discounted us $200/= #100 p/p. Then I started shopping around for big discount on-line travel agencies and everytime I called them I got lower and lower prices.

Finally settled with one on-line discount agency and they saved us over $1000 total on this cruise when compared to booking directly with Princess.

This travel agency does charge a $50 cancellation fee but will let you use it on up to a year if you rebook with them. There were two others that were within $50 of each other and would charge $100 cancellation fee if we would have to cancel the cruise. We booked with the agency that only that the $50 cancellation fee. I thought it was fair since they need to make some money for their services.

Plus when I did the booking on-line for the discount it showed up more if you called but they went ahead and gave me the booking on the internet price.

We even changed our booking once already and they have always been very quick to call us back within an hour. I am very pleased with them so far. I will let you know how it goes.

Shop around it pays.:):):)

 

I forgot to mention that the reason we got such a good price is because it was a group rate on the 5-22-11 and 6-3-11 British Isles Cruise.:cool::cool:

[davekathy]

I am new to cruises & trying to book my first time. Have decided on the specific cruise already (Princess Eastern Caribbean on Emerald Princess June 27). Lots of people say you can find great deals online, but I'm not finding them. Have checked at least 6 different online cruise specialists, and the best offer is only about $50 less per person. Doesn't really seem worth it for the hassle of not booking directly. I'm wondering if that's because I am looking at the less expensive inside cabins. Any thoughts?

 

I just compared Princess and the online TA I used for my recent Cruise. Online TA for your Cruise is $1,633.38 for an insde category M. Plus you get a $50.00 OBC per cabin. Princess $1,799.38 for the same category and no OBC. The online TA is $166.00 less plus you get a $50.00 OBC.

[kruisey]

I forgot to mention that the reason we got such a good price is because it was a group rate on the 5-22-11 and 6-3-11 British Isles Cruise.:cool::cool:

If one can find a TA who has a GROUP booking on your sailing grab it because they do offer lower prices than Princess.

Othewise if a TA does not have a group booking in my experience have always found pricing the same using past passenger number so I book direct.

[Toto2Kansas]

We have found that when a TA has a group onboard through their company, that is when you receive the shipboard credit perk, but not usually the lower prices. Discount TA's discount, group or no group. ;)

[DragonflyCruiser]

Keep in mind too that some cruises aren't discounted as much as others. And, that you can always ask your Princess, or any agent, to give you the most up to date discount until the final payment is paid. Keep checking the prices after you book. We have booked both ways.

[m steve]

but they only list VF rates when I book VA. When I call they are almost the same as the cruise line with perhaps a bottle of wine or a small OBC. I always check 2 places before contacting my TA to make sure she stays honest.

[sultan_sfo]

Terminology Terminology! When the TA has been allocated a "group" of cabins sometimes when the booking first open or later when there are too many unsold cabins (not group onboard), those cabins can be substantially discounted because of the TA's group pricing from Princess. When those allocated cabins for a specific Cat run out then the TA prices have only a minor discount. With a $50 or so TA saving for a short cruise (fare under $1K pp) and say $100 saving for a long cruise (fare about $4 to 5K pp), we just would prefer to stay with Princess or brick & mortar full service agency.

 

We have found that when a TA has a group onboard through their company, that is when you receive the shipboard credit perk, but not usually the lower prices. Discount TA's discount, group or no group. ;)

[Coral]

If one can find a TA who has a GROUP booking on your sailing grab it because they do offer lower prices than Princess.

Othewise if a TA does not have a group booking in my experience have always found pricing the same using past passenger number so I book direct.

 

That has not been my experience.

[kruisey]

That has not been my experience.

 

Can you explain then why TA's purchase groups of cabins if they where not getting a discounted rate?

Actually I mentioned I would not post on this subject anymore.

Will leave it up to you and you friend........