Best Prices for Cruises

[FredLorrWeb]

Any thoughts on the best place/company to book your cruise with?

[wwinfl91]

Try shopping the various online cruise sites that advertise on Cruise Critic. We have dealt with one of them for 8 cruises and had good luck. Check their prices and then check the cruise lines. Generally the mortar and brick travel agents including AAA can't meet the online prices but do sometimes include some extras to try to sweeten the deal.

 

Good luck and have a great next cruise.

[clackey]

Hola Fred,

 

I'm with Win. We have booked 4 cruises online and have had no problems. Shopping around is the fun part. It's like hunting except you don't have to kill anyone like maybe a TA or some flippy, disrespectful sales assistant.

 

If you decide to use a TA pick one that is reputable and local. That way if you have a problem you can choke them personally.

 

Have fun in the hunt.

Clackey

[celbercrz333]

I went to all the popular cruise specialist sites. I read up on itineraries and prices. I found a cruise (all can give the same cruise listing) then I called the cruise line for that ship. They will always try to give you the best price or if not the best price, then an upgrade. We had never cruised on Carnival and when I told them about an e-mail offer from someone else for a Carnival cruise, they said they'd give us the same price but upgrade us to a better floor. We had a much better view than we would have had. If you have never cruised before and you aren't sure about seasickness, try to be in the exact middle of the ship, both in how high or low and from front to back. We've been in the back left, but this time we were closer to the front. Our first cruise we were in 6 rooms from the back on the left and we were in a tropical storm. You don't want to be too high in a storm. Actually you probably don't want to be in a storm at all, but if you can help it, try for the middle.

[lovemylab]

I have always found that my travel agent offers the same price as the online websites.

[serene56]

Just because you are not seeing a cabin available on another site dont mean that its not available. Are you picking a set cabin or booking a gauarantee? If you want a particular cabin call ANY agent to find the pricing for it. Somea gents do have blocks of cabins. I was able to use a different agent to secure my cabin for the Liberty.

[#1TravelMom]

We had a great deal of trouble with an online site. Email me direct if you want my advice. Bogelbtk@aol.com We've been on 10 cruises and very pleased with the t/a we use. I'm new to this site - not sure if I can mention names/#'s etc???:)

[mared1]

has any one ever dealt with cruise411? are they reliable?

 

They seemed to be the only one to have a cabin on the 10th deck when the other sites I was looking at didn't list this cabin. I just don't want it to be a phantom cabin.

 

I booked a cruise with them in 2004 - no problems- I used a different online agency for our 2005 cruise only because I got a better price.

[itsme_jj]

I booked through the big warehouse club ..starts with a c....nation wide...they beat everyone's price I found but don't have any experience so you may want to shop around. I don't know any local TA's so we went with that. I did however ask aaa if they'd match their price and they said no, as it was probably a group rate.

 

The membership for this club was more than cover the savings I got.

 

just a thought.

[Cotton]

We had a great deal of trouble with an online site. Email me direct if you want my advice. Bogelbtk@aol.com We've been on 10 cruises and very pleased with the t/a we use. I'm new to this site - not sure if I can mention names/#'s etc???:)

 

No, sorry, no names of agents or agencies allowed. Also aren't allowed to ask anyone to email you about agencies. Read Laura's ANNOUNCEMENT at the top of the page.:)

[geoherb]

If you are a first-time cruiser, I recommend finding a local TA who specializes in cruises. Ask your friends, if any of them have taken cruises, for recommendations. First-time cruisers need to be concerned about a lot more than price. They need an experienced TA to help find the right cruise for them. This website will help you find a local CLIA-certified cruise TA.

[KruznKel]

Well I have seen this link before here it is www.*****.com try that

[NJcruiser21]

i booked my first cruise through a land based T/A and was/am EXTREMELY dissatisfied with the service and I later found expedia dropped t heir prices after we booked with the land based (the TA I used starts with an L..two words that include travel). the price difference was not my complaint. just to give a sample of the service..the TA refused to mail my docs to me (I was away at college so I couldn't pick them up..I would have had to foot the bill for FedEx. to prove a point, I drove all the way and picked them up - over an hour each way)

 

I've learned to go with online sites in the future. I'd rather do it myself than trust another TA.

[megr1125]

I booked my 1st cruise with RCCL then had my big-auto-club TA take it over. Didn't save any dinero but at least she was there if something went nuts.

 

This time I booked with RCCL and didn't give the booking to anyone. I tried but it wouldn't have saved any money. Well...it would have, long story....not worth explaining.....but this way I don't have to go to a TA each time I want to make a payment. Should have booked on BOARD but, hey, who knew howmuch fun I'd have. Guess I should have known based on how HARD it was to get near the loyalty ambassadors.

 

I am a control freak so while I love my TA it's hard for me to just call her and say...."I want to do this and that on this day..."

 

 

I think for Alaska I will book on board then have a TA take it over.....I ran into someone who is the sister of people I worked with a long time ago.....she works for an online agency so maybe I will give her a try for next year.