usa travel agents

[chris1950]

as a brit who books his celebrity cruises with a uk travel agent.

was wondering if anyone from the uk has booked their cruise through a u.s.travel agent.if you have would like to know if things were ok and no problems.the reason asking this question,is i always seem to book at the wrong time.missed out on the 123 promotion and never gain from a price drop.

reading the boards i gather you can cancel a booking and rebook, to gain

new promotions etc.with out any loss of deposit with a u.s. travel agent

[hamrag]

as a brit who books his celebrity cruises with a uk travel agent.

was wondering if anyone from the uk has booked their cruise through a u.s.travel agent.if you have would like to know if things were ok and no problems.the reason asking this question,is i always seem to book at the wrong time.missed out on the 123 promotion and never gain from a price drop.

reading the boards i gather you can cancel a booking and rebook, to gain

new promotions etc.with out any loss of deposit with a u.s. travel agent

 

 

Have booked a total of 33 cruises over the years, and at least half have been with various USA TA's. Absolutely no problems, better deals and as you mention you can cancel anytime up to final payment date and have your deposit refunded!! Can you ever imagine that here in the UK?

[Yarrowfell]

Not a Brit but I am an Aussie who has booked all past cruise (less 1) with US TA's. Saved huge $$$, got OBC and price drops :-)

Edited March 3, 2014 by Yarrowfell

[chris1950]

thanks for your info.looks like i will be using a u.s. travel agent next year:rolleyes:

[EtherlyCC]

I always use a US TA, always rings me back within an hour and it is always freephone when I ring him. Best deals and he will ring me to advise of better deals.

[cavok]

as an "informed" european, it's almost a must to book through a U.S. TA.

 

we only really found out after the second cruise. comparison isn't straight forward, as you really need to factor in all the taxes, gratuities, OBC etc... which may or may not be included.

 

even including interline and travel industry rates, one almost always gets the better deal (OBC, price drops) through a regular booking with a U.S. TA.

 

We even still have an "open passages" certificate open (what a hassle, don't buy as a non-u.s. resident!), likely forever, because they will apply that only to the european sales office with their fantasy rates...

 

just shun those lines that appear to actively deny purchases at fair globalized market value, read negative things about Princess in that regard.

 

good luck!

[kevinyork]

Ive booked our two X cruises this year with a US agent for the first time. It was very easy to do. Some US agents state on their site that non US residents cannot book with a US agent but some dont.

 

I found rates with one agent that were even better than most other US agents and with hefty OBC. Compared to booking the same cruise with a UK agent, we saved £800pp, chose the Classic Package and tips and the agent threw in OBC.

 

Will always aim to book with a US agent from now on.

 

 

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[sollan]

I have checked some US internet agents. I find it very difficult to compare prices... If I look at "my" Celebriyt site it shows the total price, tips, taxes everything. The TA sites often excludes taxes and gratitues and I haven't a clue how much that will be on a certain cruise. I suppose it's different due to length and so on.

I know I can email but I do really want to do some research before.

Are there anyone that can help me with a "how-to-do-it" list. :)

[MR_T]

I know I can email but I do really want to do some research before.

 

Are there anyone that can help me with a "how-to-do-it" list. :)

 

 

I would just send over a quick email asking for complete & final prices on what your after...

 

 

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[prish]

Ive booked our two X cruises this year with a US agent for the first time. It was very easy to do. Some US agents state on their site that non US residents cannot book with a US agent but some dont.

 

I found rates with one agent that were even better than most other US agents and with hefty OBC. Compared to booking the same cruise with a UK agent, we saved £800pp, chose the Classic Package and tips and the agent threw in OBC.

 

Will always aim to book with a US agent from now on.

 

 

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But who are these US TAs? Haven't ever been able to find out:(

[MR_T]

Ive booked our two X cruises this year with a US agent for the first time. It was very easy to do. Some US agents state on their site that non US residents cannot book with a US agent but some dont.

 

I found rates with one agent that were even better than most other US agents and with hefty OBC. Compared to booking the same cruise with a UK agent, we saved £800pp, chose the Classic Package and tips and the agent threw in OBC.

 

Will always aim to book with a US agent from now on.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

 

Us too... It's criminal the total price difference between booking in the uk & America!!

 

I know some will say your not ABTA protected by using a US agent the same as you are by booking in the uk but the chances are slim of ever getting caught out Vs the huge savings that can be made by using a US agent every time!

 

 

 

 

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[kevinyork]

Us too... It's criminal the total price difference between booking in the uk & America!!

 

I know some will say your not ABTA protected by using a US agent the same as you are by booking in the uk but the chances are slim of ever getting caught out Vs the huge savings that can be made by using a US agent every time!

 

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Good for you. The cost of ABTA cover cannot be anywhere near the price differential can it and if you book by credit card you have a certain level of cover from your card company. Plus you are correct about the chances of problems arising being slim. To me the cruise lines are complicit in charging higher prices to non US residents. If they can sell a cabin to a US customer on a round trip from Southampton for some 40% less than they charge a UK customer it feels like us Brits are subsidising the keen, competitive US prices.

 

 

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Edited March 7, 2014 by kevinyork

[sollan]

Us too... It's criminal the total price difference between booking in the uk & America!!

 

I know some will say your not ABTA protected by using a US agent the same as you are by booking in the uk but the chances are slim of ever getting caught out Vs the huge savings that can be made by using a US agent every time!

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ABTA...? Whats that?

[dbsb3233]

I have checked some US internet agents. I find it very difficult to compare prices... If I look at "my" Celebriyt site it shows the total price, tips, taxes everything. The TA sites often excludes taxes and gratitues and I haven't a clue how much that will be on a certain cruise. I suppose it's different due to length and so on.

I know I can email but I do really want to do some research before.

Are there anyone that can help me with a "how-to-do-it" list. :)

Cabin tips are a fixed amount per day. You can just Google "Celebrity Cruises gratuities" (or whatever cruise line you need) and a few links will pop up that should list them. They vary slightly from cruise line to cruise line but all the major ones are pretty similar. Celebrity's are currently US$12 per person per night for standard cabins (slightly more for the high end suites). US websites commonly do not include those in the listed price, so factor that in. While you technically can dispute the fixed gratuity costs if you felt you got bad service, they are customary and most people just consider them part of the cost.

 

Port fees/taxes are another additional cost (required). Usually the best way to find those is to start into a reservation on any online booking site. Typically they will appear on a screen early in the process, before you have to enter the passenger names and other identifying information. Just back out or close that window after you see the port fees/taxes (and of course the cruise fare itself, which can vary from site to site).

 

Cruise fare + port fees/taxes + gratuities gives you the total cost of the base cruise itself (not including optional items you may choose to purchase onboard).

 

Unless you happen to live near the city of the departure port, you'll need to factor in the cost of airfare and transportation to/from the port. Other common extras are a beverage package (unless you're happy drinking water/coffee/tea most of the time), and excursions (or private tours booked on your own).

 

Promotional deals found on various websites may include any of the items above (except port fees/taxes, which are an absolute). Some will discount the base cruise fare; some will offer prepaid gratuities; some will give OBC (onboard credit); some will offer airfare credit if flights are booked through them; some will throw in a complete beverage package.

 

I think that covers most of the basics in terms of comparing one deal to another.

Edited March 7, 2014 by dbsb3233

[sollan]

Cabin tips are a fixed amount per day. You can just Google "Celebrity Cruises gratuities" (or whatever cruise line you need) and a few links will pop up that should list them. They vary slightly from cruise line to cruise line but all the major ones are pretty similar. Celebrity's are currently US$12 per person per night for standard cabins (slightly more for the high end suites). US websites commonly do not include those in the listed price, so factor that in. While you technically can dispute the fixed gratuity costs if you felt you got bad service, they are customary and most people just consider them part of the cost.

 

Port fees/taxes are another additional cost (required). Usually the best way to find those is to start into a reservation on any online booking site. Typically they will appear on a screen early in the process, before you have to enter the passenger names and other identifying information. Just back out or close that window after you see the port fees/taxes (and of course the cruise fare itself, which can vary from site to site).

 

Cruise fare + port fees/taxes + gratuities gives you the total cost of the base cruise itself (not including optional items you may choose to purchase onboard).

 

Unless you happen to live near the city of the departure port, you'll need to factor in the cost of airfare and transportation to/from the port. Other common extras are a beverage package (unless you're happy drinking water/coffee/tea most of the time), and excursions (or private tours booked on your own).

 

Promotional deals found on various websites may include any of the items above (except port fees/taxes, which are an absolute). Some will discount the base cruise fare; some will offer prepaid gratuities; some will give OBC (onboard credit); some will offer airfare credit if flights are booked through them; some will throw in a complete beverage package.

 

I think that covers most of the basics in terms of comparing one deal to another.

Thanks a lot! Now I "just" have to find a good TA amongst the myriads that are out there...;)

[dbsb3233]

But who are these US TAs? Haven't ever been able to find out:(

Cruise Critic policy disallows us from explicitly discussing specific TAs and cruise discount sites by name.

 

However if you simply Google terms like "cruise discounts" or "cruise deals" or "cruise outlet" or other such terms, you can pretty easily find a lot of major ones. Various senior organizations and membership warehouses and general travel sites often have cruise discounts and deals too. And of course the cruise lines themselves often run promotions.

[dbsb3233]

Cruise Critic policy disallows us from explicitly discussing specific TAs and cruise discount sites by name.

 

However if you simply Google terms like "cruise discounts" or "cruise deals" or "cruise outlet" or other such terms, you can pretty easily find a lot of major ones. Various senior organizations and membership warehouses and general travel sites often have cruise discounts and deals too. And of course the cruise lines themselves often run promotions.

Oh, and I was remiss in leaving out our glorious hosts here at Cruise Critic... check out the DEALS link at the top of the page.

[kevinyork]

ABTA...? Whats that?

 

 

ABTA is the Association Of British Travel Agents. If you book with someone who is ABTA covered then if anything goes wrong with your trip, ABTA will step in and get you home.

 

 

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[Waihekean]

But who are these US TAs? Haven't ever been able to find out:(

 

Yesterday Cruise Critic was advertising my American TA (who is specialised in last minute and discount cruises) on the review section.

When you open up the main page of CC it is situated on the L/hand side at top. They promote a variety of TA's there.

 

Just to know that currently Celebrity is one of the few cruise lines that still allow non residents to book.