Obligatory New Cruiser Questions

[branditx]

Hi, new cruiser here. Have just a few questions to get me started. Where can you find the best cruise prices? I've cruised once before with DCL, am prior military, and am a Texas resident if that makes any difference.

The cruise we are taking is on the Liberty of the Seas. We will select an inside room or possibly a balcony since this is what we can afford. How do I know which room to pick or do they choose it for me?

 

Thanks in advace, any other tips are welcomed !

[paul929207]

For prices, check any of the online TAs.

[TheOldBear]

This site is sponsored by an online travel agency - discussion/comparison of online agencies is not permitted here.

 

That disclaimer out of the way, we are currently in 'wave season' one of the popular discount cruise seasons. Take a look at the 'find a cruse' and 'deals' buttons at the top of the page, and also check on the cruise line's own web site.

 

As far as picking a room, you can use deck plans along with advice from folks with cruise experience to select a particular room - of you often can book a category 'guarantee' where the cruise line pics the room [at least as nice as you have selected]. Sometimes there is a price break for the guarantee, less often the upgrade fairy waves a magic wand and you get a nicer room.

[Jimnbigd]

You did not say your age. Sometimes you can find age-55-and-older discount. Only one person in the cabin needs to be 55 or over -- not both. Also, the earlier you book, the better your cabin selection. We like to not (repeat, NOT) have public areas directly above or below us -- especially directly under the pool or gym can be noisy in the morning. We usually book an inside and are happy with that. One option is a promenade-view cabin -- a little more than the standard inside, but with a window that looks onto the Royal Promenade.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Jimnbigd

[diane.in.ny]

I agree about not booking a cabin with public areas above or below.

 

We prefer the front of the ship ... minimal number of people passing your cabin at night.

 

We also like to be a bit away from the elevators. People tend to congregate there and it can get noisy

 

As for best price ... a lot of people book directly with the cruise line. Some us discount TAs which you can find online with a Google search

 

Personally, I use a specialist cruise line TA who is extremely knowledgeable about ships and ports of call. The information she has been able to provide me has proved invaluable. An online TA may or may not be able to help you with some of your questions.

[widallas]

Hi, new cruiser here. Have just a few questions to get me started. Where can you find the best cruise prices? I've cruised once before with DCL, am prior military, and am a Texas resident if that makes any difference.

The cruise we are taking is on the Liberty of the Seas. We will select an inside room or possibly a balcony since this is what we can afford. How do I know which room to pick or do they choose it for me?

 

Thanks in advace, any other tips are welcomed !

 

Some of the big warehouse stores buy rooms in blocks and you can get a very good deal...you have to ask! A lot depends on when you want to go and where. We just booked a cruise last week for Thanksgiving out of Galveston and got a fantastic price.

 

The comparison tool on CC is pretty good...definitely does some of the work for you. I had asked a similar question earlier...this link might help you, too.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48896842&postcount=3

 

This article helped me when we were trying to find a room...

 

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/blog.php?pid=6&p=&search=

 

Happy hunting!

[Keith1010]

Do call a few agencies and see what amenities they will provide.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

Ask friends, family, co-workers, etc. who they have used to book cruises through.

We prefer to use a TA that we can call anything we want to and/or stop in to see her.

Always ask -- whether it is an online agency or a regular TA close to you -- if they charge a fee should you need to cancel a cruise.

[WisconsinFan]

We have booked through TA's and on our own- it depends if the TA can give us any benefits we couldn't get booking on our own. Things like on board credit. If not, then we go on our own. One benefit of booking directly is that we don't have to wait to have the TA talk to the line if we find we have a price drop, we can pick up the phone.

 

As mentioned choice of stateroom is personal preference. We have had interiors, ocean view (window only) and balcony based on the price of the room. Kids mostly in interior rooms for us. We have been down in lower decks and in upper decks, forward and mid-ship. We look at the deck plans and work to make sure that we aren't too close to elevators and public spaces and that there are staterooms above and below us.

 

We are excited to be on again Liberty in just a few weeks. We booked her a year ago, we booked Harmony in the fall when she became available to book and she was barely under construction! Got an awesome price on both cruises because we booked a year and two years out.

[Flatbush Flyer]

I agree about not booking a cabin with public areas above or below.

 

 

 

We prefer the front of the ship ... minimal number of people passing your cabin at night.

 

 

 

We also like to be a bit away from the elevators. People tend to congregate there and it can get noisy

 

 

 

As for best price ... a lot of people book directly with the cruise line. Some us discount TAs which you can find online with a Google search

 

 

 

Personally, I use a specialist cruise line TA who is extremely knowledgeable about ships and ports of call. The information she has been able to provide me has proved invaluable. An online TA may or may not be able to help you with some of your questions.

 

 

Let's take this a step further. Lines like Oceania pay TA commissions on a sliding scale depending on total annual O bookings. So, using a top producing TA for O can translate to better OBC for you.