Best advice for booking a cruise?

[Golfbag]

Recently took a cruise on the Inspiration and booked through our local travel agency. We had no problems at all, booked our own air. I am wondering if I'll get a better price going directly through Carnival to book our next cruise. Looking at Destiny March 6, 2005. Will I get a better price booking this early? Should I try an internet cruise provider. Also, we will have anywhere from 2 to 4 couples, should be book balcony guarantees or get specific cabins so we can all be together? Any advice/past experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanx!

[finoky]

If you absolutely have to be together then you had best book specific cabins. It has been our experience that you spend the least amount of time there anyway. If there aren't kids involved then it may be better to book gaurantees. That way some or all of you can be upgraded. Plus Carnival still may keep the group together. As far as pricing goes I would do the same as if you were making any other large purchase. Shop around! We have booked our last 4 cruises on our own through online agencies. Everything has worked out great. There are many to choose from. Compare them all and make your decision on what best suits you and you feel the most comfortable with.

 

 

Tony

 

2004 Legend March 28th

2003 Paradise

2002 Paradise

2000 Destiny

1999 Fascination

1998 Fantasy

[bethee]

We have I the past used our local travel agent but this year used buycruises.com and are very happy with their service. I would book my own air though as Carnival often does not allow enough time to get to the airport without a huge rush. I prefer to sit in the airport for a couple hours than to worry if I am going to make our flight.

[judyf]

Hi Golfbag, I also think the on line agencies are the best way to go. I've used two and I really liked buycruises the best. I say this due to they don't have any fees involved. I call many on line agencies and I always ask about fees. You will be surprised at some of the fees. There's a fee to book, a fee to change the price, a fee to cancell before final payment, and there's a fee to send you your docks. These are a few of the fees I found I'm sure there's more. At buycruises there were no fees involved, My cruise specialist always got right back to me or answered the phone and I never had a problem with changes or questions. I called about 10-12 different palces and the prices were with a few hundred dollars but make sure you add in the fees.

 

I see you already know when you want to cruise next and what ship. I'm still searching and getting some ideas. I really want to go to Hawaii next.

 

Judy

CCL Inspiration 4/4-4/11/04

NCL Sea 4/14-4/27/03

Wonder 5/16-5/19/02

Wonder 5/3-5/8/01

Fantasy 2/15-2/18/01

[sahenning]

If you already know where you want to go, there is no particular advantage to using a TA. My experience has been that I could have booked the same rate thru Expedia/Travelocity/etc.

 

If you are traveling with other people, you probably should book 3-5 months in advance if you want to be located on the same deck. If you are traveling by yourselves, I would just start checking the internet once a week and see how the prices are responding. You can compare Carnival's price to the other providers.

 

Nordic Empress 1May 998

Grand Princess July 2001

Century July 2002

Holidy May 2004

[pugsbest]

I check all the major online sights and decide date, ship, cabin category, etc. Then contact cruisequick and get a price from them. I have booked 3 cruises with them and they have always been significantly cheaper. Communication is e-mail only, and you are limited to 3 quote requests a week. But, they usually respond in less than an hour to all my questions and requests. They have honored price drops. They don't charge fee's to change, cancel, mail tickets, etc. like many of the other agencies. It is a little weird at first giving them money when you can't talk to them in person. But no problems for us and we saved enough each time to pay the bar bill or a few nice excursions!

[F5Loar]

Once I have found online the cruise I want I get a quick price quote from some online service. Print that quote out. Then I go to at least 2 TAs and get their best price. You would be surprised at how the bigger TAs can get a bigger discount. Then should the TA I like best is higher I fax the online quote and they meet or beat it. They would rather loose $50 on their end then loose your business again. Finding that great TA can be a problem.

Ask on line who others use and have not had

these inherint problems like extras charges to mail tickets. And make sure they are easy about

given refunds should price go down. I just got a refund check yesterday for my upcoming cruise for $350. Sure made me feel better. Another good reason to have a person TA vs. online is should emergencies come up they are more likely to help you.

 

Till we sail on the Zuiderdam

 

Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL

until we sail on the Disney Wonder

til we sail the ms Maasdam

[imatarb]

Since this was my first cruise in 8 years, and I hadn't found this wonderful website yet, I went ahead and booked our upcoming Victory cruise through a local TA. She is great, and I've enjoyed working with her.

 

That being said, I feel much more knowledgeable, and I'll probably book myself next time. There are plenty of online sites to compare and shop around, and I've heard great things about several of them.

 

You should be fine to book yourself through online sources, if it's within your own comfort zone.

 

Lisa

 

Monarch of the Seas - 1994

Royal Majesty - 1996

 

Until VICTORY is ours

 

 

<MARQUEE>A day at sea is better than any day at work</MARQUEE>