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Author	Topic: Cruise question....
firefly1112 TUG Member Posts: 137 From: PA Registered: Apr 2003	posted 04-12-2005 03:50 My son's teacher(who may I add, is a great!!)and I were talking yesterday and she mentioned she was thinking of taking a cruise with her sisters this summer. She said they are very flexible with "when" and "where." They were thinking of waiting until very close and trying to book something last minute for a good deal (as someone had told her last minute deals are the best). She ask me what I thought, and I told her I would check into this...so here I am...LOL Any opinions? Thanks, Melissa ------------------ wk 26 VA Beach ........................ "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one is watching...." (Annoy.) IP: Logged
dougp26364 TUG Member Posts: 1957 From: Wichita KS owner: Polo Towers/ The Villas at Polo Towers/ Marriot's Ocean Point/Marriott's Grand Chateau/ HGVC LVStrip/ Grand Regency Branson, MO Registered: Jan 2001	posted 04-12-2005 04:12 First, for the last several years, cruise ships have been sailing at or very near capacity. In my own experience, booking as far out as possible has always been the cheapest way to go as prices for our particular cruises have only gone up. Second, because of homeland security and the cruiselines haveing to turn over passenger manifests, it's gotten tougher to purchase "last minute cruises." Their is a online TA that specializes in cruise bookings under 90 days. I believe it's http://www.vacationstogo.com . If it were me, I'd be looking there for bargains and I have seen some decent bargains there. Of course, you could lose any benefit gained if the cost of airfare for booking flight times that fit around the cruise are sky high. I've found the best way is to pick the cruise I want that's affordable, then watch the price regularly. If it goes down before final payment is due (typically30 to 60 days before the cruise depending on the length and cruiseline), you can usually get the price reduced to the new, lower price. Some TA's or cruise lines will still give you the lower price even after the final payment has been made if the price does drop (always ask first, this varies). So my advice is book now, watch for price drops and if it does drop, ask for a price reduction. Your best information about cruising will be found on the boards at http://www.cruisecritic.com . IP: Logged
Art TUG Member Posts: 1003 From: Grand Island, NY Registered: Dec 2000	posted 04-12-2005 09:19 Melissa Doug is absolutely right with everything he said. The only thing I can add is that with the close to sold out conditions, any "last minute" deals are going to be on the least popular itineraries and in the least popular staterooms. One of the big plusses of booking early is getting to pick one's stateroom. Believe me, there is a wide range of desirability among the stateroom in any one category. That's why we booked a cruise for Jan '06 in Dec '04. As a a bonus, the price has gone up $150 person since then. Art IP: Logged
Art TUG Member Posts: 1003 From: Grand Island, NY Registered: Dec 2000	posted 04-12-2005 09:21 Sorry, unintentional duplicate. Art [This message has been edited by Art (edited 04-13-2005).] IP: Logged
PamH TUG Member Posts: 1534 From: Nashua, NH, Marriott Heritage Club, Marriott Harbor Pointe Registered: Jan 2001	posted 04-13-2005 17:35 I believe I read the other day that the cruise lines are not allowed to add anyone to their passenger lists less than 3 days before sailing date. Pam IP: Logged
hvsteve1 TUG Member Posts: 408 From: Hyde Park, NY,USA Powhatan Plantation Registered: Aug 2002	posted 04-13-2005 22:08 Become active in cruisecritic.com. That is like TUG for cruisers,with boards,reviews and sections for booking and deals. Log onto the home sites for various cruise lines and register. They will start emailing you deals or posting them on their sites. I'm booked with Radisson Seven Seas for June and,since being on their list,have been getting offers or two-fers,half-price and free airfare deals. They are,of course,not one the most popular cruises,but still some pretty good stuff. IP: Logged
camachinist TUG Member Posts: 1447 From: Kerman, CA Registered: Feb 2004	posted 04-13-2005 22:33 We've had real good fortune with last minute (30-45 days out) deals over the last few years. Most recently last autumn. Best one was a 299.00pp 7 day westbound transat on Princess (Golden Princess when she was pretty new). Best cruise deal I've ever done. They had the head corporate chef on board, along with a European crew. 7 days of sunny Atlantic Ocean heaven One night in NYC cost more than a whole week at sea.... I can generally get those deals for 50-65.00pd/pp for an inside cabin. I agree about CruiseCritic. I've been a poster over there since 2001 IIRC. Best information source I've ever seen on cruising. Just like with timesharing, educate yourself and get out there! Pat IP: Logged
hvsteve1 TUG Member Posts: 408 From: Hyde Park, NY,USA Powhatan Plantation Registered: Aug 2002	posted 04-13-2005 22:46 I just ran across this article which addresses your exact question. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7185144/ IP: Logged
firefly1112 TUG Member Posts: 137 From: PA Registered: Apr 2003	posted 04-14-2005 03:24 Thank You all so much. I will pass this info on to my son's teacher! ------------------ wk 26 VA Beach ........................ "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one is watching...." (Annoy.) IP: Logged
Judy TUG Member Posts: 1853 From: Melbourne Beach, FL & Steamboat Springs CO. owner: Celebrity Resort World of Orlando; The Ridge Tahoe; Hatteras High; Worldmark. member:II,RCI,DAE,SFX Registered: Dec 2000	posted 04-14-2005 10:57 The advantages of booking as early as possible: Early booking discounts Possible free upgrades Choice of staterooms Choice of dining room seating Better chance of reasonably priced airfare. But if your son's teacher want to go this summer, it's already too late to benefit from early booking. The advantage of booking 90 days or fewer before sailing: Sometimes, you can get a really cheap cruise price. Last minute bookings work best for drive-to embarkation ports. I see that you're from PA. Maybe something out of Baltimore or New York. For cruises out of Baltimore, I recommend The Baltimore Travel Center www.gonowvacations.com (This website does not work well with Netscape. It's better with IE) or their "Discount Travel Hotline" 1-800-548-8546. And I second the recommendation for www.vacationstogo.com [This message has been edited by Judy (edited 04-14-2005).] IP: Logged
PStreet1 TUG Member Posts: 1812 From: CO--but since April 22, Arizona Registered: Dec 2000	posted 04-14-2005 11:33 I agree with Camachinist. If she doesn't really care where she goes, last minute may save her a lot. The last cruise we took was to the Panama Canal--just before sailing, that same cruise/ship posted some last minute deals that would have saved us many dollars--and they weren't all inside cabins by any means; some balconies were included. I would tell her to start watching the last minute deals now and see what sort of savings she sees; that will allow her to judge better what might come up at the time she is looking for. In addition to http://www.vacationstogo I suggest http://www.skyauction.com, http://wwwicruise.com, http://www.ovc.cc A google search for cruise + discount will turn up tons of sites. Pat IP: Logged
Present TUG Member Posts: 98 From: Plantation, FL Registered: Dec 2004	posted 04-15-2005 15:29 You can sign up for list servers from the aforementioned cruise websites. Generally the most "discount" offers I've see are ~$300 for 4 days / 3 nights in the summer, and as low as the $299 x 7 days quoted by another poster for late August & September sailings (busy hurricane time in the Carribean and kids / teachers are back at school). ------------------ Helen IP: Logged

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