[ 2005 ] Booking Cruises--Website Recommendations

[socal4me]

crucon

i am a fan of crucon.com

i found them through the cruisecritic.com emails.

last December we took a HAL Mexican Riviera cruise for the week prior to Christmas. The rates were unbelievably low. and customer service was excellent. all done over the phone and via email.

 

[Art]

Skyscraper Tours Up-Date

Back in 2007, I posted some very positive comments about skyscraper.com for booking a cruise.

I have been several more cruises with them with no problems.

However, they have been relatively slow to respond to e-mail queries. Of more consequence, recently the OBC offered by them is noticeably less generous than that available through other on-line agencies.

My most recent booking, a Holland America cruise to Alaska was done using smartcruiser.com. The service seems excellent and the pricing and OBC were quite good.

Art

 

[Judy]

Princess Cruise Specialist

Can someone recommend a national cruise travel agency that specializes in Princess cruises and an agent who works there who is a "Princess Cruise Commodore Agent"? I can't use a local agent because I move twice a year. I'm looking for an agency that books enough Princess cruises to be able to offer the best prices and an agent who is interested in keeping customers informed of new cruises, sales, etc.
I saw the post about kimskruises.com and will check that one out.

 

[LynnW]

Can someone recommend a national cruise travel agency that specializes in Princess cruises and an agent who works there who is a "Princess Cruise Commodore Agent"? I can't use a local agent because I move twice a year. I'm looking for an agency that books enough Princess cruises to be able to offer the best prices and an agent who is interested in keeping customers informed of new cruises, sales, etc.
I saw the post about kimskruises.com and will check that one out.

We booked our last cruise with kimskruises.com and were very happy with their service. We receive a regular newsletter from them with all their specials.

Lynn

 

[leonore]

vantage river cruises

Any reviews of Europe river cruises with Vantage? We are looking at their MSNavigator ship. Thanks, Leonore

 

[TravlGrl]

Can someone recommend a national cruise travel agency that specializes in Princess cruises and an agent who works there who is a "Princess Cruise Commodore Agent"? I can't use a local agent because I move twice a year. I'm looking for an agency that books enough Princess cruises to be able to offer the best prices and an agent who is interested in keeping customers informed of new cruises, sales, etc.
I saw the post about kimskruises.com and will check that one out.

Just saw this and probably waaaaay too late, but for what it's worth -- TravelGuy Travel (affiliated with Avoya), and is a Princess Commodore. Alex@travelguytravel.com

 

[rfimp]

Awesome, for all the cruise info! I have used vacations to go and price checked on http://www.travelzoo.com We've been on 2 cruises, both w/Norwegian. They were ok, but didn't blow me away or anything.

I've heard conflicting info on using TS to cruise. Is it good for saving money on booking cruises, or do you all just go through these online TA's and not use any TS benifits?

 

[PStreet1]

It will cost you roughly the same out of pocket money whether you use your timeshare or don't use it. That's why most people don't use the timeshare to book a cruise: no gain.

 

[jackswanson]

Thanks for sharing the information.

 

[jjking42]

I am also a Princess Commodore.

Renting your timeshare and paying cash for the cruise will always be a better deal.

 

[dominidude]

I've been having good luck on intervalworld.com, IIs website. This is NOT using my timeshare as an exchange.

 

[hsintang]

Shopping for Alaska Land and Sea package- help request

I hope this is a suitable forum to ask this question. I am thinking to plan an Alaska cruise and land tour for next summer (or last minute for this June is possible). I saw a few websites posted here and will try them.
Any recommendations on the tour routes (Northbound vs. Southbound) are also appreciated. Thanks in advance. Yvette

 

[Noper]

Cruise.com or Cruisedirect.com are both the best places for finding cruises. Checked for years.

 

[Passepartout]

We usually use www.vacationstogo.com/ No other cruise agency books more cruises. Period. We have one guy there who really goes the extra mile for us on complex plans and gets us more perks than we ( as Celebrity Captain's Club Elite) can get booking direct with Celebrity.

That said- and bears repeating- for cruise info, www.cruisecritic.com is to cruising what TUG is to timeshares.

Jim

 

[DaveNV]

I hope this is a suitable forum to ask this question. I am thinking to plan an Alaska cruise and land tour for next summer (or last minute for this June is possible). I saw a few websites posted here and will try them.
Any recommendations on the tour routes (Northbound vs. Southbound) are also appreciated. Thanks in advance. Yvette

You may also want to check out the cruises at the Travel section of Costco.com. They have some nice cruises listed. I've booked an Alaska cruise for Summer 2017 through them.

Dave

 

[Luanne]

We usually use www.vacationstogo.com/ No other cruise agency books more cruises. Period. We have one guy there who really goes the extra mile for us on complex plans and gets us more perks than we ( as Celebrity Captain's Club Elite) can get booking direct with Celebrity.

That said- and bears repeating- for cruise info, www.cruisecritic.com is to cruising what TUG is to timeshares.

Jim

We used them, and Jim's guy (I believe) when we booked a recent cruise on Princess. Very pleased with their service. The only thing we needed to do was to monitor changes in cruise prices and possible additional perks being offered by Princess. When we called we were told that Princess doesn't always notify companies like vacationstogo of these changes. But he was able to rebook us at one point to take advantage of a drop in pricing.

 

[Talent312]

I've heard conflicting info on using TS to cruise. Is it good for saving money on booking cruises, or do you all just go through these online TA's and not use any TS benefits?

IMHO, your highest and best use of your TS (or TS-points) is for their original purpose -- TS stays. Anything else typically results in a devaluation of your stock-in-trade. Whatever program is involved will take their cut in some fashion, so you'll lose something in translation. IOW, there is no free lunch.

.

 

[Passepartout]

IMHO, your highest and best use of your TS (or TS-points) is for their original purpose -- TS stays. Anything else typically results in a devaluation of your stock-in-trade. Whatever program is involved will take their cut in some fashion, so you'll lose something in translation. IOW, there is no free lunch.

.

Good info, but the guy you were replying to hasn't been on TUG for over 3 years.

 

[hsintang]

Costco travel- Alaska land and sea vacation

You may also want to check out the cruises at the Travel section of Costco.com. They have some nice cruises listed. I've booked an Alaska cruise for Summer 2017 through them.

Dave

Thanks everyone for your inputs. Dave, I looked into Costco Alaska vacations, and saw a few land and sea 13 day tour packages. Have anyone taken any land tours in Alaska?
Thanks,
Yvette

 

[myoakley]

Thanks everyone for yoursm sea 13 day tour packages. Have anyone taken any land tours in Alaska?
Thanks,
Yvette

We just returned from a "12-day triple Denali" cruise wih Holland America. It was fantabulous! We have fallen in love with Alaska. I highly recommend several days in Denali if you want to see the park (we saw moose, a grizzly sow with 2 cubs, caribou) and also do any of the activities offered. Some people (younger than we) rent a car and drive themselves, but we chose to place ourselves in the capable hands of Holland America and were well pleased. The highlights were: a 9 -passenger plane ride out of Denali across the Arctic Circle with a stop in Wiseman (population: 12) and a helicopter landing on the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Also, the aurora borealis (which we saw while at Denali) was unforgettable. These excursions are pricey, but we kept saying "it's once in a lifetime." Go for it; you will not regret it.

 

[BocaBoy]

We have high level elite status on Holland America so I do best when booking directly with them. Lots of unpublished benefits and offers by doing so in many cases. The one thing I do not get is the extra loyalty points offered through some of the cruise booking sites, but the trade-off is worth it to us.

 

[Germanyboy]

Cruisefish.net tracks the price of room category change up and down. Select the cruise line, itinerary and ship, and check before booking.

 

[LannyPC]

Costco travel- Alaska land and sea vacation
I looked into Costco Alaska vacations, and saw a few land and sea 13 day tour packages. Have anyone taken any land tours in Alaska?

Has anyone used Costco for booking a Caribbean cruise? Is there any advantage to using Costco over any other regular travel agency?

 

[VacationForever]

Has anyone used Costco for booking a Caribbean cruise? Is there any advantage to using Costco over any other regular travel agency?

Costco returns 8% to 10% of their commission back to you in the form of cash card, amongst the highest in the industry. Some agents will give you the same if you haggle with them and ask them to match Costco's perks. So if you know what you are looking for and don't need a travel agent to help you research or hold your hand, Costco offers the best above the table deals.

 

[Judy]

Do you have to be a Costco member to book a cruise with them?