Has anyone ever booked a cruise out of FL through SKYAUCTION?

[riu girl]

We are considering going on a cruise in 2008 and have been looking at the cruise auctions on skyauction. The issue though is often the cruise is only listed for 2 people, but we will be a party of 4 (2 adults, 2 children). Some cruise auctions do give prices for 3rd and 4th passengers in the same cabin but the few I am looking at doesn't.

Would I win for 2 people and then simply be quoted a price for the extra two people (children) in the cabin? What if the additional price quoted was very high? Could I back out of the auction win?

I have had great success with skyauction and find them to be wonderful to work with, just not sure about their cruise auctions.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[spiceycat]

no - got send this site from cruisers
http://www.vacationstogo.com/

so I would go with it. Unless you are really, really saving on skyauction cruises.

my nephew was trying to talk me into paying for a cruise for just him and his friend. His father say NO WAY - and that ended it.

 

[Lewisc]

My understanding is cruise ships won't book every cabin with 3 or 4 passengers. The common facilities, including restaurants, won't support that many passengers. It's even possible you're bidding on an odd sized cabin that will only accomodate 2 passengers.

I don't think you'll even be allowed to cancel if you're told NO to 3 or 4 passengers in the cabin, you'll have no right to cancel if you don't like the price. Cruise ships give a discount for the 3 and 4th passenger since you're basically paying for meals. A low auction price might not be much above the value of the meals and as such the 3 and 4th passenger charge could be almost as high as the price you paid for the first 2.

I wouldn't bid without confirming the availability, and price, for as many passengers as you'll be cruising with. If the price is great you could just bid/book two cabins.

 

[4Seasons]

Usually the prices for 3rd and 4th passengers are significantly less, but you'd have to make sure you were booking into a quad cabin.

What cruise line are you looking at?

 

[riu girl]

Thanks everyone for the info. I am looking at carnival or NCL mid-Dec 2008 departure.

I emailed Skyauction and was told that I could bid and win and THEN be quoted for the additional two people in the cabin. I'm not too comfortable with that incase the 3rd and 4th passenger rates end up being too high.

maybe I will look at the carnival and NCL web sites direct and see what type of pricing I can find for a mid dec 2008 cruise.

 

[Lewisc]

Based on the way the auctions are worded I'd be prepared to pay the same price for the 3rd and 4th passenger as you paid for the first two. You might wind up paying even more if you're required to upgrade your cabin to a qaud.

Cruises aren't the same as airfare, you might get a better price through an internet TA then you get directly from the the cruise line.

Thanks everyone for the info. I am looking at carnival or NCL mid-Dec 2008 departure.

I emailed Skyauction and was told that I could bid and win and THEN be quoted for the additional two people in the cabin. I'm not too comfortable with that incase the 3rd and 4th passenger rates end up being too high.

maybe I will look at the carnival and NCL web sites direct and see what type of pricing I can find for a mid dec 2008 cruise.

 

[HeatherC]

Just saw your post and thought I'd chirp in. We have taken several cruises over the years and love them. I also love SkyAuction and have used them a number of times for condo/timeshare rentals.

What I have found though is that their cruise prices are not very good at all. Once you add in all the fees and port charges and stuff you would be better booking through someone else.

You can research the cruise you want and then use www.cruisecompete.com to get agents to give you their best price. (Remember to ask what they will give you for a shipboard credit.)

Another site I've used a couple times is www.cheapertravel.com. They have been the cheapest for the last 3 cruises we've done. BUT....they are not helpful at all. You have to do all the research on your own and then just book it through them.

We are booked on an Royal Caribbean cruise for February 08 and they are giving us $200 shipboard credit for each cabin. This is about the best we've ever gotten over the years through an agency.

Also..be sure to check out cruisecritic.com. It's like a DIS board for cruising.

Hope this helps you out.

HeatherC