How do you get the best cruise rate?

[MickeyMania]

We are shopping for prices - and so far it seems AAA has the best deal. We tried BJs Wholesale - they were higher. I also put in a request on this site - waiting for a call or email.

Where have you gotten the best price?

Thanks - we are planning on traveling in Dec 2006.

 

[RAC]

Hi MickeyMania,

I PM'd you!

 

[staceymerrill]

what I would overwhelmingly recommend is to forge a relationship with an experienced, established cruise only discount TA ....I've recommended Duane from Cruiseone to other folks on this board, and they were very happy with him....1-877-280-8796 is his number...he is very patient and very efficient...pricing within minutes after your call and docs shipped overnight upon his receipt of them ( a common complaint among cruisers is that their TA doesnt ship the docs out quickly enough)....

 

[Patricia1]

We also shopped around for a 2006 and found that Costco had the best prices, saved $900 on a ste and $600 on a cat 3... only drawback is that you have to pay much further in advance than DCL or anyone else we've used...and they have their own ins. now and that's also a substantial savings...

 

[kcashner]

There are 2 ways a TA can discount the standard DCL pricing (at least that I know of!) They can give you a rebate of part of their commission or they can buy up a large block of cabins from DCL and resell these at a reduced rate. While you probably can't ask how they are able to give you the discount, you can usually figure it out. If an agent is giving you a commission rebate, any "deals" from DCL--like onboard credits--will still apply. If they have bought a block of cabins, this is not necessarily true.

The best way to save is to rebook while on board. They, when I get home, I transfer the ressie to my agent who gives me a further discount (commission rebate.)

We're technically not allowed to name other sites or TAs here as this site is supported by a TA (who, by the way is an excellent agent with excellent prices.) Web searches will lead you to many others.

 

[GenieDana]

MickeyMania - You are a Florida Resident. That is how to get the best rate!

Florida resident rates are currently available for the September 3, September 10, September 17, and September 24 sailings on the Magic !

 

[MickeyMania]

Do you have to be a Costco member to get the discount (I am guessing yes - so sorry if it is a dumb question!)

Thanks for all the advice - I appreciate it.

As for the Florida rate - since we have kids in school we don't count! Those rates are during the school year.

You know what stinks - we have annual passes and we still don't get any discount - come on now!

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

I spent quite a bit of time looking for the best rate for my January 2006 cruise. We have access to many different discounts via AAA, Costco, military, company discount TA's, etc. The best price I found of any of them was a regular TA my MIL had used for a previous cruise. They beat them all by several hundred dollars. There are no onboard credits, but with the money we've saved, we can send ourselves our own. ;-)

http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/

 

[captaincrash]

Hello....

We shopped everybody - costco - online - local agents - etc....
And we finally stumbled upon a reference to a REVERSE AUCTION site called cruise compete. DO a google search or email me on the side as we are not supposed to make direct site link referrals (I described it - but did not post a link) and we find the best rates. The way it works is you specify your cruise date, catagory 1st and 2nd choices - and specify the number of passengers and ages.

Travel agents can view your request and they BID with rates. You select the lowest rate and contact the agent. I would also say - the best way to leverage this further is IF you book on board you'll get the largest cabin credit - then you transfer the res to your TA with the lowest cabin rate. Not all can handle your res without some squirming. But with polite persistance you should get the rate with the most cabin credits AND the ship position you reserved (IE - no compromises). This is almost exactly what we did - at first the TA said they may not get the cabin but agreed to pass throught the cabin credit and they added THEIR cabin credit for a double dip.

The TAs who bid cannot see the bids of other TAs. This approach has easily beat all other rates and secured the most cabin credits without us having to form our own group.

A bit of warning .... We tried Cruise COmpete when trying to book a Radisson Seven Seas cruise for the Western Med... and the TA we found had a great rate - and when we went to book they messed up the reservation just when capacity controls bumped the rates up significantly - then the TA concealed that they were not in control for about a week while we gradually uncovered that they messed up. So - if the price is right then book (or time it so that you already have a DCL booking and then shop cruise compete). Once you have the deal transfer it but be CERTAIN to cover all details to ensure everything is in place as it should be.

We're sailing on the Sept 3rd 2005 eastern - and once aboard we're going to rebook and transfer to a cruise compete TA.

Good Luck!

 

[mamalle]

allseas travel was the best for me and saved me $$$ with my fla resident rate