Need Help - Price Change Dilemma

[travellady]

I decided on the 12/19 4 day cruise and have been doing pricing for a month. Overnight, the price went up 200.00 on Expedia and it looks like even more on the DCL website. But, yesterday when I saw a recommendation for Cruise Planners, I had them give me a quote - that quote is now 700.00 less than the current DCL website price. And, Cruise Planners will hold this for me until tomorrow. I also requested a quote from DU yesterday but haven't heard anything back.

My dilemma is should I go with Cruise Planners? The thread for them yesterday seemed to indicate the post was nothing more than an advertisement. Has anyone used them? I am leery at this point. I don't want to lose my money or not get the service I need.

 

[jkovick]

$700 is a big difference. I would wonder if they have any additional fees or charges that are added into the total. Maybe it is fine, but that is a big difference from a little known agency. I'd be cautious. Good Luck!

 

[westjones]

We are on that cruise too and I have been watching it because my sister was going to go to but hasn't booked. It is rising VERY fast. There have been two price increases in the past week!

This cruise is during school break, but was originally priced as a value priced cruise (we booked a Cat. 10 SPR for 2 adults and 2 kids for $1665 back in Dec. 2002, now the price is $1100 more).

The Cat. 11s and 12s are gone on the DCL website.

You might want to price this one through All Seasons Travel:

http://www.allseastravel.com

But if I were you, I would book fast! It seems to be filling up. I really doubt if my sister goes now that the price has almost doubled for her. We are going, ours seems like a real bargain now!

Good Luck!
DJ

 

[outahere]

Keep in mind that the quotes on the DCL site include transfers from the airport and trip insurance, unless you specifically remove them. Depending on how many people are traveling, that can be a substantial amount and those items may not be included in the quote you received from Cruise Planners. That could be a large part of the difference.

 

[westjones]

I always remove those charges for the quotes when I check DCL. It is important to remember to always remove them, even if you are getting a second quote and they 'say' the insurance and transfers are not included in the quote. I have found that often they are included on the second quote and I need to 'recalculate' it again (if that makes any sense). This problem seems to be with the insurance cost more so than the transportation cost.

Anyway, the quotes I am looking at do not include those things. This cruise is just getting VERY popular and the prices are rising very fast (have been watching this cruise for the past year since my sister won't book early).

DJ

 

[awatt]

I would as the others have said,check to see that you're comparing apples to apples. Many sites quote prices that do not include taxes/fees,which can be significant.

If the price you got is for the same product,I would book it ASAP.

 

[westjones]

I just looked at this cruise again and now all the Cat. 10s are gone! Something is going on, this one is booking up. Good Luck!

DJ

 

[yourtravelpro]

Originally posted by travellady
I decided on the 12/19 4 day cruise and have been doing pricing for a month. Overnight, the price went up 200.00 on Expedia and it looks like even more on the DCL website. But, yesterday when I saw a recommendation for Cruise Planners, I had them give me a quote - that quote is now 700.00 less than the current DCL website price. And, Cruise Planners will hold this for me until tomorrow. I also requested a quote from DU yesterday but haven't heard anything back.

My dilemma is should I go with Cruise Planners? The thread for them yesterday seemed to indicate the post was nothing more than an advertisement. Has anyone used them? I am leery at this point. I don't want to lose my money or not get the service I need.

Have you checked the rate with Costco Travel?

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by westjones
The Cat. 11s and 12s are gone on the DCL website.Good Luck!
DJ

I just looked on DCL.com (out of curiosity) and it looks like CAT10s are gone, too.

Edited to add: Ooops! You already said that!

 

[westjones]

BTW, it looks like All Seasons Travel is still selling Cat. 11s and Cat. 10s, so if you are looking for those rooms you can give them a try:

http://content.onlineagency.com/c/5/5738/1154186_5738.htm#12-19-2004

My room is looking more and more like a real bargain every day! We usually go in September and those prices rarely change at all. But this December one has really went up in just the past month! I guess people are beginning to make their holiday plans now.

DJ

 

[westjones]

Hey, I just saw on the official DCL website that they now have more Cat. 10s available for this sailing date. Some lucky people must have gotten upgrades.

DJ


Edited later in the day: Oops! The 10s are gone again! Boy this is one crazy cruising date! Travellady, did you make any decisions on bookings yet? It should be a fun voyage! I can't wait to see all the decorations for the holidays!