Best cruise rates?

Cruise Critic is definitely great...those folks know everything about cruising. Unfortunately, I don't know if there is one place that has the best prices for a particular line. When we've looked into prices for cruises - we just shopped around at all the different sites, got prices etc

Check the Carnival website and other sites to compare. For example, on the Sept 27th cruise to the Bahamas:

Carnival's Website:
Inside Cabin: $269 pp
Outside Cabin: $284 pp
Suite: $609 pp

VacationsToGo.com:
Inside Cabin: $239 pp
Outside Cabin: $284 pp
Suite: $709 pp

There usually isn't much difference between rates offered directly by the cruise line and those available at travel agents. But, sometimes there is! I've been on nine cruises and booked some with a cruise line and some with online travel agents. I just surf and compare prices. Specific sites will have deals with on-board credit on occasion, or there will be a sale that drops rates below what others are currently offering.

The site I used for my cruise last summer was http://www.cruisecompete.com/ . You fill out the info on the cruise you're looking at, and agents email you quotes. We saved a few hundred dollars with them, and you can bet it will be on my radar for my next cruise.

i booked our last cruise through shop discover. the rate was cheaper and we got 5% cash back. I think the rate was around 90 less total than carnivals website. For the most part though, I have found carnivals site to be cheaper than expedia, orbitz etc. If you book straight on the carnival site you are guaranteed the lowest price possible as long as you book under the right offer. So, if the rate goes down after you book and you book the "early saver" offer, you will receive on board credit for the difference in the lower price.

I'm going to be taking my 16th cruise in November with two more booked for next year, 12 on Carnival and the other 4 on different carriers. The prices are pretty controlled by Carnival so if you see a different price the travel agent (TA) is either giving you on board credit (OBC), free travel insurance or some how rebating their commission to you.

For your first cruise I would suggest using a travel agent if only to have someone that has experience and can help you pick a good room and if they are heavy cruise agency will have more knowledge (IMHO) then the call center people at the company direct. The one downside to booking with a travel agency is that if you have a question you can only deal with the TA. Carnival will not discuss your booking with you at all. Not an issue if you have a great TA but bothersome if you just pick an online website with no customer service.

Booking early saver will save you money upfront and potentially during the time between booking and sailing. However there are downfalls to booking early saver so make sure to read the fine print. I know there is some cancellation fee and I believe that Carnival will keep your money and apply it to another cruise but no refund the cash.

Directly from Carnival Website:

• What if I need to make changes to my ship or sailing date?
Ship and sailing date changes are allowed prior to the final payment due date, subject to a $50 USD service fee per person, per change. Changes made after the final payment due date are subject to standard cancellation penalties.

• Does Early Saver follow Carnival’s standard deposit, payment and cancellation terms?
The deposit and payment terms are the same. However, Early Saver reservations require a full non-refundable deposit per person.

Cruise Critic has lots of information and can help with finding information on the ports you will be visiting but they can be a little harsh in their comments. So take a lot of what you read and don't take what can be nastiness to heart.

If you want to talk more about cruising I'd be happy to help you.

Nice post thanks for the share and information

I've only been on a handful of cruises, but I've found some of the cheapest prices on Costco's travel site. We'll be taking the NCL Hawaiian Islands cruise this coming December and Costco's prices for a balcony stateroom were about $200 per person cheaper than anywhere else I looked (and I've been watching that cruise for about 5 years hoping for a deal). Not sure if Costco deals with Carnival anymore though. I think I may have heard they'd had a falling out.

Been on 7 cruises in the past 5 years. I usually book with the actual cruise line up until the last possible moment to switch to a Travel agent (if they have lower prices). Try vacations to go . com. They have some unbelievably great last minute deals!

Thanks for the suggestions. I went ahead and booked directly through carnival, as it seems there isn't much wiggle room on their prices, or at least when you're booking a lower end cruise like I am. Cruisecompete does seem promising, though. If I ever book a more extravagant cruise I'll definitely be checking with them.

Quote from LockStock : Check the Carnival website and other sites to compare. For example, on the Sept 27th cruise to the Bahamas: Carnival's Website: Inside Cabin: $269 pp Outside Cabin: $284 pp Suite: $609 pp VacationsToGo.com: Inside Cabin: $239 pp Outside Cabin: $284 pp Suite: $709 pp

Just an FYI, those lower priced rooms usually are different from the standard type. For example, the 239 inside cabin may be a cabin with a twin and an upper, instead of 2 twins that convert to a full.

Like another poster said, Carnival pretty much controls the prices on all booking sites. Where booking with a TA has an advantage is if they are running a sale outside of Carnival that includes some bonus OBC or even sometimes prepaid gratuities. Carnival also has an Early Saver Rate which gives you price protection if the price of your cruise goes down. I think you have to book 5 months in advance or more but just an FYI for future cruises.

It is also good to book a cruise during sales because even though the prices remain similar, they give you upgrades on rooms . . . so many times you can upgrade from a cabin aft/for on the lowest deck to a cabin on the lido deck for the same price.

Quote from radiashun : Hoping someone with experience with cruises can help me out. My family and I are taking a 5 night Carnival Cruise out of Charleston in late September or early October. I've read varying opinions on whether its better to go straight through Carnival's site or through an online travel site or travel agent. The site that seems to have the most experienced users by far, Cruisecritics, doesn't allow members to mention any sites by name, so I don't know if I'm missing out on deals/rebates/"cruise cash" (or whatever its called). Its turning into a frustrating process, and I almost need a vacation from planning my vacation. Anyone who's been on a cruise before have any recommendations?

I'd just compare the final rates of the different booking sources. With cruises you have to be careful to ensure you've got all fees and charges included. Sticker prices can vary but at the end of the day, it's the final price that matters.

Quote from radiashun : Thanks for the suggestions. I went ahead and booked directly through carnival, as it seems there isn't much wiggle room on their prices, or at least when you're booking a lower end cruise like I am. Cruisecompete does seem promising, though. If I ever book a more extravagant cruise I'll definitely be checking with them.

even though you booked directly thru CCL, you are still permitted to transfer reservation over to a travel agency within 30 days.

never hurts to post it on cruisecompete to see if any TA's are interested as to offering an on board credit, etc.

ps did u ask CCL as to any special rates you may qualify? i.e. resident, senior, military (2 years/honorable discharge/DD214). Not sure exactly when you sail but early saver is good program if you're sure you're going to sail on X date. It allows you to monitor the fare even after final payment and receive onboard credits for rate drops in your booked category.

couldn't pay me to go on carnival.