cruise surprises

[tgh]

I would welcome any additional thoughts.

The recent pandemic has decimated the once sound financial position of most major cruise companies.
They have borrowed at usurious rates to maintain liquidity and are now faced with rapidly escalating costs of staying in business .
They are fighting for survival with their customers the only source of more revenue.
Whatever it takes is trumps…Higher fares, hidden costs when aboard , cheaper foodstuffs, cheaper every little thing.
It all isn't pretty but thats where they find themselves.. there will eventually be a day of reckoning and cruising will recover.
Meanwhile...caveat emptor ...

 

[Anna]

Luckily (sarcasm) they can still use the business model of exploiting third world labour for next to no wages and get the pax to pay the wages via 'gratuities'. (This is the reason why I don't remove the gratuities. Some people will literally get paid almost nothing if not for the gratuities. It is unconscionable, and would be illegal for an Australian employer).

 

[Stargazer]

Been speaking to a few cruise lines for a cruise in March. Most of the cabins have been sold out. I am concerned that the best cabins are long gone Particulary in terms of both location, and related to issues of sea sickness. It’s been suggested I hold off and consider booking a cruise mid year for end of year sailing allowing me the greatest option of cabins. Sounds realistic. Are my concerns valid or should I take the plunge and book now from a very limited range of cabins

 

[Happy Dude]

So y'all hand over tips when boarding or wait until the end?

 

[Pushka]

So y'all hand over tips when boarding or wait until the end?

In Australia bookings they are included as part of the fare.

 

[Rich]

Been speaking to a few cruise lines for a cruise in March. Most of the cabins have been sold out.

I was going to say you were leaving it late, but you beat me to it. I would say if you still find the right cruise and a reasonable cabin then go for it.
As well as cabin availability, compare the cost of taking a cruise later. Prices are often better further out from a cruise, but there are also last minute deals to be had.

 

[Pushka]

I was going to say you were leaving it late, but you beat me to it. I would say if you still find the right cruise and a reasonable cabin then go for it.
As well as cabin availability, compare the cost of taking a cruise later. Prices are often better further out from a cruise, but there are also last minute deals to be had.

Agree. Our cruise next year in May has been completely sold out for 9 months.

 

[Stargazer]

The last minute deals look pretty good. It’s really difficult to choose a cabin at a premium price and then see a similar cabin category substantially discounted closer to sailing. I will be travelling solo so the price automatically doubles.

 

[Stargazer]

Do you use a specialist travel agent whose main focus is cruising or do you book direct with the cruise line. If the former who would you recommend? What are the advantages of booking with a specialist travel agent. Can they secure extras or bonuses apart from advising which are the best cabins etc.

 

[tgh]

travelling solo so the price automatically doubles.

It ain't necessarily so, many lines offer educed single supplements although only on low yield routes.
Australian Coral Expeditions have the best system ; @ sail date <30 days unsold cabins in all categories are bookable as singles .

 

[Stargazer]

Is it worthwhile upgrading to a suite. I wasn’t thinking about the high end cruises but perhaps Princess, Royal Caribbean or Holland America. Is it worth the extra dollars and benefits?

 

[Flying Fox]

Personally, not for me. I normally book a basic room as I tend to only spend my time sleeping in the room and most of my time around the rest of the ship or doing shore excursions.

One time I did get a balcony room because everything was sold out. It did come in handy as one of my babies had a vomit in his pram and so I gave it a good clean and secured it on the balcony to air dry.

A suite would be nice if you plan to spend most of your time lounging around in it - IMHO.

 

[Stargazer]

But what about the amenities and bonuses apart from having larger and more inclusive accommodation . There has to be a better value equation rather than bragging rights.

 

[Pushka]

But what about the amenities and bonuses apart from having larger and more inclusive accommodation . There has to be a better value equation rather than bragging rights.

You need to evaluate how much those mean to you on every particular cruise. For a port intensive cruise where you are off the ship during the day, then having a suite doesn't mean as much as cruises where there are many sea days.

 

[Flying Fox]

Personally, the additional amenities didn't add up for me. I could simply purchase/upgrade what I wanted and still come out paying less.

Others may disagree.

 

[Stargazer]

Do you use a specialist travel agent whose main focus is cruising or do you book direct with the cruise line. If the former who would you recommend? What are the advantages of booking with a specialist travel agent. Can they secure extras or bonuses apart from advising which are the best cabins etc.

Any thoughts in relation to this post

 

[drron]

Certainly our travel agent is well known by the cruise industry and certainly gets us discounts on Silverseas which is our prefered line. I know she also deals with most of the cruise lines.
We use her as a TA because when the proverbial hits the fan she is excellent at extricating us and putting things right.

 

[VPS]

Any thoughts in relation to this post

I used a travel agent but it’s fine to book yourself. The TA is useful for giving you tips and is there to help if things go pear shaped. I used Team — Premium Flyer. Alex

 

[Dan_]

But what about the amenities and bonuses apart from having larger and more inclusive accommodation . There has to be a better value equation rather than bragging rights.

Suite isn't worth it on Royal unless you need the space. I cruise with them and for $35 a day we get priority boarding, priority tenders, VIP seating in shows and steaming grade wifi. All of which are free for suite guests. A suite will get you access to Costal Kitchen and free happy hour drinks if you dont have the package.
Re the drinks package, it works for me, but you need to do your own costings.

A typical day for me looks like barista coffee in the morning, coughtail about 11am, 3-4 beers until 2pm, 2 more coughtails, 2 glasses of wine with dinner a coughtail with the show and a whiskey/rum/tequila to end the night. I easily pay off the drinks package, but I do drink a lot.

Dining package is rarely worth it. The main dining room food is bloody good. We typically go to one or 2 specialty restaurants on a 10 night cruise. This one we are doing in Feb has a lot of sea days, so we might get the dining package as it includes specialty lunch on the sea days.
I found (especially on the cruises leaving the US), being very nice to your waiter and assistant waiter means you get VIP treatment. It was just common courtesy stuff, how are you, please, thanks, if you don't mind etc, but may of the US guests seemed to have an expectation of amazing service and treated the waiters as almost non existent. This was best displayed when it came to lobster night and my waiter brought me a steak with 2 lobsters on top, whereas they guy nearby asked for 2 lobsters and was told they can only do it after everyone has been served. He then proceeded to bring my wife one of each dairy free dessert so she could taste each one they had.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I used a travel agent but it’s fine to book yourself. The TA is useful for giving you tips and is there to help if things go pear shaped. I used Team — Premium Flyer. Alex

So what do they actually do for you that you can't do yourself through Amex or Virtuoso etc?