Booking a cruise and gettting points/miles [Consolidated]
**I am brand new so forgive me if this question isn't in the right place**
My mom will be booking a cruise for 10 or 11 people today (The cruise will be in April). What is the best way to take advantage of this? I don't have any credit cards that will earn travel points I'm brand new and will be applying soon. I'm thinking the best thing to do is purchase the cruise through a website that offers miles or points but now that I'm looking, I'm overwhelmed.
Programs: Plans=55, TCC=129, MTP=211, C-Cards in Play=24+
Posts: 3,052
What line? As a former guest lecturer, I was into free cruising way before free flying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caymen
**I am brand new so forgive me if this question isn't in the right place**
My mom will be booking a cruise for 10 or 11 people today (The cruise will be in April). What is the best way to take advantage of this? I don't have any credit cards that will earn travel points I'm brand new and will be applying soon. I'm thinking the best thing to do is purchase the cruise through a website that offers miles or points but now that I'm looking, I'm overwhelmed.
Carnival Cruise Lines (April 6-11)
5 night Western Caribbean
4/6: Depart from Tampa
4/7: At Sea
4/8: Cayman Islands
4/9: Cozumel
4/10: At Sea
4/11: Tampa
Carnival Cruise Lines (April 6-11)
5 night Western Caribbean
4/6: Depart from Tampa
4/7: At Sea
4/8: Cayman Islands
4/9: Cozumel
4/10: At Sea
4/11: Tampa
You need to look at 4 factors:
1. Total Cost
2. Associated Perks (On Board Credit to your account etc)
3. Portal Bonus
4. Card Bonus
Personally I compare vacationstogo.com with the cruiselines own pricing. For a portal think of Ultimate Rewards etc which is a shopping portal Chase uses, or you can go here:
Good choice of dates in April, I think: you'll probably just miss the spring break crowd. Spring break on Carnival = a noisy noisy mess.
It's likely that the full amount is not due immediately today... probably a large deposit with the remainder due 60 (?) days before cruise. No reason that the later payment can't be on a different card than today's payment, so apply for a card today and you should have it by then.
Definitely price the cruise out on vacationstogo. Be upfront and ask for discounts, past passenger discounts, stateroom credits that might be available. Just for kicks, also try travelocity or another OTA, who will likely tack on hidden fees into the total.
You will earn something just by paying with your card(s).
To maximize what you can earn back via portal or whatnot, you also need to investigate the pricing - there is often difference between cruiselines, online agencies, and a volume cruise agent. Vacation-to-go or Cruise-N-More are good sites to verify the prices you are quoted by whatever avenue you go thru is good or not.
On top of that, it looks like your mother would get some sort of group booking discount, even a free cruise for herself, by booking directly with the cruiseline for the number of people she is booking for. If that is the case it would beat ANY earning enhancement mechanism.
There are quite a few factors in the equation to chew upon, not just the earning of points on the surface.
I tried contacting Carnival directly but they won't offer a discount until you book at least 8 rooms. It seems like everything out there is shady. The price says $329...but it's not actually $329. It's $456 for the first two people in a room, then $276 for the next two people...so unless you cram 4 people into every room, you're paying way more. And then all the fees which I'm fine with if they would tell me up front. Then there are these fake "deals" like a $50 on board credit but you can't get that unless you pay $60 more for the full rate.
As far as the miles go, it's only 4000 total that I could get. I mean I'll take what I can get but for an 11 person cruise I was kinda hoping for a little more.
It looks like we might wait a few days or week to book so I'll apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card which will get me 2 points on travel. Is that the best bet?
Programs: Plans=55, TCC=129, MTP=211, C-Cards in Play=24+
Posts: 3,052
You just use the cruise as a stepping stone to meet an initial spend. The magic comes afterward when the card becomes a miles/money printing machine.
The industry is not so much shady as filled with the same kinda accounting/legal BS as airline baggage fees and fuel surcharges. You will also find the soft and hard drinks are not free, nor are any specialty restaurants, and that tips, while not mandatory are often added to bills.
All roads are leading you to the Chase UR card. The only thing is whether any money can be made booking today versus in about 10 days or whether any particular rooms need to be booked ASAP (say for example, a handicapped access room with a window with an adjoining room).
You are looking at inside rooms, which many of us longtimers favor for stability in rough water, but newbies may not like as they have no windows like a hotel room. Your cabins will be small by hotel standards. The trick is to always be out and about. Those who are older and more room bound may want the outside rooms with a window.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caymen
I tried contacting Carnival directly but they won't offer a discount until you book at least 8 rooms. It seems like everything out there is shady. The price says $329...but it's not actually $329. It's $456 for the first two people in a room, then $276 for the next two people...so unless you cram 4 people into every room, you're paying way more. And then all the fees which I'm fine with if they would tell me up front. Then there are these fake "deals" like a $50 on board credit but you can't get that unless you pay $60 more for the full rate.
As far as the miles go, it's only 4000 total that I could get. I mean I'll take what I can get but for an 11 person cruise I was kinda hoping for a little more.
It looks like we might wait a few days or week to book so I'll apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card which will get me 2 points on travel. Is that the best bet?
Programs: Plans=55, TCC=129, MTP=211, C-Cards in Play=24+
Posts: 3,052
Happy - the missing puzzle piece is whether flights are needed to reach Tampa. The flights could equal the cruise cabin price, so the credit card may need to do some heavy miles lifting before the cruise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy
You will earn something just by paying with your card(s).
To maximize what you can earn back via portal or whatnot, you also need to investigate the pricing - there is often difference between cruiselines, online agencies, and a volume cruise agent. Vacation-to-go or Cruise-N-More are good sites to verify the prices you are quoted by whatever avenue you go thru is good or not.
On top of that, it looks like your mother would get some sort of group booking discount, even a free cruise for herself, by booking directly with the cruiseline for the number of people she is booking for. If that is the case it would beat ANY earning enhancement mechanism.
There are quite a few factors in the equation to chew upon, not just the earning of points on the surface.
As for pricing, Vacationstogo is OK for close in reservations - but beware of their customer service. One time I booked with vacationstogo and had horrible customer service. It was a situation where there was a taxi strike in Athens so I needed to, at the last minute, book the cruise port transfer. Basically vacationstogo made promises to contact the cruise line but never did. Wound up having daughter call the cruise line directly and took care of the situation in 5 minutes.
The site I tend to find the best prices at is cruisecompete.com . You get quotes from numerous cruise agencies and you can book with whichever one you feel most comfortable with. Savings tend to be substantial over what you get booking directly with the cruise line.
You dont understand how cruise industry operates. It is NOT shady at all. Everything is spelled out what are included what are not.
Just like stay in the hotel, INCIDENTALS not covered by your fares are charged to your onboard account.
And DONT skim on your daily gratuity. The attendants' income is largely depending on guest gratuities. This is just how it is. If you skim the gratuity you are not punishing the "shady" company in your mind, you punish the poor workers who largely come from undeveloped and poor economies around the world. For Carnival, they most likely come from Philippines, India and the like.
As ADK said, it is far less shady than airline industry.
Since apparently you are first time cruiser you would be benefited to read the primers on cruisecritic board so you understand what to expect.
We did 2 almost back to back cruises in Oct/Nov - RCL's 11 day Holy Lands Rome to Rome, and HAL's 14 day TATL. I cannot find any form of travel that can let us visit interesting places, 24/7 dining, a nicely appointed room and even nightly entertainment if you so wish, for $60 a day per person (obstructed view cabin.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caymen
I tried contacting Carnival directly but they won't offer a discount until you book at least 8 rooms. It seems like everything out there is shady. The price says $329...but it's not actually $329. It's $456 for the first two people in a room, then $276 for the next two people...so unless you cram 4 people into every room, you're paying way more. And then all the fees which I'm fine with if they would tell me up front. Then there are these fake "deals" like a $50 on board credit but you can't get that unless you pay $60 more for the full rate.
As far as the miles go, it's only 4000 total that I could get. I mean I'll take what I can get but for an 11 person cruise I was kinda hoping for a little more.
It looks like we might wait a few days or week to book so I'll apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card which will get me 2 points on travel. Is that the best bet?
As for pricing, Vacationstogo is OK for close in reservations - but beware of their customer service. One time I booked with vacationstogo and had horrible customer service. It was a situation where there was a taxi strike in Athens so I needed to, at the last minute, book the cruise port transfer. Basically vacationstogo made promises to contact the cruise line but never did. Wound up having daughter call the cruise line directly and took care of the situation in 5 minutes.
The site I tend to find the best prices at is cruisecompete.com . You get quotes from numerous cruise agencies and you can book with whichever one you feel most comfortable with. Savings tend to be substantial over what you get booking directly with the cruise line.
I had bad one experience in the past from a provider I picked in a cruisecompete bids. The agent who took my business left the company and the company refused to honor the additional OBC the cruise line announced and the previous agent agreed. That was 2005. I also had one good experience. It is uneven depending on your luck.
Luckily we have now a cruise agent who we have booked over 12 cruises since 2006 once I found her thru some word of mouth recommendation. We did 3 cruises this year. I do use online site to look for the cruises we want, and just ask our agent to quote me the prices. We are very low maintenance customers - all we need is the booking conduit and some personal services. She fits the needs and often provide above and beyond services. We are very happy with her and glad to see her business has grown a lot in the past years especially after she became widow so then fully concentrating on her business. Top 10 producers in AMEX Consortium.
Our families in Canada use vacation to go to check prices but always take it to their agent who always matches. I think for cruises it is still better to book thru a human agent, even thru cruise directly. It really depends on your own knowledge base to get the most out of it.
Thank you guys so much for the help! I'm starting to narrow things down and get it straightened out. I've taken a cruise before but never shopped for one myself so figuring out all the added on fees has been a learning experience. But I think I have it all under control now!
I am familiar with all the extra fees with flying so that comes second nature to me. I was a server back in my college days so I never skimp on the tip! And, I don't drink anything but water so those fees don't bother me.
There will be no flying to Tampa. We'll be driving and possibly staying in a hotel or staying with friends.
Programs: Plans=55, TCC=129, MTP=211, C-Cards in Play=24+
Posts: 3,052
Excellent. You will be able to bring more luggage if you don't have to watch baggage fees. That luggage could hold dive or snorkeling gear or other goodies if any kiddos are along. For a 5 dayer I would say no real need for formal wear unless you want a family photo for the occasion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caymen
Thank you guys so much for the help! I'm starting to narrow things down and get it straightened out. I've taken a cruise before but never shopped for one myself so figuring out all the added on fees has been a learning experience. But I think I have it all under control now!
I am familiar with all the extra fees with flying so that comes second nature to me. I was a server back in my college days so I never skimp on the tip! And, I don't drink anything but water so those fees don't bother me.
There will be no flying to Tampa. We'll be driving and possibly staying in a hotel or staying with friends.
Programs: US CP; AA LTG; HH Dia; SPG Plat; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,913
I have a good discount travel agent I use who gives me pretty good deals or on board credit -- not quite as good as I could get elsewhere but she is happy to do business by e-mail (my preferred choice) and is pretty responsive. I also have used costcotravel and have been pretty happy; some don't like them.
The easiest way to get points is simply to find your best deal and then either pay with a card where you need to make a spend to get a sign up bonus or to pay with a chase UR, which gives 2x. My travel agent is ok with applying multiple Amex Gift cards to pay, so I buy gift cards at stores that qualify me for credit card multiplier bonuses and then just pay for the cruises with those.
The various portals and credit card related entities that give 4x or so for cruises generally charge you full brochure rates, so if you could get a better discount through a TA, that's not always the smartest way to go.
I'm brand new and will be applying soon. I'm thinking the best thing to do is purchase the cruise through a website that offers miles or points but now that I'm looking, I'm overwhelmed.
