Originally Posted by
MoreMilesPlease
Check out cruise compete and then look at the cruise line's website. This close to the cruise date there might not be any difference since it will be at or past the full pay date.
Can you clarify? You seem to be suggesting that a discount TA will not give a discount if the sailing date is within final payment. Admittedly, I haven't booked inside final payment in several years, but I don't see any reason this would be true. In fact, I'd suspect they'd be even more willing to discount since you can no longer cancel with no cost at that point so their risk is reduced.
Originally Posted by
MoreMilesPlease
If you want to go Carnival let me know and I will give you the name and contact of the person I use to book our Carnival cruises. she works directly for Carnival and always gives us a good deal/room.
Are you saying that your PVP can offer discounts not available to the general public? I'm pretty certain that is not true. A PVP may have some insight into the best rooms and maybe a better view as to what is available, but a regular (cruise-centric) TA really should have that also. Given, a PVP only has to know about Carnival ships but then you are limited to Carnival only.
I have to agree with tcook: find a real live TA who gives good service and rely on them for awhile. Once you get hooked on cruising (and you will, having a nice variety with no airfare), you can study up to become more knowledgeable and then use the discount from an online TA who offers discounts. (Note that many do
not offer discounts.)