cornellalum

I have no experience booking or traveling on cruises, but my elderly parents (in their early 70s) have asked me to book a NCL cruise for them. I've discussed other cruise options with them (after searching Orbitz, Expedia, and NCL) and we have decided that this is the best option for them.

14-day Panama Canal Cruise
Ship: Norwegian Pearl
Embarkation port: Los Angeles
Disembarkation port: Miami

I'd like to book this trip for them in the next few days. I think we will book this trip online, unless there is a clear reason to do otherwise. With consideration for senior discounts, shipboard credits, other promotions, and travel insurance, where is the best place to book this cruise? I would appreciate pointers in the right direction.

tcook052

I'd steer you towards your local travel agent as a good TA can help go through all the answers older cruisers are bound to have.

Others here would point to online sites and this thread covers much of that ground:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cruis...ise-deals.html

Good luck.

cordelli

I would find recommendations for a good travel agent who either specialized or was very experienced in cruising.

cornellalum

Thanks, I did a little more research and had not realized that travel agents can provide more incentives than direct booking with the cruiseline. Quite different from the airline industry! I received several offers from CruiseCompete and will be following up with them.

cbalaska

You might even look here for a certified cruise travel agent in your area. http://cruising.org/vacation/welcome

I'm sure your parents will have a great time!

cornellalum

Used CruiseCompete to get quotes from travel agents. Didn't pick the cheapest one, but went with a reputable cruise travel agency that offered a lot of on-board credit and was able to apply a 10% AARP discount.

I was wary booking over the phone, but the travel agent emailed me invoices. There were some hiccups, but none that couldn't be resolved. I felt that my experience was akin to booking through a corporate travel agent. They overlook things, unsure if it's intentional or not, so stay on top of things!

Read the terms carefully. $75 cancellation fee charged by the travel agent in addition to cruiseline cancellation policies. Since I was booking so late, pretty much everything was non-refundable. I had to figure this out myself.

It was the travel agent's policy to include travel insurance on invoices. I was advised by my agent to reply to the email to confirm cancellation of travel insurance.

Emailed the travel agent later to switch room numbers within the same category. She accommodated my request, same day, even after payment. That's exactly what I would expect!

tcook052

This is the "negative option" as retailers call it and I'm not a fan because it puts the onus on the consumer to contact the TA to remove the insurance and while it still leaves the opportunity to opt out it can cause disputes if the buyer doesn't fully read or understand the terms as expressed. Yes, it probably earns the TA tons more insurance sales but it's to me akin to preying on those who don't read the fine print.

Not sure what the rules are in Canada but I doubt it would be kosher as banks, financial services and insurance are all much more highly regulated and strictly controlled that I understand is the case in U.S.

luxury

Norwegian Cruise Lines is a Virtuoso affiliated Cruise line and certain sailings offer Virtuoso's Voyager Club which include a dedicated Voyager Club host, onboard reception, usually a shore excursion, and any other benefits the travel agent can get for you.

You can always contact Virtuoso at www.virtuoso.com and request for the nearest Virtuoso agency to you.

cotomom

vacationstogo.com and costco travel are always top choices in my book. Cheapest and reliable!

twofacelady

Cornellalum: We did this cruise last year. Also, we have been on the Pearl three other times. Love the ship. Love the cruiseline. However, we always book directly through NCL as we book through their casino department and get extra perks.
You may want to go over to cruisecritic. com There is everything you would ever want to know about cruising and it answers absolutely EVERY question. There are forums for each individual cruise line, as well as, roll call for every sailings where people list their names, ages, etc. and plan to meet once on board, and ports of calls forums where you can read about every excursion you can take at each port.
A lot of times there is more accurate and up-to-date info then you can get from a travel agent.

Goldiemom

I agree with twofacelady. You need to go to www.cruisecritic.com. I have been a member for several years and have found it invaluable in planning a cruise. There is a wealth of information on the site.

On a side note, your parents will love the Panama Canal cruise. I took one two years ago and it was the best cruise I have ever taken (out of 20 cruises).

Letitride3c

+1

Definitely use cruisecritics.com for NCL's sub-forum and there are specifics for each ship, including the Pearl, including Roll Calls (other fellows CC members) for most sailing dates - very likely one for the longer ones like the repo(sitioning) down to the Panama (ending up in the Caribb./disembark at MIA) - experienced ones will have tips of pre/post-trip hotels (i.e. bidding on Priceline)

Use the NCL website to price check/compare, email them & NCL's own agent will contact or email you with offering, specials & sometimes even get you a specific cabin if it is not booked. Help with extras like handicapped cabin if qualified, discounts for vets (GI's & active duty), union members & of course, seniors. If travelocity & others have coupon specials, sometimes NCL's own agent can check & price match it. No cost to use & they can even do a 24 hour FREE hold on the quoted booking, giving you time to shop around one last time - once selected, it's eDoc & all, very easy & secure knowing that you are dealing with the cruiseline directly. They also do NOT add the travel insurance automatically (used to) unless requested.

Have fun as we are planning ours with NCL again for 2011.

Madhouse24

To be honest I hate this as well and I'm a TA! The opt-out policy tends to turn a lot of people off so to me its not worth the trouble, I just advise of my clients of the insurance available to them and we go from there....

Different agencies are able to offer benefits depending on sailings. Some agencies have bigger accounts with one cruise company versus another so its always good to check...don't let a few bad TA's ruin the bunch!

cornellalum

Thanks, cruise has already been booked. I'll swing by cruise critic to find more information to pass on to them. I will be sure to tell them to make dinner reservations the day they embark. They're not interested in any of the excursions, but just want to have a nice time on the boat.

As for the "negative option" for travel insurance -- I disapprove as well. I find the opt-out policy to be just shady. Luckily most of us here on FT are informed consumers. And that's why I decided to make the booking for my parents instead of letting them talk to a travel agent themselves.

Unfortunately, there's probably a number of consumers out there who did not fully understand this "negative option" and received an invoice and an unexpected charge on their credit card bill!