Cruise Compete This good?
Dec 9, 2014, 7:15 pm
#47
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
I don't know. The quoted price is always the same for Carnival and Royal Caribbean as I see on the cruise line sites in my experience, it's the bonus offers on each response that differs. I think they are just discounting out of their commissions and going for volume to make their money.
Dec 25, 2014, 2:39 am
#49
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ATL
Posts: 802
Not always the case. I once booked a cruise on Seabourn that priced at $25k on Seabourns web site, but I paid $23k using cruise compete. My experience is that the higher the price, the more big agencies can discount as many rebate part of their commission.
Jan 13, 2015, 7:11 pm
#51
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Missouri, USA
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum, Delta Gold
Posts: 100
I have used them 4 times in the last 5 years. Never had a problem with any cruises I have booked through them. They've been great. Just this past November, I booked a cruise of the Greek Islands for this upcoming June. Got a great price on a balcony plus extra on board credit and all the perks from the cruise line. Now to get my flights booked
Jan 21, 2015, 8:47 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,533
It depends.
I've seen better deals with them on a 7-night Western Caribbean with RCI but mainly because we were booking 2 Junior Suites, and they had OBC and pre-paid gratuities which basically got us about $200 per cabin cheaper than RCI.
On Carnival on the other hand....
I got a whole $25 extra OBC.
But $25 is $25.
Plus a $50 restaurant.com gift card (I'll use it as it has a restaurant I go to).
It's easy to use and only takes a few moments of your time, so give it a whirl.
I've seen better deals with them on a 7-night Western Caribbean with RCI but mainly because we were booking 2 Junior Suites, and they had OBC and pre-paid gratuities which basically got us about $200 per cabin cheaper than RCI.
On Carnival on the other hand....
I got a whole $25 extra OBC.
But $25 is $25.
Plus a $50 restaurant.com gift card (I'll use it as it has a restaurant I go to).
It's easy to use and only takes a few moments of your time, so give it a whirl.
Jan 31, 2015, 11:41 am
#54
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,133
Feb 5, 2015, 4:56 am
#55
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dusseldorf, Germany
Programs: Business Travel Agent, Sabre Junkie, Miles & More Silver
Posts: 13
Maybe a post from the other side of the aisle can clarify a few things....
I run a small travel agency chain that uses CruiseCompete to generate new business.
We have multiple ways of offering cruise discounts:
a- cross-border selling. Cruise lines, like airlines, offer different prices in different markets. Only a few lines like Holland America and Princess do not allow cross-bordering between the US and Europe, so in times of weak Euros prices can differ up to 25percent
b- buying groups as early as three years ahead of the sailing date at the lowest possible prices. when prices go up closer to the date, we still have space left at "old" prices
c- buying distressed inventory from other agencies/tour operators. a lot of agents buy huge blocks of more than 100 cabins and end up with a few leftovers that they can't return to the cruise line. we buy these at large discount and resell them
d- commission rebating: only when we are missing a few $ to our next commission level, will we actually "buy" business this way. If giving one client $100 means getting back $1000 from the cruise line in commission on my other business, I would say that's an easy decision
@ratherflythantalk
some cruise lines offer deals specifically to AmEx Platinum clients. If the quoting agent is aware of them, he/she may be able to get a better price from the cruise line
I run a small travel agency chain that uses CruiseCompete to generate new business.
We have multiple ways of offering cruise discounts:
a- cross-border selling. Cruise lines, like airlines, offer different prices in different markets. Only a few lines like Holland America and Princess do not allow cross-bordering between the US and Europe, so in times of weak Euros prices can differ up to 25percent
b- buying groups as early as three years ahead of the sailing date at the lowest possible prices. when prices go up closer to the date, we still have space left at "old" prices
c- buying distressed inventory from other agencies/tour operators. a lot of agents buy huge blocks of more than 100 cabins and end up with a few leftovers that they can't return to the cruise line. we buy these at large discount and resell them
d- commission rebating: only when we are missing a few $ to our next commission level, will we actually "buy" business this way. If giving one client $100 means getting back $1000 from the cruise line in commission on my other business, I would say that's an easy decision
@ratherflythantalk
some cruise lines offer deals specifically to AmEx Platinum clients. If the quoting agent is aware of them, he/she may be able to get a better price from the cruise line
Feb 16, 2015, 2:41 pm
#56
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Missouri, USA
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum, Delta Gold
Posts: 100
Maybe a post from the other side of the aisle can clarify a few things....
I run a small travel agency chain that uses CruiseCompete to generate new business.
We have multiple ways of offering cruise discounts:
a- cross-border selling. Cruise lines, like airlines, offer different prices in different markets. Only a few lines like Holland America and Princess do not allow cross-bordering between the US and Europe, so in times of weak Euros prices can differ up to 25percent
b- buying groups as early as three years ahead of the sailing date at the lowest possible prices. when prices go up closer to the date, we still have space left at "old" prices
c- buying distressed inventory from other agencies/tour operators. a lot of agents buy huge blocks of more than 100 cabins and end up with a few leftovers that they can't return to the cruise line. we buy these at large discount and resell them
d- commission rebating: only when we are missing a few $ to our next commission level, will we actually "buy" business this way. If giving one client $100 means getting back $1000 from the cruise line in commission on my other business, I would say that's an easy decision
@ratherflythantalk
some cruise lines offer deals specifically to AmEx Platinum clients. If the quoting agent is aware of them, he/she may be able to get a better price from the cruise line
I run a small travel agency chain that uses CruiseCompete to generate new business.
We have multiple ways of offering cruise discounts:
a- cross-border selling. Cruise lines, like airlines, offer different prices in different markets. Only a few lines like Holland America and Princess do not allow cross-bordering between the US and Europe, so in times of weak Euros prices can differ up to 25percent
b- buying groups as early as three years ahead of the sailing date at the lowest possible prices. when prices go up closer to the date, we still have space left at "old" prices
c- buying distressed inventory from other agencies/tour operators. a lot of agents buy huge blocks of more than 100 cabins and end up with a few leftovers that they can't return to the cruise line. we buy these at large discount and resell them
d- commission rebating: only when we are missing a few $ to our next commission level, will we actually "buy" business this way. If giving one client $100 means getting back $1000 from the cruise line in commission on my other business, I would say that's an easy decision
@ratherflythantalk
some cruise lines offer deals specifically to AmEx Platinum clients. If the quoting agent is aware of them, he/she may be able to get a better price from the cruise line
Feb 21, 2015, 3:10 pm
#57
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
Here's an example of why I find it hard to trust cruise compete.
Allure of the Seas Jan 2016. 2 cabins, 4 people. Balcony and an inside across the hall for the kids. RCI website quotes me in Canadian funds. $4884 all in, and then $200 US on board credit as part of the BOGO sale on right now. Cruise compete agency of the year comes back with US $4949, with a $650 on board credit. So basically $4300 US, which still equates to almost $5400 CDN. That's still almost $800 higher than the RCI website price after factoring in the credits from both offers.
Allure of the Seas Jan 2016. 2 cabins, 4 people. Balcony and an inside across the hall for the kids. RCI website quotes me in Canadian funds. $4884 all in, and then $200 US on board credit as part of the BOGO sale on right now. Cruise compete agency of the year comes back with US $4949, with a $650 on board credit. So basically $4300 US, which still equates to almost $5400 CDN. That's still almost $800 higher than the RCI website price after factoring in the credits from both offers.
Feb 22, 2015, 3:04 am
#58
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ATL
Posts: 802
Here's an example of why I find it hard to trust cruise compete.
Allure of the Seas Jan 2016. 2 cabins, 4 people. Balcony and an inside across the hall for the kids. RCI website quotes me in Canadian funds. $4884 all in, and then $200 US on board credit as part of the BOGO sale on right now. Cruise compete agency of the year comes back with US $4949, with a $650 on board credit. So basically $4300 US, which still equates to almost $5400 CDN. That's still almost $800 higher than the RCI website price after factoring in the credits from both offers.
Allure of the Seas Jan 2016. 2 cabins, 4 people. Balcony and an inside across the hall for the kids. RCI website quotes me in Canadian funds. $4884 all in, and then $200 US on board credit as part of the BOGO sale on right now. Cruise compete agency of the year comes back with US $4949, with a $650 on board credit. So basically $4300 US, which still equates to almost $5400 CDN. That's still almost $800 higher than the RCI website price after factoring in the credits from both offers.
Mar 10, 2015, 10:24 am
#59
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
I have tried but don't use CruiseCompete. Over 20 plus years of cruising I've found three or four discount cruise agencies that have given me great discounts. We have a Med cruise coming up this coming June and the agency we booked with us giving us a 12% discount in real money not on board credits or inexpensive bottles of wine.
Mar 12, 2015, 9:05 pm
#60
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 404
Here's an example of why I find it hard to trust cruise compete.
Allure of the Seas Jan 2016. 2 cabins, 4 people. Balcony and an inside across the hall for the kids. RCI website quotes me in Canadian funds. $4884 all in, and then $200 US on board credit as part of the BOGO sale on right now. Cruise compete agency of the year comes back with US $4949, with a $650 on board credit. So basically $4300 US, which still equates to almost $5400 CDN. That's still almost $800 higher than the RCI website price after factoring in the credits from both offers.
Allure of the Seas Jan 2016. 2 cabins, 4 people. Balcony and an inside across the hall for the kids. RCI website quotes me in Canadian funds. $4884 all in, and then $200 US on board credit as part of the BOGO sale on right now. Cruise compete agency of the year comes back with US $4949, with a $650 on board credit. So basically $4300 US, which still equates to almost $5400 CDN. That's still almost $800 higher than the RCI website price after factoring in the credits from both offers.