What did you pay for your cruise w/o air?????

[Sale Me Away]

I have been reading the boards for a few weeks now and was curious what kind of deals everyone is finding. Don't include air, as that can be a lot different depending on how close to the pier you are.

List ship, date your sailing, category, deck, and room number if you wish!

Here goes:
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS
09/18/04
BB
ALOHA DECK
A601
$1500.00 for the two of us!

Don't know if that's good or bad. We live in Michigan and booked this back in late October.....

Until the Carribean Princess Cruise Woo Hoo
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;9;18;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[CruiseFever]

There are a bunch of variables that make comparing what one person got for a cruise to another really tough.

I think what's more important to me is to feel like I got a decent price and that whoever made the arrangements is efficient. I read so often of people who's TA really dropped the ball.

On the other hand I also read when someone has a really good TA how smoothly everything went and then members come here, read between the lines, and praise the heck out of her....er....some TA.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[sue d. miller]

You are right in the ballpark. I would say at second bae. Not high, not low. You did good. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Chris, did you ever think of becoming Sec. of State? You are very diplomatic. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[cruiserforlife]

Hard to figure out cruise only for our last sailing since it was a cruise/airfare package but:

Navigator of the Seas
9/20/03
originally an inside cabin,upgraded to a balcony
$799/pp with airfare

"a bad day at sea is better than a great day at work and a lousy day at sea is still pretty damn good!"

[srphnx]

Not much, but we pay it often. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Life is at it's best when your address floats
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[PeabodyNVL]

I'm not even gonna go for this one! I can imagine all the calls certain TAs are gonna get! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Posts where people compare rates are just not a good thing...someone is always going to feel like they got gypped or that someone else is gloating.

Pea

5/9 Golden Princess &nbsp;http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;5;9;23;0;00&timezone=GMT-0400
http://escati.linkopp.net/logos/time98.gif

[coiran]

I am usually able to book an inside, Baja deck or better at about $100 pp per day - I think this is doing pretty good - This is on Princess.

NCL PRIDE OF AMERICA Oct. 2004
SUN PRINCESS 2004 Caribbean
REGAL PRINCESS 2003 Europe
GOLDEN PRINCESS 2002 Canada New England
SUN PRINCESS 2002 Panama Canal
SUN PRINCESS 2002 Mexico
DAWN PRINCESS 2001 Caribbean
DAWN PRINCESS 2001 Caribbean
SEA PRINCESS 2001 Alaska
REGAL PRINCESS 2000 Mexico
REGAL PRINCESS 1999 Panama Canal
PACIFIC PRINCESS 1999 Europe
SUN PRINCESS 1998 Caribbean
ROYAL PRINCESS 1996 Panama Canal

[Travel Angel]

I have to say that this type of question is so open ended that whatever rates someone posts has so many variables in it such as :
1. When was the cruise booked
2. What month of year is cruise
3. Were any promos involved in rates
4. Any coupons used when booked
5. etc...etc...etc....

[BJS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> curious what kind of deals everyone is finding. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Many too many variables to do a comparison like this. Regional , past passanger, this special, that special, etc., etc. Best way is to see what prices you can get in your area and then watch the trends to find out what are good deals for you.

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[CaptData]

I always pay double as I'm single. How does that song go She's single I'm drinking doubles.

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2006;12;5;11;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500&nbsp;Until we sail away on the ocean blue



Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03
Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb 01/03
Dawn Princess Panamal Canal 11/02

[skarletohara]

On our last cruise, Caribbean sailing(Golden) we booked 10 weeks before sailing:
$737 per person (including all charges) CatBB
upgraded to a VS on Golden

On the Star Princess: Mexican Riviera:
Cat BB -- booked 2 and a half weeks before $949
per person plus tax:

For the upcoming Mexican Riv On the Diamond,
Cat AC -- $1,000 including $100 shipboard credits
All prices above were per person.

On the Monarch of the seas 10 years ago, $1,300
per person for an INSIDE cabin that was half
the size of of the cabins on Princess!

And on the Carnival, it was too long ago for
me to remember, but it should have been free;
it was awful!

Carnival Holiday 6/92
RCCL Monarch of the Seas 6/94
Celebrity Infinity 6/28/01
Star Princess 2/08/03
Golden Princess 12/06/03
Diamond Princess 9/25/04

[Toto2Kansas]

Only way to compare is to compare apples to apples. Same ship, same cabin, same sailing etc. It would be the only way to find out if there were better deals out there. Sorry!

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04
RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.
One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

[WillB]

CaptData writes: "I always pay double as I'm single. How does that song go She's single I'm drinking doubles."

---------------------------------------------

Princess charges you double? I would refuse to cruise with them. When I was single, I figured out that if I picked my cruise carefully, I could cruise on Crystal for the same price as RCI because RCI wanted double and Crystal only charges 25% more, and in some cases 10%.

[WendyG]

lol skarlet re: carnival

I just think it's unfair that every single person on the same ship pays a different price.
I was at a dinner table with two couples from Canada who were discussing their prices and one couple paid $3100 for their 10 day cruise (cruise only mind you and US$) in an inside cabin, and the other couple paid $4300!
Talk about ruining your vacation!

I never discuss what I paid, I just don't think it's a good idea. Just be happy that you feel like you got a good deal and that's all that matters!

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008000&cdt=2004;7;17;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500&nbsp;until the Caribbean Princess!



Sovereign of the Seas 8/98
Premier Seabreeze 4/99
Norwegian Wind 4/00
Norwegian Majesty 4/01
Holland America Volendam 11/01
Grand Princess 4/02
Carnival Fascination 5/02
Costa Atlantica 11/02
Golden Princess 3/03
Explorer of the Seas 7/03
Sun Princess 11/03
Caribbean Princess 07/04

[Northender]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WendyG:
lol skarlet re: carnival

I just think it's unfair that every single person on the same ship pays a different price.
I was at a dinner table with two couples from Canada who were discussing their prices and one couple paid $3100 for their 10 day cruise (cruise only mind you and US$) in an inside cabin, and the other couple paid $4300!
Talk about ruining your vacation!

I never discuss what I paid, I just don't think it's a good idea. Just be happy that you feel like you got a good deal and that's all that matters!

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008000&cdt=2004;7;17;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500&nbsp;until the Caribbean Princess!



Sovereign of the Seas 8/98
Premier Seabreeze 4/99
Norwegian Wind 4/00
Norwegian Majesty 4/01
Holland America Volendam 11/01
Grand Princess 4/02
Carnival Fascination 5/02
Costa Atlantica 11/02
Golden Princess 3/03
Explorer of the Seas 7/03
Sun Princess 11/03
Caribbean Princess 07/04<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I agree WendyG, cruises are like airfares. You can sit next to someone who has paid $225 for a flight that you just paid $550 and you both get the same service, pretzels and coke.

We spoke to our TA regarding our next cruise in March of 05 (hopefully) and would like to have the same type of accomodations at the same price. We will have to wait to see what happens. Thinking of doing the Southern Carib then - anyone do this one and how was it.



Grand Princess 4/4/04

[spongerob]

In this world of regional specials, daily and weekly specials, past-passenger specials, and consolidators, it is almost impossible to compare prices. Last-minute specials are offered to Florida residents, for example, to help fill empty cabins shortly before the cruise is scheduled to depart. Finding a baseline or benchmark to work from is therefore very difficult.

My best advice is to check around, find the best combination of product, service, and price that fits your budget, and then live with your decision when you make that purchase. We've all experienced buyer's remorse, and learned from it.

The next time someone you don't know just has to brag to you about the great deal they got, just look at 'em and say, "Hell, I paid less than that, and I'm in a suite." Then walk away smiling.

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[GottoCruise]

FYI - I live in Florida - (Palm Beach County) (Elite w/25 Princess cruises)and NEVER have had an e-mail from Priness to fill a ship at the last minute at a reduced price ! So much for that rumour!!
I have, however, been alerted to "specials" by this board - and I appreciate that - and try to reciprocate! (Thanks to "Foxy Lady's" post, we were able to take advantage of a 30 day Regal Princess Cruise at an unheard of less than $30 per diem price last year)
My experience of booking cruises recently, has changed - with the Carvnival "takeover", the new ships - the size of the ships - etc. etc.
In years past, Princess always "price protected" an early booking. Not anymore....
I don't think it's fair to expect a T/A to bother to call up each client everytime a price changes (unless they have a "group" going on that particular cruise!)
It therefore, becomes incumbant on the passenger to monitor prices themselves....which is a pain, and time consuming!!
and then again, Princess has many different "Promos" and offtimes, more than not, will not reduce prices, but say the new rates are for "new bookings only" - or some other "nonsense to get away with not reducing the rate on an advance booking.
For my next cruise, I have been monitoring prices closely since the cruise is an "Exotic" and is not booking well. About 3 weeks before final payment, Princess started dropping rates - I've had to cancel and change my booking in order to get the new rates - thereby = losing my onboard Future Cruise Credits (which Princess refunded) - lucky I had another Onboard Future Cruise Credit to apply to the new booking - or I would have been "out of luck" as to those shipboard credits- after next week's final payment, I expect Princess to drop rates again - and keep doing so, until the cabins are sold....If I am not able to "adjust" my rate to any, (if and when) new rates - I will be a very unhappy cruiser.
IMHO -Princess is penalizing it's loyal and advance reservations.....I'd like to hear what other's have to say about this ---I'm ready to start a letter writing campaign to Princess to see what can be done??
The Airlines will give you a voucher for the difference if your advance flight rate has been reduced, and there is a seat in the class you've booked, available at the new price!
I think this would be a fair option for Princess........comments??
As for what each passenger pays for their cruise - this is a silly comparison - unless made for the same cruise, same csategory!
We don't (usually ) take 7 day Carribbeann/Alaska cruises so I can't comments on those - and I realize they are the majority of cruises talked about on this board --- (or even 10 day Panama Canal etc.) - We look for more unusual/interesting itineraries and longer cruises, since we are retired and able to travel extensively. I wouldn't mind sharing price information - but as for a general comment ---I pay as "little" as I can for the category I want (and then hope for an upgrade!!) I try to figure a "per diem" price for each cruise, and I have a "limit" as to what I will pay "per diem" - which is why I can't cruise Crystal - Seven Seas - One World etc. although I sure would like to ---but I can't see any vacation - no matter where, or when or how, costing me more than $500 "per diem" total. That's just my budget...each has his own I'm sure......I also save frequent flyer miles, as I try not to pay for business class air - if we can't fly comfortably to a far destination, at our "stage in life" - we'll just wait and save more miles until It's possible!!! - or pick another destination. Not having to pay for air saves a lot on our cruise costs as we tend to like the more "Exotic" cruises --not the Carribbeann. Sorry this is so long ---had to get some things "off my chest".....Renee

PACIFIC PRINCESS
7/25/04 Islands of the Pacific Theater
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;7;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT
GOLDEN PRINCESS
8/10/05 British Isles
8/20/05 TransAtlantic
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trfb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ooooff&cdt=2005;8;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

GOLDEN PRINCESS
8/10/05 British Isles 8/20/05 TransAtlantic
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;8;10;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

[This message was edited by GottoCruise on 05-07-04 at 10:40 AM.]

[Hlitner]

As a frequent cruiser (more than 45 different ships) I can't resist this topic. Yes, some do get upset when they see others getting "better deals" but others can use this information as a basis for "shopping around" for a good price. As to comparisons, IMHO its quite simple. One should just take the total cost of the cruise (without air) including all taxes, port charges, etc. and divide by the number of cruise days. Hence you get a cost per passenger day which makes it easy to compare. On our cruises we have paid from as little as $55 per passenger day to about $300 per passenger day. The variance is because of different cruise lines (Radisson and Crystal were the most expensive) itinerary (Europe is usually more than the Caribbean), time of year, category etc. I do agree with another poster that its never a good idea to discuss price when you are on a ship (its sometimes unavoidable).

Hank

[GottoCruise]

Hank - Exactly what I've been saying -- "per diem" is what counts - but you must take into consideration the category -- a full suite is going to cost much more per diem than an inside - so it has to be the "per diem" cost for the Category of Cabin booked.
Lets just stay with Princess here (as we know the "luxury" lines cost more) - if I can get a balcony cabin for less than $100 per diem ---I consider that a real good buy. Anything less - is a true BARGAIN!...and if you take a look at 2005 cruise rates....I think the bargain days are over!!

PACIFIC PRINCESS
7/25/04 Islands of the Pacific Theater
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;7;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT
GOLDEN PRINCESS
8/10/05 British Isles
8/20/05 TransAtlantic
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trfb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ooooff&cdt=2005;8;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

GOLDEN PRINCESS
8/10/05 British Isles 8/20/05 TransAtlantic
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;8;10;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

[deubank]

Come on people. It's just a question for fun and for getting ballpark figures. If you don't want to give your prices, don't respond. If you just want to gripe, start your own thread intitled "I like to gripe".
I'll lay out my "apples" with my price so everyone can see the conditions under which I got my price.

Grand Princess out of Galveston
November 13, 2004
Inside Cabin Category JJ
no residency, past passenger, or other deals
went straight thru an online agency
$590.86 per person (two adults)
Only bonus was a $100pp deposit special and onboard coupons given in stateroom on arrival
I booked in early March 2004.

Now, wasn't that easy? (Have fun with this!)

[CruisingMommy]

SaleMeAway - We are on the same sailing, 9/18/04 on the Caribbean Princess. We booked a minisuite, category AC on the Dolphin Deck with an inside, category K, I believe also booked. We paid $900 each for the minisuite and $530 each for the first and second on the inside cabin. $239 for the the third on the inside (traveling with 3 children). We just booked our airfare, rt bdl to fll for $150 each with direct flights back and forth. I think we did pretty well.

Noordam, 8/97
Grandeur of the Seas 10/98
Monarch of Seas 10/99
Grand Princess 12/00
Grand Princess 9/01
Adventure of the Seas 12/01
Explorer of the Seas 8/02
Caribbean Princess 9/04

[CruiseFever]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>My best advice is to check around, find the best combination of product, service, and price that fits your budget, and then live with your decision when you make that purchase. We've all experienced buyer's remorse, and learned from it.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I couldn't agree more

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[srphnx]

Hard to have sailors remorse, so what if someone got a last minute deal that was $$ less, I had two extra months of knowing I was sailing.. that has a VALUE too.

Life is at it's best when your address floats
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[BJS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>IMHO -Princess is penalizing it's loyal and advance reservations.....I'd like to hear what other's have to say about this ---I'm ready to start a letter writing campaign to Princess to see what can be done??
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> GottocruiseDo you really think they care? We prefer to also book early and "exotics" but if I wasn't constantly checking the prices for a booked cruise and continually having them lowered certainly would not book early anymore.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Come on people. It's just a question for fun and for getting ballpark figures. If you don't want to give your prices, don't respond. If you just want to gripe, start your own thread intitled "I like to gripe". <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Doubt that the comments are gripes rather just pointing out that getting others "ballpark figures" won't do Sale Me Away much good.

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[Lynda90]

I thought I'd gotten a pretty good deal until I started reading this topic. We booked a mini-suite in the least expensive category on the Diamond to Alaska for May 29 sailing. We ended up paying $1299 pp after several price reductiobns. After the second or third reduction, the ta I used charged us $15 to make any changes. I had to call each time I saw a reduction as the ta never informed me of any reductions We ended up first getting upgraded to category AA in a mini-suite and now we have been upgraded to a premium suite. This was done by Princess, not the ta. So, I guess we got a great price for the premium suite and not so great for the mini-suite. But, I am happy and ready to cruise. However, I think for my next cruise I will be shopping around for a new ta.

Lynda

[srphnx]

The expectation that a TA will check on reductions is nealy always a short cut to heart ache. There isn't much incentive as they are paid a percentage and a busy TA can sell over 750 cruises a month, mine does that and more. I would not however pay anyone for changing the price, not a single dollar so I agree with that wholeheartedly. And all upgrades are from Princess not TA's... unless they see the price change and remember your other category (unlikely) and make the move.

These days the best policy is to pick an online site with live pricing and availability and check it like you do your email, NO ONE will ever be as concerned about what you pay as you are.

Life is at it's best when your address floats
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[Lynda90]

Yes, I agree with everything you said. I was able to find live pricing which is the only reason I was able to know about the price reductions. I thought it was standard practice to charge for changes. I'm sure glad everyone in this group is sooooo helpful. Next time things will be different.

Thanks,
Lynda

[BJS]

QUOTE]I had to call each time I saw a reduction as the ta never informed me of any reductions We ended up first getting upgraded to category AA in a mini-suite and now we have been upgraded to a premium suite. This was done by Princess, not the ta. [/QUOTE]
lyndabaker If you are doing all the watching and Princess all the upgrading why not just book with Princess directly?

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[Lynda90]

BJS: When I called Princess, the price they quoted me was significantly higher than the ta.

Lynda

[srphnx]

Booking with Princess directly means you will NEVER get a reduction on TA commission which nearl all of the high volume TA's do.

The 15% the TA gets for the booking can be retuned to you in discount or nearly all of it anyway, that adds up to real money in most cases. ANY TIME Princess has a number no matter how low, it can be discounted further by a TA if they choose to.

Life is at it's best when your address floats
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[surmy555]

Caribbean Princess - 5/15/04 sailing booked Jan 04

Cat K inside Guarentee - upgraded to a Cat II inside

$688 per person including all taxes

[BJS]

srphnx<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>can be discounted further by a TA if they choose to.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Those are the key words. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Always a lower price to be found somewhere.

Not disagreeing with you nor starting a debate but have heard about some of those great TA comission discounts and they were still higher than what we paid directly with Princess for that cruise and category. Also know that high volume TAs give shipboard credits and that these type of credits can not be combined with CCL stock ownership shipboard credits.

Some ways to book work best for some and other ways best for others - just depends on what fits your needs and what you are happy with. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[srphnx]

And to further the spirit of non-arguing, I suggest that every person chech both ways every time, to be sure they are happy... that way the proof is in the pudding for you, your circumstance and your cruise.

My TA does ask about past pax status and checks for that rate but often presents me with options... i.e. this is the way this booking would work vs. the way this would work.. all in all shop, compare, pick and CRUISE.

Life is at it's best when your address floats
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[cactusrose]

Sale me away,

If your price includes govt fees and port charges, Id say you got a good deal. The most important thing is that you are happy with the cabin, ship and itinerary.

Enjoy!

1952 - Excalibur (freighter)
1972 - Song of Norway, Caribbean
1980 - Hawaii American Curise line, Tahiti
09/01/2002 - Veendam, Alaska
05/29/2003 - Pacific Princess, Alaska
11/26/2003 - Star Princess, Australia/New Zealand

5/28/2004 - Star Princess, Venice to Barcelona
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;05;28;21;0;00&timezone=GMT+0100

11/06/2004 - Diamond Princess, Mexican Riviera
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;11;06;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800

[Lidi]

CruisingMommy, what airline are you flying? We are leaving the next week for our Caribbean Princess cruise and so far that is a great rate. I would like to check into that. TIA

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2003;5;11;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Norway 5/11

[prose]

Only thing I can say is that we paid less $ for our 15 day Hawaii cruise in 2005 than we did for our 10 day Panama Canal in 1999.

Paula

[crosj]

Coral Princess 10 days Cat aa $4000 (including $200 ship board credit) April 2005

Sun Princess 3 day Cat BC $400 for the room. May 2004

Rhapsody of the Seas- 7 day Mardi Gras- Cat JR-
$2000 for the room.. Feb 2004

Island Princess 7 day northbound Alaska Cat BC $2400 for the room- Aug 2003

Thats all my memory will allow me to remember.

Elation-04/01 Mexico
Radiance-4/02 Panama Canal
NCL Sun -6/03 Alaska
Island Princess 8/03 Alaska
Rhapsody-2/22/04 Mardi Gras
Sun Princess 5/04 left Coast
Coral Pricess 4/05 Panama Canal

[CruisingMommy]

Lidi - We are flying on Delta/Song. They just dropped their rates thursday (I have been watching for weeks). We booked it through Expedia as they discounted our children's fares (under 2).

Enjoy your cruise!

Noordam, 8/97
Grandeur of the Seas 10/98
Monarch of Seas 10/99
Grand Princess 12/00
Grand Princess 9/01
Adventure of the Seas 12/01
Explorer of the Seas 8/02
Caribbean Princess 9/04

[skarletohara]

To LyndaBaker:
That $1,299 price for the mini was right in
line with my recent price quotes for the Alaska itinery. Alaska itineraries from my
experience cost approx $150 - 200 more per person for the mini-suites than, say, the Mexico cruise on the same ship.
I've been pricing both recently. So you did
quite will with your Penthouse upgrade!
You will love those full suites. They're fabulous.

Carnival Holiday 6/92
RCCL Monarch of the Seas 6/94
Celebrity Infinity 6/28/01
Star Princess 2/08/03
Golden Princess 12/06/03
Diamond Princess 9/25/04

[Lynda90]

Why thank you ms. scarlet; I do feel better and I'm looking forward to the suite. When you think about everything that's included with the cruise, it's really a bargain. I went shopping today and did some real damage to the credit cards but I plan to look fabulous!

Lynda

[dewla]

I know the summer months are higher because kids are out of school. We paid $870 pp for Baja deck balconies. We booked four cabins.
This includes a $25 shipboadr credit so we raly paid $890 per person.
This is for the 6/5/2004 sailing on Carribeacn Princess.

laura

[LetmeCurise]

To Lyndabaker,
The price you paid is EXCATLY what we paid for our cruise on the Diamond to Mexico on 10-16-04
We booked a MIni AA cat. grty. and have paid $1299.00 per person..(paid in full at time of booking)
So maybe Princess will upgrade us to a full suite also.. Would'nt that be heaven.. But if not we know that we have booked a cabin that we will be happy with and have paid a fair price for our vacation....
P.S.
Just last week i found a coupon in the Entertainment book for $100.00 off a princess cruise, So i mailed it in to see if it will be applied to our cruise, Who knows ???
But if not all is great because we HAVE A CRUISE BOOKED>>>>>:-)
After booking

[dewla]

I know that the dates you are cruising is very important as to the price. For example, we livein Houston and Rhapsody of the Seas goes out of Galveston. It was over $1200 per person if we wanted to cruise over Spring Break, but $399 the next week!
I think that times when kids are out of school is always the highest. If you can cruise when kids are in school you will get the very best deals!

Laura

[helen123]

Does $1500 include port charges & taxes?
If it does I think you got a great deal!

[Lynda90]

Letmecruise: The $100 coupon from Entertainment Book is only good on Love Boat Saver fares which tend to be much higher than most pay. So, unless you paid that brochure price, the coupon will not be good. I think the back of the coupon specifies the terms. But, who knows, maybe you'll get lucky. I stayed in an category AA mini suite last year when I went to Mexico and I loved the cabin. so even if you don't get an upgrade, you'll be very happy with what you have. Happy cruising!

Lynda
5/29/04 - Diamond Princess to Alaska