Oasis Sept 2 JS (paid in full) now UNAVAILABLE?

[Cruisegirl6]

John&LaLa- I get the best prices when I pay for the cruise, I know the best times to book, in addition, the past 4 cruises we been (as well as our upcoming 2 RC cruises remaining this year) on casino comps most JS rooms and when cruising Carnival we get casino cash and casino discount rates, our upcoming Carnival cruise my other half is getting 1k casino cash....if I book through the TA I would be paying so much more and not getting anythese incentives.

[RocketMan275]

John&LaLa- I get the best prices when I pay for the cruise, I know the best times to book, in addition, the past 4 cruises we been (as well as our upcoming 2 RC cruises remaining this year) on casino comps most JS rooms and when cruising Carnival we get casino cash and casino discount rates, our upcoming Carnival cruise my other half is getting 1k casino cash....if I book through the TA I would be paying so much more and not getting anythese incentives.

 

You may be getting the best price but a good TA offers the same deals/prices the cruise line offers (casino deals may be the exception) and offers either a 10% discount or a 10% rebate. Think how much that adds up over, say, 78 cruises. Or, to put it differently, you could have taken another eight cruises for the same amount you've spent.

[drusierdmd]

John&LaLa- I get the best prices when I pay for the cruise, I know the best times to book, in addition, the past 4 cruises we been (as well as our upcoming 2 RC cruises remaining this year) on casino comps most JS rooms and when cruising Carnival we get casino cash and casino discount rates, our upcoming Carnival cruise my other half is getting 1k casino cash....if I book through the TA I would be paying so much more and not getting anythese incentives.

 

I'll take a guess that you're stuffing more money into the slot machines than the prevailing rates for the stand-alone room. These cruiselines want you on board for a reason. I've read some data points that suggests 50% of casino spending "could" be refunded in comp'ed rooms.

 

I see a crown loft room just opened up...should I push my luck?

 

Nah, I'm happy with the outcome and will sit tight. Thanks again everyone.

 

FYI: I too book using a big box agency, but will use services/websites that shop quotes on my next sailing.

[Margy23]

OTH, I use a TA who goes to bat for her customers.

 

 

I do too - we can completely trust her to put our interests first. We feel there are advantages to having a TA with knowledge, experience, and a reputation with the cruise line that puts her in a better position to negotiate in case of a problem.

 

For anyone whose TA proves not to be an asset, of course trying a different TA or booking direct is the way to go.

 

Margy

[Cruisegirl6]

Rocketman275- Totally understand what your saying, but when we pay for our cruises we always end up. paying the lowest price for it....I book and keep checking to see if there are price drops until final payment is paid for. I can't take any other trips, 3 cruises a year, a two week trip to Aruba, a few mini trips each year my other half has to work lol. But I thank you for the advice!

 

drusierdmd

- LOL, he mostly is very lucky and brings home more money but gambling is entertainment for him, its what he enjoys. He only plays slots and for me, I spend $100 a day when its over its over I sit and make friends at the casino bar and enjoy meeting people there while he plays. These casino comps is why we keep coming back, if we didn't receive them I probably be trying Celebrity and Prinsess again.

 

 

There are many good TA I am sure, but I like to control my booking, I hate to rely on others to do things for me, its just the way I am.

[happicruzer]

Funny thing though...every time you sailCelebrity, the corporation probably makes as much or more money as they did when you sailed Royal.

 

Missed your response due to travel. I realize the same corporate umbrella covers both RCI and Celebrity: however, Aqua on Celebrity is usually less than a Junior suite in RCI. Good food, drink package, 240 free internet minutes and I’m usually ahead by $800-$1000 over RCI.

 

The OBC that came with this booking gave me a new 40 zoom canon camera. Not too shabby!

 

Must admit there are more children on this Celebrity cruise than I’ve ever seen and must be close to 50% international. Hope to get some numbers soon just to satisfy my curiosity.

 

Almost booked Allure but thought children would be all over the ship! Again, Celebrity came out cheaper than a basic RCI balcony after final payment date.

Judy

[RocketMan275]

Rocketman275- Totally understand what your saying, but when we pay for our cruises we always end up. paying the lowest price for it....I book and keep checking to see if there are price drops until final payment is paid for. I can't take any other trips, 3 cruises a year, a two week trip to Aruba, a few mini trips each year my other half has to work lol. But I thank you for the advice!

 

I get price drops through my TA as well. Instead of calling the cruise line, I call my TA. Some process, one phone call, it's done. Sometimes I just send an email. Ever get a price drop from the cruise line by sending them an email?

 

 

There are many good TA I am sure, but I like to control my booking, I hate to rely on others to do things for me, its just the way I am.

 

I feel I have just as much control over my booking as if I had booked direct with the cruise line. Yes, I've heard of flash sales from 1 AM to 3 AM and the TA being out of office but those seem rather rare to me.

[John&LaLa]

John&LaLa- I get the best prices when I pay for the cruise, I know the best times to book, in addition, the past 4 cruises we been (as well as our upcoming 2 RC cruises remaining this year) on casino comps most JS rooms and when cruising Carnival we get casino cash and casino discount rates, our upcoming Carnival cruise my other half is getting 1k casino cash....if I book through the TA I would be paying so much more and not getting anythese incentives.

 

What does casino comp have to do with TA?

When we get a casino comp I dont involve my TA, no need.

 

If i get a casino cert i book the cruise and then transfer.

 

Just curious, how do you know the best time to book? Not even Bob knows that?

 

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[WillandTam]

We use a local travel agent whom we know and trust. Turn key vacation for us, tell her what we want and she takes care of all the details.

[Cruisegirl6]

Rocketman275- Yes, I have noticed price drops and just call cruise line and always been honored maybe its because I generally book early bird? If it happens on weekends generally TA are not available and they can disappear anytime and I loose it with using a TA, with me, I just call the cruise line and get it done, never been denied lower price, although I was on one Carnival cruise, happened to be a casino offer which I didn't realize that if the price lowers and I ask for it that I would forfeit the casino rate and casino cash that was offered, that was the only time I was not able to get the lower rate, happened to be subtract all the casino cash I still made out perfectly.

 

John&LaLa- When having a cruise comp, the rate doesn't apply to us, we just pay the taxes and fees.

 

I been cruising since the age of 12, 78 cruises and counting, at the end of this year I have taken 80...as a result, you tend to see a pattern of the best time to lock in, the best time to cruise with the lowest rates and know the best time for special rates. My family always calls me when they want to cruise knowing I know when to lock in....same thing goes with airline rates....it seems to be a constant pattern but its a matter of being able to check a few times a day to catch certain rates and other times its just the time of year.

 

I am sure Bob is very knowledgeable when the better times are to book a cruise, if I do he must. Maybe I just very experienced to know these things but the same thing applies for land based vacation....for instance, we go two weeks to Aruba every July the best time to book airfare is October and February and trust me, we always get the lowest prices even if we check everyday from that time to the trip.

Also, for the best rates, its best to cruise between January thru early May....then September thru first week of November....specials come out during holiday times and certain times of the year. I also have a great idea when cruise lines are most likely to offer their best deals, they are set periods when industry wide sales occur....each cruise line has its own timing to specific deals and promotions. Other times it means taking advantage of low booking periods or watching for offers with lower fares for families. Wave season can be the best time to find discounted early bird fares, two for one deals and other enticements such as onboard credits, etc. You can also book late and snag rock bottom prices. I have tracked these during the many years so I know. Certain holidays you get deals such as July 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day....best thing is to make an early booking to get the best available price, then check your sailing for price drops and special promotions that come up.

[Ourusualbeach]

Rocketman275- Yes, I have noticed price drops and just call cruise line and always been honored maybe its because I generally book early bird? If it happens on weekends generally TA are not available and they can disappear anytime and I loose it with using a TA, with me, I just call the cruise line and get it done, never been denied lower price, although I was on one Carnival cruise, happened to be a casino offer which I didn't realize that if the price lowers and I ask for it that I would forfeit the casino rate and casino cash that was offered, that was the only time I was not able to get the lower rate, happened to be subtract all the casino cash I still made out perfectly.

 

John&LaLa- When having a cruise comp, the rate doesn't apply to us, we just pay the taxes and fees.

 

I been cruising since the age of 12, 78 cruises and counting, at the end of this year I have taken 80...as a result, you tend to see a pattern of the best time to lock in, the best time to cruise with the lowest rates and know the best time for special rates. My family always calls me when they want to cruise knowing I know when to lock in....same thing goes with airline rates....it seems to be a constant pattern but its a matter of being able to check a few times a day to catch certain rates and other times its just the time of year.

 

I am sure Bob is very knowledgeable when the better times are to book a cruise, if I do he must. Maybe I just very experienced to know these things but the same thing applies for land based vacation....for instance, we go two weeks to Aruba every July the best time to book airfare is October and February and trust me, we always get the lowest prices even if we check everyday from that time to the trip.

Also, for the best rates, its best to cruise between January thru early May....then September thru first week of November....specials come out during holiday times and certain times of the year. I also have a great idea when cruise lines are most likely to offer their best deals, they are set periods when industry wide sales occur....each cruise line has its own timing to specific deals and promotions. Other times it means taking advantage of low booking periods or watching for offers with lower fares for families. Wave season can be the best time to find discounted early bird fares, two for one deals and other enticements such as onboard credits, etc. You can also book late and snag rock bottom prices. I have tracked these during the many years so I know. Certain holidays you get deals such as July 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day....best thing is to make an early booking to get the best available price, then check your sailing for price drops and special promotions that come up.

 

That may work for you as I’m sure you are booking far in advance.

 

For people that are booking relatively close to sailing 6 months to a year in many cases can do a whole lot better using a large TA that has group space booked on many sailings. I’ve saved numerous clients well over $1000 by booking them into groups. You can’t do that on your own.

 

Advantages and disadvantages to both booking on your own and using a TA. There is no one answer that fits all, each has to decide what’s right for them in that particular situation and that situation can change with each cruise booked.

[Cruisegirl6]

OurUsusalBeach- I won't mention cruise agencies but I always find family members wonderful deals (beverage packages, gratuities, shipboard credit, etc) using certain cruise agencies. You are correct you can't get that on your own unless the. cruise line offers such items such as Celebrity does from time to time. I rather forfeit these things and control my booking and are always content on the price I lock in...if I were on a tight budget or money was an issue I defiantly would use cruise agencies to get the extra bonuses.

[Beachammo]

What does casino comp have to do with TA?

When we get a casino comp I dont involve my TA, no need.

 

If i get a casino cert i book the cruise and then transfer.

 

Just curious, how do you know the best time to book? Not even Bob knows that?

 

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John....

 

Bob told me he did "know everything". That's why I wanted him for my Trivia Team. Am I being duped?

 

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[eastoftheboston]

The TA rep called RCCL resolutions and while she said she has never seen a paid for room pulled, she speculated it was due to too many pass on that side of the ship and not enough life boats.

 

 

This one should go in the Hall of Fame of crazy excuses pulled out of thin air by a clueless rep!

[RocketMan275]

This one should go in the Hall of Fame of crazy excuses pulled out of thin air by a clueless rep!

Actually, that is very plausible. Life boat seats are limited. Muster stations/lifeboats are assigned to various and specific locations. If too many cabins in a group have 3rd and 4th passengers, the capacity of lifeboats can be exceeded and passengers would have to be moved.

[Debitoo]

I am glad you are happy, but for that reason is why I never book with a cruise/TA, I like to deal directly with the cruise line so I have total control.

I'm with you...I want all of the control myself.

[Cruisegirl6]

debit (y)

[vacationlover_mn]

Glad it worked out for you :)

 

 

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[ONECRUISER]

This one should go in the Hall of Fame of crazy excuses pulled out of thin air by a clueless rep!

Disagree. Even though sounds like it, has happened couple times that I know of

Edit: Rocketman275 explains it well..

[Starry Eyes]

Actually, that is very plausible. Life boat seats are limited. Muster stations/lifeboats are assigned to various and specific locations. If too many cabins in a group have 3rd and 4th passengers, the capacity of lifeboats can be exceeded and passengers would have to be moved.

Granted, there are muster station capacities consider. Of course, the cruiseline could solve such issues by relocating any number of different people to a different muster station. They did not need to select the people in these two JS’s and make them a horride downgrade proposal to balconies to solve a muster station issue. Heck, the cruiseline could have plucked some nearby triple inside or OV cabins from that muster station and upgraded them to balconies in the other muster station...then guests would have been doing a happy dance instead. Or even a nearby balcony guest. And there was plenty of time to work it out.

 

In some other situation I might buy this excuse, but in this particular case, I am not buying the “downgraded them due to muster station capacity” excuse. If you are willing to buy that one, Rocketman, then I have a bridge for sale.

[John&LaLa]

Granted, there are muster station capacities consider. Of course, the cruiseline could solve such issues by relocating any number of different people to a different muster station. They did not need to select the people in these two JS’s and make them a horride downgrade proposal to balconies to solve a muster station issue. Heck, the cruiseline could have plucked some nearby triple inside or OV cabins from that muster station and upgraded them to balconies in the other muster station...then guests would have been doing a happy dance instead. Or even a nearby balcony guest. And there was plenty of time to work it out.

 

In some other situation I might buy this excuse, but in this particular case, I am not buying the “downgraded them due to muster station capacity” excuse. If you are willing to buy that one, Rocketman, then I have a bridge for sale.

 

Nope, Map on the back of the door tells you where to go. Not readily changeable.

 

Please try again. [emoji6]

 

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[Starry Eyes]

Nope, Map on the back of the door tells you where to go. Not readily changeable.

 

Please try again. [emoji6]

 

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OK, John, i’ll try again to explain what I am trying to say: there is more than one way to solve a muster station problem. How many people that same muster station assignment, John? It feels like hundreds. Many, many cabins are at that muster station, so why are there not many, many ways to solve a muster station issue, (assuming one existed) especially with weeks before the cruise. Why not solve the problem by plunking guests from inside cabins across the hall and moving them to the other muster station( they’d love the balcony)? Or move relocate balcony guests to a different balcony (better than downgrading a JS guest). Why would it have to be those specific JS guests out of hundreds at that muster station?

[RocketMan275]

OK, John, i’ll try again to explain what I am trying to say: there is more than one way to solve a muster station problem. How many people that same muster station assignment, John? It feels like hundreds. Many, many cabins are at that muster station, so why are there not many, many ways to solve a muster station issue, (assuming one existed) especially with weeks before the cruise. Why not solve the problem by plunking guests from inside cabins across the hall and moving them to the other muster station( they’d love the balcony)? Or move relocate balcony guests to a different balcony (better than downgrading a JS guest). Why would it have to be those specific JS guests out of hundreds at that muster station?

You're looking at this in isolation. Is it not possible that many more cabins were affected and that moving these few cabins was the most efficient way to solve the problem?

[John&LaLa]

OK, John, i’ll try again to explain what I am trying to say: there is more than one way to solve a muster station problem. How many people that same muster station assignment, John? It feels like hundreds. Many, many cabins are at that muster station, so why are there not many, many ways to solve a muster station issue, (assuming one existed) especially with weeks before the cruise. Why not solve the problem by plunking guests from inside cabins across the hall and moving them to the other muster station( they’d love the balcony)? Or move relocate balcony guests to a different balcony (better than downgrading a JS guest). Why would it have to be those specific JS guests out of hundreds at that muster station?

Map on the door.

 

How do you get around that?

 

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[Clarea]

OK, John, i’ll try again to explain what I am trying to say: there is more than one way to solve a muster station problem. How many people that same muster station assignment, John? It feels like hundreds. Many, many cabins are at that muster station, so why are there not many, many ways to solve a muster station issue, (assuming one existed) especially with weeks before the cruise. Why not solve the problem by plunking guests from inside cabins across the hall and moving them to the other muster station( they’d love the balcony)? Or move relocate balcony guests to a different balcony (better than downgrading a JS guest). Why would it have to be those specific JS guests out of hundreds at that muster station?

The crew is trained to handle emergencies based on current muster station assignments. They cannot redesign the ship's emergency procedures every sailing.