Where do you get your deal for a cruise on NCL

[Casanova02]

Hi

 

I'm from Canada and I have a question for fellow Canadians. May I know where you get your deals or best price for a cruise on NCL ?

 

Thanks in advance

[1025cruise]

We are not allowed to name/discuss travel agents on this site.

[destar]

NCL website direct. You'll find the best prices on cruises that are 30 days from booking.

Edited July 16, 2023 by destar

[The Other Tom]

In the US (and I expect Canada, too) the price of the cruise is fixed regardless of who you buy it from. Travel agents usually give some of their commission back in the form of on-board credit.  Some give more than others, so you have to shop around.

Note that you can buy a cruise without the "free" promotions (specialty dining, wifi, etc) and save some money that way. 

[hladygirl]

Casinos

[www3traveler]

Through my local (hometown) travel agent

[sjacobs11]

An excellent travel agent that's part of a larger cruise agency consortium. You can tap into group rates without being a group as they often have others on the same sailing - so everyone wins!

[RocketMan275]

12 hours ago, The Other Tom said:

In the US (and I expect Canada, too) the price of the cruise is fixed regardless of who you buy it from. Travel agents usually give some of their commission back in the form of on-board credit.  Some give more than others, so you have to shop around.

Note that you can buy a cruise without the "free" promotions (specialty dining, wifi, etc) and save some money that way. 

I know a TA that gives an 8% discount/rebate.

[MsTabbyKats]

57 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

I know a TA that gives an 8% discount/rebate.

My TA paid service charges (balcony or above) plus reduced rates (don't remember %).....when coupled with 2 CN certs (over 6 months out)...the final price was very good.

I don't get the drinks or meals..........

 

You just have to shop around for a TA who discounts.

[RocketMan275]

4 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

My TA paid service charges (balcony or above) plus reduced rates (don't remember %).....when coupled with 2 CN certs (over 6 months out)...the final price was very good.

I don't get the drinks or meals..........

 

You just have to shop around for a TA who discounts.

The problem many have with finding a TA who discounts is this: They google TA discounts, TA cheap cruises, or some variable.  As many have noted, TA cannot advertise fares other than that shown on the cruise line website.  No wonder these searches come up empty.  Then the searcher comes to CC and proclaims that TA who discount do not exist.  
If  you want to find a good TA that offers fares less than the website, you have to call the TA. Not email. Call.

[MsTabbyKats]

3 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

The problem many have with finding a TA who discounts is this: They google TA discounts, TA cheap cruises, or some variable.  As many have noted, TA cannot advertise fares other than that shown on the cruise line website.  No wonder these searches come up empty.  Then the searcher comes to CC and proclaims that TA who discount do not exist.  
If  you want to find a good TA that offers fares less than the website, you have to call the TA. Not email. Call.

If memory serves correct...I used that "cruise" website where TAs "compete" to get your business...and I called the TA with the best offer.

 

But...he has messed up multiple times.  You have to know what you want, and then supervise to make sure things get done.

[pghflyer]

Never book direct if you want the best overall package PRICE.  People have many other soft reasons why they prefer to book direct.  I get 6-8% OBC plus additional random benefits (ex. just got NCL prepaid gratuities 2 weeks ago, worth a pretty penny) by booking with agencies who can offer incentives (but generally still have the same listed room rate). 

 

After having multiple agencies "compete" for my past trips, I have now standardized on the best one and just book direct with them online for the best overall package with incentives and don't have to call or talk to anyone (but they also do have a good call center).

 

This forum makes money (and subsidizes our free utilization) by advertising for the cruise lines and other travel agencies, so they don't allow us to name any of them and have even gone as far as not providing us forum messaging (I know of no other forum that does this) to restrict it.

 

 

Edited July 17, 2023 by pghflyer

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

The problem many have with finding a TA who discounts is this: They google TA discounts, TA cheap cruises, or some variable.  As many have noted, TA cannot advertise fares other than that shown on the cruise line website.  No wonder these searches come up empty.  Then the searcher comes to CC and proclaims that TA who discount do not exist.  
If  you want to find a good TA that offers fares less than the website, you have to call the TA. Not email. Call.

An example---in 2007 we decided to cruise to Alaska from Seattle sailing the inside passage. I went onto our TA's website and found 3 cruises that fit our itinerary and time frame. I then called the TA direct. The cruise that was actually the most expensive according to the website turned out to be the least expensive in reality after I called him. He was allowed to discount it, but not to advertise the discounted price or list it on his website.

[RocketMan275]

2 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

An example---in 2007 we decided to cruise to Alaska from Seattle sailing the inside passage. I went onto our TA's website and found 3 cruises that fit our itinerary and time frame. I then called the TA direct. The cruise that was actually the most expensive according to the website turned out to be the least expensive in reality after I called him. He was allowed to discount it, but not to advertise the discounted price or list it on his website.

Some are reticent about calling a TA.  If they can't offer a price you find acceptable, just thank them and hang up.  You're under no obligation to buy.  

I've done my research before I contact my TA.  I tell her what cruise line, what cabin, what date, etc., and she quotes a price.  Sometimes she will tell me that she can offer a better deal on a sllghtly different date.  For example, she told me that if I cruise two weeks earlier she could offer a deal paying my DSC.  Good deal and the date was acceptable.

BTW, one reason I prefer dealing with a TA is a TA can service multiple cruise lines.  I can deal with the same TA regardless of what cruise line I'm interested in.  

[Casanova02]

8 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

I've done my research before I contact my TA.  I tell her what cruise line, what cabin, what date, etc., and she quotes a price. 

First, thank you all for the precious informations

 

RocketMan275, I'm with the same TA for over 25-30 years and like you, I do my research first and tell them without the price I found and most of the time, they have the same price I have and sometimes higher.... Never came lower than mine.... And never had OBC 

 

Well, I think I should search for a "better" TA

[destar]

19 minutes ago, Casanova02 said:

I do my research first and tell them without the price I found and most of the time, they have the same price I have and sometimes higher.... Never came lower than mine.... And never had OBC 

I done the same thing in the past, never receive a better prices or any extra incentives than what I get with NCL. That is why I book direct.

[destar]

9 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Sometimes she will tell me that she can offer a better deal on a sllghtly different date. 

RocketMan, if you go back on cruise line website and check the price on that different date that she is telling you, is your TA price better than direct?

[Railfan30]

A few notes from a first-time cruiser who booked directly with NCL... I identified the cabin category I was interested in and watched it over the course of a month or so.  I saw sales during "wave season", 35% off, person #3 free, etc., and while the itemized numbers were all different, they totaled exactly the same each time.  I booked about 5 months' out.  Since I do not have a go-to TA, I called a cruise specialist at the local branch of the national auto club and provided my parameters; same pricing, although with a $50 OBC and a free bottle of wine.  My parents, on the other hand, cruise with 8-10 other couples and get "all the deals" according to them -- drink packages, gratuities paid, OBC, etc.  I don't know that they've ever seen a complete itemization as the "travel planner" usually just tells them the lump sum and payment dates.

 

TLDR:  I did my research (as much as possible) and may not have gotten the "best" deal, but I am comfortable with the options I chose, the price I paid, and the service I received from the NCL rep when I called to book.

[ecgz88]

15 hours ago, pghflyer said:

Never book direct if you want the best overall package PRICE.  People have many other soft reasons why they prefer to book direct.  I get 6-8% OBC plus additional random benefits (ex. just got NCL prepaid gratuities 2 weeks ago, worth a pretty penny) by booking with agencies who can offer incentives (but generally still have the same listed room rate). 

 

After having multiple agencies "compete" for my past trips, I have now standardized on the best one and just book direct with them online for the best overall package with incentives and don't have to call or talk to anyone (but they also do have a good call center).

 

This forum makes money (and subsidizes our free utilization) by advertising for the cruise lines and other travel agencies, so they don't allow us to name any of them and have even gone as far as not providing us forum messaging (I know of no other forum that does this) to restrict it.

 

 

 

I have 2 AMEX Credit card offer $1000-$250, but must book with NCL directly, I checked NCL also have this https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruisefirst-program

 

I'm new to this, If I book now for next year Europe cruise and price drop, will I be able to get difference back?

[RocketMan275]

10 hours ago, Casanova02 said:

First, thank you all for the precious informations

 

RocketMan275, I'm with the same TA for over 25-30 years and like you, I do my research first and tell them without the price I found and most of the time, they have the same price I have and sometimes higher.... Never came lower than mine.... And never had OBC 

 

Well, I think I should search for a "better" TA

 

9 hours ago, destar said:

I done the same thing in the past, never receive a better prices or any extra incentives than what I get with NCL. That is why I book direct.

 

9 hours ago, destar said:

RocketMan, if you go back on cruise line website and check the price on that different date that she is telling you, is your TA price better than direct?

The price quoted by my TA is always at least 8% lower than the price on the cruise line website.  Plus, I get all the incentives offered by the cruise line.  Sometimes a bit more.  My next cruise, the TA offered included DSC in addition to all the rest.

I wish I could share my TA with you but CC doesn't allow that.  All I can say is there are TAs out there that do offere better deals.  

[ontheweb]

6 hours ago, ecgz88 said:

 

I have 2 AMEX Credit card offer $1000-$250, but must book with NCL directly, I checked NCL also have this https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruisefirst-program

 

I'm new to this, If I book now for next year Europe cruise and price drop, will I be able to get difference back?

You do NOT have to book directly with NCL for AMEX offers. The payment by a TA should be charged directly to NCL which will make it compatible with the AMEX offer. This is what I did for our upcoming cruise back when we booked it and had one of those offers.

[MsTabbyKats]

30 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

You do NOT have to book directly with NCL for AMEX offers. The payment by a TA should be charged directly to NCL which will make it compatible with the AMEX offer. This is what I did for our upcoming cruise back when we booked it and had one of those offers.

 

Absolutely!  I forgot, so didn't mention....the great price I got on the cruise I mentioned in an earlier post included a $350 AMEX credit.  So, I got 2 cruisenexts, TA paid gratuities, TA  gave me a discount and the AMEX credit...all reducing the price!

 

I wouldn't have known about the AMEX offer if not for this forum.  It's my husbands card...he uses it about once a year, just to keep it alive.......

[schmoopie17]

Just a few days ago we booked directly with our PCC for a December cruise. The next day while randomly browsing, I found a TA (a very large one) that offers $375 Visa card rebates...plus prepaid gratuities...on the very same cruise. I put a reservation on hold with the TA so I could talk with our PCC. Obviously he said he could not match that deal (he was able to pull up our "hold" reservation to verify that we were comparing apples to apples and he said he understood why we would make the switch.)

 

I felt bad because he has been very good to us, but $375 plus $380 in gratuities was too good to pass up. 

Edited July 18, 2023 by schmoopie17

[pghflyer]

9 hours ago, ecgz88 said:

I'm new to this, If I book now for next year Europe cruise and price drop, will I be able to get difference back?

If you book with a certificate (and don't put any money down), then they will just adjust the price due as long as you are more than 120 days out (aka. you haven't made your final balance payment).  I would suspect the same for cash/ credit card payment, but it has been too long since I did that so not sure.

After 120 days, they most likely will NOT adjust your price or give you money back. You always hear of occasional people getting On Board Credit (OBC) or some other small allowance, but generally once you have paid the total amount, they aren't letting that money go.

[schmoopie17]

3 minutes ago, pghflyer said:

After 120 days, they most likely will NOT adjust your price or give you money back. You always hear of occasional people getting On Board Credit (OBC) or some other small allowance, but generally once you have paid the total amount, they aren't letting that money go.

We have (twice) gotten FCC for a price drop after 120 days. But each time we were told it was a one-time offer per cruise...meaning if the price dropped further, nothing else could be offered.