Understanding "group cruises" ! Why groups must book as early as 15 months prior. Why you too need to book now if joining a group

So you understand a little bit about groups and why they often need to book as early as 15 months in advance.
Or why, if joining a group, you need to follow the plan and book when they do.

 

Groups can't wait last minute to decide to travel like individuals or 3-4 cabins ! Here's some of the reason why !

* The cruise lines allow only a maximum number of groups to sail on every sailing. Why ? Not everyone sails in a group; they have to let individual cabins have space too.   There are other reasons, often political, financial, etc !

* Travel agents and group leaders hold space, they have NOT yet sold. As soon as rates come out, agents and long time group leaders gather up all the space; often leaving limited space for smaller groups to buy, later. You have to hurry ! It's not a joke ! This is why agents encourage their group leaders to get their space early. Even 15 months in advance ! As soon as the next years rates come out !  You wait till January 2014, and your date, if popular, is gone !  Oh, you can still buy 8 cabins plus, but the amenities given to groups are not available to groups, if there's no group space !  You have to have space, even if it's in categories you do not want, to have the amenities (your agent can explain this deeper).

*  Know ... All this held space, even if there are no names or deposits ... Drives your rate up !  The more space reserved on any given sailing, DRIVES RATES UP !  The cruise line feels that all these folks want to sail, so rates start, or immediately, climb !  So even individuals get hurt by this !  It's WHY individuals should book early too !

* Groups usually like to room near each other. If you do not book early or all at the same time, then this can't happen.  Sure you may find 3-4 cabins together.  But too often, you could easily be scattered, the later you wait.  Even on different decks !

* If your groups like balconies, these go first !  And if  you are hoping they will be in a row, plan early !

* If you need cabins that hold 3 or 4 in a room, these go first !

* If you are planning during a popular time, these go first ! Whether it be cruises that sail only seasonally, like Alaska, or during holidays, like Easter.

*  The cruise line give a maximum of time for group leaders to hold space !  Every cruise line is different.  Example:  Royal Caribbean gives 30 day to  hold more than 16 cabins.  After 30 days, if your group leader wants to continue to hold space, they have to put up $ 50 per cabin for all space that does not yet has a name or deposit.  And the group leader does not get this back till after the cruise sails !  Who can afford that ?!  Example:  Carnival.  Group rate is not the lowest available at Carnival; so the longer you wait, you're driving your own rate up !
 

 

TRUST YOUR AGENT, when they are trying to tell you, BOOK NOW ... Reserve the group space now ! Especially if the space is currently there ! It could change in a week ... in a day ... while you're on the phone !  Agents know this cruising World !

 

You ask, what about all the last minute deals ? These aren't for groups !  Even less available, if taking kids to be in your same room !  These are for last minute travelers. One cabin ! Only 2 people ! Who do not care where their cabin is or if they get a balcony !

You say, what if the rates go down ?  If you see lower rates, most cruise lines allow you to have the lower rates, as long as final payment has not been made (Once exception I know - Flash Rates with Holland America & Princess - These are often not done till final payment has passed (?) !  I'm not talking if they are offering amenities ... I'm talking rates here !  Of course, once final payment, you can not have ... That's for last minute folks ... the ones who don't care where they room is ... The ones who don't care that the rooms are scattered !  So what do you have to loose ?  Buy now, at the best possible rates ... Watch rates ... Call your agent when you see a lower rate !

 

You say ... Well, you can't commit that early ! WHY NOT ?
Other than possibly a few cancellation fees, you can get your money back from the cruise line or tour operator if you cancel before final payment date ! And for after this date, there's Trip Cancellation Insurance (however, many are due at time of deposit - Many not refundable if cancel before final payment - OUR IS ) !

You say ... You don't know what you're doing that far in advance ! Does anyone know what they will be doing or where they will be, 15 months from now ? NO. You are not any different than all these other folks that commit in advance. Not choosing to commit in adance is "you" ! It's all there for you, where you can !

Note to Group Leaders.  If you are putting off holding space and getting your group to commit early, you are allowing rates to climb, as I'm speaking to you, right here !  You are the person, that your followers are depending on, to get them in on "ground level rates" ... This means, before they take even there 1st climb !





You say you haven't even booked your 2013 vacation ?  Sorry !  You may want to consider, dropping everything else, and getting that done next week !  Then move right on to booking 2014 !


Here, use my cheat sheets of info:
www.BestCruiseSavings.com
www.CruiseClose2Home.com
And ...
www.DeckPlansAndMore.com
www.CruiseLine4me.com

Here >>> Join our August 2014 Customized-Escorted land & RCI cruise groupo !  Deadline for guaranteed rates from RCI is May 8, 2013 !  Yes, 2013 !

 

Received this question. Can you tell me the advantage of buying from an agent as opposed to from the cruise line itself

Normally, I have folks ask me, why buy directly at the cruise line ?

But I’ll instead, I’ll answer this persons question, their way. 

 

Don't mean to start off by soundind silly, by the 1st 2 things I respond with.

#1, The cruise line does not pay the consumer to take care of your own vacation, and they legally "can not" give you a lower rate than an agent ("select agents, as in large agents, like ourselves, are the ONLY people the consumer can get a lower rate from) and …

#2, In reality, if cruise line did not think it was better idea, for the consumer to buy from an agent, they would not pay agents commission and their wouldn't be so many agents out there, in “need” for helping all the consumers who are cruising ! 

 

The basic only reason the cruise line sells cruises at all, to consumers, is in hopes of catching you, in buying now, when you call, so you do not call another cruise line and buying there !  They’re not worried about you buying from an agent (they promote this); they are worried you will go to another cruise line !

 

Cruise lines have cruise specialist and travel agents, selling their product, basically for 3 reasons:   

(1)      Agents have experience; the more cruisers can be educated before they buy and sail, the less problems cruise lines will have - This is the cruise lines #1 reason for having agents on their side. They need help ! Not only in being sure you are educated, but …   

(2)      They do not have the sales force to fill up their ships       

(3)      Cruise Line folks come and go all the time; they may not be at all, employed by the cruise line, even a week after you buy; most have never sailed (if an agent hasn't sailed, run too); you don't know these folks (anyone, like on the internet, can tell you anything they think you want to hear;  they don't care if you don’t come back and buy a second time; agents want you for life; they want to build a friendship, not just be an agent); only info cruise line folks can give you is what they read off a computer - consumers have a misconception if they think folk at the cruise lines are the experts; sometimes, that might be all an agent can give you too, but at least, an agent should know if it makes sense or not, what the cruise line is telling them !

 

Now, that's what's in it for the cruise line that you do not buy direct with them !

So What's in it for you ...  

(1)   As mentioned, the cruise line won't give you a discount or pay you for taking care of yourself.  But they will pay an agent. It's usually free to you; who doesn't like free ! 

(2)   Leave all the work to someone else. You say, what work ? Work for agents doesn't begin till you buy. We're not actually paid, to help you decide which cruise, especially now that this info is all over the net. Of course, they can also be here to help guide you; ask questions to see if you are sure this is right cruise for you. But they are actually here, for after you buy. Sure, in answering your questions.

(3)   What the consumer doesn't think about ... what if there's a problem ... with your own life or the cruise line ... Why rely on yourself, to have to figure it all out; that the cruise line will even listen to you, as a consumer.

(4)   You are one cruise; agents deal with these cruise lines for many cruises; and agents like ourselves, who sell 100,000 a year, deal with them much more !  The more experience the agent has with a cruise line, the better your cruise has a chance at running smoothing. More importantly, the fighting power the agent has over the consumer; as the largest cruise distributor, we work with the cruise line CEO’s when the issue gets bad ! 

 

The consumer is not aware of what goes on behind closed doors and all the work that takes place in keeping your cruise safe. And if you work with a big company, like ours, we have computer safe guards, that lets us know if the cruise line has touched your booking, with in as early as 2 hours; giving us a better chance at getting in there and getting it fixed before it is too late. 

If you've never had problems, that's wonderful; but that's not reality in the cruise world ! My day is 50% problems and fixing !  I love it; but at the moment, very stressful.

 

Though most agents, do not get any lower rates, than you can get at the cruise line directly, there are the LARGE co's like ourselves that do. It's not every date, it's not every cruise line.  And our Exclusives change daily, like all the sales you see at the cruise lines.

 

Thankfully, our folks come to us, just cause they like US, otherwise, I might take it personally, and think they only want to work with us, due to something monitary ...hehehe !

 

Hope this helps. We are here in LYH, 22 years now, protecting folks cruises and answering their questions.  And … providing equal rates to that of Orbitz Hotwire, Priceline, the Airlines & more.

How can I say EQUAL ?  Because they buy from US !  We are the distribution house, providing cruises to these internet companies I have mentioned above.  That’s right, they do not buy from the cruise line either !  They buy from US.  This is “how” we are known as and became the Nations Largest Cruise Distributor !

Now we don’t monitor the cruises or answer questions for folks who buy off these internet sites.  Our expertise and protection is only available for folks who buy from us direct.

And we are right here in LYH. 

Many folks do not know we are here.  It’s by word of mouth only, to know we are here.  You either find out cause you and I are friends … You’re a past cruiser with us … Our customers tell you … You’re on my facebook page … Or you ran up on US accidently (like part of the 51% of my out-of-state customers have done)

So yes, you too, can by-pass the internet and deal directly here too … Keep your money in LYH … Get the best possible rates there are … and tie into our personal connection with the cruise line too ! 

We were placed here in LYH specifically for LYH folks !  
And I admit, if LYH folks want US to stay, their support in needed in knowing this, by buying with us directly !

(1)      So you can buy from an expert, with higher connections at the cruise line, and not have to buy from a cruise line agent.

(2)      So you can receive the lower rates that the cruise lines give US; that they “legally” can not give you !

(3)      So you can keep your money in LYH !

(4)      So you can deal with someone locally that you know !

(5)      So you don’t have to get our rates, by having to go on the net.

(6)      And we allow you to refer friends and family from out of state, where we can “legally do business”; because we have license in every state, unlike local agents.

 

When you decide you want us to help you, please call/no email or facebook with questions ..........
434 237-3832, press 6 ...... then press 62 or 61, which ever best describes you (by reading this, consider that you already know me, and don’t pres 63)

What buying your “last minute cruise” can provide for you, especially from ONLINE !

I'm a little early this week in my blog posting.  A situation happened to a new cruiser, and I wanted to share !

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There are so many sales on cruises all the time.

And yes, often the cruise you bought, months back, may provide a lower rate at a later date.  And though “sale minded late buying folks” don’t realize, many of these sale rates are available for “early buying folks”, to partake in.

However, the talk today, is not about, how the early bird buyers can take advantage of these sale rates too, it’s about, “Where buying your last minute cruise can get you”.

 

The “Great” about sale rates are …

·         Cruises you may have “wished” to travel on, may possibly get to a price, that you can now afford or willing to pay !

·         How wonderful !  What a wonderful feeling !  Not only to discover, a price is in your reach or within your mind-set, but now you get to go on the cruise !

 

Now the down side !  Yes, this is actually what this article is about !

·         1^st, unless you have been studying that specific cruise you wanted, you could in turn, discover, that quickly buying this cruise, is not really the one you want !

·         You may have as little as an hour to decide you want to buy.  Wow, glad this added stress fits in your life !

·         You may actually miss that cruise you wanted, because you weren’t standing at the right place at the right time ! Or didn’t act fast enough !

·         You may buy from the wrong person or agency or company, because you had to decide too quickly !  And “you thought” this agency or company was the only place that had this price !

·         In most cases, the full payment is due at time of call !  And now you are in penalty for changes or to cancel.

 

Here’s a few horror stories.  Recaller …

·         Had chosen wrong week, in error !

·         Hadn’t confirmed with family, what date they could go !

·         Hadn’t asked boss, if they could have this date off !

·         Didn’t understand what bunk beds were !

·         Didn’t understand want an obstructed view cabin meant !

·         Didn’t realize, how much the total was reaching !  Saw the cruise price without any of the taxes.

·         Had not checked out the cost of airfare, before buying !

·         Hadn’t figured first, how they would get to the departure port !

·         Had not been offered Trip Cancellation Insurance and later needed it !

·         The list goes on !

 

What can actually provide worse … Folks who choose to buy their “last minute packages” ONLINE !

·         There are packages you can not get out of, once you buy !  And no changes !

·         And  if you’ve paid in full, you can not move to another agent or receive help from someone who could have helped you in the first place !

 

Do yourself a favor, don’t do this to yourself !  Pick up the phone and call an agent !   For my customers … Even if they buy early, I ask them to “call me” and “not buy from my website”.

And I don’t mean any agent.  And I don't mean the cruise line (that's a day for another story) ! Someone who will tell you the truth !  Who thinks “out of the box” !  With years of experience (Experience means they have already  run into many customer and cruise line problems, from the past; the more cruises they have sold, the more experiences they will have).

Someone who will  …

·         Tell you, the whole cost, in full !

·         Tell you, what kind of cabin you are really getting or could end up with !

·         Makes sure this is the cabin location you really want to end up in !  Are there downfalls !

·         Remind you to consider airfare and transfers that are possible needed.

·         Suggest you get to your port of destination a day early !

·         Make sure you have considered Trip Cancellation Insurance !

·         Make sure you have provided correct names !  Instead of giving your nick-names online.

·         Correct spelling of names !

·         If you are old enough to sail !  If your kids can be in a separate room !

·         If you bought a cabin that will hold the number of people you want !

·         Tell you the rules in the promotion you are buying !

·         Tell you the rules about how you can not get out of this !

·         Let you know, that what you think you are buying, does not give you the amenities you think you will be getting !

·         The list goes on !

It’s an “experienced” agents job, to “think out of the box for you”.  To think of everything that could go wrong, with what you are choosing !  To remember past experiences, of situations other folks have been in !  You as an individual, can not expect from yourself, to know things that have happened out in this Cruise World, that you never thought of nor knew that ever has happened !

 

Just yesterday.  Here’s what happened to someone who bought their last minute cruise on “my website”:

·         1^st of all, she bought a package that she could not get out of; she was within penalty.

·         She had not considered the cost of airfare.  $ 2100 pp.

·         She had not considered the transfers to and from the ship.  $ 192 pp.

·         She later wanted to add a person, and thought she was paying double and would only have to pay the govt fees for the 2^nd person.  She had gotten a sale on a single rate; and this cruise line, hadn’t charged double on all the taxes.

Here is what is worse over THIS scenario !  She assumed, she could partake in seminar she had seen elsewhere (like a theme cruise), and could just buy from anyone !  WRONG !  The cruise had to be bought from that other company !  And now that it was paid in full, i could not even move her cruise to the other agency !

SORRY !  She is stuck with this cruise !  She can either put out the other money for airfare and transfers, or she can count the loss, of her already paid money !

REMEMBER, “cruisers don’t let their friends buy from the internet or the cruise lines” !  Choose to be the best friend ever to your friends … And share with them "where" they can be safe in making their cruise purchase !