Once booking your cruise, “stuff” happens when changing names in cabins. The value of an agent.

Usually it is only “women groups” who ask to do this.  I personally try to remember, when I am booking a group of ladies, that I tell them upfront that “no cabin swapping is allowed”.  And if you do, it’s a $35 charge to do so.

Now for the reason:

#1 reason … Making changes back and forth is what can cause errors at the cruise lines.  Never to I ever suggest making unnecessary change at the cruise line.  Every time your booking is opened up at the cruise line, whether it is from an agent, or you, who bought your cruise on your own, you subject your cabin in error.  Whether it’s price change or cancellation.

At Cruises Inc, that is “why” we have a special staff who are paid to find ERRORS !  When there is a change, the booking goes back through a process of making sure it is all right.  Whether looking at just the change that was made, up to checking over the entire booking.  Most consumers have NO idea of the problem of errors and why they want an agency that continues to go over their booking.

#2 reason … The reason I pre-warn women groups, that changing folks around in cabins is not allowed, is because “women” are famous for wanting to make changes all the time.  Whether it’s who’s room they are in, changing dining times, or even changing the sail date !  This doesn’t usually happen with couples.  Cabins are more stable with couples !

I had a woman argue with me, in wanting this change done about 2 years ago.  I did it without a fee, however, normally I charge $35 to make the change, to deter this person wanting to make the change.

Agents are here to protect you, even from YOURSELF !  And if something can cause your cruise to get changed or get lost, I personally take measures, even if it’s threatening to charge a fee, to keep the cruiser from hurting themselves.

#3 reason … Long complicated story !

Between the 1^st person in room & 2^nd person …. At least one of these persons may never leave the cabin or the cruise booking is automatically cancelled. 

·         If 1^st person stays the same always, then within cruise line guidelines (possible fees/penalties),  the 2^nd person’s name can usually change as many times as you want.

·         If 1^st person must cancel, but 2^nd name has always been the same from beginning, then the 2^nd person moves into 1^st position.  Again, the new 2^nd person’s name can be changed over & over (based on above guidelines).

·         However, if 2^nd person’s name has already changed once, if the 1^st person name now must change, the cruise line will not protect rate & cabin will auto cancel.  Why, cause now that is a 2 name change !

 SEE HOW COMPLICATED ?

Folks try to tell me, “Oh, we won’t change again”.  Unfortunately, NO ONE CAN PREDICT THEIR FUTURE NEEDS OR FUTURE CHANGES that may need to take place.

Couple year back, a customer got mad at me, cause I wouldn't change the names around, so she could now be booked with her daughter (FYI - you can change the name, once onboard).  I finally decide it wasn't worth the fight or trying to explain what could happen and just did it, and didn't charged the fee (I paid the fee out of my pocket.  In honesty, she was not a nice person & hopefully she will not be in a group, where I have to book her again !).  Lucky for her, notother issues arose !

Just today, this situation came up again.  It was NOT a “woman’s group” so I did not pre-warn them of no ladies swapping cabins.  And in the case of the situation I am talking about, it was “very vital” that we swap the two 1^st folks in the 2 cabins.  But NOW … The 2^nd person may need to cancel, and they want to put another person in their place !  In general, this is a NO !

And in this 2nd case, they had bought “a non-refundable” cruise.  NO name changes.  SEE the disadvantage in getting the lower cost that includes non-refundable !

 

Your vacation is serious business !  Though it’s eventually about fun-n-play, it’s totally a business situation till you get onboard for that fun-n-play.  You need to treat it as such !

And you should highly consider, beginning that “business transaction” by way of a travel expert.  One who thinks out of the box.  One who encourages you NOT to make unnecessary changes from your original booking.  One who has been doing this business for a long time !  One who has seen the problems first hand !

Happy Booking !

 

 

 

 

Cruises. What time of year are lowest ? When to buy ? Seasonal destinations. Supply & Demand

Cruises.  What times of year are lowest ?  Best time to buy “low dates” ? Which destinations are seasonal and can cause a supply-and-demand effect ?

 

When are the lowest times of the year to cruise ?  Here are a few:

January up till, usually first week of, February, (2) Week after Thanksgiving, (3) Last week of April and usually first two weeks of May (which often includes Mothers Day), (4) Last week of August, (5) The month of September; Labor Day to be determined by when you buy, and (6) October to December, excluding holidays.

Best time to buy “lower priced dates” ?

(1)    2 years to 9 months in advance.

(2)    As you get closer and the dates sells out, because other folks also know about “low rate dates”, the rate may climb higher faster than you think.

When to get lowest rate for any date ?

(1)    Rates come out from the cruise lines, as much early as 2 years in advance, through at least January two years out (sometimes through March).  Example:  In March of 2014, select cruise lines have published their rates thru January of 2016.

(A)   Many shoppers don’t start shopping 2 years early, so they don’t realize these great first posting of rates !  2 year pre-buyers do !

(B)   Advantage of buying early

(a)    Best cabins locations

(b)   If rates go up, you confirmed while rates were lower.

(C)   What if rates go down before final payment ?

(a)    If rates go down, usually the cruise line will lower the rates if you see them, before final payment .

(b)   If you bought Carnival Early Saver Rates, you are guaranteed the lowest rate, if you see it, up till 2 days prior to sailing. 

UNDERSTANDING CARNIVAL EARLY SAVER RATES, is a topic for another day !

UNDERSTANDING FUTURE CRUISE LINE PROMOTIONS, is a topic for another day.

(D)   Why might rates go down before final payment  ? At least 2 reasons why rates may go down, before final payment

(a)    The cruise line may have “over” calculated, what they thought they could charge for         that  sail date.

(b)   If the cruise lines don’t sell enough cabins by a specific time frame, it’s time to get rid of a few more cabins. 

       (E ) When is latest a person should consider buying a cruise ?  Or when lower rates might come

              out ? Could be 9 months prior to sailing date (?);  6 months (?); 4 months … If you are 

              waiting till 2 months, YOU ARE A LAST MINUTE BUYER ! 

 

Know:

(a)    Every category (cabin type), may not go on sale.  The category you wanted may not drop.

(b)   They may only offer specials for past guest, seniors, military, etc, and maybe you won’t qualify. 

BEWARE OF COMPANIES WHO SELL YOU AN UNQUALIFYING RATE, is topic for another day.

UNDERSTANDING PAST GUEST, SENIOR, MILITARY RATES, ETC, topic for another day

(2)    Last Minute Buyers. 

WHO QUALIFIES TO BE A LAST MINUTE BUYER, is topic for another day.  You may not, but don’t know that !

(A)   This same rate you think is a deal, may have also been received by the folks who bought 2 years early; 9 months early, etc.

(B)   You could be paying higher than folks who bought 2 years early; 9 months early, etc.

(C)   You may only be left with the worst cabins

(D)   If you need triples and quads, they may be gone.

(E)    If you need several cabins, they may be gone or sold out before you get your group to act.    

WHO QUALIFIES AS A LAST MINUTE BUYER, is a topic for another day !

(F)    Sometimes these lower rates are on a “guarantee only”.  That means …

(a)    You don’t get a cabin number. 

(b)   You don’t know where you will end up

(G)  Of course, you may get “lucky” buying last minute.  But you need to be able to accept whatever you get

WHO QUALIFIES AS A LAST MINUTE BUYER, is a topic for another day

 

“Seasonal” destination cruises.   Unbeknown to consumer, there’s NOT enough cruise ships to sail all year to all destinations; and select destinations, it’s too cold.   To name a few:

·         Alaska, May to September

·         Asia, this is currently expanding to more dates

·         Australia, November to March

·         Bermuda, End of April to October

·         Panama, Select dates in Winter, Spring, Fall – no summer

·         Hawaii cruises, where you don’t have to fly all the way to Hawaii r/t, Select dates Winter, Spring, Fall – no summer

·         Europe – Select areas are not offered all year; not even all Summer !  Mediterranean usually offers more sail dates.

·         South America – November to March

·         Transitional cruises – More Spring/Fall.  Or when a ship changes their main port

 

Here are a few embarkation/disembarkation ports that are also “Seasonal”

·         Norfolk unavailable, 2014.  ASK ME ABOUT ON SAILING 2015, OCT 23, that is almost SOLD OUT.

·         New York, Carnival has taken their ships out, for the winter

·         There are NO 3 night cruises closer to us than Port of Canaveral

·         Port of Charleston only offers 5 & 6 night cruises.  And it is only Carnival

·         Baltimore no longer offers short than 7 night cruises

·         From Baltimore, if only 7 nights, you can only go to the Bahamas. You must take longer cruises to get further south to the Caribbean

 

The less time a ship is in a destination, or that lack of number of times that a ship is embarking/disembarking from a specific port, this causes SUPPLY-N-DEMAND.

(1)    Select sailings may sell out as early as 15 months in advance. 

·         ASK ABOUT 2015, OCT 23 OUT OF NORFOLK – ALMOST SOLD OUT !

·         Royal Caribbean’s Fall Hawaii cruise sells out quick !

·         Watch for cruise line sales in specific destinations.  That is the time to buy.  Right now, many cruise lines have sales on Alaska & Europe 2015.           

 

 

Happy sailing !