goodluckman66

Thanks for your response. I think Alaska in t he summer might be better.

But like you noticed I am drawn to the Koningsdam and I love Italy. I could believe that I bought a flight for $252 to Rome on Norwegian Airlines.

Thank you so much.

I have been wanting to go on the Koningsdam for 2 years now and always something comes up. The flight back from Miami is a little hard 26 hours. But I think you are right the balcony is the way to go!

This may sound silly but I have to decide in the next 12 hour which one. We fly from Thailand and either port is a long hike. The $800 of onboard credit is very enticing but at the end of September will it be unbearably cold? Especially since we live in the tropics.

My other choice is Rome to Fort Lauterdale October 28th. No on board credits, love Rome and always wanted to sail on the Koningsdam it looks magnificent! It will also give me extra time to get ready! It's already Aug 31 here!

Have a balcony on both wondering if an ocean view makes more sense with the weather? I have never done a 14 day cruise and my interests is enjoying the ship than vs running around at the ports and being herded like cattle getting on and off the ship!

That is what it was like on RCL with 5,000 Chines guest need I say more?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated since i am new to this cruising community. Thanks

This is good to know. I see you like RC. Do you have a favorite ship> I am going on Voyager of the seas in Sept. 5 days Singapore and back, we live in Thailand. I wish flying was not so hard and expensive to Florida as I see some great deals on cruises there.

Thanks for your reply really enjoying the

from everyone

Unless there is some reason why you must book now, such as that you have to request the time off from work this far in advance, the advice to wait until closer to the date is good. I have been cruising solo for years now, and especially on transatlantics the ship often has trouble filling all the cabins and the price drops as you get closer to sailing.

 

If you wait until soon after the final payment date (when people let their deposits expire and back out of their booking) the prices tend to drop as well. Now that cruise lines are moving towards non-refundable deposits it is possible that will change, but I don't think so--they are also running $25 deposit specials and I don't think losing $25 is enough to make anyone decide to take a cruise if they change their mind about it!

 

But with refundable deposits, lots of people reserved multiple cruises far in advance and then canceled all but one of their reservations as time got closer and they decided which cruise they wanted to take--so typically lots of cabins on a "fully booked" cruise came open again just after final payment date (which has increased from 75 to 90 days pre-cruise for most cruise lines in the last couple of years). The move to non-refundable deposits may make the "put down a deposit on multiple cruises and then cancel all but one" technique less common but I still think people are likely to use the $25 deposit sales to put deposits on 2 or 3 cruises just like they did with refundable deposits.

 

So, short answer, don't book now unless you need to, especially for a transatlantic. Hold off until you're closer than 90 days to sailing and look for bargains. When I'm searching for a cruise I look every day, but certainly check prices on Saturday and again on Tuesday each week as it seems that's when many cruise lines drop their prices. CruisePlum has also been recommended by lots of solo cruisers as a good site to look for solo bargains, though I find it more helpful to use online travel agency sites and/or the cruise lines' own sites to check.

 

I love the "game" of finding a good deal on a cruise! Can't wait until I'm retired and can take lots more cheap cruises every year. :)

Such good information thank you.

Unless you are super particular, hold off and book closer to the cruise. We are doing a transatlantic in April my sister and niece paid 849 per person( plus fees) for an inside guarantee. As of today, balconies are less than that. And now they have two perks added with more onboard credit!!

 

Inside cabins are even less now. I think with one perk it is only 699 so even if you had to pay double that as you are alone it’s still less than what you were looking at

Now that is how I like to buy a cabin! Inmy short time of looking for a cruise I have never seen a balcony less than a inside cabin. But I have seen a $500 drop in price on a celebrity re positioning cruise I was interested in. Have you sailed on the Breakaway or The Star?

I too am wondering what type of a cabin the OP is looking at and wondering why the deposit is non refundable.

I do not know what "OP" means but I do know that the cruise industry is heading in the non refundable deposit especially as they get closer to their sale days. What I see them do is offer a low non refundable price and if you want a refundable price its 300 to 500 more. They are starting to look like a used car salesman

No there are no studios left. But they seem so small. To be honest after seeing that you tube video of the Breakaway caught in that storm because of the captain's poor judgement I actually called NCL and asked who would be the captain of this sailing. They said 30 days before the cruise they could tell me. So I still have a few hours left to decide on this cruise.

I was very hot on taking Celebrity Constellation from Abud Dhabi to Rome 14 days suppose to to be a good company. Well for just me it was $2020 inside cabin mid ship about a month ago now they dropped the price to $1500 because the sailing date is April 22. I am committed to 2 months in Italy and Greece and I bought a killer price on flights from the best airlines.This I know how to do flights yes cruises not yet...ha ha

Really enjoying our emails back and forth

Thanks

You’re welcome!

 

As to the price it depends, it’s not a bad price depending on what type of cabin is it? Is that per person? One person or more than one person in the cabin? I generally get a balcony cabin, so I kind of use that as a base for looking at price. I’ve paid less that what you have there and I’ve paid more, just depends on the sailing.

 

 

Hope this is helpful :)

This is for just one person an inside cabin on grantee. This is for the Oct 2 on Norwegian Breakaway. I do not know how to get a balcony which I would really like. Do you use a good travel agent?

Hello jrlamour

Thank you for your reply much more positive than some of the other post which I am sure they were trying to be helpful. As I have mentioned I have only done 2 short cruises so this would be very big for me. I am still so new at buying a cruise so I have no reference on pricing and if I am getting a good deal? I guess $1713.00 for a 14 night cruise seems ok?

Thanks again

Thank you so much for bringing into reality!

My cruising experience is very limited just 2 short cruises 3 and 5 days and I was responsible for 2 people which did not give me much time to relax. The weather and the ocean is a concern as I live in Thailand and it's pretty warm here even in the rainy season.

My attraction to a 14 day redepositing cruise was the price obviously and just time to relax and read and do whatever I want! With the very long flying time from Bangkok to Copenhagen or Barcelona a 7 day cruise would not be long enough. Flight to these cities with Norwegian Air are very reasonable. But from Miami or New York it can be very costly. It looks to me with limited knowledge that the real deals are from Florida and maybe a back to back cruise might work?

I am just trying to learn how to buy a cruise like a pro.

I really appreciate your advice now I know what to do.

Thank you

I have about 2 hours to decide and pay the non-refundable deposit.Here are my concerns:

weather in Oct - Breakaway - Copenhagen to NYC

weather in Dec -Star - Barcelona to Tampa, FL

Will one month be much colder than than other?

Is the ocean very violent in these months?

On a transatlantic do they still give good service like on a vacation cruise?

Any help will be appreciated

I have about 2 hours to decide and pay the non-refundable deposit.Here are my concerns:

weather in Oct - Breakaway - Copenhagen to NYC

weather in Dec -Star - Barcelona to Tampa, FL

Will one month be much colder than than other?

Is the ocean very violent in these months?

On a transatlantic do they still give good service like on a vacation cruise?

Any help will be appreciated

Hello Fastpitch,

very good idea

good advice thanks

Thanks for your reply. I am coming from Thailand and it is only 5 hours from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi that is ok. But Rome back to Bangkok is 16 to 20 hours and quite expensive. I have looked around in my neck of the woods to save such a long flight but have not found anything that resembles Italy or Greece...ha ha. I am open to suggestions

This is for 2 but going by myself and that price is $2019. On Celebrity Constellation. What cruise line were you on going from Barcelona on Oct. Did that includes port charges and taxes for 2 people?

Taking my first cruise on Celebrity Constellation 15 day re positioning cruise to Rome. I do not know how to buy a cruise but I think this is a good price $2500 inside cabin deck 8 which includes travel insurance for $119.00 I was once told that I can get better coverage with a insurance company other than the cruise line. Any suggestions who I might contact? I really did not how to select a cabin other than trying to be mid-ship.

Any other helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.

goodluckman66

This my Itinerary

Dubai, U. Arab Emirates

Sir Bani Yas Is, U. ArabEmirates

Muscat, Oman

Khasab,Oman

Dubai, U. Arab Emirates

Dubai, U. Arab Emirates

8 days 7 nights on the splendia. Are you familiar with that ship?

I noticed that ship was built in 2009 and do not see any dry dock for upgrades. I have a feeling it might have that tired worn out look which would not be much fun.

Is the itinerary interesting for 7 days?

Can anyone tell me if the food is decent and plenty full?

I live in Thailand so the flight is a lot closer than flying to Europe for 25 plus hours.

Any info would be appreciated

Thanks

I have another one: how much will the entrance fee be for the Cirque shows for those not interested in buying the inclusive cocktails or dinner packages?

 

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The cost of the show is $16 per person but you must buy dinner or drinks as I understand it

The location is on deck 7 on the very back of the boat! I am concerned about feeling more motion and my friend has never taken a cruise before. It is a great price but what good is it if she or I are not comfortable?

I have only one day left to pay or it is gone and really not sure what to do!

It sails from Hong Kong to China 6 nights with 2 ports in Japan. It is also a 2 hour flight to Hong Kong from Thailand where we live.

Advice please