kirtihk

We are not in a court room. So, all discussions are valid and relevant as long as they are polite and close to a core of a thread's topic.

Your "by forgoing a TA you're forgoing a 8% or more price savings." statement was generic - "a TA " doesn't mean "my TA" (he-he!). Others don't know what is not relevant to you. Also, it's safe to think that you didn't travel with all cruise lines yet - not all cruise lines give the same commissions to any given travel agency. For example, Ritz-Carlton Yacht gives a commissions amount close to what you wrote. So, if you book with them through your TA, your TA would give up all commissions for you. Perhaps, she/he is that generous, but it would be a different story.

It's actually from 2% depending on a cruise line relation to TA's agency and your relation to a TA.

Not always: any cruise line may have a reduced price available only for new booking and considering cancel and re-book as NOT a new booking (their system might "see" re-booking that way); then one wouldn't be able to apply the reduced price; besides, re-booking might also trigger a deposit cancelation penalty fee depending on a cruise lines rules at the time of an original booking (for example, if booked Celebrity non-refundable cruise, they used to have $200 pp cancelation fee applied meaning you would get back your deposit minus $400 per 2; recently they made it even worse - the entire deposit ($500 per 2 for 7-day cruise and $900 per 2 for more than 7-day cruise) is non-refundable if a cruise canceled if booking was non-refundable).

As I stated coffee contamination is a sin as an abuse of the real coffee lovers' community.

or just stay

Coffee snobs would "explode" if someone contaminates their coffee with anything.

That's true: it would be boring for children. That's why those cruise lines are not recommended for children (as opposed to not allowed). I'm aware of only Virgin Voyages and Vikings cruise lines that actually don't allow children.

I was just comparing a huge $$ difference, not actual items. It's like to compare $30 special dining fee vs $350 for 1 massage: a price difference is gigantic, but items are not comparable.

My point was if additional $30 is a really big concern, a cruise itself would be difficult (pricewise) to accomplish.

A simple pure arithmetic: $1,160 : $30 = almost 40 times more! Or in other words, increase fees is roughly 2.6% of the NCL premium package.

Norwegian premium package is $138 per person per DAY + 20% gratuities - total $166 per day or $1,160 per 7-day cruise or $2,320 per cabin of 2. That is a lot (comparing to $30)!

The "first class" or luxury or whatever else term might be is not based on not allowing children. Viking along with Oceania, Azamara, Windstar, Paul Gauguin (that became part of Ponant) is upscale or premium, not luxury. We've been on Azamara and Paul Gauguin. Besides Silversea and Seabourn, luxury are also Regent, Seadream, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Scenic, Ponant, Crystal. We've been on Regent, Ponant, and Seabourn. A Cut Above: The Difference Between Premium and Luxury Cruises - Luxury Travel Magazine

That’s for sure!

So funny (putting 2 parts of your statement together)!!!

Food and coffee (NOT ersatz and surrogates)

We were on Venture in March, and the Colonnade was half empty all the time (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). We will also be on Pursuit next April from Papeete to Solomon Islands (first 17 days part) booked while on board of Venture with 35% expedition cruise discount (I read this promotion was recently removed). PS. Typically, restaurants in all cruise lines are always full for dinner. Does it count toward being in the "zoo" category?

That bring a real question: may anyone bring upon everyone their point of view simply with just observation instead of pouring feelings, emotions, accusations, judgment, oppression? Adjustment is a key. Without it it’s stagnation.

Then Celebrity will become a part of Seabourn.

Why? Our agent is very good, he always “fights” for us real hard to the core of the problem to resolve critical issues, us and he gives us a generous RAC fir each booking. The most of items from your post (like shore excursions or individual beverage packages that are not a part of a cruise fare) are not an agent to book.

I’m with the same agent for 24 years, and it never even crossed my mind to ask him to do for me any of those items you wrote about.

Typo: I did NOT see 30% web site discount on March 20.

I did see 30% discount on the web site on March 20 when I booked on-board. If I remember correctly, at that time there was some generic % discount (less than 30) on certain cruises only, and it was not available for the cruise I booked on-board. By the way, I just read this morning about that 35% on-board discount ended on June 1 - a person who wrote about it was on a Seabourn cruise staring at the end on May, decided to book a cruise on board a few days later, but it was too late (it was June already). And, as you may be aware, there was no 30% web site discount at the end of May either (there was and still is double upgrade and up to $2,000 air discount).

By the way, food on a Seabourn was the best for us for 24 of cruising years from all cruise lines (including Regent, Ponant, Azamara), and black and red caviar were great (24-hour pleasure)!

At least, you may try to use the current website promotion; it is really good, too.