Post cruise hotel Queen Victoria

[i love dorset]

We decided to book a post cruise hotel from Cunard. We chose the Ambasiatori palace in Rome. We were charged £600 for two night bed and breakfast. If we had booked direct or with booking .com we would have only paid £323. Has any one else been ripped off by Cunard in this way? Any advice please?

[LadyL1]

Does this include transfers airport>hotel>port?

 

If it does then, you will have paid a little more than DIY, and you have the added security of booking via Cunard.

[Host Hattie]

I haven't booked a hotel via the cruise company, but a quick check before booking would have shown that the price is fairly high but it does include airport and Port transfers presumably.

 

We stayed at the same hotel before an Azamara cruise after booking via Lastminute.com's "Secret hotels".

[Morgans]

A hotel booked through Cunard is almost always very expensive compared to booking it yourself. They charge per person whereas if you do it yourself, it is per room. It can make a huge difference even when you cost in the price of a taxi instead of their transfers.

[Queenie1603]

We took a cruise and stay deal with Cunard and stayed in the Mercure Colesseo near the Colesium. we could have done it cheaper on our own but it took the hassle out of it. Our transfer to the hotel was straight forward. We were met by a Cunard representative who was there every day if we wanted to speak to her. The transfer to the airport was first class. We travelled with an other three people in an executive people carrier. We were met at the airport and taken to priority check in though none of us were travelling business class. We were then escorted to the border/security area and given specific instructions about where to go to catch the little train that takes you to the correct terminal. It made the transfer from ship to hotel to airport very easy and hassle free and no lugging suitcases around.

[pepperrn]

I do think it is important to compare "like for like" ie add in all extra costs (and hassle) of finding taxis from ship to hotel and then hotel to airport. Lugging cases about, even simply finding your hotel (and it is amazing how many taxi drivers get lost in their own city).

 

Remember that hotel rates can go up or down between you booking the holiday, and then checking some time (weeks/months) later.

 

I've done both, getting a hotel/transfer package through Cunard, and doing everything independently.

On the whole, I'd rather let Cunard take care of things.

Less stress and worry, I can concentrate on having a great time.

 

When I've gone my own way there have been taxi issues (like... the taxi finding the ship! Making sure I had enough local currency, even getting a taxi at all outside a busy city centre hotel. Language problems (my fault). Being dumped at the wrong airport terminal. One driver wanted to drop me outside the dock gates and make me walk to the terminal building and ship trailing two suitcases and a heavy bag!).

 

But if it really is important to you, next time check before you book the hotel/transfers included package. Then decide.

 

Best wishes to you :)

Edited August 18, 2015 by pepperrn

[jimmybean]

Pepper brings up excellent points to consider.

 

In addition to dollar (or pound) amounts involved, there is value to having a hassle-free experience.

 

DH and I have always booked tours through Cunard, although less expensive options were available. Peace of mind (through this link to the ship) in a distant port has been well-worth the additional cost.

 

DH and I did our own hotel booking, when we visited Rome and we (through taxi and train) made our own way to the port. The only thing I can say in Italian is "La Boheme" and the taxi driver didn't go out of his way to seem helpful. There were, also, pick-pockets we observed at the train depot. Certainly, you could act independently, but there is something to be said for having Cunard taking care of arrangements.

 

Have a wonderful time, I love Dorset! Enjoy your travels!

[JimJoan]

There price always seems to be per person rather than per room which hikes it up a bit. If it includes transfers your probably ok but if you staying more than a cpl of days it does start to feel like your on the loosing end.

 

The other issue is if your flights included they probably are recovering some of those costs here.