Booking A Future Cruise While On A Cruiseship

[Cop Chef]

Hi everyone, I was looking for information regarding this topic and I was unable to find it. Maybe it was an old thread or post, but I would like to know the pros and cons of booking early trips while on a cruise. Is it cheaper to book ahead of time, are any perks added in, do they give an upgrade, or any information if people had any good or bad experience by booking early in advance. I'm just curious to know if it is worth it.

[teecee60]

Many people book directly with the cruise line while at home and THEY are very happy. :)

 

Many people book directly with the cruise line while at home, then transfer their reservation to a travel agency and THEY are very happy.

 

Many people book directly with the cruise line while on board and THEY are very happy. :)

 

Many people book directly with the cruise line while on board, then transfer their reservation to a travel agency and THEY are very happy.

 

Many people book directly with a travel agency and THEY are very happy. :)

 

Everyone has their own requirements, priorities and preferences. :cool:

 

I have booked directly with Celebrity one time, and although it was fast and easy, I will NEVER do so again because an hour later, I found out I could have saved several hundred dollars booking the same cruise through an online site.

 

I book only through on line agencies that offer lower prices with more perks, and have never once encountered any problems or regretted my decision. ;)

 

Because price is my primary concern, I don't care much about cabin type or location, and I have total flexibility in my schedule, I usually book only after final payment when prices drop as the cruise lines scramble to fill any unsold cabins.

 

An example of using this strategy is a 27 night B2B cruise on Celebrity Reflection from 9 April through 6 May in an inside cabin is available right now from an online site for $1273pp. (no big/better/best perks included and taxes and tips extra)

 

You would have paid between DOUBLE and TRIPLE that price booking before final payment.

Edited March 4, 2016 by teecee60

[ClaudiaB]

We have booked on the ship and when we book a suite we pay only $200 down payment instead of $900. We get the perks offered but then we get an additional $300 on board credit just for booking on the ship.

 

We transfer to our online TA. They give us even more perks. Then we check the website up until final payment for price drops or a better cabin location if we didn't get our best ideal cabin.

 

So basically it is lower down payment for a suite and more OBC. On the cruise we booked in November while on a ship we booked a sky suite for a 14 night cruise in 2017. We got total of $650 on board credit, paid gratuities, premium beverage package and unlimited internet. The online TA gave us $775 on board credit.

 

Pretty much makes it all inclusive.

[Cop Chef]

This is why I love Cruise Critics. With all the information that's out there, it's great to know other members will share this. I never knew you could could transfer a reservation, once booked with the cruise website, to a TA to get the extra perks. I heard about the down payment being less but I didn't know it was that much less.

 

Thank you TeeCee60 and ClaudiaB.

[beason641]

When you say transfer to an online TA, I'm assuming you mean an actual travel agency, and not say, a site that sells cruises to people who are also members of a big box store? Cause if it's the second one, my life s about to change forever lol.

 

 

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[thebutlerdidit]

When you say transfer to an online TA, I'm assuming you mean an actual travel agency, and not say, a site that sells cruises to people who are also members of a big box store? Cause if it's the second one, my life s about to change forever lol.

 

 

 

As far as I know, a travel agent is a travel agent is a travel agent. Call or email the travel branch of the big box that you have a membership with. I hope your life changes for the better today.

[isnowman]

Booking a future cruise onboard will also get you a category upgrade, but not all categories. We just booked a future cruise while on the Silhouette for the Panama Canal in April 2018. We asked for prices in Aqua and Concierge. We were offered the complimentary upgrade from a C3 to C2, but not from C2 to C1. We were also able to get the complimentary upgrade from A2 to A1. We did not look at suites or other cabin types. All the other benefits were as previous posters stated. And the $200 deposit is fully refundable up to I believe 75 days before sailing (final payment date?)

[Rob the Cruiser]

Many people book directly with the cruise line while at home and THEY are very happy. :)

 

Many people book directly with the cruise line while at home, then transfer their reservation to a travel agency and THEY are very happy.

 

Many people book directly with the cruise line while on board and THEY are very happy. :)

 

Many people book directly with the cruise line while on board, then transfer their reservation to a travel agency and THEY are very happy.

 

Many people book directly with a travel agency and THEY are very happy. :)

 

Everyone has their own requirements, priorities and preferences. :cool:

 

I have booked directly with Celebrity one time, and although it was fast and easy, I will NEVER do so again because an hour later, I found out I could have saved several hundred dollars booking the same cruise through an online site.

 

I book only through on line agencies that offer lower prices with more perks, and have never once encountered any problems or regretted my decision. ;)

 

Because price is my primary concern, I don't care much about cabin type or location, and I have total flexibility in my schedule, I usually book only after final payment when prices drop as the cruise lines scramble to fill any unsold cabins.

 

An example of using this strategy is a 27 night B2B cruise on Celebrity Reflection from 9 April through 6 May in an inside cabin is available right now from an online site for $1273pp. (no big/better/best perks included and taxes and tips extra)

 

You would have paid between DOUBLE and TRIPLE that price booking before final payment.

 

You are amazing. :D

[Cruise Junky]

Booking a future cruise onboard will also get you a category upgrade, but not all categories. We just booked a future cruise while on the Silhouette for the Panama Canal in April 2018. We asked for prices in Aqua and Concierge. We were offered the complimentary upgrade from a C3 to C2, but not from C2 to C1. We were also able to get the complimentary upgrade from A2 to A1. We did not look at suites or other cabin types. All the other benefits were as previous posters stated. And the $200 deposit is fully refundable up to I believe 75 days before sailing (final payment date?)

 

You get the one category upgrade just by being a member of Captains Club, it's not exclusive to booking on a cruise

[isnowman]

You get the one category upgrade just by being a member of Captains Club, it's not exclusive to booking on a cruise

 

Does that upgrade as a Captains Club member only happen if you book onboard, or if you book online or through a travel agent. If it's your first cruise and you want to book a second while onboard, I believe you are not a Captains Club member until after you have completed your first cruise. Is that correct.

[TeaBag]

Hi Cruise Junky

On the B2B2B we are about to sail on (Millennium), we didn't get the one category upgrade from the big on-line TA because their group rates were so much lower than Celebrity's, but we did get the 123 Go and an extra $300 OBC from them.

Does anyone know if the evergreen 123 Go offer for those booking on-board is still alive or has it been discontinued? The last time we booked on board, we got it. I know it has been discontinued for bookings made elsewhere and replaced by the flavor of the moment.

[beason641]

As far as I know, a travel agent is a travel agent is a travel agent. Call or email the travel branch of the big box that you have a membership with. I hope your life changes for the better today.

 

I checked with the travel section of the unnamed bulk store and they confirmed that it is possible! Yay!!

[patty1955]

I checked with the travel section of the unnamed bulk store and they confirmed that it is possible! Yay!!

I never used a travel agent until a co-worker told me she booked through a membership, big box store. When I checked, they offering were several hundred dollars in OBC for our cruise. The tell you that they charge $25 for any changes but they've never charged me and I called them about price drops, to cancel a cruise and to change cabins.

[beason641]

I never used a travel agent until a co-worker told me she booked through a membership, big box store. When I checked, they offering were several hundred dollars in OBC for our cruise. The tell you that they charge $25 for any changes but they've never charged me and I called them about price drops, to cancel a cruise and to change cabins.

 

We booked through ours due to an extra couple hundred OBC, but forfeited the ability to choose our "pick 2", so we ended up with a beverage package even though we don't drink. Honestly, I'd rather have the OBC than wifi or prepaid gratuities (although I suppose I can use the OBC for the gratuities...), so it was worth it.

[OhioCruiseDog]

My wife and I are firmly committed to booking on board, and just booked cabins for a Baltic cruise on Silhouette next summer while on the Summit last week. My wife is meticulous about tracking cruise costs, including perks, and we have saved significant money -- either directly or through perks -- by booking on board. On last week's cruise, we had free tips, drinks packages and good onboard credit, and selected an aft facing balcony cabin. Even though I do not drink, the drinks package is fantastic for the variety of non-alcoholic drinks (including NA wine and beer), and feeds my espresso addiction as well.

 

My wife opened a travel agency business last fall, so this new booking was assigned to her agency. However, we have done this for years and have always come away with a better deal than we could get elsewhere. Just our experience.

 

Cheers!

[killsport]

I've been on about 10 cruises but never booked online because the prices seem lower with a TA. Am I missing something? Example: cruis onboard is 1499/pp with 2 perks plus 125 OBC. Via TA it is 1099 with 2 perks and 75 OBC. Can I buy onboard at 1499, transfer to TA and get the 125 OBC plus the additional 75 OBC with the lower rate and perks? Or is in an either / or situation? Thanks!!!

[Cop Chef]

My wife and I are firmly committed to booking on board, and just booked cabins for a Baltic cruise on Silhouette next summer while on the Summit last week. My wife is meticulous about tracking cruise costs, including perks, and we have saved significant money -- either directly or through perks -- by booking on board. On last week's cruise, we had free tips, drinks packages and good onboard credit, and selected an aft facing balcony cabin. Cheers!

 

Hi OhioCruiseDog - was the cabin a suite or a regular balcony cabin. Would you have received the perks for other various types of balcony cabins?

[Cop Chef]

I checked with the travel section of the unnamed bulk store and they confirmed that it is possible! Yay!!

 

I had always booked with an on-line cruise website until someone told me to book through the unnamed bulk store. I booked my cruise with the bulk store and received a $500 OBC through them and also included an extra $300 OBC perk from the cruiseline. The bulk store was charging extra to include the Classic Beverage Package. Hopefully that will change before the final payment date.

[UncleButts]

I just checked with the big box store TA and they have 300 dollars more obc per stateroom , and I have three staterooms booked with a brick and mortar TA, so I may need to cancel and rebook to get the obc.

 

Quick question for all of you - would it be possible for me to pay for someone else's drink package upgrade? For example, if I made a friend on the cruise who had the classic drink package, could I upgrade my new friend to premium, and charge it against my obc?

 

I've never had obc before... is it transferable between staterooms if I wanted to give it to my kids, or could I just combine the accounts for all three staterooms so that there is only one account/folio with a large sum of obc?

 

Also, can obc be used to gamble at the casino?

 

Sorry for all the questions!!

[gordylad]

Interested as to the details......I just checked with the big box store TA

 

If someone could pm me

 

Thanks