Cruise Club of america ?

[pw1959]

Has anyone on these boards ever used Cruise Club of America to book a cruise? If so how were they,reliable? Easy to work with? I see they have some great prices for the Caribbean Princess in the fall.So I was thinking of using them,Thanks in advance for your help.

[CruiseFever]

I have not used them but I have often thought it a great idea. You pay a membership fee, kind of like Sam's club then book a cruise at a price that represents a good fare minus the commission a travel agent would get.

 

IF it actually works like that then the $29 membership fee would be a bargain IF they write enough volume to get the great rates from the cruise lines.

 

This could be the biggest thing to hit the traditional Travel Agent world ever resulting in the best fares we, as passengers, could possibly get.

 

I'll be really interested to see how this goes.

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

[GloriaF]

I have never heard of them, but it does sound interesting. I'll stay tuned to this post for more info.

 

BTW, have you noticed that BJ's (and maybe Sam's) has some great last minute fares on cruises?

 

Gloria

 

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001

Grand Princess, Western,April 2002

Regal to Hawaii, April 5-20, 2004

[PeabodyNVL]

I get emails from them everyday. A couple of years ago they were letting AOL members sign up for free, so that's what I did.

 

They do have some great prices and many with airfare included. But, I haven't used them.

 

There is a $35 transaction fee if you do schedule a cruise with them, as well as whatever they are charging for membership.

 

They have deals with almost every cruiseline. But most of their specials are for very particular sailings, so you don't have as much flexibility.

 

Pea

 

5/9 Golden Princess  

[marye]

Yes, used them on a Grand Princess sailing about 1 &1/2 years ago. They were fine. My Brother had used them for four cruises and was happy (and he is picky). I just found another agent (internet) who I think is great, and I just like using her. Strangely, my S-I-L tried calling them for her last minute cruise that they did last week on the Caribbean princess, and she never got a call back after leaving repeated messages. Both she and my brother were surprised, as they had always gotten wonderful service from them before. (They ended up using the last minute travel source for IBM employees to book the cruise.)

[azsunshine]

I have used them, and they provide good service. Not all of their prices are the "best prices" when you add on the booking fee. They also charge when you have to cancel a cruise. I don't remember the amount, but I had to do that for one cruise we booked.

 

Carol and John

Caribbean Princess May 22, 2004

 

NORDIC PRINCE 2/1994

RYNDAM 1/97

ENCHANTMENT 1/98

VEENDAM 6/98

SEA PRINCESS 3/99

RHAPSODY 1/2000

GRAND PRINCESS 11/00

VOYAGER 11/00

LEGEND 3/02

 

Future:

CARIBBEAN PRINCESS 5/04

STAR PRINCESS 11/04

 

 

[PMD]

CCA is who I book all my cruises with. They have been great to me and to my family and friends.

 

My agent is very responsive by phone and email. I have never had any problems.

 

Any questions, email me.

 

Pete

 

Grand Princess- Baltic 5/29/04

 

Grand Princess - Transatlantic 8/27/04

 

Explorer of the Seas - Western Caribbean 11/21/04

 

Mercury - Mexican Riviera 12/27/04

 

Tahitian Princess - Tahiti 04/02/05

 

Voyager of the Seas

11/2003

Grandeur of the Seas 09/2003

Star Princess 05/2003

Costa Atlantica 03/2003

Millennium - Celebrity 10/2002

Carnival Victory 06/2002

Galaxy – Celebrity 05/1997

 

[samscruiser]

I was a member once, but found better prices elsewhere. You pay the annual membership fee plus about $35 for each person you book.

They were in the lower third of the spectrum as far as prices, but others were consistently lower without having to pay a annual fee just to get quotes.

 

94 Fantasy - Bahamas

95 Fantasy - Bahamas

02 Inspiration - West Carrib

03 Sensation - Exotic West Carrib

04 Royal Princess - European Explorer

[CruiseFever]

IF they were offering the rock bottom price that a large firm getting the best prices from the cruise lines was getting and all you had to pay was a membership fee and small charge for each cruise booked it would be a real winner.

 

It doesn't sound like the pricing is there. It does sound like service is hit or miss.

 

Still, I think it's a great idea.

 

I'm always looking for more ways to be able to afford more cruises and usually that falls on me saving money on non-cruise items (not going out to eat, movies, etc). To get a real, honest deal on the other side by paying the least possible on the cruise fare is, to me, something worth looking into.

 

I bet this kind of thing keeps TA's up at night though

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05