Booking through the .com site as opposed to .co.uk?

[Deimos]

Hi all,

 

So I've been wanting to book my first cruise for sometime and am looking at December of this year for dates.

I'm British, so living in the UK and I noticed yesterday the prices on the .com site are quite a bit lower (nearly half infact) of those on the UK site.

I couldn't see any obvious rule which states you can't book via the .com site instead of the uk one, but I did notice it requires a US based address, so I'm wondering if anyone else has done this to get a cheaper fare?

[Jason12]

The price you see does not include tax until you go through the booking process plus no flights are included, with the low exchange rate the only advantage is the cancellation which you can do and get your deposit back before final payment..

 

I've booked RCI cruises and got good deals with free tips and OBC but nothing like that on Cunard that I saw.

 

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[Deimos]

Hmm I'll have to check again, but, the price was significantly different when I checked yesterday

I think the price for the December voyage, inside cabin, single person, was around $1400 (with tax/fees), whereas the price on Cunard.co.uk for the same voyage, was nearly £1748 ($2262 USD)

I'll double check in a second.

[Deimos]

Fare before taxes, fees and port expenses:$1,398.00

CunardCare Guest Protection:$0.00

Taxes, fees and port expenses:$105.76

Your Fare:$1,503.76

 

Total in GBP is - £1160 vs £1748 from cunard.co.uk

[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]

Yes have done this many times in the past but used a travel agent so don't know how they overcame the address matter. It never caused problems though. I would recommend using an agent so they can guide you through that aspect and also quote you an all in fare for comparison purposes as suggested.

 

Some would worry about consumer protection etc. in a cross border transaction and potential credit card fees etc for conversion of the fare to Sterling but it never stopped me until the exchange rate became much less favourable.

 

I've also booked via a German travel agent too but sometimes the faffing about trying to save a pound or two here and there makes the convenience of booking in the UK more attractive.

 

Good luck.

 

M-AR

[Deimos]

Much appreciated, thanks!

Something to ponder anyways. :)

[Jason12]

Fare before taxes, fees and port expenses:$1,398.00

CunardCare Guest Protection:$0.00

Taxes, fees and port expenses:$105.76

Your Fare:$1,503.76

 

Total in GBP is - £1160 vs £1748 from cunard.co.uk

 

 

 

Seems a good saving, I can not find anything that good, must be looking at the wrong TAs [emoji6]

 

 

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[Jason12]

Fare before taxes, fees and port expenses:$1,398.00

CunardCare Guest Protection:$0.00

Taxes, fees and port expenses:$105.76

Your Fare:$1,503.76

 

Total in GBP is - £1160 vs £1748 from cunard.co.uk

 

 

 

Was the flight included..? or was it a round trip from Southampton?

 

 

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[Deimos]

I don't think the flight was included, both prices were just the basic inside cabin without any frills. (On the uk site, it was the early saver rate)

Removing the flight from the UK site doesn't affect the price.

Both were one way only.

[babs135]

Fare before taxes, fees and port expenses:$1,398.00

CunardCare Guest Protection:$0.00

Taxes, fees and port expenses:$105.76

Your Fare:$1,503.76

 

Total in GBP is - £1160 vs £1748 from cunard.co.uk

 

What about air fare?

[Jason12]

I don't think the flight was included, both prices were just the basic inside cabin without any frills. (On the uk site, it was the early saver rate)

Removing the flight from the UK site doesn't affect the price.

Both were one way only.

 

 

 

You can remove airfare from a select full fare and £300 is deducted but not from a saver fare..[emoji106]

 

 

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[Deimos]

Yea, price from .com doesn't include air fare

Please note: Voyage fares do not include airfare, transfers, travel insurance, shore excursions, sightseeing or meals ashore; government fees and taxes; hotel and dining charge, beverages (not part of the regular meal); gratuities to airport personnel, escorts and drivers, laundry, dry cleaning or valet service, or any other item of personal nature.

But I'd planned to stay in the US for 2-3 weeks anyways and make my own way back.

[Chunky2219]

Dpon't book via either .com or .co.uk. Use a good, cruise focussed travel bureau instead. You'll get better prices, v ery good service and if there's any problems they'll sort it without you having to spend ages on Cunard's chargeable 0844 phone number getting nowhere quickly.

 

 

.

[Deimos]

How would someone who's never cruised before, find a cruise focused travel bureau?

As I understand it they can't be named on here, correct? Trying google search but the results aren't too good so far.

[Host Hattie]

How would someone who's never cruised before, find a cruise focused travel bureau?

As I understand it they can't be named on here, correct? Trying google search but the results aren't too good so far.

 

Correct, we are unable to recommend Travel Agents, this Cruise Critic article might help

 

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=62

[Deimos]

Thanks Host Hattie :)

[Underwatr]

The price you see does not include tax until you go through the booking process plus no flights are included, with the low exchange rate the only advantage is the cancellation which you can do and get your deposit back before final payment.

Note that Cunard recently amended the point at which your deposit on a US booking becomes nonrefundable. It used to coincide with the deadline for final payment, but now it falls about 30 days before that date. This would ordinarily apply for either a direct Cunard booking or one via a travel agent (although a travel agent may impose a cancellation fee of their own).

 

Another thing - US bookings don't charge a fee for payment with a credit card. I believe .UK bookings Kay assess a fee if a credit card is used.

[majortom10]

Note that Cunard recently amended the point at which your deposit on a US booking becomes nonrefundable. It used to coincide with the deadline for final payment, but now it falls about 30 days before that date. This would ordinarily apply for either a direct Cunard booking or one via a travel agent (although a travel agent may impose a cancellation fee of their own).

 

Another thing - US bookings don't charge a fee for payment with a credit card. I believe .UK bookings Kay assess a fee if a credit card is used.

 

In the UK your deposit is non refundable from the minute you book the cruise whether it be a late deal or 18 months before the cruise.

[Alanxx]

If you use a standard British broadband provider I think you will find that the website automatically defaults to the Cunard.co.uk site .........you have to hide your origin if you want to get to cunard.com.....

 

Having just returned from France I found the same thing happened in France.....trying to get the cunard.co.uk site all I could get was Cunard France.....they obviously want to make it as difficult as possible to make a booking

[Deimos]

Yea I used a VPN to get the prices from the .com site.