paphoslady Posted November 19, 2019 #1 Share Posted November 19, 2019 We live in the UK and book our cruises either directly with Celebrity or via a TA. For our next cruise final payment is 8 weeks before we cruise, this can be up to 12 weeks depending which TA we book with. How does this differ with the US? We have noticed that some UK cruisers now book with US travel agents. What are the advantages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted November 19, 2019 #2 Share Posted November 19, 2019 FP is 90 days before the cruise. Most travel agents actually need their money a week to two weeks in advance to make sure there’s no problem with the credit card payment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscobeans Posted November 19, 2019 #3 Share Posted November 19, 2019 35 minutes ago, cruisestitch said: FP is 90 days before the cruise. Most travel agents actually need their money a week to two weeks in advance to make sure there’s no problem with the credit card payment We NEVER pay anything to our TA. The only credit card or other payments we make are submitted to RCCL or separately to our Travel Insurance Agency by our TA.. She uses OUR credit card for all payments and our statements show RCCL or the Insurance agency. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted November 19, 2019 #4 Share Posted November 19, 2019 24 minutes ago, boscobeans said: We NEVER pay anything to our TA. Agreed. I would never use a TA that asked to be paid instead of simply facilitating direct payment to the cruise line, insurance company, etc.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phxazzcruisers Posted November 19, 2019 #5 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Agree 100%. Our TA pays Celebrity directly with our credit card on the due date 90 days in advance. WE would never pay a Travel Agency ahead of time and expect them to hold funds and pay Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted November 19, 2019 #6 Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) Sorry I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean that the travel agent held the funds. The travel agent runs the card 1 to 2 weeks in advance of the actual final payment date so that in case there’s any trouble with the card they have a chance to make it right. They run the card and it shows as celebrity cruises, not the travel agent, on the statement. so I end up paying Celebrity a few days in advance of the actual Final Payment date. Edited November 19, 2019 by cruisestitch 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani negreanu Posted November 19, 2019 #7 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I'm booking through a TA, I'm paying at least 10 days before FP through the TA, get an invoice "paid in full" from the TA, never had any problems. I fully understand the need to pay at least 10 days before, just in case there is a glitch on X side/credit card, etc... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeless holiday booker Posted November 19, 2019 #8 Share Posted November 19, 2019 For me, in the past, one of the benefits was a refundable deposit, the exchange rate, the ability to move rooms and the extra perks. Also, if you transferred a booking on board from celebrity to your American TA they will often give you extra perks. I think, except for the last one, this is beginning to change now so I look everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fragilek Posted November 19, 2019 #9 Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) For me its down to price that dictates if I jump US or UK side of the fence. I price up both using TA (as both UK and US TAs are cheaper than direct (UK only usually by about £80-120 per cabin)). But in the US the TA's give OBC back as a perk in our last cruise in the summer this amounted to 4 x $300 (per cabin). Their base price was also over £200 less per cabin (OV cabins ) than UK and still included the same as the UK perk of drinks BUT also an additional ship OBC $300, which was not a UK offer at the time. Thus per cabin we gained $600 OBC and the price was also £200 less. For 4 cabins quite a bit of a saving The main drawback is a sudden change of currency rate going against you as the £ was dropping when we booked I countered this by loading onto a dollar Faifx card the required funds the day I booked to lock in my price. However my next cruise was way way cheaper (more than £1000 for an infinity balcony cabin) booking through a UK TA Edited November 19, 2019 by fragilek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaBag Posted November 19, 2019 #10 Share Posted November 19, 2019 We book with a TA whose final payment is a month before Celebrity's (120 days). We pay them and there is never any trouble. In fact for our next cruise, Celebrity's FP date is still nearly a month away and the charge for our cruise posted by our TA is already on Amex, so we don't have any worries except having to pay early. That is cancelled out by the extra OBC and perks we receive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted November 19, 2019 #11 Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) The answer would be variable depending on both when you booked and length of cruise. For new bookings it is now usually 90 days for cruises over 5 days. My agent charges my credit card on the final payment date directly to Celebrity. Q. What is Celebrity's cruise or Cruisetour cancellation and refund policy? A. The cancellation charge policies set forth above vary for single occupancy or for the third, fourth or higher occupants in a stateroom or for groups. Consult your travel agency or call Celebrity Cruises® for further details. Select fare programs require the payment at the time of booking of a nonrefundable deposit. That deposit amount shall not be refunded at any time after it has been paid. Change fees will apply to bookings for which the deposit is nonrefundable. Cancellation of Cruise or CruiseTour. Cruises that are cancelled prior to the sail date, and CruiseTours that are cancelled prior to the first day of the CruiseTour, may be subject to a cancellation charge. The amount of the cancellation charge shall be determined as shown in the table below and shall vary depending on how far in advance of the sail date (or first day of theCruiseTour) the Operator receives notice of cancellation. For Cruises Booked Before April 16, 2018 For 1 TO 4 NIGHT CRUISES IF CANCELLATION IS MADE (including Holiday Sailings) CANCELLATION CHARGE (Per person) 75+ days No charges (except for Non-refundable Deposit amounts ) 74 to 43 day Deposit amount 42 to 29 days 50% of total price 28 to 15 days 75% of total price 14 days or less 100% of total price - No refund For 5 NIGHT CRUISES OR LONGER IF CANCELLATION IS MADE (including Holiday Sailings and Cruisetours) CANCELLATION CHARGE (Per person) 90+ days No charges 89 to 75 days Deposit Amount 56 to 29 Days 50% of total price 28 to 15 days 75% of total price 14 days or less 100% of total price - No refund For Cruises Booked On or After April 16, 2018 FOR 1 TO 4 NIGHT CRUISES (including Holiday sailings) CANCELLATION CHARGE (Per Person) 75+ days No charges 74 to 61 days 50% of total price 60 to 31 days 75% of total price 30 days or less 100% of total price - No refund FOR 5 NIGHTS OR LONGER CRUISES (including Holiday Sailings and Cruisetours) CANCELLATION CHARGE (Per Person) 90+ days No charges 89 to 75 days 25% of total price 74 to 61 days 50% of total price 60 to 31 days 75% of total price 30 days or less 100% of total price - No refund In the event of a cancellation of a Cruise or CruiseTour, any applicable Taxes/Fees or Fuel Supplement charges shall be refunded. For bookings made outside of the United States and Canada, a different cancellation policy may apply. Contact your local office or travel agency for details. Cancellation notices are effective when received by the Operator. For Passengers who have booked a CruiseTour and desire to cancel their tour portion while retaining the Cruise, refunds of the CruiseTour Fare (including any applicable supplement charges) shall be made in accordance with the following cancellation policy. Guests who convert their CruiseTours to a cruise only booking within forty-two (42) days of the start date of the tour segment of the CruiseTour will be subject to a cancellation charge. The amount of that charge varies depending on the location of the CruiseTour and/or its length. For the specific amount of the charge, visit Our FAQ section. The cancellation charge policies set forth above vary for single occupancy or for the third, fourth or higher occupants in a stateroom or for groups. Consult your travel agency or call Celebrity for further details. Cancellation by the Passenger after the Cruise or CruiseTour has begun, early disembarkation of the Passenger for any reason, including pursuant to any provision of this Ticket Contract, or “no-shows” shall be without refund, compensation, or liability on the part of the Carrier whatsoever. If Carrier received payment via credit card, the refund will be made to that credit card. If Carrier received payment from your travel agent, the refund will be provided back to that travel agent. Carrier reserves the right to offer promotional cruise fares or other offers that may modify the cancellation policies set forth above. For cancellations of air flights, hotel stays, transfer services, shore excursions, pre-purchased amenities, CruiseCare, pre-booked services (such as spa, photography or wedding services) and pre-booked arrangements such as specialty dining, see the applicable terms and conditions for any applicable cancellation charges Edited November 19, 2019 by Jim_Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villauk Posted November 19, 2019 #12 Share Posted November 19, 2019 1 hour ago, fragilek said: For me its down to price that dictates if I jump US or UK side of the fence. I price up both using TA (as both UK and US TAs are cheaper than direct (UK only usually by about £80-120 per cabin)). But in the US the TA's give OBC back as a perk in our last cruise in the summer this amounted to 4 x $300 (per cabin). Their base price was also over £200 less per cabin (OV cabins ) than UK and still included the same as the UK perk of drinks BUT also an additional ship OBC $300, which was not a UK offer at the time. Thus per cabin we gained $600 OBC and the price was also £200 less. For 4 cabins quite a bit of a saving The main drawback is a sudden change of currency rate going against you as the £ was dropping when we booked I countered this by loading onto a dollar Faifx card the required funds the day I booked to lock in my price. However my next cruise was way way cheaper (more than £1000 for an infinity balcony cabin) booking through a UK TA I’ve been saying for years that it’s best to price it out on both sides of the pond, including any perks/promos in your calculations. The only thing I reiterate is that if you book on this side of the pond, be sure you’re totally happy with the deal from the outset as any changes to the booking will probably cost you more money. I also wouldn’t book a GTY over here as we have to accept whatever is allocated, whereas in the US you can change to another cabin providing it’s in the same category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fragilek Posted November 19, 2019 #13 Share Posted November 19, 2019 4 minutes ago, villauk said: I’ve been saying for years that it’s best to price it out on both sides of the pond, including any perks/promos in your calculations. The only thing I reiterate is that if you book on this side of the pond, be sure you’re totally happy with the deal from the outset as any changes to the booking will probably cost you more money. I also wouldn’t book a GTY over here as we have to accept whatever is allocated, whereas in the US you can change to another cabin providing it’s in the same category. exactly and good point re not being able to change I made that mistake on my first UK booking when I tried to change my gty cabin and found out I could not lol. Also remember its only a perk if you would have either bought it or spend the same as it costs difference wise on that product. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvcrusn Posted November 20, 2019 #14 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Our TA takes final payment 120 days, which is 30 before required by X. The payment indicates charge to X and shows on our cc on the day payment is taken. The TA offers enough additional incentives and or lower fares that we don't care. We have to pay to play eventually. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaBag Posted November 20, 2019 #15 Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Luvcrusn said: Our TA takes final payment 120 days, which is 30 before required by X. The payment indicates charge to X and shows on our cc on the day payment is taken. The TA offers enough additional incentives and or lower fares that we don't care. We have to pay to play eventually. I think we use the same TA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvcrusn Posted November 20, 2019 #16 Share Posted November 20, 2019 2 hours ago, TeaBag said: I think we use the same TA. I have a strong feeling you're correct 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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