Hi - intro, and a help request

[TBird]

So, I've already posted... but hey....

I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and agents
couldn't offer the service they used to offer.

My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime between May
and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by side
pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions are
also welcomed.

Thank you in advance!
TBird

[Mason Barge]

On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:

>So, I've already posted... but hey....
>
>I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
>I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and agents
>couldn't offer the service they used to offer.
>
>My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime between May
>and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by side
>pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
>accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions are
>also welcomed.
>
>Thank you in advance!
>TBird

For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.

For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
dates.

For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
refunding money if the price drops.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[sheree]

most of the sites like expedia etc don't list the cruisetour options.

celebrity is good about honoring price decreases. we held a cabin for end
of aug 2004 on the summit.

--
Sheree

"Mason Barge" > wrote in message
...
> On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:
>
> >So, I've already posted... but hey....
> >
> >I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
> >I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and
agents
> >couldn't offer the service they used to offer.
> >
> >My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime
between May
> >and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by
side
> >pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
> >accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions
are
> >also welcomed.
> >
> >Thank you in advance!
> >TBird
>
> For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
> Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
> they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
> think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.
>
> For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
> going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
> would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
> emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
> dates.
>
> For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
> don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
> refunding money if the price drops.
>
>
> Mason Barge
>
> "If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please
bring me some coffee."
> -- Abraham Lincoln

[Tom & Linda]

Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
the Mediterranean out of Rome.

Maybe '05?

--Tom

sheree wrote:
>
> most of the sites like expedia etc don't list the cruisetour options.
>
> celebrity is good about honoring price decreases. we held a cabin for end
> of aug 2004 on the summit.
>
> --
> Sheree
>
> "Mason Barge" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:
> >
> > >So, I've already posted... but hey....
> > >
> > >I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
> > >I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and
> agents
> > >couldn't offer the service they used to offer.
> > >
> > >My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime
> between May
> > >and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by
> side
> > >pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
> > >accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions
> are
> > >also welcomed.
> > >
> > >Thank you in advance!
> > >TBird
> >
> > For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
> > Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
> > they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
> > think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.
> >
> > For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
> > going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
> > would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
> > emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
> > dates.
> >
> > For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
> > don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
> > refunding money if the price drops.
> >
> >
> > Mason Barge
> >
> > "If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please
> bring me some coffee."
> > -- Abraham Lincoln

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Tom & Linda wrote:

> Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
> steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
> the Mediterranean out of Rome.
>
> Maybe '05?

So where do you want to go in '05??

sue

[Tom & Linda]

Let's see if pricing for NY sailings becomes reasonable in 05. Voyager
and Dawn were more than our 10 night Rome sailing (excluding airfare)
for next summer.

--Tom

Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
>
> Tom & Linda wrote:
>
> > Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
> > steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
> > the Mediterranean out of Rome.
> >
> > Maybe '05?
>
> So where do you want to go in '05??
>
> sue

[sheree]

sgc's have been every other year so we'll stay on track! I wanted to do
europe but Mike chose Alaska!

If anyone wants to join us I'm sure we can get a group rate!

Aug 20 southbound on the summit

as for 2005, I'd love to do the dawn or voyager from nyc

--
Sheree

"Tom & Linda" > wrote in message
...
> Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
> steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
> the Mediterranean out of Rome.
>
> Maybe '05?
>
> --Tom
>
> sheree wrote:
> >
> > most of the sites like expedia etc don't list the cruisetour options.
> >
> > celebrity is good about honoring price decreases. we held a cabin for
end
> > of aug 2004 on the summit.
> >
> > --
> > Sheree
> >
> > "Mason Barge" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:
> > >
> > > >So, I've already posted... but hey....
> > > >
> > > >I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
> > > >I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed
and
> > agents
> > > >couldn't offer the service they used to offer.
> > > >
> > > >My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime
> > between May
> > > >and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side
by
> > side
> > > >pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of
Cruiseline,
> > > >accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and
opinions
> > are
> > > >also welcomed.
> > > >
> > > >Thank you in advance!
> > > >TBird
> > >
> > > For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
> > > Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
> > > they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
> > > think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.
> > >
> > > For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
> > > going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
> > > would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
> > > emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
> > > dates.
> > >
> > > For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
> > > don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
> > > refunding money if the price drops.
> > >
> > >
> > > Mason Barge
> > >
> > > "If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please
> > bring me some coffee."
> > > -- Abraham Lincoln

[Warren H. Davis]

Tom,

I always consider the bottom line cost for comparisons. Airfare, to
me, is part of the cost of a cruise, as well pre-cruise lodging for at
least one or two nights plus transportation. I also factor in travel
time. A 7 night cruise out of New York can seem longer for me since
I'm usually aboard and enjoying myself within 20-30 minutes of leaving
my apartment.

Warren

Tom & Linda > wrote in message >...
> Let's see if pricing for NY sailings becomes reasonable in 05. Voyager
> and Dawn were more than our 10 night Rome sailing (excluding airfare)
> for next summer.
>
> --Tom
>

[Donnassei]

Hi Tbird,
Do you have any specific ships in mind for Alaska next season? If so, you can
start by posting in the "bargain finder" at Cruiesmates and get some prices and
available cabins e-mailed to you. Its a great way to figure out some prices.

http://www.cruisemates.com/CF/bargfind/

HOpe you find that perfect ship for Alaska, and seriously think about booking a
balcony, if there is one place where they are a must Alaska is it. We cruised
Alaska last year on Celebrity Infinity and really enjoyed and loved having a
balcony for that trip.

There is also a nice planning guide there as well, helps decide what stops you
just have to have on your itinary and what things to do.

Have fun!

Donna
Tuesday Chat Host
http://www.cruisemates.com

[TBird]

>
>Hi Tbird,
>Do you have any specific ships in mind for Alaska next season? If so, you
>can
>start by posting in the "bargain finder" at Cruiesmates and get some prices
>and
>available cabins e-mailed to you. Its a great way to figure out some prices.
>
>http://www.cruisemates.com/CF/bargfind/
>
>HOpe you find that perfect ship for Alaska, and seriously think about booking
>a
>balcony, if there is one place where they are a must Alaska is it. We
>cruised
>Alaska last year on Celebrity Infinity and really enjoyed and loved having a
>balcony for that trip.
>
>There is also a nice planning guide there as well, helps decide what stops
>you
>just have to have on your itinary and what things to do.
>
>Have fun!
>
>Donna
>Tuesday Chat Host
>http://www.cruisemates.com

Thank you for answering my question...

The SGC thing had me totally confused....

TBird

~~~~~~~
One of the Four Horsewomen of the ATH Gutter

[sheree]

We did the infinity 2 yrs ago and loved it. We're doing the summit this
time!

I did do the cruisemates thing just to get an idea of rates before we went
forward. The TA that I was going to be using had rates that were the same
or better then anyone who responsed via the crusiemates vehicle.--

Sheree

"Donnassei" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Tbird,
> Do you have any specific ships in mind for Alaska next season? If so, you
can
> start by posting in the "bargain finder" at Cruiesmates and get some
prices and
> available cabins e-mailed to you. Its a great way to figure out some
prices.
>
> http://www.cruisemates.com/CF/bargfind/
>
> HOpe you find that perfect ship for Alaska, and seriously think about
booking a
> balcony, if there is one place where they are a must Alaska is it. We
cruised
> Alaska last year on Celebrity Infinity and really enjoyed and loved having
a
> balcony for that trip.
>
> There is also a nice planning guide there as well, helps decide what stops
you
> just have to have on your itinary and what things to do.
>
> Have fun!
>
> Donna
> Tuesday Chat Host
> http://www.cruisemates.com

[sheree]

SGC stands for Summer Group Cruise. Readers of RTC vote on a
ship/destination and we put it out to bid.

this way we get group pricing, the givebacks, parties etc and we cruise with
a great bunch of people.

In august we went to Bermuda as an SGC. No SGCs are planned for next
summer.

Tom K has a group going on the Galaxy to Rome in July. They do have group
pricing but it isn't an "SGC" per se.



--
Sheree
"TBird" > wrote in message
...
> >
> >Hi Tbird,
> >Do you have any specific ships in mind for Alaska next season? If so,
you
> >can
> >start by posting in the "bargain finder" at Cruiesmates and get some
prices
> >and
> >available cabins e-mailed to you. Its a great way to figure out some
prices.
> >
> >http://www.cruisemates.com/CF/bargfind/
> >
> >HOpe you find that perfect ship for Alaska, and seriously think about
booking
> >a
> >balcony, if there is one place where they are a must Alaska is it. We
> >cruised
> >Alaska last year on Celebrity Infinity and really enjoyed and loved
having a
> >balcony for that trip.
> >
> >There is also a nice planning guide there as well, helps decide what
stops
> >you
> >just have to have on your itinary and what things to do.
> >
> >Have fun!
> >
> >Donna
> >Tuesday Chat Host
> >http://www.cruisemates.com
>
> Thank you for answering my question...
>
> The SGC thing had me totally confused....
>
> TBird
>
> ~~~~~~~
> One of the Four Horsewomen of the ATH Gutter

[Tom & Linda]

I agree... for us as well.

But others did fly in for the SGC.

I still think we need to look at the total price for others who don't
live in the NYC area.

--Tom

"Warren H. Davis" wrote:
>
> Tom,
>
> I always consider the bottom line cost for comparisons. Airfare, to
> me, is part of the cost of a cruise, as well pre-cruise lodging for at
> least one or two nights plus transportation. I also factor in travel
> time. A 7 night cruise out of New York can seem longer for me since
> I'm usually aboard and enjoying myself within 20-30 minutes of leaving
> my apartment.
>
> Warren
>
> Tom & Linda > wrote in message >...
> > Let's see if pricing for NY sailings becomes reasonable in 05. Voyager
> > and Dawn were more than our 10 night Rome sailing (excluding airfare)
> > for next summer.
> >
> > --Tom
> >