Thread: How Cruise Sales Differ Across the Atlantic – Other Cruise News: P&O Celebrates 175 Years – Queen El

We have usually found it considerably cheaper to book with a US agent, with savings of up to 50% on UK prices. Even when adding in a flight it was still much cheaper. We normally book our own flights, anyway, as we combine a cruise with a stay in our home in the US, so only ever look at 'cruise only' prices.

For example, last September my daughter and I cruised on Voyager of the Seas, booking with a US agent. There were no flights left if you booked through a UK agent, so we would have had to book our own flights anyway, so the comparison wth flights was exactly the same as if we booked with a US agent - i.e. no matter who you booked with, the flight had to be independently sourced.

We paid just over $700 dollars each - the exchange rate at the time was around 1.62 dollars to the pound, making a total price of around £432. UK cruise agents were quoting around £700 for the same period. We often find the price is the same in dollars as it is in pounds. Naturally we booked with the US agent!

We also researched a cruise on Allure in late September this year with the British company, Virgin Holidays. They wanted nearly £900 EACH for flights which we could source ourselves for around £500! They also wanted hundreds of pounds for an overnight stay in a hotel - which we could have sourced ourselves for a fraction of that price. Their price for cruise only was also around 50% more than that quoted by American agents.

Of course there may well be times when it is cheaper to book with a UK agent - we found a competitive, and comparitive price last November and ended up booking with a UK agent, but more often than not it IS cheaper for us to book through an American agent - IF we are allowed to, and if we fulfil the criteria.

I am sure you can be lucky and find something cheaper from the UK, but how many Americans actually book through a UK agent? I wonder if Americans have such restrictions on who they are allowed to book with. Do you know, Tony? Would you be able to book with a UK site?

But surely anything which reduces the amount of choice of agents you can book with can only work in the cruise lines favour? For them to squeeze out the cruise agents who passed on some of their commission to passengers means that there will be less choice for the customer, and ultimately this will lead to us all paying more for our cruises. I can't see why the cruise lines should be able to dictate how much (if any) of the agent's commission can be passed on to the guests - if they are willing to accept a smaller commission in order to stay in business and offer good deals to their customers, then why should it bother the cruise lines - unless it is to force higher prices by limiting choice. Bit of a monopoly situation maybe?

Thanks Ellie , obviously you have had lots of experience.

Originally Posted by tonylinsdell

Thanks Ellie , obviously you have had lots of experience.

Tony, if I could I would spend my LIFE on a cruise ship! So, sadly, I DO spend quite a lot of time looking at cruise prices, sad person that I am........ but hey, what better way is there than dreaming and planning my next cruise?

Originally Posted by ellie1145

Tony, if I could I would spend my LIFE on a cruise ship! So, sadly, I DO spend quite a lot of time looking at cruise prices, sad person that I am........ but hey, what better way is there than dreaming and planning my next cruise?

I enjoy the researching and planning also. As soon as one is completed I am looking again .

We are NOT looking at cruise prices right now (as much as I want to). There is this little thing of a new house......

Originally Posted by tonylinsdell

But using Charlene's example above, the UK price is considerably less than the US price. Is that one of the rare occasions you refer to ?

The depoit situation is definitely a negative for the UK though.

I do believe Char has managed to find one of the rare exceptions to the rule being discussed here. Great find, Char!

Originally Posted by ellie1145

We have usually found it considerably cheaper to book with a US agent, with savings of up to 50% on UK prices. Even when adding in a flight it was still much cheaper. We normally book our own flights, anyway, as we combine a cruise with a stay in our home in the US, so only ever look at 'cruise only' prices.

For example, last September my daughter and I cruised on Voyager of the Seas, booking with a US agent. There were no flights left if you booked through a UK agent, so we would have had to book our own flights anyway, so the comparison wth flights was exactly the same as if we booked with a US agent - i.e. no matter who you booked with, the flight had to be independently sourced.

We paid just over $700 dollars each - the exchange rate at the time was around 1.62 dollars to the pound, making a total price of around £432. UK cruise agents were quoting around £700 for the same period. We often find the price is the same in dollars as it is in pounds. Naturally we booked with the US agent!

We also researched a cruise on Allure in late September this year with the British company, Virgin Holidays. They wanted nearly £900 EACH for flights which we could source ourselves for around £500! They also wanted hundreds of pounds for an overnight stay in a hotel - which we could have sourced ourselves for a fraction of that price. Their price for cruise only was also around 50% more than that quoted by American agents.

Of course there may well be times when it is cheaper to book with a UK agent - we found a competitive, and comparitive price last November and ended up booking with a UK agent, but more often than not it IS cheaper for us to book through an American agent - IF we are allowed to, and if we fulfil the criteria.

I am sure you can be lucky and find something cheaper from the UK, but how many Americans actually book through a UK agent? I wonder if Americans have such restrictions on who they are allowed to book with. Do you know, Tony? Would you be able to book with a UK site?

But surely anything which reduces the amount of choice of agents you can book with can only work in the cruise lines favour? For them to squeeze out the cruise agents who passed on some of their commission to passengers means that there will be less choice for the customer, and ultimately this will lead to us all paying more for our cruises. I can't see why the cruise lines should be able to dictate how much (if any) of the agent's commission can be passed on to the guests - if they are willing to accept a smaller commission in order to stay in business and offer good deals to their customers, then why should it bother the cruise lines - unless it is to force higher prices by limiting choice. Bit of a monopoly situation maybe?

Good question about US residents being able to purchase via UK site/agent. I believe this is also frowned upon and prohibited when possible, but I'll do some research on the matter. It's such a rarity that I've never really considered the questions - and the US/UK cruise deals marketplace is something I think about everyday.

In the UK, Carnival has just cracked down on discounting, rebating and other forms of discounting, in a move that is trying to push business to agents who sell their service (and deliver), but also the corporate booking machines. In the end, I think ellie is right and the consumer will suffer.

Smart UK cruise shoppers might be smart to look at Royal Caribbean UK deals - who have, at this time, no intention of modifying the current structure and continuing to allow UK agents to discount, as able.

Ellie - is there a UK cruise comparison site or online agency you find has the best deals? I'm always on the hunt for the Top 10 UK list.

Thanks!

Having read a few threads now, I am amazed that you Americans seem able to book a cruise, then look out for price drops and then be able to book it at the lower price! Now that is FANTASTIC! We are locked in once we book - would love to see some of the British agents if we asked them to let us rebook the cruise as it was now cheaper - think they would fall off their chairs laughing! So that is another great bonus for Americans booking cruises. Good for them!

Tim, we have found that some US agents won't sell RCI cruises to Brits. Is that a restriction from the cruise line themselves, do you know?

There is no cruise comparison site from the UK, such as cruise compete, as far as I know.

There are quite a few British companies, but it is really a matter of contacting each one separately - which can be a bit tedious!

Originally Posted by ellie1145

Having read a few threads now, I am amazed that you Americans seem able to book a cruise, then look out for price drops and then be able to book it at the lower price! Now that is FANTASTIC! We are locked in once we book - would love to see some of the British agents if we asked them to let us rebook the cruise as it was now cheaper - think they would fall off their chairs laughing! So that is another great bonus for Americans booking cruises. Good for them!

Tim, we have found that some US agents won't sell RCI cruises to Brits. Is that a restriction from the cruise line themselves, do you know?

There is no cruise comparison site from the UK, such as cruise compete, as far as I know.

There are quite a few British companies, but it is really a matter of contacting each one separately - which can be a bit tedious!

While I'm still looking into some of your other questions, Admin Stephen (lankylad) has just informed CruiseLineFans, on another thread, that P&O Cruises is now offering a price protection guarantee to British cruisers.

Here's the info: P&O Cruises | New Vantage Fares protected by our new Price Promise