Hi All you Cruisers - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

hazelpazel · 07-02-2008, 07:23 AM

I am HazelHubby Greg) from sunny Qld in OZ.
My hubby and I have been on 3 cruises so far
and all out of the states, so we have been spoilt
with all the much larger ships.
We are already looking for our next one...would like to do Panama
around December. Does any of you know if can purchase tickets
direct fom some of your companies in the states?
Has anybody heard of a company called Vacations to Go( r they reputable?)

Char · 07-02-2008, 07:34 AM

Hey Hazel! Welcome to our friendly cruise community!

The Panama Canal is a very interesting itinerary. We have sailed it 3 times and marvel at the engineering that went into it's construction.

VacationsToGo is a reputable company. In fact, they even advertise here on CLF. We also have some travel agents who contribute to our forums here who might be able to help you out. I don't know what the rules are now days for booking if you are outside of the US. I suppose it depends on the cruise line.

Enjoy exploring and ask all the questions you need! We love to talk about cruising!

hazelpazel · 07-02-2008, 07:39 AM

Thanks! Char.....I will indeed ask questions....I know this is one everybody asks...have you a preference to cruise lines?????

Char · 07-02-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazelpazel

Thanks! Char.....I will indeed ask questions....I know this is one everybody asks...have you a preference to cruise lines?????

Hey Hazel

My preference might not be your preference! That's why there are so many out there that give you a different kind of cruise experience.

Having said that, I will answer your question. We enjoy Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. They each offer a different onboard experience, but life would be dull if it was the same old same old all the time. We have found the service to be good on both lines and we appreciate the more formal dining on Celebrity. We are cruising Princess for the first time in October, so the jury is out on that one.

We have cruised other lines, but they are not our favorites..... we have never had a bad cruise...just some are better than others!

Planersedge · 07-02-2008, 09:31 AM

Welcome aboard.

PE

Cruise Planner · 07-02-2008, 11:43 AM

As Char has mentioned, what one person likes, another will dislike, so the good thing about cruising is finding the right cruise for you.

As for booking overseas clients, I have many of them, in fact I just took care of a long time client in South Africa this morning. It's usually not a problem for a U.S. company to book except with Princess. You need to contact a local agent to book them.

As for Vacations to Go, yes, they are reputable, but don't believe everything they advertise. For example; they tell you they can save you 75% off the rates. What they don't tell you is that their claim is not altogether accurate. The 75% off is a discount from the brochure rate and the rate they charge is exactly the same as what everybody else charges. So, in affect, they are not offering a discount off of anything and their claim is very misleading. You can read more about this on this posting; http://www.cruiselinefans.com/cruise...ml#post1123484 (How to Get Discounted Cruise Tickets (Carteret County News-Times))

Hope you find a nice cruise!

Pete

hanna · 07-02-2008, 11:49 AM

aboard. Glad to have you here.

Chudley · 07-02-2008, 02:49 PM

Hi Hazel, Welcome to CLF. We're ASO glad you found us. I hope you just settle right in here and start enjoying yourself. BTW I LOVE your accent!

cruisin' chick · 07-03-2008, 01:22 AM

Hope you find the perfect cruise.

BTW, we were in a local bookstore today and I was browsing through some guide books on Australia and New Zealand. The cruise that's on the top of our dream list right now is the one that goes between Auckland and Sydney. I'm keeping

for December 2009 on the Diamond Princess. So we end up booking, I'll be looking forward to your input.

*Lars* · 07-03-2008, 02:16 AM

Hi there - a warm welcome to CLF!!
You´ll love this place.

As for Vacation to go. Their prices might not be accurate, like so many others that sell cruises. but when I used them I was very happy with them. They answered my emails very quickly, they called me to le met know that the price of the cruise had gone down etc. I was happy with them. I also have a cruise in 2009 booked with VTG.
The reason for not using them for our cruise in November is that by booking with an european agent instead of VTG we saved Euro 600 (aprox $900)!! for the same sailing and cabin.