Cabin availabilty Will more be released?

[BusyLo]

We have never booked a cruise before. The cruise I am trying to book shows the same few cabins availalble at every site I try to book. Does that mean that is all that is left and I should book quickly? Is there anyway to find a different selection? If I wait, will more become available?
Sorry for so many questions in one post.

[Fern]

Hi BusyLo,

Since this is your first cruise I would highly recommend that you find a Travel Agent who is a Cruise Specialist. (BTW, I'm not one ). A TA can find many more cabins than you can find on a cruise line's website.

Cabin availability depends on how close you are to the sailing date. If it's very soon, there will be fewer cabins. If it's more than two months (final payment date, usually) away, there should be plenty of choices. After final payment date there may be more cabins available as TA's turn in their unsold cabins.

It won't cost you anything, and a TA can take care of SO many things for you

JMO,

[BusyLo]

Fern,
Thank you very much. Our sailing date is May, 2006 on RCCL. All the prices we checked are basically the same through all internet booking sites. So a travel agency might not cost more?
Thanks again,
Lo

[rebrab]

Lo,
We booked our April 2006 right through RCI. I knew what type of cabin I wanted and had also written down the numbers. We had to call back a month later and book one more cabin. The one next to our other 2 had not been showing as available, but when I called, he said it was, so now we have 3 in a row.

One thing noone told me on our first cruise a few years ago, was that they don't send you a bill, or automatically charge your credit card for the final payment. So when they tell you the final payment date, write it on your calendar...and then don't forget to send it in, or call to charge it!
Diana

[Fern]

Hi BusyLo,

A TA may be able to give you a better price because they can hold a certain number of cabins until a certain time, (often final payment day), and get a discount on them. (Especially the major travel companies.) It's like a group cruise, but you are just a group in the eyes of the cruise line .

It also depends on which line you are sailing. Some don't allow any discounting, but the TA may take a reduction in their commission from the cruise line to sell cabins for less.

If you are just looking at internet site's prices, you might get a better price if you call them since they can't advertise lower prices on many lines, but may offer you a special price when you call.

Personally, we always use a TA because they can run "interference" for us in case of any problems. It may cost a little more, but we think it's worth it

It's all very complicated, isn't it ,

[Dorothy]

Take Fern's advise and find a good TA - at least for your first cruise.

I've used the same TA for all my cruises (3) and she now knows what I like well enough to call me when a good deal arises!

I've always gotten a very competitive price from her, as do many people who use a TA.

Good luck!

dorothy

[LisaK]

You run the risk of your cruise selling out if you wait too long. This is what i suggest you do, get all the information from the internet sites, take that to a large travel agency and see if they can meet, beat or get you a better cabin. It doesn't cost you anything to use a TA and they are there to "run interference" from the cruise line should anything happen. I can e-mail you the name of a really good large cruise travel agency that i deal with if you like.

[Donna]

[color=blue]I don't think you can go wrong using a good cruise travel agent. Many of them will book group space on certain ships and sailings and pass any and all savings on to you. Plus you have the added assurance that if you need to change anything, there is a person to call and take care of it for you, definitely worth having a travel agent.[/color]