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About Cruise Prices

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About Cruise Prices
Including prices you see on our web
sites.
Including but not limited to all:
Travel Direct Corporation's family of "online" travel related
sites
Looking for a lower rate after you
booked your cruise? New cruise policy says you may not get one!
Learn more about it.
IMPORTANT: This is information you
should read before making any decision regarding a purchase of
travel services.
Cruise lines require that guests under
the age of 21 years must stay in the same stateroom and be
accompanied by a parent,
relative, or guardian 25 years or older.
Some cruise lines age restrictions may vary.
Passengers are responsible for obtaining all necessary travel
documents including passports, visas or other kinds of
documentation required. These must be
presented at the pier at check-in prior to sailing.
Failure to do so will result in denied
boarding and no refund.
BASIC CRUISE COSTS
The "base" cost of your cruise will include your accommodations as
chosen for the length of the cruise, onboard entertainment, some but
not all activities, main dining room meals, but not in upscale
restaurants onboard, and use of most but not all the facilities
aboard the ship.
PORT TAXES AND FEES ( also known as a non-commissionable
amount or similar language )
These are the taxes and fees charged by the various government and
port authorities at the ports where your ship calls, the cruise line
passes these fees along to the passengers. These typically cover the
cost of docking and use of the port facilities; "parking fees" for
your ship if you will. And certain government authorities impose a
"head tax" on cruise passengers, which is used to maintain and
improve the ports infrastructure. Some of this amount may include
additional profit for the cruise line.
ADDING IN THE AIR COSTS
Airfares are an option that you may or may not choose to book and
pay for from the cruise line. This is the cost of your airfare from
your home city to the port where you will join the ship and your
return airfare home. In some cases, when using the cruise lines'
Air/Sea program, this will also include baggage handling and
transportation from the airport to the ship on the day you embark
and transportation back to the airport on the day you disembark your
cruise.
CANCELLATION INSURANCE
An optional cost of your cruise. For example, your medical insurance
probably will not cover you on the cruise ship because the ship is
registered in a foreign country or some other port of convenience.
But cancellation insurance may cover most penalties incurred for
canceling due to illness or death before the cruise. But, please
note that all cruise insurance policies are different, and you must
read them to assure you are covered for every contingency. For more
information
go here.
WHAT ABOUT PRICES SHOWN IN A CRUISE AD, OR AT A WEB SITE ONLINE,
OR IN THE PAPER
"LEAD-IN" PRICING
You may be looking for a stateroom with a verandah but the price in
the ad or web site is most likely for the lowest category of
inside cabin. This is what is called "lead-in" pricing. It's
intended to show you where prices begin, not end. The price may also
be for the first sailing of the season, such as for Alaska in the
early part of May. The Alaska sailing season is May-Sept. Typically,
but not always, the prices you see online and in the ads are for
"minimum inside" or the lowest grade of accommodation unless it
specifically states otherwise. The number of cabins available at
these prices are usually extremely limited. The price may also only
be available to residents of certain states or may be a senior
citizen fare.
Note: all prices and
accommodations are subject to availability at time of booking. So
your actual price may vary from what you see advertised, as cruise
lines change prices often based on the inventory available at the
actual time of your reservation.
Oceanview, Balcony,
Mini-Suites and Suites are higher priced. Where the cabin is located
on the ship also determines price. Upper decks are priced higher
than lower decks. Fore and aft are less expensive then mid-ship
located cabins.
READING THE FINE PRINT
Read the fine print. Check to see if the price includes port charges
and taxes as this can easily add significant extra cost to the
cruise if they are not included. Some cruise lines include the taxes
in the advertised prices, or else make it clear that they are not
included and display the additional costs plainly. However,
regulations for travel agencies are different, and many do not
include additional costs in the pricing and bury them in the fine
print. In all cases, unless specifically stated otherwise, the price
will not include airfare but will be "cruise only".
ONBOARD SPENDING
You will find lots of extra costs once you board the ship. Cruise
lines charge for drinks (soft and alcoholic), and then there are
tips (about $75.00 per person for a one week cruise), shopping,
gambling, shore excursions (touring in port), and meals while off
the ship. And then even some other extras aboard ship such as
upscale restuarants, photos, spa treatments, laundry or dry
cleaning, use of the internet for sending and receiving e-mail,
gourmet coffee and treats and more.
Most people will spend an average of $200-300 per person in spending
money for a one week cruise, more so if you like to take expensive
all day sightseeing tours, spa treatments and gambling.
Have a soft or alcoholic drink and most cruise lines automatically
add a 15% gratuity to the cost.
ABOUT THE PRICES ON OUR WEB SITES
| The Cruise Lines own online
reservation systems, Online Agency (OLA), Google, Cruise
Report.com and others are third-party cruise information,
reservation and/or sightseeing resources provided as a
convenience to our guests. Cruise Direct Online is not
responsible for third-party content and does not control the
prices, stateroom or space availability, reservations
process, deposit and payment policies, customer service or
the MERCHANTABILITY of product shown on these systems. Ships
registry Norway, Liberia, Great Britain, Netherlands,
Panama, Bahamas, Gibraltar, Italy, or France and other
countries.
Prices shown are based on double
occupancy for the lowest inside stateroom category.
Prices shown are samples only for reference purposes. Sample
prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and do not
include taxes, fuel surcharges, gratuities, or airfare
unless otherwise noted. Prices and fees are subject to
cruise line and vendor policies and subject to change at
anytime without notice. Prices shown are for the lowest
category of inside cabin unless otherwise specified.
This is what is called "lead-in" pricing. It's intended to
show you where prices begin, not end. The price may also be
for the first sailing of the season, such as for Alaska in
the early part of May. The Alaska sailing season as an
example is May-Sept. It may be for the lowest priced
sailing of the year, such as during hurricane season in the
Caribbean. High season rates and any other dates may be
substantially higher. The number of cabins available at
these prices are usually extremely limited. The price may
also only be available to residents of certain states or may
be a senior citizen fare. Other inside, ocean view, balcony,
mini-suite or suite accommodations are priced higher. All
promotions/pricing and cabin space is subject to
availability at the time of booking and the prices shown or
quoted at this web site are for REFERENCE purposes only.
These rates are for new, individual bookings only, subject
to availability at time of booking.
The actual price
of your cruise may vary depending upon your departure date,
choose of accommodations and available cabin inventory at
the actual time of booking.
Prices quoted and availability are NOT GUARANTEED until
confirmed by the cruise line AND a deposit or full payment
if required is made.
'From" means the rates are
where prices begin, not end. In most cases they are for the
lowest inside staterooms, when available. Other inside,
ocean view, balcony, mini-suite and suite accommodations are
priced higher. The price you pay depends upon the space
available and the price set by the cruise line at the actual
time of booking. Please keep in mind that rates and
availability fluctuate daily for last-minute sailings and
may not be available for desired dates of travel. So, the
prices shown on this web page are only a representation of
what you might pay, based on prior research, but not what
you will actually pay. The phrase 'Up to 80% off" refers to
the cruise line's published brochure price as compared to
the current cruise line offer price. This will vary,
depending upon how well a particular cruise departure is
selling. For cruises that go to the same destination each
week, seasonally or all year-round, their best rate, and
therefore offering the best discount, may be for just one
sailing. Usually offered during the off season and not peak
season of travel. As these offers are capacity-controlled,
the special last minute rate may be sold out by the time you
decide you want to go. Capacity-controlled means, that there
are a very limited number of cabins available at that rate
and when they are gone, they are gone. So, we strongly
suggest booking your desired sailings as early as possible
to avoid any disappointment.
IMPORTANT: Offers shown are
limited, time-sensitive and capacity controlled. Port
charges (NCF), government fees and taxes, airfare, air
taxes, ground transfers or other charges associated with the
booking are at additional cost. All prices are in US Dollars
unless otherwise stated. Prices listed are per person,
cruise-only, and are based on double occupancy. Government
fees and taxes are additional for all guests. Some specials
link to "live" online pricing posted by the cruise line or
shown by other vendors, such as Travelocity, Priceline,
Expedia ( and others ) on our web sites for a particular
ship and sailing date. As "live" price changes are made
daily, the pricing you see today may differ from the prices
shown on previous visits to our web sites. Cruise lines
require that guests under the age of 21 years must stay in
the same stateroom and be accompanied by a parent, relative,
or guardian 25 years or older. Some cruise lines age
restrictions may vary. Passengers are responsible for
obtaining all necessary travel documents including birth
certificates, passports, visas or other kinds of
documentation required to take a cruise.
Discounts if offered are limited to select cruises and may
not include holiday sailings. Not every ship, not every
sailing is discounted. Call us to find out about your cruise
selection. We are not responsible for last minute changes of
price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or
omissions in the content of this web site. Some restrictions
and cancellation penalties may apply.
Bonus amenities, prices,
offers, and upgrades are based on select dates, ships,
sailings, stateroom categories, and select fare codes. All
prices, bonus offers, upgrades, and amenities are subject to
availability, are capacity-controlled, and are subject to
change without notice. Cancellation penalties, blackout
dates, and other restrictions may apply.
Sample savings shown are based on cruise lines published
brochure rates. Additional restrictions may apply. All
prices and dates may not be available at time of booking.
Offers may be withdrawn at any time and information is
subject to change without notice. Select prices, upgrades,
offers, and bonus amenities may not be combined with other
offers, group rates, or group amenities. Offers are
applicable on new bookings only. Cancelled and / or rebooked
cruise vacations do not qualify.
Cruise travelers receiving
special rates based on residency or age will be required to
show a government-issued form of identification (passport,
birth certificate, or driver's license) at the pier to
validate state of residency or age prior to boarding the
cruise ship. If a traveler does not provide proper
identification they will either be denied boarding or will
be charged the current standard price for that stateroom.
As prices are changed by the cruise lines and vendors so
frequently, often daily, we are not responsible for any
errors or omissions resulting in inventory, content, or
pricing discrepancies. The details shown, including pricing,
accommodations, and any pictures, are for informational
purposes only.
Some pages have one or more
page "sponsors" who provide editorial and/or pricing content
to support their products. This is Paid or Affiliate
Advertising. The links lead to sites where vendors, such as
Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia ( and others ) offer cruise
travel services that may be related to the content on the
page. The advertising label "Ads by Google" is intended to
distinguish some paid links from Google, from other content.
Other outside services such as Travelocity, Priceline,
Expedia ( and others ) have graphic buttons or a text only
link to their web sites.
The third-party web sites you
go to are not part of Travel Direct. Their prices,
availability, booking, deposit or cancellation conditions,
terms of use and privacy policy will differ. Be sure to
check these web sites for information on how they collect
and use your personal information gathered at their site. By
proceeding to any third-party web sites you agree and
understand that Cruise Direct Online/Travel Direct
Corporation is not responsible for the site or sites you are
about to access, your relationship with them,
any
travel arrangements you may make with them,
or for their content. A
purchase of a travel-related service from any third-party
vendor is a business relationship strictly between you and
them. Govern yourself accordingly.
Note:
Rates do change at the discretion of the cruise line,
sometimes daily, so please be sure to confirm all rates and
details directly with us or the cruise line before planning
your cruise vacation.
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Looking for a lower rate after you booked your cruise? New
cruise policy says you may not get one!
If you already booked and placed a deposit for your cruise,
a new policy could affect your plans to hold out for the
posting of a lower rate and requesting a price change. As it
has always been, cruise lines have the sole discretion to
lower the price or not at the time you request a
price-reduction. On occasion, more often than not, in the
past, they have done so. Perhaps no more.
Royal Caribbean recently changed the price guarantee for its
three brands, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara,
giving guests just 48 hours to find a lower price after they
book. Royal Caribbean will no longer offer price reductions
up until 72 hours before departure.
Under the new rules, guests who find a lower price will
receive 110% of the difference as onboard credit. (The lower
rate must be publicly advertised by a Royal Caribbean brand
cruise line.)
The new policy is similar to those of Norwegian Cruise Line
and Carnival Cruise Lines, ( Carnival owns Princess, Holland
America, Seabourn, Cunard and other brands ) which also
give guests 48 hours to find a lower fare and offer 110% of
the difference in onboard credit if they do find a lower
price.
What does this mean for passengers? Cruise lines often
adjust prices based on consumer demand and cabin
availability. So, if you book a cruise month's in advance
you will most likely see prices change as you get closer to
the sailing date. However, with this policy, past 48hours
after you book, you will not get a rate adjustment to the
prevailing rate at the time the cruise line lowers the
price. The price you paid is the price you paid. Period. The
new lower price is for new bookings only, put in place to
sell the unused space.
However, you do have some options. If you have not paid in
full for the cruise and you have not entered into a penalty
phase for cancellation, you could just cancel your cruise
and rebook under the lower rate. The upside.. you save
money. The downside... you may not get to keep your cabin
assignment and the choice of cabin category and availability
may be limited. Some cruise line's rules may prohibited this
tactic. If you are a past passenger and have cruised with
the line a number of times, you could contact the cruise
line and make an issue of the lower price. In the interest
of good business, they may lower your rate. If your Travel
Agent does a significant amount of business with the cruise
line, they may have the necessary clout to affect the
price-reduction for you. All of these options, come with a
certain degree of risk and may or may not work for you.
You could also wait until the last minute, usually within 60
days of sailing to book your cruise at a reduced rate. Many
of these last minute deals include shipboard credits or
other incentives to book. Your choice of accommodations may
be very limited. The cabins available may be inside, or next
to the laundry, stairs, elevators ( lifts ) or below or
above the disco. Or, a great balcony or mini-suite cabin
becomes available in the last minute when someone cancelled
their cruise.
With this new policy, you will likely find just like with
airline seats, that the people next to you on the ship
either paid more or less than you did for the exact same
accommodations.
In the end its up to you. To get a good price, book early
for the best choice of accommodations, perhaps take
advantage of early-booking savings and other amenities, or
wait to the last minute, get a better price and take you
chances on getting just the accommodation you want.
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ABOUT DEPOSITS, CANCELLATIONS:
Every supplier (airline, cruise line, tour operator, etc.) has its
own cancellation and refund policy. Most cruise lines will refund
your deposit if you cancel prior to the day final payment is due.
However some cruise lines, airlines, tour operators and other
vendors, may assess a penalty If you cancel your vacation after you
have made a deposit. You should contact the vendor for detailed
information on cancellation and refund policies for their particular
company before making any travel-related purchase. Cruise Direct
Online highly recommends that you consider
travel
insurance with your cruise or tour vacation purchase. Travel
insurance may further protect you in the event of cancellation due
to covered medical reasons or other occurrences depending upon the
policy plan.
Cruise Direct Online/Travel Direct Corporation is not responsible
for unforeseen, last-minute cancellations or itinerary changes made
by individual suppliers; technical, hardware, software, or telephone
failures of any kind; lost or unavailable Internet connections; or
failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions that
may limit a participant's ability to take part in any of the offers.
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