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Old 06-30-2012, 06:36 PM   #21
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Now back to those malfunctioning toilets..I'm getting a very ugly picture of a Rotor Rooter guy coming on the intercom and saying he is going to reverse the system briefly, and for everyone to remain 5 feet away from their commode.
That's pretty much the way it's done in the submarine force...
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Old 07-01-2012, 07:58 PM   #22
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Vacations2Go prices seem very good until you link over to the specific cruise line's web page and find exactly the same price that V2G says is an XX% discount; that's because V2G measures from the 'rack rate' for effect. Even though V2G is a good starting point to search, why would I go thru V2G when I can deal directly with the cruise line? And, our experience has been that a good travel agent will find all these discounts---and more. So, we use a travel agent.

I'd be very interested in additional discount cruise sites that others have used and been pleased with, due to discounts and service.
That may be true - Everyone may have the same prices. That is certainly the case on many cruises.

But if you are looking for a "deal" then you need to find an agent with a block of cabins that is being sold for some sort of "volume based pricing". In that case not every agent will have the same price. Most of them will have the cruiseline rate minus a modest discount.

You want to find the agent with the killer deal. Going to the cruiseline guaranties you won't get a deal.

Think of it like buying a new car. There is the MSRP, and the invoice price plus maybe some rebates and an below market interest rate. And then there is the dealer with that 50-unit volume bonus deal going with the manufacturer. If you are buyer number 48 and there's just a day or two left in the (dealer) volume based kickback, you just may get the deal of a lifetime buying a car. The dealer may be willing to actually lose money on your unit to grab that bonus.

Cruises and cruiselines have similar arrangements. With some effort they can be found.

Like car shopping, there is no easy way to find such deals. The trick is to be out there looking, and to be flexible when and where you go.
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Old 07-02-2012, 03:32 AM   #23
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That may be true - Everyone may have the same prices. That is certainly the case on many cruises.

But if you are looking for a "deal" then you need to find an agent with a block of cabins that is being sold for some sort of "volume based pricing". In that case not every agent will have the same price. Most of them will have the cruiseline rate minus a modest discount.

You want to find the agent with the killer deal. Going to the cruiseline guaranties you won't get a deal.

Think of it like buying a new car. There is the MSRP, and the invoice price plus maybe some rebates and an below market interest rate. And then there is the dealer with that 50-unit volume bonus deal going with the manufacturer. If you are buyer number 48 and there's just a day or two left in the (dealer) volume based kickback, you just may get the deal of a lifetime buying a car. The dealer may be willing to actually lose money on your unit to grab that bonus.

Cruises and cruiselines have similar arrangements. With some effort they can be found.

Like car shopping, there is no easy way to find such deals. The trick is to be out there looking, and to be flexible when and where you go.
MasterBlaster-

Do you use CruiseCompete only to find these deals or, other sites as well?
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Old 07-02-2012, 09:22 AM   #24
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MasterBlaster-

Do you use CruiseCompete only to find these deals or, other sites as well?
I have many times. But there is no one surefire way to find the best deal.

One clue that deals are brewing is when one (or a few) website(s) have prices much better than others.

In that case Cruise Compete just may have a real deal.

By the way, while dining on cruises, if you go to the dining room for lunch or breakfast they (sometimes) seat you with other people. On two separate occasions I have run across others who were just as passionate at finding screaming deals. Sometimes the hunt for a deal is as much fun as the cruise itself. Especially if you are a frugal LBYMs type. Careful though when you start comparing what everyone paid. If you do that you'll either irritate those whom you are dining with or else find out that you paid too much yourself.
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Old 07-02-2012, 09:40 AM   #25
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A friend sent me a deal for a cruse through the Panama Canal that ended on Thanksgiving Day. We passed because of Thanksgiving commitments but the killer for me was the * note which said that if oil was over $60pb (or there about, as I recall) there would be a significant surcharge. Obviously the cruse line either is counting on that extra fee in their pricing or they aren't writing good fuel contracts.
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Old 07-02-2012, 01:37 PM   #26
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A friend sent me a deal for a cruse through the Panama Canal that ended on Thanksgiving Day. We passed because of Thanksgiving commitments but the killer for me was the * note which said that if oil was over $60pb (or there about, as I recall) there would be a significant surcharge. Obviously the cruse line either is counting on that extra fee in their pricing or they aren't writing good fuel contracts.
All of the cruiselines have some Oil price threshold charge that they could in theory hold you to. None of the lines have been collecting it though for a year or two now even though the oil price is above their threshold.

They could though, buyer beware
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