Hi - intro, and a help request

So, I've already posted... but hey....

I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and agents
couldn't offer the service they used to offer.

My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime between May
and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by side
pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions are
also welcomed.

Thank you in advance!
TBird

On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:

So, I've already posted... but hey....

I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and agents
couldn't offer the service they used to offer.

My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime between May
and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by side
pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions are
also welcomed.

Thank you in advance!
TBird

For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.

For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
dates.

For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
refunding money if the price drops.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

most of the sites like expedia etc don't list the cruisetour options.

celebrity is good about honoring price decreases. we held a cabin for end
of aug 2004 on the summit.

--
Sheree

"Mason Barge" wrote in message
...
On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:

So, I've already posted... but hey....

I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and
agents
couldn't offer the service they used to offer.

My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime
between May
and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by
side
pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions
are
also welcomed.

Thank you in advance!
TBird

For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.

For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
dates.

For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
refunding money if the price drops.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please
bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
the Mediterranean out of Rome.

Maybe '05?

--Tom

sheree wrote:

most of the sites like expedia etc don't list the cruisetour options.

celebrity is good about honoring price decreases. we held a cabin for end
of aug 2004 on the summit.

--
Sheree

"Mason Barge" wrote in message
...
On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:

So, I've already posted... but hey....

I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed and
agents
couldn't offer the service they used to offer.

My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime
between May
and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side by
side
pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of Cruiseline,
accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and opinions
are
also welcomed.

Thank you in advance!
TBird

For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.

For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
dates.

For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
refunding money if the price drops.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please
bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

Tom & Linda wrote:

Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
the Mediterranean out of Rome.

Maybe '05?

So where do you want to go in '05??

sue

Let's see if pricing for NY sailings becomes reasonable in 05. Voyager
and Dawn were more than our 10 night Rome sailing (excluding airfare)
for next summer.

--Tom

Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:

Tom & Linda wrote:

Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
the Mediterranean out of Rome.

Maybe '05?

So where do you want to go in '05??

sue

sgc's have been every other year so we'll stay on track! I wanted to do
europe but Mike chose Alaska!

If anyone wants to join us I'm sure we can get a group rate!

Aug 20 southbound on the summit

as for 2005, I'd love to do the dawn or voyager from nyc

--
Sheree

"Tom & Linda" wrote in message
...
Sounds like there might be NO SGC for next summer. Unless someone else
steps up to do an SGC, it looks like you're doing Alaska and we're doing
the Mediterranean out of Rome.

Maybe '05?

--Tom

sheree wrote:

most of the sites like expedia etc don't list the cruisetour options.

celebrity is good about honoring price decreases. we held a cabin for
end
of aug 2004 on the summit.

--
Sheree

"Mason Barge" wrote in message
...
On 17 Sep 2003 21:09:15 GMT, (TBird) wrote:

So, I've already posted... but hey....

I just subscribed to this newsgroup.
I used to be a travel agent, but that was before everything changed
and
agents
couldn't offer the service they used to offer.

My sweetheart and I are planning to take an Alaskan cruise sometime
between May
and October of 2004. Are there any websites out there that show side
by
side
pricing of cruise lines? I'd like a sort of spreadsheet of
Cruiseline,
accomodation type, itinerary, and cost. Personal experience and
opinions
are
also welcomed.

Thank you in advance!
TBird

For us peons it is very hunt-and-peck. Probably a big service like
Travelocity or Vacations to Go will give you the most cruises (but
they always leave out some). Also possibly look at cruises411. I
think Travelocity has a "compare" feature.

For a roundtrip Alaska cruise in high season (June-August), if you are
going to book any Carnival subsidiary (Carnival and HAL especially) I
would wait until about 60-90 days before the cruise, as they discount
emptier ships heavily, especially if you are a bit flexible about
dates.

For RCL or Celebrity I might be more willing to book in advance. They
don't discount quite as much and also are more generous about
refunding money if the price drops.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please
bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

Tom,

I always consider the bottom line cost for comparisons. Airfare, to
me, is part of the cost of a cruise, as well pre-cruise lodging for at
least one or two nights plus transportation. I also factor in travel
time. A 7 night cruise out of New York can seem longer for me since
I'm usually aboard and enjoying myself within 20-30 minutes of leaving
my apartment.

Warren

Tom & Linda wrote in message ...
Let's see if pricing for NY sailings becomes reasonable in 05. Voyager
and Dawn were more than our 10 night Rome sailing (excluding airfare)
for next summer.

--Tom

Hi Tbird,
Do you have any specific ships in mind for Alaska next season? If so, you can
start by posting in the "bargain finder" at Cruiesmates and get some prices and
available cabins e-mailed to you. Its a great way to figure out some prices.

http://www.cruisemates.com/CF/bargfind/

HOpe you find that perfect ship for Alaska, and seriously think about booking a
balcony, if there is one place where they are a must Alaska is it. We cruised
Alaska last year on Celebrity Infinity and really enjoyed and loved having a
balcony for that trip.

There is also a nice planning guide there as well, helps decide what stops you
just have to have on your itinary and what things to do.

Have fun!

Donna
Tuesday Chat Host
http://www.cruisemates.com

Hi Tbird,
Do you have any specific ships in mind for Alaska next season? If so, you
can
start by posting in the "bargain finder" at Cruiesmates and get some prices
and
available cabins e-mailed to you. Its a great way to figure out some prices.

http://www.cruisemates.com/CF/bargfind/

HOpe you find that perfect ship for Alaska, and seriously think about booking
a
balcony, if there is one place where they are a must Alaska is it. We
cruised
Alaska last year on Celebrity Infinity and really enjoyed and loved having a
balcony for that trip.

There is also a nice planning guide there as well, helps decide what stops
you
just have to have on your itinary and what things to do.

Have fun!

Donna
Tuesday Chat Host
http://www.cruisemates.com

Thank you for answering my question...

The SGC thing had me totally confused....

TBird

~~~~~~~
One of the Four Horsewomen of the ATH Gutter