Help with Miami cruises please

stoneman

We are looking at spending a week or so in Miami in September and want to do a 3 night cruise. It seems as though Norwegian and Carnival are the main players for a short cruise. Would like some input as per best place to get prices, are there any scrapers that might beat the liners own websites. Also experiences as to which gives the best cruise, as in most and best food, entertainment, on board pool experiences. We are looking at about $260 each for an outside cabin

LondonDiva

Have a look at vacations to go - NCL have a really good 5 nighter out of Miami.

Also have a look at the cruisecritic forums.

getmore4less

US agents can undercut the cruiselines

But unless getting a high grade cabin it will not be much.

For NCL short trips usualy ncl.com is good enough but check ncl.co.uk as well.

If you want to snip off some more use www.cruisecompete.com

Vacationstogo has a nice interface for listing cruises and a lot of people like booking with them I have not used them tend to book NCL direct to have control over the booking.

looking at sept 10 3n NCL sky inside cabin.
NCL US direct $229 + 78.29tx = $307.29
US discount agent $299
NCL uk direct £169 so $245, A UK TA should be able to trim a bit of that.

eslick

The US cruise companies are now making it that you need a US address to book cruises via agents or through US websites. just another scam to make you book through UK travel agents and pay the higher prices. Some agents are allowing you to use their addresses to get round this or at least they were if you cant find one then you will need a friend who lives in the US or pay the higher UK prices.

Here is the information from vacations to go

http://vacationstogo.com/internat.cfm

travellerboy

To Stoneman :- I would rate RCCL as a cut above NCL and they have short cruises out of Miami. I saw one yesterday for £138 pp based on 2 sharing, 3 nts Majesty of the Seas.

For the very best deal try www.smartcruiser.co.uk they are a US agent with a UK office (registered in the UK- Bonded)

travellerboy

eslick wrote: »

The US cruise companies are now making it that you need a US address to book cruises via agents or through US websites. just another scam to make you book through UK travel agents and pay the higher prices. Some agents are allowing you to use their addresses to get round this or at least they were if you cant find one then you will need a friend who lives in the US or pay the higher UK prices.

Here is the information from vacations to go

http://vacationstogo.com/internat.cfm

Friends or Relatives who live in the US is NO good, YOU have to personally OWN the property in the US to qualify to book with a US Travel Agent for all the Carnaval Brand Cruiselines.

getmore4less

NCL is still OK booking US.

stoneman

Thanks alot guys and gals. I have been looking at Carnival cruise lines site and no where can I find that it says the food is included, but I am sure it is. What is the deal with the premium Steakhouse and the like, do you pay an extra cover charge to eat there, and how many times a day do you get fed?

eslick

travellerboy wrote: »

Friends or Relatives who live in the US is NO good, YOU have to personally OWN the property in the US to qualify to book with a US Travel Agent for all the Carnaval Brand Cruiselines.

they might want you to think thats the case but a friend has managed to book 2 cruises this way. As with anything in the US the credit card doesnt have to be registered to the address so some are getting away with it. The guy from the insurance company who posts here think he is called something Brit also posted an agent who can help a few months ago.

poet123

I regularly book via a US TA using their address as a billing address. I also reccommend cruisecompete for good prices.

poet123

travellerboy wrote: »

Friends or Relatives who live in the US is NO good, YOU have to personally OWN the property in the US to qualify to book with a US Travel Agent for all the Carnaval Brand Cruiselines.

That is incorrect info, all the US TA's I have dealt with have ways of getting around the system, even Vacations to Go;) despite their disclaimer.