Viva Voyage?

EllaKeat

Hope some experienced cruisers can help!
We are about to book a cruise on Diamond Princess from Singapore to Beijing next March. We are booking cruise only, arranging our own flights and hotel in Singapore for a couple of days before cruise, and staying in Beijing at end of cruise for four days.
So, the question - I have been looking around the usual places for prices, and found that Viva Voyage UK is the cheapest by far. A guaranteed minimum balcony cabin is coming in at a lot less than anyone else is offering. Love a bargain, but should we be wary??

getmore4less

Have you checked booking the cruise through a US agent

what price so far?

US prices seem to be around around £1540

Princes UK are around £2k for a balcony(BD) £600 for air.

Ebookers/viva £1670

getmore4less

Forgot to answer the main question,

TTA says viva also trade as
Smart Cruiser
Ebookers Cruises

although they aseem to have forgoton to update there TTA and ATOL entirsd with the following.

Hello. My name is Geoff Silvers and I am the president of Viva Voyage. I am writing to inform you about exciting news. Effective immediately we will be changing the name you see on our website to Viva Voyage from Smartcruiser.
We are also changing our web address to www.vivavoyage.co.uk.
We would like to remind you that vivavoyage.co.uk is run by Viva Voyage Limited which is a British company fully protected by the TTA (Travel Trust Association). You can expect to get great discounted prices on cruises along with award winning customer service from the Viva Voyage team that has been running Smartcruiser UK. Please keep in mind that Smartcruiser UK is no longer being operated by Viva Voyage Limited. Therefore, purchases are not protected by Viva Voyage's TTA membership. All existing Smartcruiser UK bookings remain the same and will be fully honored by Viva Voyage. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at [EMAIL="customerservice@vivavoyage.co.uk"]customerservice@vivavoyage.co.uk[/EMAIL] or give us a call at 0800 8620137.
We invite you to come visit us at www.vivavoyage.co.uk today to take advantage of special discounted prices of up to 14% off. *Actual discounts vary by cruiseline.
We look forward to continue providing you with the best prices and options for planning your holiday. Thank you very much for your business.

They have there own ATOL licence so you could get them to quote for the flights as well so you then should get that protection
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=490&pagetype=65&appid=2&mode=detailnosummary&atolNbr=T10105

Pay by CC and you are covered as best you can be with a DIY holiday.

Then check that the booking comes up on Princess site.

teralin

I think Viva Voyage used to trade as the UK arm of Smartcruiser.com. I have telephone Smartcruiser.co.uk on an 0800 number and was routed to an American lady in the US who specifically takes bookings from the UK. Check the prices on the US site before you book as they are sometimes a lot cheaper.

EllaKeat

Thank you for such great responses:) I wondered why Viva Voyage were sending me their offers......had registered with SmartCruiser! I really appreciate the time taken to answer my question, will have a look at the US site Teralin, and thanks for the reassurance getmore - feel a lot less wary now:)
Just to let you know, this is a balcony cabin for £1650 - a LOT cheaper than everywhere else, hence the hesitation.

Thanks guys, much appreciated:)