Best Online Deals?

[QueenBee]

We are thinking about taking a family cruise next summer. I know that people get some great deals online, but when I begin searching, I'm a little overwhelmed! Are there are two or three web sites that really stand out as far as deals go? Can anyone recommend some really good online sites for me to check out? Is it better to simply go to a local travel agent? Thanks for the help!

[Susie]

There are so many places that I'd like to go and I don't know if I can afford the trip. I'd like to know how to find an affordable trip too. I'm not even sure if I'll like being on ship - I've never been on the ocean before. But it seems like so many people are taking cruises.

Help!

Susie

[CruisinCousin]

I've been on several cruises and I've always booked online. I think that I've found good prices.

First pick where you want to go and about when you want to take your cruise, like sometime in the month of October. Cruises are for different numbers of days and leave on different days of the week. Shorter cruises are less expensive than longer ones but remember too that your airfare, if you are flying, will be about the same so if you can, enjoy a little longer cruise.

Once you have these things selected, start hunting the online sites. Look for sites that let you select where you want to go and some dates.

The prices quoted in the "deals" are for an inside cabin, the cheapest type of cabin, unless otherwise specified. When you get to pick your accomodations, the prices will be higher for better grade cabins. There's nothing wrong with staying in an inside cabin - you're busy most of the day anyway. You need a cabin for sleeping, showering, and storing your clothes!

CruisinCousin

[flowerchild]

Online is a great way to arrange travel for cruises. We do all of our reservations online now, including air travel and hotel stays before or after the cruise. We even find a limo service to take us between the airport or hotel and the cruise ship through an online search.

There are quality online vendors. The general rule of thumb that I know about for shopping online is if the site posts an 800 number where you can talk to a real human. Give them a call before you book or talk with an agent of the site to make your reservations.

I did that for our first cruise. After things went smoothly, I've continued to use the same online site.

flowerchild

[Beachbum]

I read online is the way everyone is going about their travel plans. It said that more trips were booked online than by any other way. Not sure where is the best place to look though...