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autocruise
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| Joined: | Sat Aug 25th, 2007 |
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Posted: Sun Aug 26th, 2007 12:02 pm | 1st Post |
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| anyone ever us bestpricecruises ?
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BeckyThane
Super Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Aug 26th, 2007 10:35 pm | 2nd Post |
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Over ten hours with no responses. I'm afraid the answer is "no"? Are you working with them, or do you have a quote?
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mrdawson
Funnel Deck Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Aug 26th, 2007 11:11 pm | 3rd Post |
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| Sorry..missed this post..YES I use best price cruises almost exclusively...I have NEVER found anyone or any web site cheaper than them, and I look..A LOT! LOL ....cust service is good too
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Mike
So many Pots....so few spoons!!!!
CTT Master Pot Stiring Advisor
1/09 X Solstice Eastern Carib
6/09 Mariner OTS Mex Riv
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amy417
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Posted: Mon Aug 27th, 2007 01:03 pm | 4th Post |
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| I also used Best price cruises exclusively for the last 5 years. However my TA just left for another agency. Kind of good timing because I just became a referring travel agent and will be attempting to book for myself now. I agree though their rates can not be touched.
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mrdawson
Funnel Deck Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Aug 27th, 2007 11:05 pm | 5th Post |
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amy417 wrote: I also used Best price cruises exclusively for the last 5 years. However my TA just left for another agency. Kind of good timing because I just became a referring travel agent and will be attempting to book for myself now. I agree though their rates can not be touched.
Amy, I love your signature line but don't let Bama see it...he will wanna date you! 
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Mike
So many Pots....so few spoons!!!!
CTT Master Pot Stiring Advisor
1/09 X Solstice Eastern Carib
6/09 Mariner OTS Mex Riv
5/10 CTT Azul Sensatori AI Party, Riviera Maya
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Len3
Cruiser
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Posted: Tue Sep 4th, 2007 11:38 pm | 6th Post |
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I've used http://www.vacationstogo.com for all of the below listed cruises. Cia Gore at extention 516 is my agent and what a great gal she is. Best prices and best service. I'm not in favor of booking the Cruise Compete simply because I don't know anything about the agencies that provide this service.
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Sun Princess - August 2, 2005 - Alaska
NCL Spirit - February 9, 2006 - S. Caribbean
NCL Dawn - December 17, 2006 - W. Caribbean
HAL Volendam - March 13, 2007 - Panama Canal
RCCL Navigator - October 6, 2007 - Canary Is.
NCL Gem - February 6, 2008 - OG
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brunolvr
Cruiser
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 07:10 pm | 7th Post |
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mrdawson wrote: Sorry..missed this post..YES I use best price cruises almost exclusively...I have NEVER found anyone or any web site cheaper than them, and I look..A LOT! LOL ....cust service is good too
I notice some of the online agencies advertise "No other fees" and "No cancellation fees". Do you know if this also applies to bestpricecruises.com? I didn't see that in their cruise quote.
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5/25/08 NCL Pearl to Alaska
2007 NCL Pearl to Alaska
2006 NCL Star to Alaska
2005 NCL Star to Alaska
2004 NCL Spirit to Alaska
2003 NCL Sky to Alaska
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain"
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lhall85917
Cruiser
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 07:35 pm | 8th Post |
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| Do you need to sign up for Best Price Cruise club to get the best prices? When I check to compare their price with what we paid for our NCL Jewel Baltics trip in June its about $700 higher than what we paid and is the same as NCL's current website price.
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upcoming...
NCL Jewel June 10, 2008
Caribbean Princess July 28, 2008
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ItchyFeet
Casual Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Jul 22nd, 2007 |
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 08:00 pm | 9th Post |
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brunolvr wrote:
mrdawson wrote: Sorry..missed this post..YES I use best price cruises almost exclusively...I have NEVER found anyone or any web site cheaper than them, and I look..A LOT! LOL ....cust service is good too
I notice some of the online agencies advertise "No other fees" and "No cancellation fees". Do you know if this also applies to bestpricecruises.com? I didn't see that in their cruise quote.
Not sure about cancellation fees, but the prices Best Price Cruises quotes are all inclusive of port fees, taxes, etc.--no additional costs. They will give you one price adjustment (as long as it's not for new bookings only) for free, and then charge $25 pp for any additional price drop adjustments. You will need to keep an eye on the prices yourself and ask them to do the adjustment--they don't watch cruiseline prices for you like some smaller, more personalized TAs do.
That said, I've used them twice and had good experiences both times. And they do have the lowest prices, it seems.
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ItchyFeet
Casual Cruiser
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 08:03 pm | 10th Post |
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lhall85917 wrote:
Do you need to sign up for Best Price Cruise club to get the best prices? When I check to compare their price with what we paid for our NCL Jewel Baltics trip in June its about $700 higher than what we paid and is the same as NCL's current website price.
Not sure about that--both times I've used them, I go through cruisecompete.com to get quotes, and have found that the Best Price Cruises quote prices at Cruise Compete are lower than if you go straight to Best Price Cruises without getting the quotes at Cruise Compete first. Also, the BPC website is a little weird and it doesn't show the final (lower) quote price until you go through the booking process.
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lhall85917
Cruiser
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 08:17 pm | 11th Post |
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ItchyFeet wrote: lhall85917 wrote:
Do you need to sign up for Best Price Cruise club to get the best prices? When I check to compare their price with what we paid for our NCL Jewel Baltics trip in June its about $700 higher than what we paid and is the same as NCL's current website price.
Not sure about that--both times I've used them, I go through cruisecompete.com to get quotes, and have found that the Best Price Cruises quote prices at Cruise Compete are lower than if you go straight to Best Price Cruises without getting the quotes at Cruise Compete first. Also, the BPC website is a little weird and it doesn't show the final (lower) quote price until you go through the booking process.
Thanks, looks like I had to put in email and name info to get member's pricing. I also use Cruisecompete each time. The past 2 times our lowest price has come from Elegant Cruises by Jean. She has provided prompt, accurate service and has been a great find! The pricing that came up through BPC is about $120 more than the price we have for our Jewel cruise - pretty close! Jean was able to get us a fabulous rate for the Pearl in March, she had some kind of group put together that we were able to take advantage of.
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upcoming...
NCL Jewel June 10, 2008
Caribbean Princess July 28, 2008
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mrdawson
Funnel Deck Cruiser
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 11:59 pm | 12th Post |
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lhall85917 wrote: Do you need to sign up for Best Price Cruise club to get the best prices? When I check to compare their price with what we paid for our NCL Jewel Baltics trip in June its about $700 higher than what we paid and is the same as NCL's current website price.
I think BPC guarentees a cruise line a specific number of cabins sold and there fore gets them a a reduced rate but when those are gone and the specif cruise is almost filled the cruise line won't give em anymore at a reduced price cause they know they can get the higher rate....
my first cruise I booked with BPC was selling for more than $1100 pp a few months prior to the cruise from BPC than what I paid BPC for it...
I think the bottom line is that if you book early online with them you will get a great deal, if the cruise is selling fast or almost sold out, you prolly won't, just like any other TA
And no, there isnt any membership, just select the cruise and book it.....they save you money by having VERY little overhead, they book thousands of cruises out of one little office in Port Saint Lucie Fl....
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Mike
So many Pots....so few spoons!!!!
CTT Master Pot Stiring Advisor
1/09 X Solstice Eastern Carib
6/09 Mariner OTS Mex Riv
5/10 CTT Azul Sensatori AI Party, Riviera Maya
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ute_fan
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 01:08 pm | 13th Post |
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I've also received a quote from Bestpricecruises that is the lowest one from cruisecompete. Normally, my local TA has been right in the ballpark with the prices I've gotten from cruisecompete, but this time, they're right about 10% lower than he is.
For those of you that have used them, do you have a certain agent that you like to deal with, or do you go through their salesadmin email and take whoever you happen to get?
After reading a recent post on CC about someone who's TA vanished at the time their final deposit was due, I was glad to see your posts, since I'm a little anxious about booking through them.
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NCL Sea -- 1/2004 and 5/2005
NCL Sun -- 6/2004
NCL Jewel -- 11/2006
NCL Pearl -- 5/2007
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ute_fan
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 07:53 pm | 14th Post |
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An update to the cancellation fees. I emailed them asking for details, and there is a cancellation fee of $35 per cabin if you book a different cruise, and $100 per cabin for a full cancellation. Since we're still a little "iffy" on this one, I probably won't be trying them this time.
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NCL Sea -- 1/2004 and 5/2005
NCL Sun -- 6/2004
NCL Jewel -- 11/2006
NCL Pearl -- 5/2007
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mrdawson
Funnel Deck Cruiser
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 08:17 pm | 15th Post |
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ute_fan wrote: An update to the cancellation fees. I emailed them asking for details, and there is a cancellation fee of $35 per cabin if you book a different cruise, and $100 per cabin for a full cancellation. Since we're still a little "iffy" on this one, I probably won't be trying them this time.
Is that booking direct on the website with BPC or after they had the best bid on Cruisecompete?? I don't remember them having a cxl fee when I booked directly with them via a search on their website but maybe I just overlooked it....and as far as a specific TA is concerned, after you book online you will get a name on your return confirmation email and then you can call that person if you need more info etc....
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Mike
So many Pots....so few spoons!!!!
CTT Master Pot Stiring Advisor
1/09 X Solstice Eastern Carib
6/09 Mariner OTS Mex Riv
5/10 CTT Azul Sensatori AI Party, Riviera Maya
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ute_fan
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 09:00 pm | 16th Post |
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I don't know for sure if the cancellation fee applies all the time, or if it's because it was a contact through CruiseCompete.com. If it was just my DH and I going, I wouldn't care as much. This time though, we're booking two cabins and trying to arrange schedules for the 4 of us, including our two kids who are in college and working full time. There's enough risk there of needing to cancel if someone's schedule changes that I'm just not comfortable booking with those fees. I definitely will add them to "my favorites" for possible use in the future.
Thanks for the additional information about the contact name, etc. It's sure nice to be able to discuss such topics!
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NCL Sea -- 1/2004 and 5/2005
NCL Sun -- 6/2004
NCL Jewel -- 11/2006
NCL Pearl -- 5/2007
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justmeann
Cruiser
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 09:09 pm | 17th Post |
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yup and they were one of the biggest reasons I decided to become a home based agent! NO ONE would return my calls, no one knew of sales or price reductions, the cancellation and change fees were crazy, I switched cruises same line but a different week moved up to a suite so they made more money but they charged me 35.00 to do it.
I can't compete with them rebate wise but I try my best for people, at least I get back to you.........
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I am addicted to cruising so I made it my career
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ute_fan
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 09:25 pm | 18th Post |
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| Good to hear another side of the story. How do you like being a home based agent? I had been considering the idea, but I wouldn't deal well with difficult clients or people who had problems occur.
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NCL Sea -- 1/2004 and 5/2005
NCL Sun -- 6/2004
NCL Jewel -- 11/2006
NCL Pearl -- 5/2007
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justmeann
Cruiser
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 09:36 pm | 19th Post |
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well there are days when I love it and days when it is really hard. Some days you bust your butt searching and find a great deal for a struggling family and they are so appreciative and thrilled and you don't care you only made ten dollars they are happy and that is worth more than money. But then there are many more other days...
For instance you can get someone who wants to "go on a cruise" won't commit to a budget or parameters, just "find me a deal" and you spend hours scouring for them, switching dates around etc and get the best price you can, even offer up to rebate $25.00 of your commission (which is not much after the host agency takes their chunk etc) and they nicely say "wow thanks for all the great info but I took your data and went to a place such as best price cruises and they will go 20 dollars less so thanks but no thanks" those days I want to scream.
Especially when you read on CC how we need to rebate more and are ripping people off, on average I figure if I really search for someone I make about 3.00 an hour. BUT I love to cruise and spent so much time researching anyhow that it is ok, I certainly could not do it to survive or actually make an income. Two years now and I am running a steady loss but it helps offset my husbands income. I just don't get how some people act I would do just about anything for a client but come on I can't pay your trip myself!
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justmeann
Cruiser
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 09:42 pm | 20th Post |
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oh one more thing LOL if you decide to do it make sure you get a speaker phone, my new record on hold with NCL was an hour but DCL beat that the day the mexican rivera cruises were released I was on hold four hours- but I did get the cabins my clients wanted (also cleaned the toliets, groomed the dog, painted my nails......)
If anyone wants me to try to match BPC I will, don't know if I can discount that low but I would try, at least I don't charge fees.... it's hard for the little guy/gal
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http://www.dreamvacation.cc
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ute_fan
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 09:58 pm | 21st Post |
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We had a fellow CC roll-call member on our last cruise who is a home-based agent. She originally was trying to talk me into it, but once she realized that I still need a consistent paycheck, she realized it wouldn't work for me.
I end up doing travel planning for friends and family frequently -- obviously without pay -- so she thought I'd enjoy it. I listened to some of her horror stories about people missing their flights and having to deal with the travel related problems, and realized that I couldn't do it even if I DID make money at it. Too much stress!
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NCL Sea -- 1/2004 and 5/2005
NCL Sun -- 6/2004
NCL Jewel -- 11/2006
NCL Pearl -- 5/2007
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justmeann
Cruiser
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Posted: Thu Sep 13th, 2007 01:58 pm | 22nd Post |
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it certainly can be stressful if you want to do it right, even when I am on vacation I am working, via my laptop or treo, you can't abandon people, nights and weekends you have to be available.
Definately not a job to have if you need a steady paycheck, I don't get paid until about a month and a half after the trip so even though I may be doing a ton of work this week for a christmas 2008 cruise I won't see the rewards of that until maybe feb. 2009 and then if they cancel between now and then I am totally out of luck. oh well.. there are days when it is great though like wangling it so a family can afford to go to disney or helping to plan an engagement surprise . not all grumbles most times it is fun
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http://www.dreamvacation.cc
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mafig
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Posted: Sun Jan 6th, 2008 03:04 pm | 23rd Post |
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RE: Best Price Cruises. Just received a good price quote from them through Cruise Compete.
Anyone used them lately? It's been awhile since anyone posted on this thread.
I specifically asked for no fees and their quote stated there were no hidden fees. Any recent info?
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Jan 6th, 2008 03:20 pm | 24th Post |
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| Although I haven't used them, I do sometimes ask for a quote on an upcoming cruise. Their prices usually are pretty good especially if you get in during a sale or within 90 days of sailing.
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Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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insidecabin
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Posted: Mon Jan 7th, 2008 08:12 am | 25th Post |
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I used BPC for two cruises last year(Oct,Dec), on-line quotes the prices were consitant right to the end so OK for late bookings as well as early ones.
On both cruises looked like they were rebateing around 16% of the comissionable part of the fare which can be a lot on a suite. On an upcoming cruise my calcs show a Noncomssion fair of $290 with a 15.7% discount from BPC.
Tried to deal by email and they were not that responsive, we are in the UK so a good responsive email service is essential. In the end I did get things done but just not as fast as I had hoped. I think you need to use the group email specified, you seem to get a different person pick them up each time, I tried a direct email for a new query to a previous responder and I never got a response
If you know what you want and are unlikely to need changes or need other services then the prices are very good, for the cruise above the discount over NCL prices currently $240pp for the KK up to $1900pp for a A2.
The on-line booking works fine, our bookings were NCL, payments were proced by the cruise line and your booking is on NCL system fairly quickly.
Would use again.
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