Looking at booking a cruise... American site or UK?

[Scottish_Disney]

Hi all hoping you can help. We’ve never been on a cruise however
I have been thinking about adding one on to the end of our holiday. On Royal Caribbean’s website it is around £500 more expensive than booking through a few American sites, ie American Expedia, and another American cruise website.

My first question is why there is such a difference in price?
But also could it be that food is included on RC booking direct but not through these other agencies?

As I said I’ve never been on a cruise so not sure how this all works.

Thank you

[HappyM]

All Food is included in RC cruises no matter how you book. Prices vary due to the cabin type you can book and also gratuities may be included in one but not the other. You need to ensure direct comparisons for identical packages to know which company is offering the best price.

[alexisemma31]

We've always booked through vacationstogo. Brill deals and always had great service.

[Love*my*hols]

Originally Posted by alexisemma31

We've always booked through vacationstogo. Brill deals and always had great service.

See more...

Same here.

[rambocat1974]

Sorry to jump on here, but we've done numerous trips to FL and booked RC cruise as part but through their own website.

Had a look at Vacations to Go for an April 2020 cruise we're considering and on paper, the price is amazing compared to the RC website.

Can anyone tell me what protection, if any, like ATOL there is if you booked through this company?

Thanks
Rob

[Jan]

When a person books through a US TA that person gets no protection whatsoever, unlike booking in the U.K. Here is something I copied from Cruise Critic which can explain it far better than I can.



The good. . . . the UK has fair and very strict consumer protections in place for travellers.

The bad. . . . The USA does not, the cruise companies hold all of the cards.
If a UK passenger has changes to the listed, ports, tours, or itinerary they have to be compensated by law. In the US a cruise company can literally completely change your cruise ports, hotels, tours etc and you just have to roll with it without compensation. (Most cruiselines will offer something like a future cruise credit if you miss multiple ports etc.)


I hope that helps to understand the price difference.

[rambocat1974]

Thanks for the info, great prices but a big gamble with the amounts involved.

[Scottish_Disney]

Thank you for the insightful responses.

Is it just over the phone to book with vacationstogo ?

They have some great prices! Thank you for the tip

[Love*my*hols]

Originally Posted by Scottish_Disney

Thank you for the insightful responses.

Is it just over the phone to book with vacationstogo ?

They have some great prices! Thank you for the tip

See more...

We just deal with them by e mail and to take payment details they phone us .

[Loobylou_82]

I have been on lots of cruises and have booked through UK online agents. Here on the ones I have booked with Viva Voyage ( which is American ) Cruisekings, Cruise 1st , Jetline Cruises, Cruise.co.uk. and Iglu Cruises. Get a price off all of them for the cabin type you want and then phone up Cruisekings ask them for a quote and if it is dearer then the other agents they will undercut it. Good luck and let us know how you get on.