CruisesOnly � America's Largest Cruise Agency
General Questions | Booking Questions | Airline Questions | Cabin Questions | Dining Questions
Shipboard Questions | Tours Questions | Now That You're Booked Questions


Booking Questions
  1. How do I book a cruise?
  2. Why should I book with your company?
  3. I've never done business with you. How can I be sure you're legitimate?
  4. Can I book on short notice?
  5. Do the cruise lines have Senior Citizen Rates? Family Rates? Last Minute Discounts?
  6. Why Can't I Just Deal With The Cruise Line Directly?
  7. Do the cruise lines ever give free upgrades?
  8. Can I extend my cruise vacation?
  9. Should I buy travel insurance? Is it worth it? What does it cover?
  10. How do I pay for my cruise? What are the deposit and final payment requirements?
  11. How old do you have to be to go on a cruise?


How do I book a cruise?
Speak with a Real Agent - For assistance from one of our Cruise Consultants, please call. Our agents are knowledgeable, friendly, and fully equipped to give you instant price quotes while you're on the phone.

We are dedicated to customer service and will do whatever we can to help you plan the vacation of a lifetime at the lowest possible price.

Back to Top

Why should I book with your company?
There are a number of reasons to book with us. Among them: fast, courteous service with the best rates in the country.

Back to Top

I've never done business with you. How can I be sure you're legitimate?
Very good question and one you should ask any agency you're working with. We encourage you to contact the Better Business Bureau where you will find that we've had no complaints against us. We're a member of the Cruise Lines International Association, the National Association of Cruise Only Agencies, and are part of World Travel Holdings Inc.. You may contact the cruise line that you are considering and ask them about us. We can give you references of other clients in your area. We will be glad to give you any information that will make you feel comfortable with us.

Back to Top

Can I book on short notice?
Even the most popular cruises sometimes have space available because of late cancellations. So, have your agent check or visit this website for periodic updates. But, to get exactly the ship, cabin, and sailing date you want, you should plan and book early. Most cruise lines also offer early booking discounts for customers who plan ahead. Then, just sit back and anticipate all the fun you're going to have!

Back to Top

Do the cruise lines have Senior Citizen Rates? Family Rates? Last Minute Discounts?
Most of these promotions are available in the off peak booking seasons, after right after the first of the year and between September and mid-December. Anyone can qualify for a senior rate provided one of the passengers in the cabin is 55 years old or older. Usually these rates a $50 to $100 per person lower than the normal rates.

Family Rates are programs that cruise lines use to fill the third and fourth berths on cruises on soft sailings. For example, the third and fourth person in a cabin may pay $499 per person on a typical seven night cruise. However, to help fill a ship, the cruise line may reduce this rate to $99 or even offer free passage to 3rds and 4ths.

Finally, Last Minute Discounts are less popular than in the past. Today, the cruise lines are trying fill the ships with better early booking discounts like Royal Caribbean's Breakthrough Rates and Carnival's SuperSavers.


Back to Top

Why Can't I Just Deal With The Cruise Line Directly?
You can actually make reservations with some cruise lines, but usually this is not to your advantage. As a Top Producer with most cruise lines, we often get special rates that are not available to other travel agents, much less the public. Furthermore, you deal with one agent with whom you've developed a relationship. Most cruise lines have hundreds of reservations agents. To them, you'd be just another passenger. To us, you're a valued client.

If you booked directly with the cruise line because we weren't available or you didn't know about us, the cruise line will release your booking to the travel agency of your choice provided you do so prior to your final payment.

Back to Top

Do the cruise lines ever give free upgrades?
Everyone either knows someone, met someone on a ship, or they themselves have been upgraded to a higher category than they paid for. Yes, it does happen and but not as frequently as people think. How do upgrades work? Who knows? We're still trying to figure it out, but here's our theory.

Most upgrades go to passengers who book early and buy the lowest category on the ship in the form of a "Category Guarantee." A "Category Guarantee" means that when you book your cruise, you are not assigned a cabin number, you are simply guaranteed that category or better. Since most people who cruise simply want to get the best price, "Guarantees" are a great way to fill the ship with people looking for a good rate.

Most upgrades are often from low inside cabins to higher inside cabins, or low outside cabins to higher outside cabins. Rarely do passengers get upgraded from inside to outside but it does happen. But don't book an inside cabin expecting a free upgrade to an outside. It probably won't happen.

If you are assigned a cabin when you deposit on your cruise, your chances of an upgrade are very small. If you are travelling in a quad, your chances are very rare in that there are relatively few quad cabins on a sailing. Cabin assignments on guarantees are usually made between a few weeks and the day of sailing. If you don't like the cabin they give you, tough luck, you're stuck. So if you're afraid of being at the front, back, top, bottom, under the dining room, then don't take the chance. Take an assignment at time of booking.

Back to Top

Can I extend my cruise vacation?
We can arrange pre- or post-cruise land packages at the same time you book you cruise. These are available through the cruise line and usually include transfers or a rental car.

Back to Top

Should I buy travel insurance? Is it worth it? What does it cover?
Without insurance, if you cancel your cruise after final payment, you will suffer penalties. There is no question about it. It could be $50 per person or could be the full cost of the trip. The cruise line doesn't care if it was your life savings, if it was a heart attack, a death or if you promise to rebook and say good things about the line. You will not get your money back after final payment without insurance.

We highly recommend insurance to everyone. You should consider your own situation before deciding for or against it?

  • Would losing the total cost of trip hurt?
  • Do you have family members who are ill or at risk of illness that if their condition turned worse you would abandon your travel plans? Young children or older family members?
  • Do you have a pre-existing medical condition?
  • Is your trip relatively expensive? Are you leaving the country for 10 days or longer?
  • Are at a point in your life where you are susceptible to accident or illness?
  • Are you booking your own air transportation?
  • Have you ever experienced baggage delay or loss by the airlines?
  • Does your insurance cover medical expenses in a foreign country? Probably not?


  • If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should consider purchasing insurance. Insurance typically only costs about 10% of your total trip cost and usually covers baggage, trip delay, trip interruption, medical expenses, medical evacuation, and more. We also have a plan that will cover pre-existing conditions, ask your agent for a brochure explaining it in more detail:

    Explanation of Cruise Travel Insurance Policy

    Back to Top

    How do I pay for my cruise? What are the deposit and final payment requirements?
    Always, always, always use a credit card to book your trip. . They're convenient, they are safe, and you get extra protection for your vacation from your credit card company. But if you must, we will accept checks and certified checks for payment.

    If you are booking your cruise early (outside of four months prior to travel) the cruise line typically requires a deposit ranging from $100 per person for a 3 or 4 night cruise, $200 - $250 per person for a 7 night cruise, and $300 or more for longer cruises. Your cruise must be paid in full at least 75 days prior to travel for most cruise lines (some require final payment even sooner). Your agent will discuss payment terms with regards to your particular cruise.

    You will get a comprehensive receipt for every payment and will receive a final payment reminder to keep you on top of your payments. If you would like to make periodic payments on your trip, you may do so provided all payments are completed prior to the final balance due date.

    Back to Top

     
     
    Back to Top