Expert: Barbon - 7/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: We have booked this cruise on the Mercury for next year to celebrate my 80th birthday. We are taking our entire immediate family of some 23 people. The ages range from 16-50. I've been told the Mercury is one of their older ships but a very good choice- although not a lot of youth activities- is this right? Are there things for 16-22 years to do to keep them busy. We are taking an inside round trip cruise from Vancouver and back.

My real questions are this.

1. Our travel agent is offering us cancellation insurance which will cost over $2000. Are there other options to buy insurance that would be better for me- cost wise, etc. If so what would you suggest.

2. So far we have only booked the cruise- no air. Our people will be coming from Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, and Ft Lauderdale, Fla. Should be have opur travel agent book the air or is there a better way to handle this? Do it ourselves?

3. What ammenities should we be able to get both from the cruise line and our travel agent for a group this size?

I appreciate your imput to these questions.

Sincerely yours

ANSWER: Dear Beryl,
  First, you will love Alaska.  We are making our second trip there this Sept.  When you state that you are booked, does this mean that you have already paid a deposit?  If not, you should definately price this cruise out.  There are many cruise only travel agents, (make sure they are reputable) who should be able to book you in at a good group rate.  You state that you selected the Mercury from Vancouver.  If most of your party is coming from the states, have you considered a cruise that leaves from Seattle?  There are some wonderful options from Seattle that you may want to consider.  The airfare may be less to Seattle then Vancouver.  You also want to look at the ports that the ship stops at.  You asked me about the Mercury, yes it is older, we were on it years ago, but it is still in good condition.  However, that being said, I would have opted for either the Infinity or Millennium which are both much newer and larger Celebrity ships which both do Alaska next summer. The Infinity leaves from Seattle, and Millennium from Vancouver. When we cruise leaving from the United States to a US port (we also leave from Philadelphia), we book our own air. Our travel agent always recommends that we do this because the cruiselines do not always give you the best fares. We find it much less expensive, however, that being said we also go in a day ahead in case of airline delays.  When you book through the cruiseline they will wait for delayed planes when they know their passengers have booked through them. You can also purchase transfers from the airport to the ship from the cruiseline.  Now on to insurance.  Your travel agent should be able to provide you with several insurance options.  The insurance direct from the cruiseline is usually more expensive, travel agents usually have access to other lower option insurance.  You have two ways to buy insurance, either at time of booking which covers any pre-existing medical problems or 60 days before when you pay your final payment which will not cover pre-existing.  As for your younger passengers, the larger ships have more activities, but Alaska has many wonderful excursions and in order to appreciate the wilderness your guests should take advantage of these.  The young ones will love excursions such as dog sledding, helicopters to the glaciers, whale and bear watching, etc.  The excursions are very expensive so you may want to let everyone choose their own and pay for them.  Most of the excursions that involve a helicopter or a float plane run well over $300 per person. Make sure they book these excursion several months ahead, they do sell out, especially the popular ones.  With a group of this size, the travel agent should arrange for a few private coctail parties, etc., as a courtesy.  You should be getting a very nice discount on the rooms as a group.  If your travel agent has not done his or her homework or is not "working" for you with a group of this size you may want to look into another agent for this trip.  They should most definately give you a suite as a free upgrade for bringing this group with you. I hope this helps you get started and if you have any further questions, just e-mail me.  Mazel Tov on your 80th birthday and if you have any further questions, just e-mail me.
Barbara
Barbon2@yahoo.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Barbara

Thanks for your prompt and very informative reply.

We currently live in Boca Raton- but lived for about 9 years in Penn Valley in Philly ( I was with Food Fair stores in the corporate office at 32nd and Market) and most of our children are still there in Villanova, Valley Forge and over in Cherry Hill.

You mentioned in your email that we should book our own air not with the cruise line- what about with the travel agent- should everyone one in the group make their own air arrangements? Our should I try to do it myself?

We have been to Alaska before ourselves- but not our family. We looked at the Millenium and the Infinity- but these ships did not make the round trip inside passage on the dates we wanted.We wanted either one of these two ships- but it did work out.

The cruise line is giving me one person refund for the group- and one cocktail party.  I have priced the cruise itself with two other travel agents and the costs are about equal. My travel agent is giving me back (at least he says) about 1/3rd of his commission.

When you say our travel agent should provide me with several insurance options- like what?  I have not as yet put down a deposit but I am very close to doing so.

Do you have any other suggestions or ideas? I would appreciate any further input you have to offer.

Thanks

Beryl Weinstein

Answer
Hi Beryl,
  One last question in regard to cruiselines?  Before you book have you checked into the newer ships on Holland America or Princess, you may want to take a quick look at those.
  As for airfare, I do believe it probably would be easier for each family to make their own arrangements.  However, as I said yesterday, they may want to come in the day before in case of airline delays.
  As for insurance, you can buy the one from the cruiseline or an outside insurance from your agent.  We have Access America for our upcoming Alaska cruise and Travelsafe for our cruise out of London on Cunard.  Your agent should price these options out for you.
  Since you have priced this cruise with other agents, and your agent has given you a fair deal then I assume you have used him or her before and are comfortable with dealing with them.  Sometimes, good service is important even if it cost a little more, so if your agent is good then book with them.
  I would also contact Celebrity direct after you book and let them know that you are coming as a family group and hopefully they will provide you with some more treats.
  Make sure you book your dining time at the time of booking.
  Let me know how you make out.
Barbara