TravelMandy wrote:

not booked yet waiting for cabin numbers
1 flaw with owners suite is they all seem to be right at the front of the ship and I am a bit worried that time of year it would be far to rough to use the balcony on AA but just had a price for A3 and A2
A2 IS £1399 A3 IS £1199 I am tempted with the A3 for £100pp more at least its in the courtyard and might be more useable that time of year.
Thoughts?
is it worth the extra?

A3 is courtyard, A2 is delux owners up a flight of stairs on deck 15(with courtyard acess) no lift.

We had an AA in our group on the North cape cruise and we were there a lot.
cabins will be 9004 9504,10004,10504, Check NCL.com to see what is left.

The AA is a much nicer/bigger cabin inside than the A3, larger sitting area, bigger dinning table, more closet space.
You still get full courtyard access, just have to walk there(not far)

A3 does have the small extra bedroom and a second bathroom so good for a 3-4 share.

I would save the money and take the AA over the A3.

A2 is a bit different, not seen the one on the Jade, no extra perks, I think the AA is bigger and at £300pp more I would take the AA again

You can use the butlers in the courtyard for meals, Bfast and lunch is nice up there, pool hottub,sauna etc all very private.

The AA balcony wlll be usable if warm and sunny in ports but not so much when actualy sailing, will feel more movement at the front if rough.

Almost forgot you get 3 bottles(1ltr) of liquour with the AA and I think the A2 but not the A3(might be 1 bottle).

Update on the Jade deals

Cruise365.com (checkin cruises) have added some other options to the on-line pricing for the Jade specials.
romance suites(AD £100pp more than a mini 12n) and courtyard villas(A3orA4 £100pp more than an owners 9n.)

I checked 3-4pax cruise only prices in an A3 and they are not that good(>£600) but you can get 4 in a courtyard(A3) for around £4k so thats all the suite perks and the courtyard access for £1kpp 12n cruise, the second room in an A3 is on the very small side but does have a seperate bathroom) which is not bad and is fine for sleeping/changing.

I have been thinking about which way these cruise prices will go

My guess is these suite rates will probably not come down much if at all(50 cabins per sailing and prices are very good allready) but there is room for the lower grades(AF and down) to drop in price on these low season Med/Canaries trips, Flights may be come an issue as the dates get closer so something to watch for if trying for a last minute deal.

By the time we had sorted out cat sitters or the cruise the owners suite on the 19th March had gone, I am not sure any earlier would be any good for the weather
Hope someone else managed to get it at those prices

Had these through from Save N Sail

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It doesnt give prices for first and second though

Courtyard at £100pp more is still a good deal.

Had a look at he plans for the Delux on the JAde and it looks better than the regular owners

On the Gem I think the regular owners is better.

Canaries will be fine on any of the dates I would think, so just a day or two each way to worry about.

Got this fantastic late deal posted today by the cruise specialists, Glenbervie, Larbert, on the Grand Princess. 12 nights from £649 on a premium line is an incredible price for late August. Includes flight back from Rome. Phone details are at end of message.
SPECTACULAR GRAND PRINCESS CRUISE OFFER - NOT TO BE MISSED!
European Explorer from Southampton to Rome ~ 30th August 2008 ~ 12 nights from an AMAZING £649pp!
Inside Cabin Outside Cabin Balcony Mini Suite
£649 £799 £1,169 £1,399

30-Aug-08 Southampton
Embark Grand Princess in Southampton for your 12 night European Explorer Voyage to Rome

31-Aug-08 Le Havre, France

01-Sep-08 Day at Sea

02-Sep-08 Vigo

03-Sep-08 Lisbon

04-Sep-08 Cadiz

05-Sep-08 Casablanca

06-Sep-08 Gibraltar

07-Sep-08 At Sea

08-Sep-08 Barcelona

09-Sep-08 Cannes

10-Sep-08 Livorno

11-Sep-08 Rome
Disembark Grand Princess for return flight to the UK
Freephone 0800 027 6564
Bargain of the Day. Fares are based with transfers in Rome and return easyjet flt to Gatwick. British Airways Gatwick flt available at a supp of £69pp. Other regional flts may be available. Call for details. Offers subject to availability. Full payment required at time of booking.
This email has been sent to you by The Cruise Specialists
Glenbervie Business Park Larbert Falkirk FK5 4RB

Hi Graham

This cruise was on offer end last week and beginning of this but for £899 so that is a huge drop. I have sailed with Princess on Golden which is the Sister ship.
It is a great offer but not for me at the minute as it crosses the dates of my Summit. I have seen the Summit cruise only offered for £685 and £717 Flights are not easy but a friend is booked and got flights from East Midland on the outward leg to Venice and back from Barcelona to Manchester. EASY JET for 1 not sure as I don't think EJ fly out of Manchester.

Sue

Thanks Sue, yes at £899 thought it was not a bad deal given quality of line, lateeish high summer etc. etc., but as you say at £649 a really good one. Sadly all booked up and no more hols. left for this one!

We are on this one but are paying £850 each for inside cabin booked with the cruise kings. Any hints on getting a price drop as spoken about on this site somewhere?

Maureen

It depends what the price printed on the Princess web site. It may be that a TA has taken an allocation on this from Princess and has added air fares etc. If this is the case then they are sorting out a tailor made offer and unfortunately I don't think you will be able to get a price drop. It would do no harm to ask your TA and he might be able to get you some on board credit. You will have paid for your cruise in total at this time.
Give it a try in any case but it has to come from your TA so call as ASAP. Good luck.

Sue

I have had a look at the Princess web site and this cruise is showing cruise only at £585 and with flights from London £715 or £718 and this is up to a grade J.
If I were you I would call CruiseKings and give them these details and ask them whether they could get you some OBC.
Best I think that you could get at this stage. If they gave you £100 or $100 OBC it would make a difference and would not affect the TA commission.

Sue

Thank you Sue,
I have e-mailed the Cruise Kings to ask about reduction/OBC. Will let you know what happens.

Best wishes with that Maureen. To be honest £849 was a good price, the £649 deal is incredible. Hope to hear good news from you!

If I were you rather than just wait for a reply to CruiseKings I would call them and ask them to contact Celebrity on your behalf. Tell them that you would like some OBC in view of the low price the cruise is selling at. It is reduced on their web site and this is your best ammunition. If it were just that another TA was selling it at a lower price then it might be hard luck.
Princess will honour price drops but now that the holiday is paid in full I think the OBC is your best option. Stick with it. Daffy on our Summit Roll Call had asked her TA to get her the price drop when they put an over 55's discount on. Her TA said no reductions and at the time she said they got a good price.
I advised her to go back to them and lo and behold she got it> Just a little keep knocking at the door.

Good luck.

Sue

couple of good ones on the Tuesday sale 29/7 bookable

http://www1.latesttraveloffers.net/apps/portal/remotelogin.asp?code=cel&authcode=tha8we9E&dir=offr&OfferId=223331&EmailId=355934&EmailAddressId=3420085&ES=True&

http://www1.latesttraveloffers.net/apps/portal/remotelogin.asp?code=rci&authcode=fA4uheYu&dir=offr&OfferId=250939&EmailId=355933&EmailAddressId=3426425&ES=True&

Maureen
I have just had an email from CruiseKings with your cruise offered for £649 so this will give you added information. It is not going to cost CK anything to get Princess to give you a bit of OBC
They are on a guarantee basis.

Sue

I've just had the same e-mail and also a reply from Cruise kings to say that they have spoken to Princess and they don't offer a reduction for price drops or on board credit. I don't have a brochure to check if this is mentioned in their terms and conditions and i can't find anything on the web site. Any advice?

Maureen,

Do as Sue has suggested keep pressing, and do not take no for an answer. Princess are being economical with the truth, and I quote directly from their brochure booking conditions under sub-heading "Prices and Extras", relevant extract as follows:

".......In the case of any small variation, an amount equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges, will be absorbed or retained. For larger variations this 2% will still be absorbed for increases but not retained from refunds......."

Clearly they are saying refunds can and will be given!

On reflection, it could be Cruise Kings being economical with the truth, have they really contacted Princess?
Anyway, go for it, and if they still refuse tell them you are cancelling and require a full refund for breach of contract. If they still refuse tell them you will contact ABTA.

Incidentally I received a communication also today from Cruise Kings and the price quoted was £669 and not £649. We are waiting now with bated breath for a good news story from you.

Have edited previous slightly as the CK price I quoted was £200 too high!! Also thinking there is no mention in the brochure about price drops not applying after final payment!

Have e-mailed them again quoting the booking conditions. Will let you know what happens. As we are 3 couples it is a lot of money.