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What do I need to do to book my cruise?
Click here to register on-line, click here to download and fax a completed registration form, or call and speak to a CMEatSEA Coordinator. We have a convenient toll free number: 1-888-523-3732 and are open 7 days a week. Call Cruise Connections! We have a convenient toll free number: 1-800-661-WAVE
and are open 7 days a week.
What about special rates for Seniors
or for Families?
Cruise lines frequently offer special rates for Seniors (over 55 years)
with savings of up to $100 or sometimes more. These are normally available
on cruises during the off-peak season - September and mid-December and
right after the New Year. To qualify for these rates, one person in the
cabin must be over 55 (and have identification to prove it).
When a cruise has space available and the cruise line wants to fill those
cabins that can accommodate a 3rd, or 4th passenger, they may offer special
Family Rates. 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 3rd and 4th guests. In these situations the first and second passenger
pay the normal cruise fare and the additional passengers get the special
rate. Note: these discounts are typically only available on the cruise
portion of your vacation. The airfare may be full price for everyone.
Ask your CMEatSEA Coordinator about these special rates.
What are my chances of getting an upgrade?
It does happen, but not as frequently as people would like to believe.
Most people who get upgraded do so because they booked a "Category
Guarantee" special. This means that they booked the cruise ship and
sailing date but did not select a specific cabin category. When you book
a "Category Guarantee" you are not assigned a cabin number;
you are simply guaranteed that category or better. Since some people simply
want to get the best price, "Guarantees" are a great way to
fill the ship with people looking for a good rate who don't care where
their cabin is located. The cruise lines always sell more guarantees in
a category than there are cabins in that category. For example, the lowest
rate on Celebrity Cruise Line's Zenith is a Category 12, inside cabin.
There are approximately 6 category 12 cabins. However, on each sailing,
Celebrity will sell between 40 and 60 category 12 guarantees. Therefore,
34 people are going to get a free upgrade. These upgrades are allocated
on a first-come first-serve basis and those early bookers typically get
the best upgrades. 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 there usually isn't much luck of getting it changed, especially if
the sailing is sold out. So if you're afraid of being at the front, back,
top, bottom, or under the dining room, don't take the chance; book directly
into an assigned cabin.
Don't expect to get upgraded from an inside cabin to an outside cabin.
Most upgrades are from low inside cabins to higher inside cabins, or low
outside cabins to higher outside cabins. An upgrade from an inside cabin
to an outside cabin rarely happens.
If you are assigned a cabin number when you deposit on your cruise, your
chances of an upgrade are very small. If you have booked a 4-person cabin,
your chances for an upgrade are very small as there are few quad cabins
on board.
What if I want to extend my cruise
vacation?
Through Cruise Connections, your CMEatSEA Coordinator and can arrange pre- or post-cruise land packages at the same time you book your cruise holiday. These are available through the
cruise line or our own land arrangements department and may include transfers
or a rental car. This is a great way to see more of your embarkation or
departure city, as well as rest up, particularly if you are travelling
overseas.
How can I pay for my cruise? What are the deposit
and final payment requirements?
We always recommend that you use a credit card to book your trip. It's
convenient, safe, and you get extra protection for your vacation from
your credit card company. But if you prefer, we can accept certified cheques
or money orders payable to Cruise Connections.
If you are booking your cruise early (more than 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. These charges vary by cruise line.
For most cruise lines you must pay in full at least 65 days prior to travel
(some require final payment even sooner).
Click here for more information about deposit requirements for the CMEatSEA cruises we're offering.
What are the benefits of cancellation insurance?
Without insurance, if you cancel your cruise after final payment, you
will suffer penalties and likely lose money. These penalties could be
$50 per person or could be the full cost of the trip depending on when
you notify the cruise line of your cancellation. 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
Whether you purchase insurance is up to you. We will suggest it at the
time of booking but it is your decision.
Things to consider about whether or not to purchase insurance include:
- Can you afford to lose this money?
- Do you have a pre-existing medical condition?
- Is your trip relatively expensive?
- Are you leaving the country for 10 days or longer?
- Are you at a point in your life where you are susceptible
to accident or illness?
- Are you booking your own air transportation?
- Is your own insurance limited to medical expenses
in Canada or the U.S.?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may want to
consider insurance. Insurance typically costs about 10% of your total
trip cost and usually covers baggage, trip delay, trip interruption,
medical expenses, medical evacuation, and more. The cruise line's insurance
typically doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, but there are other
insurance policies available to cover these situations. Ask your agent
for a brochure explaining it in more detail. If you have to use insurance,
it's definitely worth the extra dollars.
What type of Trip Cancellation
/ Interruption Insurance does Cruise Connections Canada offer?
Through Cruise Connections, CMEatSEA offers a comprehensive and competitive selection of travel insurance programs provided by RBC Insurance, Canada's largest travel
insurance company and a division of the Royal Bank of Canada.
Benefits include:
- Unlimited emergency and hospital medical care (Canadian
residents only)
- Default (Bankruptcy) coverage for any cruise line
or travel provider
- Comprehensive trip cancellation and interruption
coverage
- Baggage loss and delay
These are just a few of the many benefits contained
in this valuable protection. While travel insurance is not obligatory,
we strongly recommend this coverage. Remember, you could lose your entire
investment and miss your vacation should something unexpected happen.
For additional information go to the Travel Insurance section of our website.
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