Okay - I mentioned this once but am going to ask again. Why are the hotel rates so unbelievably high for pre and post cruise stays? Compared to what you can book on line they are in many cases double the going rate. I really don't mind paying a surcharge to book the whole package together, but that's too much. Why would a cruise line want me to look elsewhere for travel arrangements for any part of the trip?

I agree in most cases the pre/post rates are higher. I have read that this is not their core business...perhaps that is why.

In my case on a post stay in Papeete Tahiti, Radisson's post stay prices were better than what I could find (and trust me - I can look!).

In Alaska we can get a club level room at the Hilton for $209/night. RSSC is $235 per person, $365 for single occupancy, for a regular room at the same hotel.

It may not be their core business, but they sure make some money on it! <img border="0" alt="[Hammer]" title="" src="graemlins/hammer.gif" /> The thing is I'd really rather leave all the details to them, but I can't justify doing that.

Don't forget taxes, service charges, transfers and porterage. Radisson rates also include breakfast. When you think that you put your luggage outside your cabin last night and then not have to pick it up until you're in your hotel room, that has to have some value, too.

Sue,
when we went to Alaska, I found that Radisson's air was $50 more pp than what I could book on my own. However, in checking out the flight schedules (and from info provided by Dolebludger) I found that because the flights would not get into Anchorage early enough to make boarding time in Seward, with Radisson's air, they would scheduled a forced overnight. In that case, they covered the cost of the hotel, you get breakfast in the morning and the transfers are included. This was on a southbound itn. By paying $50 pp more than I could have booked on my own, we saved the cost of the hotel and the transfer, plus we got breakfast.

Yes and my Papeete post package included daily breakfast at a hotel that charged somewhere around $30 per person.....again, I could not beat it....but, I have seen other pre and posts for other locations that I could easily beat.

Sue,

When we cruised to Alaska, we embarked in Vancouver. I booked my own pre-cruise hotel stay at Pan Pacific. At the time I booked, I didn't know that this was the hotel Radisson was using.

We were wandering in the hotel lobby after breakfast on the morning of embarkation, when we stopped to read the events readerboard in the hotel lobby. The readerboard indicated a hospitality suite for Radisson. We honestly didn't know that the hospitality suite was just for Radisson guests who booked the hotel through Radisson. We went there, was offered some refreshments and their rep took us to the area of embarkation.

As for our luggage, the bell desk took it from our room and brought it directly to the ship for us.

We saved considerably by doing our own hotel reservations. It was really a fluke that we wandered into the hospitality suite, when we most likely should not have been entitled to do so. OOPS!

Does anyone know if Phil's comments regarding windows on Morrea OWBs being floor to ceiling apply at the Meridien Tahiti OWBs as well?

Todd warned us that the HVAC isn't as good as the OWBs at the Beachcomber. But the Beachcomber OWB quoted us $780 USD per night compared to the Meridien at $475 USD per night. We're flying in Friday and only staying one night prior to boarding the PG Saturday afternoon so we think we should stay at either the Beachcomber OWB or the Meridien OWB on Tahiti.

gymswim-

When is your trip on the PG? Here is a photo of the Le Meriedien Papeete Interior:

Denise:

Often the cruise line will have a hospitality suite for passengers arriving on embarkation day - so even though they don't book a pre-cruise room, the line needs to provide a waiting area prior to boarding. I'm sure RSSC is happy you had a comfortable start to your cruise. After all, they are happy if you're happy!

Gymswim....June 11 arrival right? Expedia has a slightly better rate at $405 per night for the Le Meridien Papeete.....were your rates from Radisson including transfers and breakfast? I also cheked the Intercontinental Hotel and did not see any OWBs coming up on June 11.

I asked a Radisson executive about the high cost of hotels. I too thought they must be making a lot of $$ on the hotels and pre and post packages.

This is what I remember from that conversation. I may have a few details wrong but this was the essence of the discussion.

What he explained to me is they have to do a "block" of space at a certain price. They contract these a long time in advance. This is based on standard rates, NOT the weekend specials or special packages etc that the hotels often run. If the hotel market is soft the hotels drop their prices Radisson is stuck with the price they negotiated. Then they have to contract with the land operator for the transfers, the hospitality desk etc. These are all additional costs. It can be nice to have that Radisson rep at the hotel particularly if you have a problem. He assured me that although everyone thought it was a big money maker for them that it was not

So often you can hit a "special" and beat the Radisson rates by quite a lot. Radisson has to have a consistent rate regardless of the cruise date, whether the check in is mid week or week end etc these factors all change rates.

They do include all the extras, taxes, breakfast and of course transfers.

It is a great option for those who want the "no hassle" seamless process situation. It may also be as good a value as you can find on your own on occassion. Other times it is much more expensive.

It is pretty simple to check rates and then decide to "do your own thing" if you can beat the price and are comfortable making your own arrangements and taking taxis instead of transfers.

Thanks all - it makes much more sense. As I said on another thread - we have always had outstanding service, and until now have always booked everything through Radisson. It is very nice to have have everything taken care of. I think we'll continue to handle things that way when embarking from non-US ports just for that reassurance that everything will run smoothly. From US ports we'll do as you suggest and comparison shop.

Thanks Todd and Nagaire for your guidance and efforts re: OWB on Tahiti and rates. Yes, we're talking about the night of June 11th. The rate and the reservations booked were accomplished by contacting the hotels directly, there are no transfers or meals included in the two rates I got (the rates were quoted
The Meridien Tahiti OWB price at 43,200+ tax seems to be a better "deal" than the Beachcomber.
vs.Beachcomber has two rates:
Overwater Bungalow Motu is at 49 850 cfp+11%tax or
Overwater Bungalow Junior Suite is at : 65 100 cfp+11%tax

I'm curious (and impressed) Todd if the rate you found was for the same room "type" I am holding. I couldn't find a way to book an OWB on either of the Meriden or the Beachcomber websites. I'm not familiar with how specific or confident one can be about room type on Expedia.

Bill (right?)-

I just rechecked on Expedia and they do have OWB for 6/11 checking out 6/12 for 2 people at $405.56/night. It is listed below Loagoon View at $245.60.

with tax:

Room/unit type: Over Water Bungalow sleeps 4


Guests: 2 adults

Room rate 6/11: $405.56 per night
Taxes & service fees: $59.04 per night Details

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total room cost: $464.60 Expedia Special Rate

Thanks Todd. I'm a "newbie" to Expedia. If I book it on their website, I assume all sales are final and non refundable. Do I have any more or less influence in your experience with requesting location (the kind of thing that is kept in the hotel's computer records if one were booking directly with the hotel?)
I wonder if I booked on Expedia if for some reason I had to cancel if my cruise insurance through would cover it?
I take it you think pretty highly of Expedia. I like the idea of being quoted and paying in USD rather than having the hotel do some conversion trickery on checkout.

Bill- :)

Cancellation/Payment policies for Expedia on this Property

Your credit card is charged the total cost above at time of purchase. Prices and room availability are not guaranteed until full payment is received. See rules and details on pricing and payment
Your credit card is charged the total cost above at time of purchase. Prices and room availability are not guaranteed until full payment is received.

Pricing and payment
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Any changes to or cancellation of your reservation may result in fees from $35.77 up to the full cost of your stay. See rules and details on cancellation and changes
Any changes to or cancellation of your reservation may result in fees from $35.77 up to the full cost of your stay.

Cancellation and changes
Cancellations or changes made after 6:00 AM (Hawaiian Standard Time) 5/27/2004 are subject to a 100% Cost of Stay penalty.
Cancellations or changes made before 6:00 AM (Hawaiian Standard Time) 5/27/2004 are subject to a $35.77 penalty.
Canceling your stay: Cancellations can be made online. From your itinerary, click the Cancel this reservation link and follow the instructions.
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2. I would call the hotel and request a particular OWB (our OWB was the furthest out looking at Moorea - check my post stay review for number 807????)

3. I doubt a cancellation would be covered by your cruise insurance (I could be wrong - maybe others will comment here).

I like Expedia to book and compare prices. Sometimes you can do better by going to the hotel website, sometimes not....in this case not. ;)

I came across this MSNBC Tahiti travel article yesterday. It has some rather interesting vacation packages with air listed.

Todd saved me a MINT yesterday for my VJ7 post cruise hotel in London, he found the hotel on Expedia, and I booked it last night. Had I gone straight to their web site, I would have paid MUCH more.

Todd is a wonderful source for all these things. A real researcher and savy at how to get the best deal. First class for less - that is what he finds.

Olivia does that mean you have to swing from tree to tree during MINT now to pay him back for his expertise???