RSSC has a Navigator cruise next year to Bermuda on 5/18 offering free airfare with the above hotel stay for 2 nights and theater tickets. Has anyone taken advantage of this offer previously? If so, how was the room? What tickets were you offered, and how good were the seats? Of course you can book the cruise without these extras, and save $1500 for two. I'm in LA, and just wondering whether this is a good deal or not.......

This is a special jazz cruise charter, and there will be lots of musicians on board and concerts, which is why this appeals to me.

Thanks for any input......

I've never stayed at the Waldorf or done this package but $1500 for 2 doesn't seem like its an unreasonable cost for the package - $300 airfare each for 2 - 2 nights at $400 per night (from Hilton website - outrageously high in my opinion - we were in NY in May and stayed at the Ritz Central Park for $405) - 2 tickets for $50 each - adds up to $1500.

My 2 cents:

$400 per night is too much. You should be able to get a very nice room in a very nice hotel for half of that (maybe even better, if you are good on the internet!)

$50 show tickets seems a bit low. But do not forget that you will be given a list of shows to pick from. Your favorite might not be on the list.

You have lots of time..... do your research.

Doug

Glenda,

We looked at that package. It wasn't worth it. We got the same room for $199. per night for two at the Waldorf. The theater tickets they offered were Beauty and The Beast, 42nd Street and something else that we'd seen in LA; You can do the cruise Cruise only for less, take Jet Blue for $99. each or use your miles and get your own room and theater tickets and be way ahead

Thanks so much all of you for responding. CatKat, thats kinda what I thought, but I just wanted to test the waters to see if I was missing something.....

g

Glenda, I almost always take the $xxx off the cruise price and book on my own. So many good prices out there on the internet for hotels. I have stayed at the Waldorf several times, and the rooms can be anything from very tiny, to very nice (in the Towers especially) Get a play you haven't seen and really want to, you have so much time.

Let me provide additional things to think about.

First, it is not really $750 off. That is before SSS and onboard booking discounts and also TA discount. If you think of each of those as 5%, that is closer to $650 off.

Second, don't forget taxes (I think around 10% in new york) and breakfast (I think a hot breakfast at Oscars which is around $20). Don't forget trasfers, around $30 each way to LGA, more to JFK if you decide on Jet Blue. Theater tickets are closer to $80 to $100.

Third, don't forget restrictions on non-refundable tickets. If you cancel your cruise (pre-penalty), you don't have to pay air if through cruise line. However, you are stuck with your own tickets. Also, it is usually easier to change around cruise air (just like wiht ff tickets) than it is to change cheap tickets.

Of course, buying own tickets and hotels EARNS points and miles, which have some additional value.


I don't know which is the better deal. I just wanted to point out additional factors.

So, Marc, in considering these things you paid the extra to RSSC and took the deal with them? I liked your analysis of the thing. When it involves something beyond hotel and air, I am not a good source of information.

This cruise is a charter so it is the company that chartered the ship that is offering the package for the extra money. Not sure if it includes all the transfers, or regular savings that come with a RSSC sailing. I would think that they would be included but this can vary. You have to book through this particular firm so the agency discount may or may not apply.

However, I do love to have Marc's wonderful analysis on these issues. It is important to look at the whole cost picture and the ramifications both positive and negative of doing your own thing.

No, we didn't do this because:

I had points for hotel (and status which guaranteed lounge access), air is cheap florida to nyc, and we wanted to see The Producers which was not on the list.

The other thing to consider for left coasters is possibility of forced overnights. Kathy or Masaki know more about that.

Olivia, you are always a good source of information. I got zinged on another board for providing anecdotal information (specifically, sea conditions between nyc and bermuda). For the most part, we are all just giving of our own experiences. That is why it is so nice to have had Ngaire for years be our resident expert. The rest of us can only report back from our own subjective, and quantitative too, experiences.

Marc, still insisting I am not a good source of information (because I have never done Bermuda) but my information about crossing from NY or Norfolk to Bermuda ALWAYS tells me that this may be a rough crossing! Only fair that future cruisers know this, otherwise, they may be turned off by the line and never come back. I am waiting to see what my "crossing" from New Zealand to Australia will be like in January. Particularly since I am in the most forward cabin on deck 9! I am putting in for a change, but don't know what will happen, since the cruise is selling so well. I have to say that Ngaire is always very honest in telling her clients where there may be rough seas. BTW, Ngaire is not my TA for this, so she bears no responsibility for my cabain assignment.

Neither does your agent bear any responsiblity - all decided by RSSC. Kind of like a guarantee. You were actually very lucky to get on at all. You still cannot book that segment. The power of a waitlist always worth while.

The Tasman has a reputation of being rough BUT it will be worth while I think you will love the N.Z. portion and also the Australian ports.

Also I strongly suggest you book the overland excursion between Dunedin and Milford Sound. You just cannot go to N.Z and not take this extra trip. This takes you to what is probably N.Z. best area Fjordland, and Queenstown. I saw Queensland voted in some poll as one of the worlds top destinations. It is wonderful. I know it is expensive but it is worth it. Besides the roughest seas can be around the bottom of N.Z. If there is a storm coming up from Antarctica there is nothing between Antarctica and N.Z. to break the seas. So a wonderful excuse to go.

A note about the Waldorf Astoria - you're not likely to end up in a room in Waldorf Towers since it is actually operated as a separate hotel (part of Hilton's Conrad chain) from the main Waldorf Astoria.

Masaki and I took the precruise package from NY to Montreal. Stayed at the Waldorf and probably wouldn't do it again. We were in the main hotel and not the Towers. The room was OK but I'm sure we could have gotten a better deal on our own, either at the Waldorf or elsewhere. We did have an overnight in Montreal which allowed us to get a glimpse of the city. Unfortunately, that meant we went straight back to work the next day jetlagged. However, the transfers were REALLY convenient. Win some, lose some.

For Bermuda, we went in on our own and stayed at the Westin Times Square. I enjoyed staying there just for the night but as hotel rooms are priced based on room availability, most of the hotels even via net pricing we costly being Memorial Day Weekend. The same room at the Waldorf that we had post cruise for $199. was $329.00.

We are going again in 7 weeks on Navigator and using RSSC Free Air promotion - (no theater package). We were paying air deviation because we wanted non stop flights and no red eye flight and specified flight time going home post cruise so they are putting us up at Waldorf on their dime. Hopefully as a Hilton Honors member, we will be able to get a nice room/upgrade. Room includes breakfast at Oscars.