is cruise travel outlet legit

Cruise travel outlet Review

Write a review, the booking process for my cruise was seamless and....

The booking process for my cruise was seamless and hassle-free. I found the website easy to navigate and the customer service was helpful in answering my queries. I would recommend this company to anyone looking for a reliable and efficient cruise booking service. They made the entire process so smooth!

Start collecting reviews today

Claim your business to immediately update business information, respond to reviews, and more, great deals, amazing experience, the overall experience with cruise travel outlet w....

The overall experience with Cruise Travel Outlet was average. The website was easy to use and the customer service was helpful. However, the prices were slightly higher compared to other similar services. Nonetheless, I would consider using them again in the future.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had an amazing experience booking my cruis...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had an amazing experience booking my cruise through this company! The website was easy to use and the customer service was outstanding. They were friendly and attentive, making sure all my questions were answered promptly. I would highly recommend Cruise Travel Outlet for an exceptional cruise booking experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I absolutely loved my experience with Cruise...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I absolutely loved my experience with Cruise Travel Outlet! The website was easy to use and the customer service was top-notch. The staff was friendly and went above and beyond to ensure my satisfaction. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone looking for a fantastic cruise booking experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently booked a cruise through Cruise Travel O...

I recently booked a cruise through Cruise Travel Outlet and I must say it was an average experience. The website was easy to navigate and the customer service representative was helpful. However, the overall price was a bit higher compared to other travel agencies. I would recommend the company for those who are looking for a simple and straightforward booking process.

👍 I had an excellent experience booking my cruise ...

👍 I had an excellent experience booking my cruise through Cruise Travel Outlet. The website was easy to use and the customer service was top-notch. The staff was friendly and went above and beyond to ensure my satisfaction. I would definitely book with this company again. 👍

I had a great experience booking my cruise with Cr...

I had a great experience booking my cruise with Cruise Travel Outlet. The website was user-friendly and I was able to find all the information I needed without any hassle. The customer service was also excellent. The staff was knowledgeable and responsive to my queries. I would highly recommend this company for hassle-free cruise bookings.

I recently booked a cruise through Cruise Travel Outlet and I must say their service was exceptional. The website was user-friendly and provided all the necessary information. The staff was friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this company for hassle-free cruise bookings.

I recently booked a cruise through an online trave...

I recently booked a cruise through an online travel agency and the overall experience was satisfactory. The booking process was smooth and I did not encounter any issues. However, I found the prices to be slightly high compared to other similar services. Nonetheless, I would consider using their services again in the future.

I recently booked a cruise through an online travel agency and it was a great experience. The website was user-friendly and provided all the necessary information. The staff was helpful and responsive to my queries. I would highly recommend this company for hassle-free cruise bookings.

Try our SEO Backlinks service

Get 1000 high domain rating links to your business, about cruise travel outlet.

Cruise Travel Outlet: Your One-Stop Shop for Affordable and Memorable Cruises Are you looking for a hassle-free way to book your next cruise vacation? Look no further than Cruise Travel Outlet, the premier online travel agency that offers unbeatable deals on cruises from all major cruise lines. With our commitment to providing exceptional customer service and the lowest prices in the industry, we are confident that you will find your dream cruise at a price you can afford. At Cruise Travel Outlet, we understand that planning a vacation can be stressful and time-consuming. That's why we have made it our mission to simplify the process of booking a cruise by offering an easy-to-use website with all the information you need to make an informed decision. Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway or a family-friendly adventure, we have something for everyone. Our team of experienced travel agents is available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about your upcoming trip. We pride ourselves on providing personalized service and attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of your vacation is taken care of from start to finish. One of the biggest advantages of booking with Cruise Travel Outlet is our price guarantee. We promise to beat every cruise line's direct deals and 99.9% of our competitor's deals, so you can rest assured that you are getting the best possible price on your next cruise vacation. In addition to unbeatable prices, we also offer exclusive perks such as onboard credits, free upgrades, and discounted shore excursions. These extras add value to your trip without breaking the bank. Another benefit of booking with Cruise Travel Outlet is our extensive knowledge about each destination and port-of-call. Our travel agents have firsthand experience visiting these locations and can provide insider tips on what activities are worth doing or which restaurants serve up delicious local cuisine. We also offer flexible payment options so that you can pay for your trip in installments rather than all at once upfront. This makes budgeting for your vacation easier and more manageable. At Cruise Travel Outlet, we believe in giving back to our community by supporting various charities such as St Jude Children's Research Hospital and Make-A-Wish Foundation through donations from each booking made through us. In conclusion, if you're looking for an affordable yet memorable way to explore new destinations while enjoying top-notch amenities aboard some of the world's most luxurious ships - look no further than Cruise Travel Outlet! Our commitment towards providing exceptional customer service coupled with unbeatable prices makes us stand out among other online travel agencies in this industry!

Business transparency

• Did not verified company info
• Ask their customers for reviews
• Did not replied to negative reviews

Find out what customers think about Cruise travel outlet

Trustburn is the best place to read candid reviews from real customers about cruise travel outlet. get a comprehensive view of the company, from pricing and customer service to product quality and more., try our chrome extension, once installed, you can easily gauge people's opinion and find out if the company website you're visiting is trusted by consumers, more companies.

Cruise travel outlet

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Does anyone have experience using Vacations To Go? - Bargain Travel Forum

• Tripadvisor Forums    
• Bargain Travel Forums

Does anyone have experience using Vacations To Go?

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Bargain Travel forum

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10703-k831263-o70-Is_Vacationstogo_com_reliable-Cruises.html

To be fair, there are a lot of suspicious looking posts on this thread but also some from the Forum Destination Experts (see post 65 for example). So this might be a good place to start.

Vacations to Go reviews also pops up quite regularly using a google search as well.

Thanks for the good advise. It seems the agency is ok as long as you don't make any changes and keep it simple.

They have a superior website with excellent search options: http://www.vacationstogo.com/

BradJill, I see what you mean about suspicious posts! I have never seen so many on one thread.

• Anyone used Super.com to book a hotel? 4:27 pm
• Anyone has booked through Traveluro website? 3:50 pm
• Travel 2:41 pm
• algotels.com 10:51 am
• Has anyone recently used Holiday Cars car rental? 10:33 am
• nice company 8:27 am
• Destinia - good experience yesterday
• taxi.booking.com from airport reliable? yesterday
• My experience with 'zenhotels.com' yesterday
• Have you also been scammed by vio.com? yesterday
• Is trip.com legit? yesterday
• Tourradar.com - pros/cons for booking tours? yesterday
• stayforlong.com yesterday
• Go Splitty are they legit Jun 08, 2024
• Defining Bargain Travel & How Best to use this Forum
• What have you learned to make travel easier?
• Last Minute Hotel Bookings
• Monitoring your Hotel Bookings
• Hotels Overbooking
• Car Rentals
• Online Travel Agencies (OTA's)
• Your Travel Budget

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

The Best Websites to Book a Cruise in 2024

Looking for the best website to book your cruise ?

We wouldn’t be surprised if after a little bit of searching, your head is spinning a little bit.

Think of all the options you have to consider — the length of your trip, the cruise line, the ship, the date, ports of call, and more. And that’s before you even decide on which website to use to book your cruise.

Cruising is big business, and that’s why you have dozens of websites at your disposal, all competing for your travel dollars.

From the major cruise line websites like Carnival.com to major travel portals such as Orbitz or Expedia to lesser-known sites that specialize in cruises like AvoyaTravel.com, it can seem like your options are nearly unlimited… and overwhelming.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be stressful to book a cruise.

To help you out, we detailed the pros and cons of the best websites to book your cruise below. Before we get too far, however, there’s something you should know about price shopping for cruises online.

Cruise Buying Tip: Prices Are Often the Same Across Every Site

If you are worried about finding the best price for your cruise, there’s some good news and bad news. The good news is that cruise prices are usually the exact same across every single website you search .

Below are the results of a search we recently did for a July 2024 Carnival cruise from Miami aboard Carnival Celebration, with prices listed for each website:

As you can see, they all have the exact same rates. That means you don’t have to run yourself ragged trying to find the best deal.

The bad news? If you’re a deal-hunter, there isn’t some magic website that has cruise fares for dramatically cheaper than everyone else (that we’ve ever found). But there are differences on where you book.

That’s because some sites can offer perks like onboard credit or even a direct phone number to call to talk to someone with any questions you might have before you cruise.

So should you just find any random site and book your cruise? We’d suggest not. Below we lay out the advantages and disadvantage of booking with each different type of website.

For more on getting the best deal on a cruise, see our 10 Rules to Getting the Best Deal on a Cruise here .

Booking Direct Through Cruise Line Websites

It used to be that if you wanted to book a cruise, you’d visit a travel agent or call up the cruise line. You can still take those routes, but the cruise line websites make it simple to book your trip.

Every major cruise line allows you to book online and do everything from find a cruise to make upgrades, buy extras like drink packages, and pay for the trip. In other words, you can book your spot on the ship completely online at any time of the day.

Specific cruise line websites include:

• Carnival.com
• RoyalCaribbean.com
• DisneyCruises.com
• MSCCruisesUSA.com
• Princess.com

Each of these cruise line websites will allow you to be as narrow or as broad with your search as you wish. You can search all cruises, or search for trips on a specific ship, leaving a specific date, and from a specific port.

Advantages: The good thing about booking directly through the cruise line then there is no third-party company to deal with should there be an issue with your trip. Want to make a change or get a refund? You don’t have to worry about any sort of mix-up between the cruise line and another website. While this is rarely an issue, it could happen.

Disadvantages: The main drawback of using a cruise line website? It’s like going to a buffet and restricting yourself to only the salad bar.

Cruise line websites only have cruises from that line, so you are limiting your options of prices, ships, dates, and itineraries. In other words, if you’re looking for the absolute best deal or the most flexible schedule, you aren’t likely to find it searching only one cruise line.

If you are loyal to one specific cruise line, then that’s ok for you. But if you want to see all your options, it’s better to do a search on an “aggregator” website that will search all the cruise lines for that perfect vacation.

Bottom line: Know which cruise line you want to sail? Then going directly to the cruise line site is a good idea. Just know that if you want the cheapest deals or the most available cruises, then opening your search to more lines is ideal.

Booking on Aggregator Websites

While aggregator websites sound complex, they are actually just search engine for travel bookings. In fact, you’ve likely searched on these sites before for a hotel or a rental car. The sites include the big names that you’ve seen advertised heavily on TV and the Internet:

• Travelocity.com
• Expedia.com
• TripAdvisor.com

Just like searching for a hotel room, you can search these websites for a cruise across all of your options. This means being able to search across all the lines at once. They also give you the ability to narrow searches to specific dates of cruising, length of trip, destination, port of departure and more.

One thing to note is that many websites in this space are actually owned by a single company — Expedia. For instance, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, and Orbitz.com, are all part of the Expedia family.

That means you’re going to find the same prices across these sites, along with similar search functions.

Advantages: There are two main advantages to using an aggregator website. First, they allow you to search across every cruise line.

So if you want to sail from Miami, you’ll see all the options from the port for every cruise line. That gives you a better chance of finding something that matches your budget and schedule versus just searching one line.

In addition, while aggregator websites will almost always have the same prices you’ll find everywhere else, they often offer perks you won’t find on the cruise lines websites.

For instance, a cruise might be priced the same as another website, but will have an offer of free onboard credit as an incentive to book through them. These perks usually aren’t huge, but are a nice to have.

Disadvantages: The drawback is that booking through third-party websites introduce a “middle man” into your cruise booking. The vast majority of the time that creates no issue.

However, if there is a reason where you need to change your booking or get a refund, then it could be a little more complicated than booking directly through the cruise line.

So should you use aggregator sites? We think so as they can help you look at every cruise available to find one that fits. Smart cruise shoppers use them to look at all their options and see what sort of incentives they have for booking through their site.

Bottom line: Not sure which cruise line you want? An aggregator site will search them all at once, allowing you to sort by price, date, and more. Use these to find the best deals and the most flexible dates.

Booking Through Specialized Cruise-Travel Websites

In addition to the large cruise aggregators, there are a number of smaller websites focused solely on cruises.

These sites include:

• AvoyaTravel.com
• CruisesOnly.com
• Cruises.com
• VacationsToGo.com

These websites are similar to the large aggregator websites in that they can help you search through every cruise out there to find the best deal. The difference? These websites focus solely on cruises.

With a focus on cruising, they are able to better serve cruise passengers — including having staff that you can call directly to help you book.

In other words, these sites are more akin to having your own travel agent to help you with the booking process compared to only a website.

That’s a big help if you’re not entirely sure about which cruise you should book. As well, these sites often have deals and incentives to entice you to book.

Advantages: Like the larger aggregators, the niche booking websites offer the ability to search across multiple cruise lines to see all of your options. As well, many of these sites also offer their own special incentives such as onboard credit or low deposits for booking through them.

In addition, these sites feature their phone number prominently for those who wish to talk to a person about their reservation. You don’t always find that with the large aggregation websites. Their staff are also focused on cruises, giving you someone who knows what they are talking about compared to someone with more general travel knowledge.

Disadvantages: While booking through these sites is largely the same as through the cruise line or an aggregator, we’ve found the incentives can be somewhat confusing.

For instance, one recent search promoted free gratuities on trips booked through the site, but we couldn’t find any mention of this once we actually started the booking process. Digging further, the incentive applied only to certain cruises, despite being heavily promoted.

That’s where having the phone number to call an agent of the company directly is a big help in getting things explained.

Bottom line: Sites like these offer the benefit of searching multiple cruise lines and the help of an agent you can call to help you book.

Booking Through Costco Travel

Are you a Costco member? If so, then you can book cruises online through the store. In fact, the offers are good enough that it’s usually worth it to become a member for a year just to book a cruise.

You can book online at CostcoTravel.com

Costco is well-known for its low prices, great deals, and customer service. Buying a cruise through the store might not enter many people’s minds, but it can save you big.

Like other cruise-buying websites, Costco offers rates that are in line with what you’ll find anywhere else. However, the big difference is that Costco offers special incentives to book through their site. This includes Costco Shop Cards — a gift card to the store.

Advantages: While the deals change from day to day on aggregator websites, Costco’s incentives are simple and straightforward. If you book through them, then they offer Costco Shop Cards. The amounts can be high as well.

For example, we found a cruise offering a $45 Costco Cash Card for booking the cheapest stateroom for just $409. In other words, that deal is like getting 11% off the price of your cruise . The cash increases substantially with upgraded cabins.

Disadvantages: First, in our searches, sometimes Costco’s pricing seems to jump around quite a bit. So you’ll see one price, click through, and then another price appears. Even so, sometimes that works in your advantage with seeing lower prices than you thought. Sometimes it doesn’t, but the Costco Shop Card more than makes up the difference.

The other disadvantage is that you need to be a member of Costco to book. An annual membership costs $60. In addition, the Costco Shop Cards are only valid at the store. It’s not the same as actual cash.

Bottom line: Costco can offer great cruise deals if you are a member, but not everyone is.

Final Recommendation for the Best Websites to Book a Cruise

Costco Members: If you are a Costco member, then we suggest CostcoTravel.com as the best website to book a cruise. It’s the largest and simplest incentive we’ve seen for booking online. Prices are competitive, but the cash back offers provide a lot of value. Just be sure to compare the total price there with what you find on other sites before booking.

Non-Costco Members: If you aren’t a Costco member and don’t want to join, then we suggest looking first at the specialized cruise travel sites to search all your options and find the cruise you want.

If the site offers a good incentive for booking through them, then know that you’ve found a good deal. If the incentive isn’t that strong or you don’t want to go through a third-party to your reservation, then booking directly through the cruise line is your best bet.

FAQ About Booking Cruises Online

How do I know if a website is legit to book a cruise? There are dozens — if not hundreds — of websites that you can use to book your cruise. Frankly, not all of them look professional, so it is understandable you might question the legitimacy of a website or their deals.

We suggest you stick with the websites mentioned here or other well-known spots.

Above all, remember the age-old rule that if something sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Be wary of any websites advertising cruise deals that are significantly less than the same cruise priced elsewhere.

What about booking last-minute cruise deals on websites? It makes sense that if a cruise cabin is about to sail empty the price would drop to fill it up. In reality, this doesn’t usually happen. In fact, cruise lines consistently have occupancy rates above 100% — meaning that more than two passengers are in some cabins.

By waiting until the last minute you aren’t likely to find great deals, but it will mean that you have fewer cabin choices. It’s best to book earlier compared to later.

What if I book on a website and the price drops? Cruise prices can fluctuate. It’s possible that if you book one day, the next day the price may go down. The good news is that the price is unlikely to move much (unlike airfare).

So what do you do if the price does change? In that case, you’ll want to contact the website that you booked through — not the cruise line (unless you booked through the cruise line’s website). For example, if you book through CostcoTravel.com, then contact them first for any price drops you see.

Have more questions about the best website to book a cruise? Let us know in the comments below.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, everything about buying discount cruise gift cards via aarp (carnival, royal caribbean, & more), 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, what’s the best length of time for a cruise, why cheap cruises are dead (for right now), answered: what’s the cheapest time to take a cruise, which cruise line should i sail the definitive guide for 2024.

CruiseCompete.com allows you to get quotes from multiple travel agencies by requesting a quote only once. You open an account for free, enter the date/cruise you want to go on (their site has info on itineraries, dates, etc) and then travel agents will respond with their pricing and special deals (OBC’s, etc).

I totally agree. I know people like to think they’re getting a “deal” but there aren’t that many deals out there. Most websites and TA’s are basically selling the same thing, for the same price. Where you will find better “value” sometimes though, is with a travel agent that can help put the pieces of the trip together for you. You’re getting more personal service, without paying more. A nice little bonus when we booked through an online TA was that we received an onboard credit that we weren’t expecting, which was nice. The deals likely come with whatever credit card you use, getting points or cash back. Some cards are pretty generous with their cashback on certain things.

You are dead wrong about costco cash cards. As a costco member you can cash the cards at any store for actual cash money. Done so many times.

That’s a good tip.

What about booking thru an independant, or franchise, agent? ONLY an indepent person is able to/allowed to give you back some of their commission. Most often as OBC – but heck $100 of OBC pays your gratuities. fyi: There are THOURSANDS of agents that have the SAME inventory as Cruises Only. ALL under the World Travel Holding Umbrella.

Vacations to go has a amazingly well laid out web site with every imaginable ship or itinerary feature. Just check it out and see. Great price and incentives as well

Why no mention of “www.Vacationstogo” ? I booked many at a reduces price on their website.

you didn’t mention booking through credit card companies. For instance, you can earn points for booking your cruise through Capital One, or, if you have discover you can earn 5% cash back through booking a cruise. Also, There are a few other sites such as Sears or Shop Your Way where you can book vacations. It’s not just going to the travel aggregator sites. if you can’t find a lower price, at least you can get a discount through these card companies. If you have the card that is.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

I Missed My Cruise. Here’s What Happened to All the Money I Paid

10 cruise gouges & rip-offs to absolutely avoid (if you can), carnival cruise casino guide: what to know before you play, hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

May We Suggest?

Is this it, how about this, search results.

Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

Cruises Only vs Vacation Outlet

Monday, June 10th

2024 Cruise Vacation Site Reviews

• Cruises Only
• Popular 7-day cruise: $100+ less than buying direct
• Luxury 7-day cruise: $450 less than buying direct
• On-ship credit with tiered options based on booking costs
• "A+" rating from the BBB
• Processing fee of $24.99

Cruises Only offers a wide range of cruises, including popular and luxury options, with exclusive deals and a price-match guarantee. However, there's a non-refundable processing fee and the site's interface can feel outdated. Customer ratings are generally positive, but some mention difficulties with customer service and insurance options. Overall, Cruises Only is a good option for people looking for a variety of cruise options, competitive prices, and exclusive deals. It follows closely behind our second-place option in this review.

• Vacation Outlet

Compared to top-rated, full-service cruise booking websites that provide comprehensive services, Vacation Outlet doesn't compete. Despite its claim of providing outlet prices, we found no notable discounts compared to other booking sites that are ranked higher in our review. The site has an outdated interface and the company has received negative customer reviews for its customer service. Although it may be a more suitable option for individuals seeking a complete itinerary, it is still behind other more modern and comprehensive booking sites in our review. Therefore, we recommend selecting a higher-rated service for your next cruise vacation.

More Cruise Vacation Site Reviews

• Cruise Direct

• Travelocity

The 7 Best Cruise Vacation Sites

What's the best place to book a cruise vacation.

You've finally got some time off, and you've decided you want the full-experience: sailing, relaxing, and new and exciting ports of call everywhere you go. With meals and (sometimes) drinks included, who wouldn't want to sit back, relax and let a cruise crew take care of you during a well-deserved vacation?

Whether you're taking a quick 3-day trip or you're looking for a long experience-packed cruise, there's options out there for everyone. But finding the right company to book your cruise through can be overwhelming. While some people like to book directly with a cruise line, booking through a travel site or an agency can often lead to big cost savings.

Cruise Vacation Site FAQ

Aren't cruises just for old people, which cruise line is right for me, are cruises expensive, how far in advance should i book my cruise, are cruises all-inclusive, what are shore excursions, will i get seasick, how do i stay connected with work/family/friends on shore.

Continued from above...

Booking a cruise through a travel agency or booking site can provide you with helpful comparisons of various cruise lines, ships, and itineraries all in one place. A good site allows for easy searching so you can find the cruises that best match your preferences. Travel agents have access to exclusive discounts, promotions, and package deals that may not be available to the general public.

Plus, with many sites you can book other travel arrangements you need at the same time. Want to take a cruise from Spain? A vacation website can help you find the best deals on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements so your cruise can go off without a hitch.

Online travel agencies are a popular choice for booking cruises. In a survey conducted by Statista in 2020, 61% of respondents who had booked a cruise in the past two years said they had used a travel agency to make the arrangements. The survey found that users booked cruises through travel agencies to get peace of mind and convenience. A good travel agency will provide you with support and assistance, ensuring that you have a stress-free and enjoyable vacation.

Cruising is an amazing experience, and you deserve to really enjoy your time off. Finding the right online travel agency to book your cruise vacation is essential to having a stress-free experience. So, how can you pick the best place to book your next cruise vacation?

Here are several factors to keep in mind as you search for the best seafaring voyage.

• Cost. Many online travel agencies offer deals and packages that aren't available anywhere else. However, there are sometimes fees associated with purchasing from the agency. Do you only care about the best deal possible? Or are you looking to invest a little more money in a secure and easy travel itinerary? It's important to find a good balance between value and cost.
• Locations. One of the best parts of a cruise vacation is sailing to new countries and seeing the sites. Some travel sites will offer different options, so if you're looking for a particular location or a dream cruise, make sure that the travel site has what you need.
• Entertainment. When you're booking a cruise, you have to remember some of your time will be spent at sea. Without port excitement to keep you busy, what are you going to do on the ship? When looking at where you want to book your next cruise, take into account the on-ship entertainment options, drink packages, and shows of each cruise line and itinerary before you make your selection.
• Full itinerary. What kind of options does the travel site have for your whole itinerary? Do you need to fly to your cruise port? Do you need a hotel to stay a few days before the cruise starts? Or are you only looking for the cruise itself? Keep in mind what other kinds of travel you might be doing when you book your next cruise.

To help you streamline the booking process for your next at-sea getaway, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best sites that offer cruise vacations available today. We hope this information helps you relax and enjoy your next voyage with confidence about your entire travel itinerary. Bon voyage!

Compare Cruise Vacation Sites

Select any 2 Cruise Vacation Sites to compare them head to head

Trending Cruise Vacation News

FOX News on MSN

8 reasons cruises may be a better value for a 7-day vacation than ...

Four travel professionals weighed in on the value of cruises over land-based hotel stays for summer 2024 — including amenities and predictability of expenses. Here are 8 things to know.

  Sun, 09 Jun 2024

Travel + Leisure on ...

5 Affordable Cruise Vacations to Book — Plus How to Find the Best ...

This form of travel is incredibly convenient (read: no need to pack and unpack), and everything you need can be found right on board — ultimately taking the stress out of trip planning. Plus, with ...

  Mon, 27 May 2024

New York Post on MSN

Family’s $15K Carnival Cruise vacation canceled just 2 days prior, ...

The mom and nurse practitioner said she went into “a full-blown panic” and she and her four kids were all in tears.

  Fri, 31 May 2024

The Motley Fool on ...

How to Choose the Perfect Cruise: 4 Tips for First-Timers and ...

Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. Consider your travel style preferences -- and read marketing materials and reviews of cruises before booking. Target amenities you value and decide how ...

I always book rooms near staircases on cruises. If you pick the right ...

Booking a cabin near stairs provides many benefits that make cruises better ... but only if you pick the right floor and part of the ship.

Cruise Industry News

Oceania Cruises Relaunches Personalized Cruise Vacation Guide

Oceania Cruises is relaunching its Cruise Vacation Guide, giving guests a personalized portfolio inclusive of pre-cruise information before setting sail, accord ...

  Sat, 08 Jun 2024

TheStreet.com on MSN

Carnival's Princess Cruises makes big-name beverage package bet

"Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world’s most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that ...

Related Cruise Vacation Site Reviews

Since you're interested in Cruise Vacation Sites, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.

Luggage Stores

Which luggage store is the best? Luggage is something that everyone will need at some point in their life, whether it be a backpack for an overnight trip or school, or a full set of luggage ...

Passport Services

Where can you get a passport fast? Maybe you've found a last-minute travel deal to that far-flung destination you've always dreamed of visiting.

Photo Book Companies

Where is the best place to get photo books out there today? Photo books are a fantastic way to keep our special memories in a tangible, beautiful format instead of just storing pictures on ...

Travel Insurance Plans

Who offers the best travel insurance? With daily news stories of delayed and canceled flights, lost baggage, and travelers stranded overseas in the middle of a natural disaster, it's ...

Travel Visa Services

What's the easiest way to get a travel visa? Online travel visa providers have revolutionized the way individuals apply for visas when planning their international trips.

Vacation Rental Sites

What's the best website to use for booking a vacation rental? Are you tired of the same old hotel experience when you go on vacation?

Newest Reviews

Business Phone Systems

Where Can You Find the Best Business Phone System? Deciding on the right business phone system for your company can take a lot of research.

Japanese Lessons

Where Can You Find the Best Japanese Lessons? Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Japanese is one of the most intriguing languages you can choose.

Lamp Stores

Where is the Best Place to Buy Lamps? If you're into home design, or just want to redecorate a room, you know how important lighting is.

Light Bulb Stores

What are the best places to buy light bulbs online? Light bulbs are one of those things we take for granted.

Medicare Advantage Plans

Which Medicare Advantage Plan provider is the best? If you or a family member is approaching the age of 65, or if you are soon eligible for Medicare Parts A and B, now is the perfect time to start looking at ...

Prom Dress Stores

Where Can You Find the Best Prom Dresses? The quintessential high school experience, prom, is one of the most exciting moments for teenagers across the US.

Cruise port scams and schemes: Here's how to avoid them

When Harry B. and his wife boarded Royal Caribbean 's Freedom of the Seas, they were looking forward to a relaxing tropical getaway. Buying $10,000 of skin care products definitely wasn't part of the plan, but that's exactly what Harry inexplicably did when the cruise ship made a port stop in the Bahamas.

Harry — whose last name I'm concealing because he is highly embarrassed about what happened and believes he is a victim of a crime — suspects that to convince him to buy all that stuff, the merchant must have spiked the cocktails that were served to him with drugs.

However, as a consumer advocate who has fielded thousands of complaints from travelers with post-vacation buyer's remorse, I suspect something a little less sinister as the culprit.

I call it ... vacation brain.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Travelers often let their guard down during vacation, doing things they would never consider doing at home. Things like impulsively buying high-ticket items without any real knowledge of the product they're purchasing.

Unfortunately, scammers and schemers know this, and when they see those big cruise ships sailing into port, they're at the ready.

So, cruise ship passengers, you had better be ready for them, too.

Here are the latest schemes and outright scams that cruise ship passengers need to be aware of when disembarking their ship during a port of call.

A 'free' gift during your cruise port visit

Take a stroll down any shopping area during your port visit, and you will likely be offered a free bracelet or other little bauble. The lure of a complimentary trinket is often how a legitimate or not-so-legitimate jewelry outlet will get a cruise ship passenger into the showroom.

If you accept that free bracelet and go inside, you'll be handed off to a salesperson who practices his or her sales craft thousands of times per week. These folks see cruise ships as a supply ship of potential customers.

You'll be greeted with friendly banter and then bombarded with high-pressure tactics aimed at getting you to purchase a piece of jewelry to "commemorate" your trip. The salespeople know their time with you is limited, so the pitch will have a sense of urgency and the jewelry you're eyeing will likely be "limited quantity."

Many cruise ship passengers are completely unprepared for the hard sell and find it difficult to extricate themselves from these stores without buying something.

Related: The 10 biggest mistakes cruise ship passengers make on port days

This particular scheme is not a scam, necessarily. Many reputable jewelry stores operate in cruise ports around the Caribbean, a region known as a great place to buy duty-free jewelry.

The problem occurs when cruise ship passengers are dazzled in the moment by the beautiful jewelry and the charming salesperson — and end up spending money that wasn't in their budget. After the deal is done and the traveler is back on board the ship, the dazzling light dims and buyer's remorse sets in.

How not to get scammed : If you're not in the market to buy jewelry during your cruise, do not accept any free bracelets or other trinkets. No merchant wants to give you something for free. They want to subject you to a high-pressure sales routine. Just keep walking and buy a "free" bracelet for $1 at the local market instead.

If you are in the market to buy jewelry during your cruise, make sure to research the merchant and the type of gems you're interested in beforehand. Additionally, set a budget and stick to it no matter how hard the sales pitch becomes.

The discount excursion scam

If you've disembarked from your cruise with no real plans for your day, you're a prime target for an excursion scam.

This type of scheme involves a friendly person typically in a temporary kiosk or operating out of a storefront. He or she will tell you about an exciting adventure hosted by a local person. This type of excursion costs much less than the ones offered by your cruise line, but there is a different price to pay.

On this excursion, your driver will take you to places where he will receive a commission for bringing you there. Invariably, you'll arrive at a private factory for a tour of the facility. The goal is to get you to spend your money buying whatever product is being made there. Many cruise ship passengers report making purchases just so the tour will end.

When you finally are taken back to the port, hopefully in time to make your ship's embarkation, you'll be frazzled and short on cash with a lot of unexpected trinkets.

Related: Cruise scams: Why you should toss that 'free cruise' card in the trash

How not to get scammed : It's always a good idea to use a reputable tour seller, such as Viator, to check what kind of non-cruise line-sponsored excursions are available in your port of call before disembarking. You'll be able to read reviews from real people who have already taken the tours listed there and see the cost as well.

If you decide after you've already left the ship that you would like to take an excursion, visit the tourism information booth that will most likely be located somewhere close to the pier. You want to make certain that you're booking a tour from a legitimate, licensed company.

The one thing you don't want to do is to book an excursion on the fly from someone who approaches you on the street. This is almost always an error you will regret later — after you return from your factory tour.

Can you hold this for just a second?

Many tourists around the world have been confused by a stranger on the street who needs help to hold something for "just a second." These scammers, and yes, these are outright scammers, mean to confuse their victims and act as though there is a legitimate reason for victims to hold their shell or other item. Once that thing is in the victim's hand, they're fully involved in the scam.

Next, the stranger tells the victim how much they owe him or her for the item they're holding. The victim's protestations will only lead to the scammers reiterating that they bought the item. Some cruise ship passengers have even reported being threatened by the formerly friendly person when they didn't hand over some cash.

How not to get scammed : Never take any item offered to you by a stranger. In the Bahamas, the item is often a giant conch shell, but I've seen other scammers who offer smaller shells, tree branches and other odd detritus. It doesn't matter what the item is — it's just a scheme to extract money from you.

Related: The most common travel scams in Europe — and how to avoid them

Unofficial, unmetered taxis

Yet another pitfall for cruise ship passengers to avoid during a port stop is using unmetered taxis.

Often cruise ship passengers disembarking from their ship want to quickly leave the crowded port area and explore. Their goal is to see the best the destination has to offer. But some of the cars waiting have a different goal.

Tourists should never get in unofficial, unmetered taxis.

I can think of multiple reasons why it is unsafe to hop into an unvetted car with a stranger in your port of call. First, that person might not even be licensed to drive a vehicle, much less a taxi. It is not unusual for unlicensed drivers to be operating in the Caribbean. You're risking your life if you get into an unofficial taxi.

Beyond that safety issue, the driver of an unmetered taxi likely has a goal of taking you for a ride — financially. Cruise ship passengers report traveling in circuitous routes to make it appear as if they've been driven long distances, when in reality they haven't gone far at all. The cost you'll be charged in the end will reflect your lengthy journey.

Of course, this type of shenanigans can also occur with a metered taxi — although a legitimate cab driver is likely less willing to risk his or her job over a few extra bucks. Still, it's always wise to have an idea of where you're going and what you should expect to pay to get there and to confirm all prices before you take off on your drive.

How not to get scammed : To protect your safety and your wallet, always use an official transportation service. These usually have some type of placard or license on display, depending on your location. If you're not sure what an official taxi looks like at your destination, you can stop by the tourism booth and check before getting into any car.

A free cocktail and a fabulous travel club

Many confused and distraught consumers have contacted me after coming home from a trip with a pricey travel club membership they don't actually want. That's always a disturbing situation because a consumer advocate can't do much if a traveler has signed a legally binding contract in a foreign country.

This scheme usually involves a legitimate travel club company that sends its scouts down to the cruise port to collect potential "victims." The lure in this scheme is a free daypass to a beautiful resort, drinks, food and fun during the passenger's visit.

Cruise ship passengers are scooped up from the port and transported to a tropical paradise.

There is, of course, a catch. While sipping numerous cocktails and suffering from that vacation brain I mentioned earlier, cruisers are required to attend a travel club presentation. That's where things go all wrong. Many booze-filled tourists have found themselves signing a travel club contract at the end of that presentation.

Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

Unfortunately, once they sober up, they don't want the travel club, but they've signed a legally binding contract. And they're stuck because, unlike in the U.S. where consumers typically have at least a three-day rescission period, many travel club and timeshare contracts abroad have none. Once the contract is signed, the deal is done.

How not to get scammed : Before accepting a free daypass anywhere, make sure that you understand what your obligation is in exchange. If you're not a person who can resist a hard sell, don't go. Travelers who come home from vacation with the burden of a surprise unwanted travel club have flooded my helpline for years.

Never sign a contract for anything after you've had even one cocktail. If a salesperson presents you with a contract after you've been served one or more drinks, jolt yourself into reality. If you think you might be interested, ask for a copy of the details so you can take that document with you and do your research later. If the company refuses and tells you the deal is only good if you sign it right then, decline and ask to be taken back to the port.

A free facial and an unexpected $10,000 purchase

This brings us back to Royal Caribbean passenger Harry who paid $10,000 for questionable skin care products.

The free facial scam is a well-known scheme around the world. "Facialists" will lure you into their facilities with the promise of a free treatment. Once you accept that offer, you'll be alerted that your face has a lot of problems. But no worries! They can sell you an amazing product that will be able to fix it all.

In Harry's case, he says a salesperson practically dragged his wife inside the store.

My wife and I fell victim to this well-orchestrated scam of high-pressure sales beginning with the handing out of free skin treatment samples in front of the store. I resisted, but they grabbed my wife by the hand and offered her a 10-minute face treatment. I followed her in so she wouldn't get suckered into buying anything. They began applying the product while also pouring us what was supposed to be Champagne. To try to escape the gathered group of salespeople hyping the effectiveness of the product, I reluctantly agreed to a $200 purchase.

But that was only the beginning of this port-of-call fiasco. Now the salespeople knew they had their victims nibbling on the hook.

Related: 10 things you should never buy on a cruise ship (or in port)

As the alcohol continued to flow, they brought out additional products, which they told Harry would cause his bald head to sprout hair. He told me he realizes how ridiculous this sounds now, and that's why he suspects it wasn't just Champagne in his glass.

"We were then given hard alcohol and, I think, drugs. The heavy hitter deal closer brought out a light wand device that was purported to enhance the skin treatment. To make a long story short, by the time we left, with this special deal we were given, we had a $10,000 charge on 2 credit accounts."

The dazed and confused couple gathered the bags filled with all the items and made their way back aboard Freedom of the Seas.

Harry says they shared their experience with their adult children on the ship but did not report their suspected drugging to Royal Caribbean. They did make a formal complaint to the cruise line several weeks later.

That delay in reporting this scam was a mistake. By then, any evidence of misdeeds by this "merchant" was gone, and Harry had taken all the products home, even though he didn't want any of the lotions or the magic wand device. Predictably, his bald head hadn't grown any hair and his wife's appearance didn't undergo a miraculous change. None of the products did anything they were supposed to do.

The $10,000 bill, though, was very real.

Since that day, Harry has tried every possible way to get a refund for what he believes to be over-the-counter face cream. He filed a credit card dispute, which Chase rejected based on the fact that he received everything that he purchased that day. The receipts say "nonrefundable and all sales are final."

Next, he filed a complaint with the attorney general in Florida claiming elder abuse by this merchant. Of course, the Bahamas is not under the jurisdiction of any U.S. attorney general, so that complaint went nowhere.

Finally, Harry reached out to me in the hopes that I might be able to convince Chase to reverse the charge. He also suggested that other government organizations in the U.S. should investigate this merchant.

I explained to the frustrated couple that U.S. law doesn't apply in the Bahamas, and the nonrefundable terms and conditions of the skin care products make the sale final. Chase can only reverse the charge if the products weren't received, and that isn't the case here. Harry walked out of the store with exactly what he agreed to buy.

Bottom line

Unfortunately, some vacation brain mistakes are irreversible, and Harry's is one of them. He hopes others can learn from his awful situation and avoid making the same errors he did.

Visiting a variety of ports during your cruise is fun and exciting, but the quickest way to ruin your vacation is to fall victim to a scam or to unexpectedly spend thousands of dollars on things you didn't intend to buy. Prepare yourself for the most common scam tactics, and you'll likely avoid being taken advantage of by schemers.

Have a problem with a cruise line, airline, credit card, car rental company or vacation rental agency? Send your request for help to [email protected], and I'll be happy to investigate and help you if I can.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Favorites & Watchlist Find a Cruise Cruise Deals Cruise Ships Destinations Manage My Cruise​ FAQ Perfect Day at CocoCay Weekend Cruises Crown & Anchor Society Cruising Guides Gift Cards Contact Us Royal Caribbean Group
• Back to Main Menu
• Search Cruises " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-2-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/cruises" target="_self"> Search Cruises
• Cruise Deals
• Weekend Cruises
• Last Minute Cruises
• Family Cruises​
• 2024-2025 Cruises
• All Cruise Ships " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-4-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/cruise-ships" target="_self"> All Cruise Ships
• Cruise Dining
• Onboard Activities
• Cruise Rooms
• The Cruise Experience
• All Cruise Destinations " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-5-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/cruise-destinations" target="_self"> All Cruise Destinations
• Cruise Ports
• Shore Excursions
• Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Caribbean Cruises
• Bahamas Cruises​
• Alaska Cruises
• European Cruises​
• Mediterranean Cruises​
• Royal Destinations
• Cruise Planner
• Make a Payment
• Check-In for My Cruise
• Beverage Packages​
• Shore Excursions​
• Update Guest Information
• Book a Flight
• Dining Packages​
• Royal Gifts
• Required Travel Documents
• Transportation
• Book a Hotel
• Redeem Cruise Credit
• All FAQs " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-7-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/faq" target="_self"> All FAQs
• Boarding Requirements
• Future Cruise Credit​
• Travel Documents​
• Check-in​ & Boarding Pass
• Transportation​
• Perfect Day at CocoCay​
• Post-Cruise Inquiries
• Royal Caribbean
• Celebrity Cruises

Questions related to Boarding Requirements

Still need help contact us, get support by phone or email.

Email Your Questions

Locate a Travel Agent

Previewing: Promo Dashboard Campaigns

My Personas

Code: ∅.

• Destinations
• Cruise & Travel Blog
• Group Cruises
• Luxury Cruises
• River Cruises
• Specialty Cruises
• World Cruises
• All Cruise Lines
• Best Price Guarantee
• Advanced Cruise Search

Top 10 Cruise Deals

Explore exotic destinations and culturally rich European adventures at exclusive rates, but hurry, these offers won’t last long!

Norwegian cruise line 7 nt. boston to bermuda – 5/24/24 from $449pp, royal caribbean 5 nt. round trip bayonne to bermuda – 9/7/24 from $606pp, msc 7 nt. round trip nyc to bahamas – 9/29/24 from $279pp, viking 8 day rhine river from $2299pp with free air & $400 onboard credit, celebrity 2024 fall sailings – free drinks, wifi & tips, holland america 50% off alaska – up to $300 onboard credit, atlas ocean voyages 7 nt. spain to nice – 5/13/24 from $1599pp & $200 onboard credit, celebrity 9 nt. greece – from $1651pp with drinks, wifi & tips, windstar 7 day spain to rome – from $2499pp & $150 onboard credit, crystal up to $1000 off per suite on 2024 sailings, call 1-800-498-7245 to book today, very limited inventory. these will deals won’t last long, bonus offers.

• Military Savings!
• Solo Traveler Savings!
• Past Guest Discounts!

Get This Deal

• Name * First Last
• Do you have an agent you’ve worked with or are working with at Cruise Travel Outlet?
• How many passengers? * Please select one: Number of passengers: 1 2 3 4 5 or more
• Where are you in the booking process? * Please select one: I am... Still gathering information Looking for pricing Ready to book
• What type of cabin? *
• Preferred travel date *
• More Information Please tell us about the cruise or deal you're interested in. Be specific if you can.
• Get the latest hand-picked cruise deals and discounts delivered to your inbox.
• I agree to the privacy policy .
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Deal Terms and Conditions

Group rates are not combinable with cruise line promotions. Additional terms and conditions apply. See agent for details. Can be removed at anytime. Capacity controlled.

• Seabourn Cruise Line

Moscow Day Trip

By cruisewmn , August 2, 2011 in Seabourn Cruise Line

Recommended Posts

We're extremely interested in a cruise next summer on the Soujourn which stops in St. Petersburg for almost three days. Seabourn lists two different "day trips" to Moscow via high speed train. Having previously cruised to St. Petersburg, we really don't want to stay there for three days and a side trip to Moscow would be the highlight of the cruise. Has anyone taken this excursion?

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

I have been to Moscow many times, but never as part of a cruise. Was recently on a Baltics cruise and spoke to people who had - it takes it out of them as it was a super long day. In fact they got home so late that third day they slept in and had "sea day" at port.

There is so much to see in Moscow, I it should be a land trip and there are many nice hotels on which you can stay. It is really a 3 day experience. Having said that, if there is not much else you want to see in St Petersburg, and you don't think you will get back to Russia by land, it is a very interesting city with much to do. You will skim the surface, but will enjoy. I would only do if you had limited or no plans in St Petersburg - especially the day after as you return very late at night.

If you do not go, there are many not so well known things to do in SP. The Russian Museum is fascinating for example as is Yuspov Palace. The military museums and sights are interesting as well.

Whatever you decide to do you will have a great time!

Here's a link to more discussions:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1391453&highlight=moscow

Doing a "day-trip" from St. Petersburg to Moscow and back can work well. We did that trip in 2008 with Crystal. Having sailed in the Greek Islands in 2006 with Seabourn on our first cruise, I am sure that the quality would be similar with your cruise line. One change now would be the use of the high-speed train in place of flying back and forth as we did in 2008. Here are more details to consider:

Having three days in St. Petersburg allows enough time to do BOTH in seeing Moscow and going to other places near where your ship is docked. Only a few of the better lines, such as Seabourn and Crystal, have that type of schedule. We used in 2008 the main schedule airline, Rossiya Russian Airlines, for this trip. That line is now part of Aeroflot. The train trip takes long, but lessens some of the added time needed going out to the airport and the train gets you closer to the central part of Moscow.

I'll offer up some added background, along with various pro/con factors for your consideration. My wife thought it was lots of money, but she viewed it as very much worth it after completing the trip as a "once in a lifetime" experience.

CON FACTORS : It's a long day! Leave the ship about 8 am (greeted by a small welcoming band dockside); lots of driving and traffic; get back by return flight to the St. Petersburg airport around midnight and back to the ship a little before 1 am. The cost through Crystal Cruises was not cheap, but it does include everything, including all bus transfers, your jet air flights on regularly schedule commercial airlines, lunch on the bus, dinner in a nice/historic club/restaurant, admissions, etc., etc. Moscow is a super large city of about ten million people. There has been huge growth in the suburbs of this city during the past decades or so. Traffic and time from the airport to the main downtown takes about an hour. You can get a good feel as you travel into town through the coach windows about the “new Moscow” with its suburban growth, commerce, advertising, capitalism, etc.

PRO FACTORS : Moscow has its unique history, sights and sites, from Ivan the Terrible up through Lenin, Stalin and the new Russian leaders of today. After a long ride in from the airport on the outer edge of this large metro areas of 17.3 million (with 10.5 million in the city), we stopped at a new hotel for coffee/tea/break. Then, we rode the Moscow subway and saw a couple of their very unique and artistic stations. Stalin at the time called these stations “People’s Palaces”. This Moscow Metro was first opened in 1935 and now has 182 stations, 12 different lines,187 miles of routes and carries seven million passengers each weekday. It’s the world second busiest subway system. This subway ride offered a good sampling of real life for people who live and work in Moscow. We then saw more key places enroute, including the home of the Bolshoy Ballet, KGB Headquarters, various Stalin era buildings, etc. Then we went to the Kremlin with its 19 historic towers. WOW, we were really there!

Inside the Kremlin are three key “super stars”. First, was the State Armoury with its spectacular Faberge Eggs, plus so many carriages, crowns, gowns, jewels, etc. Second are the various historic Cathedrals within the Kremlin Walls, plus the Tower Bells, Icon art, etc. This includes the Cathedral of the Annunciation built in the 1480’s and having such spectacular wall murals and icons. Third, was the Great Kremlin Palace with its spectacular reception halls, inlaid wood floors, gold and more gold, fancy ceilings, etc. The Czars were crowned here, plus the current heads of the Russian government, etc. You might check whether your cruise trip will take you insider here. The size and scale of these areas are hard to describe in words, let alone reflect and capture the history that has happened in some of these rooms dating back to the late 1400’s. We have seen lots of great palaces all over Europe, but this is something above and beyond for the eyes, heart and brain.

Then, we saw more building inside the walls of the Kremlin. We went outside of the Kremlin Walls and walked next door to adjoining Red Square, seeing St. Basil’s and the re-done Gum Department Store. Red Square is so historic, especially having grown up seeing the military May Day parades there, visuals of Lenin’s Tomb, etc. Have the words “spectacular” and historic been used too much? Maybe, but it fits for many of these unique places. St. Basil’s was built 1555–1561 on the order of Ivan IV (the Terrible). It was the tallest building in Moscow until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (266 feet tall) in 1600 inside the Kremlin Walls. To be able to “CONTRAST” and compare Moscow and St. Petersburg during these three short days adds to the benefits of seeing both of these great Russian capital cities. Each is a very different and special city.

We finished with dinner in the Central Writers’ Club, a one hundred years old mansion made into a restaurant with crystal chandeliers, rich wood panelling, fireplaces, and antique balustrades. Finally, we drove back to the airport, passing many of the new suburban commercial development with big box stores and luxury housing, etc.

Is one day too short and limited? YES! You can, however, do and see lots in only that one short day. You get a small sampling above. How often do you get to Russia? The Cold War might not come back in full force, but there are going to be increasing and revisited tensions in future years involving Russia and getting access there. The major cruise lines have done this tour many times and has its details down well and timing perfected. Let me know any questions, thoughts or reactions.

Here are a few picture highlights of what we saw in Moscow. Have more to share, if you would like added views for the great potentials there.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Just back from a June 7-19 Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. These postings are now at 25,907 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 47,775 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Appreciate those who have “tuned in” for these two posts. Don’t be shy and feel free to comment and/or ask any questions of interest.

Walking on the famed Red Square of Moscow:

This is the interior for Moscow's most historic church, Assumption Cathedral or the Cathedral of the Dormition, inside the Kremlin walls. It is the mother church of Muscovite Russia. The church stands on Cathedral Square and was built in 1475–1479 by the Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti. It was erected on the spot of an older 14th century cathedral of the same name:

The famed KGB Headquarters in Moscow where many entered and did not exit (alive) during the 1950’s and 1960’s:

Kazan Cathedral sits on the northeast corner of Red Square in Moscow. The current building is a reconstruction of the original church which was destroyed at the direction of Joseph Stalin in 1936. The original church was erected as a shrine in the early 1630s to mark the city's liberation from the Polish aggressors. After the Soviet Union’s fall, this was the first church to be completely rebuilt. The cathedral's restoration (1990–1993) was based on the detailed measurements and photographs of the original church:

Here is a small sampling of the Kremlin Royal Treasures of the Czars: Eggs & Jewels:

St. Basil's sits on Red Square and dates back to its 1555-61 construction on the orders of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV). It commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan and marks the geometric center of the city. This location has been the hub of its growth for Moscow since the 14th century. It was the tallest building in Moscow until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. This church was near destroyed in the 1930’s when Stalin was in control.:

We did it with Regent several years ago. We were also docked in St Petersburg for 3 days. We flew to Moscow though. Not sure how long the high speed train takes, but until you get to the airport, through security and your flight leaves it may be the same. It was a great day. I wouldn't have wanted to miss it. We got back about 11 and they had a special dinner waiting for those of us on this excursion. Really did get to see the highlights of Moscow as well as a fabulous lunch.

I did the day trip to Moscow several years ago with Seabourn. Normally, I would never undertake such a grueling day but it was my third time in St. Petersburg and I had seen everything I wanted so I thought why not? It turned out to be a highlight of the trip. Yes, it was a long day but who cares. The day is just as long if you stay on board. Seabourn handled the whole thing extremely well from the flights to the guides to the meals to the private sightseeing. We saw and experienced so much in that one day that I felt I had been there for two or three. Is it better to go and spend a few days? Of course! But if that is not an option and you're not sure if you'll ever get there on your own I think it's a great thing to do.

Everything I said though is only for those who have been to St. Petersburg before. If it's your first time you'll need every minute of those three days there to see even a fraction of what there is to see.

Thaks for all the great information. We will be on the Sojourn late next summer in the Baltic. We have been to St Petersburg and are thinking we might do this if offered. Sounds great, hope we get the chance!

I can't thank you all enough for your quick and in depth responses. As much as I would like to take an extended tour of Moscow/Russia someday, I've learned that you never know what the future holds and not to let a good opportuity pass you by. The overall positive reviews and amazing pictures have sold us. While I realize we might be exhausted from the long day, it sounds well worth it.

I can't thank you all enough for your quick and in depth responses. The overall positive reviews and amazing pictures have sold us. While I realize we might be exhausted from the long day, it sounds well worth it. THANK YOU!

Glad we have helped to "SELL YOU". You are summarizing and approaching things correctly. See "IT" while you can and are close. Here are a few more pictures to help you get ready for the amazing sights you will experience there in Moscow.

One of the Kremlin Wall Towers in Moscow:

The domes of the historic church inside the walls of the Kremlin:

Inside the newly, more westernized GUM Department Store:

One of the 1930’s style building built by Stalin in Moscow:

Kremlin Treasures: Crowns and other “tools” for the Czars:

Moscow’s subways are called the People’s Palace with its marble coverings and unique designs for each of the stations.:

• 2 weeks later...

Like you, we did the Moscow trip after a couple of trips to St Petersburg. Wouldn't have missed it for the world- totally different feel from SP, or anywhere else in the world. For those of us who lived through the cold war, it brought to life the spy novels I have read all my life.

• 1 year later...

Camlachiegirl

Could you please send more information on your Moscow trips - we would like to do a seperate trip to Moscow after the cruise. Any leads or information would be appreciated.

I have been to Moscow many times, but never as part of a cruise. Was recently on a Baltics cruise and spoke to people who had - it takes it out of them as it was a super long day. In fact they got home so late that third day they slept in and had "sea day" at port.   There is so much to see in Moscow, I it should be a land trip and there are many nice hotels on which you can stay. It is really a 3 day experience. Having said that, if there is not much else you want to see in St Petersburg, and you don't think you will get back to Russia by land, it is a very interesting city with much to do. You will skim the surface, but will enjoy. I would only do if you had limited or no plans in St Petersburg - especially the day after as you return very late at night.   If you do not go, there are many not so well known things to do in SP. The Russian Museum is fascinating for example as is Yuspov Palace. The military museums and sights are interesting as well.   Whatever you decide to do you will have a great time!

We were on the Sojourn July/August 2012. We did a private day trip to Moscow using SPB tours via high speed train on our 2nd day in ST P. They picked us up from the ship around 5:30 am and dropped us off at the rail station, and we met our tour guide and a driver for the two of us at the Moscow rail station. It took 4 hours each way for the train, but it went from city center to city center, and it seemed to go by relatively quickly. We had a great time in Moscow- seeing the highlights as described on the tour itinerary, and we could customize it. There seemed to be little English spoken in Moscow, people not as friendly as in St P, and the traffic was horrible. I was actually glad to get back to St P( at around midnight).

It was a busy day, but that didn't stop us from a full day of touring before and after the Moscow trip on private tours by SPB tours. It was quite expensive, but I'm glad we went- and I really have no desire to go back.

seabournaddict

Years ago we did a land tour of Russia, so got to spend about 5 days in both Moscow and St Petersburg. I actually like Moscow more than St Petersburg. We have also done a Baltic cruise on Seabourn, so have had another 3 days in St Petersburg, so NEXT time we will certainly do the day tour to Moscow. I would also prefer to do it the way they do now, by train, would have been dubious about a Russian "domestic" flight. ;)

Emperor Norton

I could've sworn I'd responded to this thread earlier:confused:

I'd take my chances on a domestic flight with their new fancy Boeing planes (or even an odd Ilyushin). The train was a less than stellar experience. Four hours each way in a straight backed non reclining seat. Some of them had another passenger about 24" in front of you, facing you - so no sticking your legs out. Further they didn't seem to believe in AC so the car just got hotter and hotter. Moscow itself was great, I found it particularly amusing that right across from Red Square they had a capitalist pig-dog mall filled with luxury American and European brands.

MichiganDavid

Following is a description and personal review of the Seabourn Cruise - St. Petersburg -shore excursion: “MOSCOW BY TRAIN & THE MYSTERIOUS KREMLIN”

On June 18, 2012 – my wife and I participated in the Seabourn Pride’s Moscow Excursion along with 12 other passengers and 2 guides. Most of us had room service breakfast at 4:30am, crossed the flooded river outside Russian Customs and met the bus @ 5:30am for a transfer to the St. Petersburg Train Station. The high speed train (mostly at 130-140 MPH) left the station at 6:30am and arrived in Moscow at 10:15am. The train ride was uneventful and a box snack was provided.

In Moscow, we were met by the local guide and a full size bus. We drove into and around central Moscow for about 30 min. – buildings and sights are interesting, but do not compare to the historical & decorative buildings of St. Petersburg. We then took a Metro (subway) ride in Moscow. The metro is interesting, but not as impressive as St. Petersburg’s. (You will notice that throughout this review, I state that St. Petersburg is better than Moscow, which is true of everything except for the Kremlin, which holds its own and should be the main purpose of this excursion.) (Seabourn states that the Kremlin is closed on Thursday – THEREFORE, DO NOT TAKE THIS TOUR ON THURSDAY.)

After driving around Moscow again to view several areas from the bus, we visited the Kremlin , which is a very large wall enclosed fortress with hundreds of buildings, churches, monuments, fortress walls with many towers/etc. After a long walk (many long walks to come) at an OLYMPIC SPEED PACE (You will walk fast to see everything in the allotted time). We started with the “Armory” museum which was very good and I do not normally like museums. There are rooms with royalty gowns, Czars’ crowns, royalty carriages, suits of amour and weapons, jewel covered bibles, Faberge Eggs, etc. – basically Royal Treasures. From here we walked to the “Churches Square” with It’s 17 churches. We entered the Annunciation Cathedral where most all the Czars were crowned. Outside - took pictures of the largest BELL in the world that has never been rung and the largest CANNON that has never been fired. Took pictures of government buildings and the President’s Palace.

At about 1:45pm, we walked back to the bus for a short ride to a very prestigious restaurant (and it was) for a four course late-lunch with an excellent French Bordeaux.

After lunch, we visited the very large Red Square @ 3:15pm for a tour of “St. Basil’s Cathedral” which was beautiful and very interesting with its many Onion Domes – but I liked St. Petersburg’s “Church on the Spilled Blood” better. We were able to see the front of the Lenin’s Tomb , but it was closed. At the other end of the Square was a beautiful museum and very nice smaller church where recorded services were being played.

We had 45 min. on our own to walk around the Square and after another long fast walk back to our bus, we proceeded to the train station for a 7:45pm departure back to St. Petersburg. A snack and drink was provided. Arriving in St. Petersburg at 11:30pm, with the sun just beginning to set (the mid-night sun), we proceeded to the ship – 18 hour tour/ 21 hour day.

Summary: Is the tour worth $1,000 per person – only if it is important to see Moscow once in your lifetime. See St. Petersburg first ; tour has extensive walking at a very fast pace; you will be going to Moscow to see the Kremlin which is historical and beautiful.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• Hurricane Zone 2024
• Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Saturday at 06:48 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 05:25 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 02:57 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 06:25 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 03:59 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

4-Star Russian River Cruise - Moscow - Golden Ring - St. Petersburg - 12 Days (CR-45)

• Accommodation
• Full board meals
• English – speaking guides
• Guided tours & entrance fees
• Evening entertainment
• Airport transfers
• Visas: checking service
• Personal travel insurance
• Optional excursions
• Theatre and circus tickets
• Sample daily programme
• River cruises: practicalities
• Download cruise schedule
• FAQ: travelling in Russia
• FAQ: river cruises
• Russian visa procedure
• Book with Confidence - Covid FAQs

Note on pricing:

• All prices are per person, in US dollars. All included services are listed in the tour dossier and the section "Included" in the tour description.
• Price "Excluding flight" does not cover airfare, you are free to book your own flights. Alternatively we can quote for flights from any international airport.
• Single supplement goes towards single room (cabin for cruises) accommodation.
• Discouns for children .

Ukraine-Russia war: Latest updates

All the developments and analysis on the war in Ukraine from our specialists and live team.

Monday 10 June 2024 15:09, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Big picture: Everything you need to know about the war right now
• Your questions answered:  Are there any signs of an underground resistance in Russia?

Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. 

We're starting the week by taking a few steps back and giving an overview of where the conflict is at. 

Putin warns Russia could provide long-range weapons to attack West

Last week started with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, at which Vladimir Putin was joined by the leaders of Russia's closest allies. 

During a session with international journalists, the Russian president warned he could provide long-range weapons to attack the West. 

He said the recent actions by the West would further undermine international security and could lead to "very serious problems".

"That would mark their direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation, and we reserve the right to act the same way," he added. 

His warning came after Joe Biden partially lifted restrictions on how Ukraine can use military supplies provided by the US, meaning they could be used to strike inside Russia. 

Mr Putin also reaffirmed Russia's position on nuclear weapons, saying the conditions for using them were clearly spelled out in Moscow's security doctrine. 

"If somebody's actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible to use all means at our disposal," he said. 

Ukraine has right to strike 'legitimate targets in Russia', NATO chief says

It also seems Ukraine might be given the go-ahead to strike Russia, with the NATO secretary general saying it has the right to attack legitimate military targets. 

"Ukraine has the right to self defence," Jens Stoltenberg said during a news conference with Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish prime minister, at a military base near Stockholm. 

"The right to self defence also includes the right to hit legitimate, military targets on the territory of the attacking party, the aggressor - in this case Russia." 

His comments came after Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, claimed that HIMARS rockets have been used since then on civilian targets.

Ukrainian warplane fires weapon at target inside Russia for first time

Following the NATO chief's comments, a military source told Sky News a Ukrainian warplane has for the first time fired a weapon that struck a target inside Russia.

The source said a "Russian command node" was hit on Sunday in the area of Belgorod, a western Russian region near the Ukraine border which has come under frequent attack.

It was not immediately clear what type of munition was used in the attack, including whether or not it had been a Western weapon.

The United States and France recently said the Ukrainian armed forces were permitted to use their arms to strike military targets inside Russia - from where Russian forces are launching attacks against Ukraine.

You can read that full story here ...

Latest 'battlefield situation'

A detailed map showing the latest situation on the ground in Ukraine has been published by the UK defence ministry.

The area in light pink is territory taken by Russia since it invaded in February 2022.

Those areas in a darker shade of pink show territory - including Crimea - seized by Russia since 2014.

White, blue and red circles represent the grouping of forces while the red arrows show likely Russian attacks.

Despite the recent heavy bombardment of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, it is not in the seized sections.

However, a couple of small areas north of Kharkiv, on the Russian border, are shaded light pink. 

Zelenskyy attends talks in Qatar

In what could be seen as a step towards progress, Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Qatar for talks with the state's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Ukrainian president discussed Qatar's participation in a process of returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, as well as bilateral economic and security issues.

In March, Ukraine and Russia exchanged six children via Qatari mediation.

Mr Zelenskyy also made a surprise trip to the Philippines to thank the country for agreeing to participate in the upcoming peace summit being held in Switzerland.

Thank you for reading.

We will be back soon with more updates from the war in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has said he does not see the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons as set out in Russia's nuclear doctrine - but added he could not rule out a change to the doctrine.

"We have a nuclear doctrine which states that the use of nuclear arms is possible in an exceptional case, when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country is threatened," he told the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"But the doctrine can be changed.

"The same applies to nuclear tests. We will carry out tests if needed, but so far there is no such need."

Russia could send weapons to adversaries of the West, Vladimir Putin has warned for a second time.

The Russian president repeated the warning from earlier this week during the St Petersburg Economic Forum.

He did not say what countries or entities he was referring to, and he stressed that Moscow is not doing it currently.

"If they supply (weapons) to the combat zone and call for using these weapons against our territory, why don't we have the right to do the same?" he told the crowds. 

"But I'm not ready to say that we will be doing it tomorrow, either."

On Wednesday, Putin told international journalists that Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets in response to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to use their arms to attack Russian territory.

He also reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to use nuclear weapons if it sees a threat to its sovereignty.

Joe Biden has apologised to Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the recent delay in approving new US aid for Ukraine.

Last month, following months of political disagreements, the Senate passed $95bn (£76.2bn) in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan .

"I apologise for those weeks of not knowing," the US president said.

"Some of our very conservative members [of Congress] were holding it up. 

"But we got it done, finally. We're still in - completely, totally." 

The Ukrainian president thanked his counterpart for American assistance.  

"It's very important that you stay with us," he said. 

"It's very important that in this unity, the United States of America, all American people stay with Ukraine, like it was during World War Two - how the United States helped to save human lives, to save Europe." 

The two men were speaking in Paris, the day after D-Day commemorations in Normandy.

Russia needs to boost its use of non-Western currencies, Vladimir Putin said as he addressed the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

He also said his country needs to reduce imports while calling for a major expansion of its domestic financial markets.

Trade with Asia is soaring, he told delegates, adding that almost two fifths of Russian external trade is now in roubles.

The share conducted in US dollars, euros and other Western currencies has declined.

Russia will try to boost the share of settlements conducted in the currencies of BRICS countries - which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Mr Putin said.

"Last year, the share of payments for Russian exports in the so–called 'toxic' currencies of unfriendly states halved, while the share of the rouble in export and import transactions is growing - it is approaching 40% today," the president said.

Russia has referred to nations that imposed sanctions on it as "unfriendly".

 The session begins with an address by the Russian president. 

Vladimir Putin says there is a race among world powers to establish sovereignty. 

He speaks of the need for countries to both establish partnerships and also to look internally to tackle challenges presented by the current global economic landscape. 

Despite all the "obstacles and illegitimate sanctions", Russia remains one of the world's economic leaders, he says. 

He adds that "friendly countries" - those that have not joined sanctions against Moscow - account for three quarters of Russia's mutual trade turnover, and praises them for that. 

Countries including India and China have strengthened economic ties since Mr Putin launched his war in Ukraine. 

Vladimir Putin has taken to the stage in St Petersburg to address the International Economic Forum there.

He's joined by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwais and Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora. 

Chairing the session is Sergey Karaganov - a Russian political scientist. 

We'll bring you any key lines here in this live blog. 

A T-shirt is on sale at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum printed with a phrase attributed to Vladimir Putin, Sky News has discovered. 

"If a fight is inevitable, throw the first punch," it says.

The Russian president reportedly said it in 2015.

He apparently explained that it was something he had learned while growing up on the streets of Leningrad - a former name of St Petersburg. 

The Russian defence ministry has accused Ukraine of injuring 20 people, including children, in a missile attack on the Russian-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, using US-supplied ATACMS missiles.

Four of five missiles were shot down by air defence systems, the ministry said in a statement.

However, one of the missiles damaged two residential apartment blocks, it added, claiming it was deliberate.

Sky News is unable to verify the allegations.

There has been no immediate comment from Ukraine. 

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free