Request for Information on Booking Cruises

Hello everyone,

What a great forum this is! Someone recommended it to me during my last cruise (my first one, too).

After that amazing trip in January this year, I’d love to go again.

But I’d like to know how to negotiate and which travel or booking agency to use to get the best prices. Normally, I book either in Switzerland (very expensive) or directly with MSC, but I’ve been told not to do that. So, I’m here to find the best way to book with MSC. As for dates, I’m pretty flexible, and my departure point—since I live in Switzerland—would be Genoa, Marseille, or somewhere near Rome.

Thanks in advance for all your future responses!

Best regards, Robert

Hi there,

Booking directly with the cruise line isn’t a problem in itself, but you might not have the same person handling your file. You can sign up for MSC’s or other cruise lines’ newsletters to get promotions and also wait for "Black Friday" when many companies offer deals. Are prices really higher in Switzerland? Because you should avoid booking with certain agencies based in Monaco or Spain if you're French, since the cancellation and modification laws aren’t the same, and some online agencies have pretty exaggerated terms compared to the cancellation or change fees with French cruise lines or agencies. Even though we live in western France, we always go through Croisiland, which is based in Le Bourget-du-Lac (department 73), and we can reach their advisors by email or phone, plus they provide good follow-up on files. Maybe other users will have additional tips for you. Don’t hesitate if you have any other questions. Have a great day! : mum49

Hi there, I can confirm Mum49’s info—Croisiland is a really good agency. Too bad they don’t sell Celebrity Cruise, though. For that one, I’ll go to another solid agency. Mich74

Good evening,

Thanks so much for your replies—afterward, I think you call the company a "Cie," right? Okay.

My main concern and question is that companies like MSC display a net price on their site, so you can’t negotiate with them directly. But travel agencies that buy packages have to sell the spots, so you can get some great deals and discounts, especially for last-minute bookings. That’s exactly what I’m looking for, and someone mentioned it to me when I went on my cruise.

Also, in Switzerland, since we don’t have the sea, it’s more expensive. For comparison, during my cruise, I met a really nice couple (who are normally on this forum—I can’t remember their name 🤔) who paid about 1,000 CHF less for almost the same perks because they emailed and negotiated their trips, while I just clicked on a Swiss agency’s site. Even with the bus transfer from Switzerland included, the rest of the price difference is pretty shocking.

Anyway, thanks for the name of the company you recommend—I’ll check it out!

I’m waiting for more replies. Thanks