Feedback on Vacations to Go Cruises: Genuine Insights from Travelers

If you’re a fan of cruising, you’re likely on the lookout for ways to economize. Ultimately, saving money means more frequent cruise excursions.

Vacations to Go is known for promoting competitive rates and various privileges, resulting in a robust marketing presence. It’s probable that you’re already familiar with this company.

However, what’s the catch? Are there any drawbacks to the tempting “cruise deals” featured on Vacations to Go?

While additional perks like onboard credit are usually included, what other aspects should you be cautious about?

This piece will evaluate the possible advantages and disadvantages highlighted by consumers who have posted reviews on Consumer Affairs.

I typically make my cruise reservations directly through the cruise line’s official site. I also utilize cruise search engines for finding bargains; however, I prefer the direct booking approach.

Nevertheless, the significant number of individuals utilizing Vacations to Go led me to investigate the experiences shared by its customers.

Established in 1984, Vacations To Go is a travel agency that specializes in discounted cruises. They market themselves as offering last-minute deals on unsold cabins negotiated with major cruise lines.

The platform is well-known for its last-minute offers through their “90-Day Ticker” and has remained a fundamental aspect of their operations for years.

With 273 verified evaluations on Consumer Affairs, Vacations to Go has served numerous cruise enthusiasts in the past.

Nonetheless, the feedback provided paints a varied picture.

Having an average rating of 1.4 stars out of 5 on the consumer advocacy platform, I focused on recent input from the past year to consider only the most recent experiences.

Within the reviews and remarks, several customers highlighted potential benefits such as discovering discounted fares and the ease of a “bundled booking process.”

However, there were also recurring concerns raised, including deceptive pricing, reservation complications, and apprehensions regarding customer service.

Pricing and Promotions

Several reviewers on Consumer Affairs expressed dissatisfaction with the prices promoted by Vacations to Go.

A reviewer from New York remarked, “For instance, I checked a suite on Royal Caribbean. Vacations to Go advertised $2,679 indicating I save 48%; however, when I checked the exact same cruise, date, and room on the RCCL website, they offered me the same price.”

Contrary to popular belief, travel agencies and discount travel platforms can’t truly provide lower costs on cruises – at least not in principle.

Occasionally, they may present onboard credit or other benefits, but the pricing remains largely consistent across platforms – unless one platform is attempting to maximize their profits.

Another customer mentioned, “The prices shown on their platform do not align with the quotes given by their agents. The rate quoted to me was significantly higher than the website’s displayed price.”

This discrepancy could also be attributed to the “hidden charges” that many booking sites don’t disclose until the final checkout stage. Additional expenses like port charges, taxes, and single supplement fees can noticeably inflate the total expenditure.

Thanks to a recent California legislation, increased transparency in pricing will be observed online, with cruise lines incorporating some of these concealed charges into the advertised price.

This concern emerged frequently in the feedback. A cruiser from Florida, seeking to reserve a Windstar cruise, mentioned, “Upon completing my payment, the website is now advertising $6000 for a single booking. This implies a $5000 reduction! I reached out to inquire if they could honor this rate, but was informed it’s too late since I’ve already paid in full.”

Reservation Challenges

Many customers encountered difficulties while attempting to book their trips. A reviewer from Texas highlighted a situation where they tried to obtain a group discount but never received a response:

“After I explained our requirements, he mentioned, ‘I’ll call you back in ten minutes.’ It has been one and a half days, and Curtis S. has not made any contact. He also informed me that only double occupancy rooms were available, and I needed to secure additional rooms. I contacted Royal Caribbean directly and finalized our cruise booking.”

Another individual from Oregon pointed out an issue with how the organization packages various transportation services, stating,

“When reserving a cruise, there are often other requirements like transportation, connections, organization, accommodations, etc., the kind of things travel agents handle. VTG does not provide these services, and once you use them to book the cruise, travel agents are reluctant to offer you the other related services.”

Many of the booking problems mentioned in the reviews were related to how specific fees were conveyed – or not conveyed in some instances.

Customer Assistance

A Californian client who had been utilizing the platform for more than 20 years stated, “The past 5 years have been disappointing. Recently, I have been attempting to receive a refund for a deposit I placed on a waiting list in 2021 with American Queen Voyages. Vacations to go contacts them and gets an update for me each time I call, but claim they cannot do anything more.”

Another grievance arose from an individual who tried to rectify an error, saying, “They will not send you the packet to review before making a purchase. I mistakenly booked the wrong cruise. I spent hours on the phone almost immediately trying to switch it. Unfortunately, there was no assistance from this organization. In fact, at one point, Princess made the change for us, but V2Go swiftly reverted it.”

Although some appreciated the convenience of utilizing the company’s travel agents to resolve arising issues, employing an intermediary can sometimes lead to complexities.

A user on Reddit expressed contentment in handling such matters, mentioning,

“I have found it significantly simpler to collaborate with a travel agent during these frequent changes in sailings, rather than having to deal directly with the cruise line. For instance, when my last voyage was canceled, I opted for a shift in dates. A brief call with the agent specifying my preferred new date, and they managed the rest.”

Excursions

Challenges with shore excursions were also frequently communicated.

A reviewer from Missouri recounted, “Upon disembarking the cruise, we had to walk a considerable 25 minutes to reach the taxi service, only to discover that we were running late, and the bus had departed without us. We were informed that the tour commenced 30 minutes after the ship docked. There was no mention of a specific time or location in the email or on the ticket.”

Another individual from Colorado added that the excursions arranged through Vacations to Go were not smoothly coordinated with the cruise line.

A user from Florida echoed these sentiments, cautioning, “If you opt to reserve through them, I strongly advise against it.”

Positive Encounters

Despite the negative feedback, a few clients shared positive experiences.

A Floridian client remarked, “Thank you, Vacations to Go, for investigating my concern and implementing correct measures. Your efforts are appreciated.”

Another reviewer was grateful for the follow-up, expressing, “We’re thankful that Princess accommodated our request for a change to a sailing that included Glacier Bay.”

A customer from Washington recounted a positive outcome following initial challenges, stating, “I appreciate that Vacations to Go took my issue seriously, refunded my payment for the subpar hotel reservation, and offered a full apology. Kudos to Robin, Andrea, and Michelle for addressing this small yet significant matter!”

Concluding Remarks

While Vacations to Go has been beneficial to some, the abundance of one-star reviews may lead potential travelers to question booking a cruise through the company.

As one commentator summarized, “Before committing to a booking with Vacations to Go, conduct thorough research. Compare rates with the cruise lines and potentially other platforms before finalizing your decision.”

It’s worth mentioning that Vacations to Go demonstrated prompt responses to reviews and comments on the Consumer Affair website, making efforts to verify issues reported by some passengers.

There was even a testimonial from a client sharing how the company resolved their concerns:

“I’m pleased that Vacations to Go took my worries seriously, refunded my payment for the dismal hotel booking, and offered a complete apology. Special thanks to Robin, Andrea, and Michelle for addressing this minor yet significant issue! My wife and I greatly appreciate your assistance. Thank you!”

If you’re contemplating utilizing Vacations to Go for your upcoming cruise, thoroughly examine the reviews and compare prices directly with the cruise lines. By doing so, you can make an educated decision and potentially avoid common pitfalls encountered by other travelers.