Are There Any Wesbites For Discounted River Cruising?

[Oiverbotel]

For the past couple of decades I've used, almost exclusively, the website www.vacationstogo.com for booking cruises. I'm an avid lover of travel by ship and because I'm always flexible I take advantage of their '90-Day Ticker' where the cruises have been discounted sometimes as much as 90%. (I'm not kidding!)

But I was wondering whether anyone might know if there's a similar site for discounted late-booking river cruises through Europe? I've looked at places such as Cruise.co.uk, Avalon, etc, but they are all either showing full retail pricing, or are much dearer in prices, nor do any of the ones I've seen offer the ability to look at all the sailings/departures/prices at a simple glance. For what it's worth, my thoughts were to travel from Amsterdam to Vienna, or Vienna to Bucharest in the next few weeks.

Many thanks!
Ollie+

[Buenchico]

This might be worth a try:
http://www.rivervoyages.com/travel-within-8-weeks/

It could also be worth checking the websites of the cruise operators to see if they've got any 'last minute' discounts shown. This page shows which companies operate between Amsterdam and Vienna:
http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?depcity=7&portofcall=585

[Oiverbotel]

Thanks Buenchico! After not hearing anything from friends at Answerbank for a few I did a bit more research and found a link for a company called Iglu. It seems to be a small copy of what VacationsToGo.com offer, but for the river trips. I'll also look at CruiseCritic...something tells me they have a very close relationship to the good people at cruise.co.uk, which makes my arms stiffen slightly as I don't wish to be inundated again by them. But I'll certainly have a look. Thanks for the kind advice!

As Always

Ollie

[jno]

Lots on cruise.co.uk, I don't think you have to register to look at them. (They sure do bombard you with emails.) Also last minute com since you've left it late. Many others you can google. It's a booming sector and the usual ocean cruise websites are piling in.

I'm sitting on a ship in Amsterdam at the moment, and it's pouring...

[Oiverbotel]

Thanks JNO! I actually just got off the phone with the River Cruise section of Vacationstogo.com Crikey, they're nice people!
Indeed, as I mentioned, the people at Cruise.co.uk, once they get hold of your email addy through a cookie, you're a dead duck! I've twice had to phone them to get them to stop inundating me with their tripe. For what it's worth, I 'think' the two best, in this order are vacationstogo.com and in the UK, IGLU.co.uk.
I got the knock with Cruise.co.uk the last time I phoned them because the agent insisted there was no way I would ever get a discount being a single traveller. They quoted me a 200% increase on a cruise on Holland America. I phoned VTG and they gave it to me, not only at the discounted rate, but no penalty for travelling by myself AND once on board I got upgraded! That's the 4th time I've had dramatic upgrades going through VTG. I'm not sure if the travel reps make the difference, or if it was just luck with the ship line. BUt I was happy. Whilst you were writing me I was on the phone with Hurtigruten and it looks as if I'm flying to Bergen on Saturday, then sailing to Kirkenes Norway... I'm happy as Larry! No single supplement either!

Thanks for all your help. Sorry to hear you're getting poured on. Hopefully you'll have a good sailing tomorrow....unless you meant you're on one of the overnight accommodations on an Amsterdam Canal...but that's nice too!

Thank you again!

Ollie+

[jno]

One other thing you probably know about cruise.co - if you write a review of a cruise and upload it to their site, they send you a free Berlitz cruise guide listing every ocean cruise ship afloat, which I've found handy. Doesn't cover river boats though (there's a separate book for them, not so highly thought of.) the last time I did this they sent me the book though they didn't even publish the review. The cruise doesn't have to have been booked through them.

[Oiverbotel]

Hey JNO! Hopefully the rain is letting up by now! Yes, I was familiar with the review. I actually wrote one a couple of years ago when I sailed from NYC to Southampton on the QM2. Got my book within the month. Actually, that's one of the things I like so much about using VTG's website. I can manipulate the site to show any and every cruise from departure point to destination. I have to admit I'm still experimenting with VTG's river cruise pages, but they do look good. They have great staff and after being around for over thirty years now I reckon they're going to stay. The downside is that one particular ship line, Holland America, won't let them book new sailings for passengers in the UK, unless they've travelled previously on Holland America. It has something to do with a new marketing contract Holland America have entered into with another company. Since my childhood I've travelled on almost every Holland America ship that sailed, even the Tragic Prinsengracht that sank off the Alaskan coast many years ago. They were the epitome of good sailing at reasonable prices. As a child I travelled with my father all over the world and our preferred ship line always was HA, with Cunard and French Line following closely behind. Sadly, now most of the lines are owned by the same american company and it has diminished the liners quite severely. It grates my goat knowing Cunard are owned now by the yanks.... sorry...it's an honest feeling and I can't shake it. Enjoy your time in Amsterdam! It made me think of the old Rotterdam today, berthed in, of course, Rotterdam. Glad they saved her!
Cheers

Ollie+