COURTNEY’S INDEPENDENT
QUOTE | All inclusive: R91 837 for two
travellers. Travel Period: 13 to 22 April 2019
Time researching/comparing
prices : +/- 7.5 hours (excluding
booking and payment)
Flights: R33 798 for two adults
from Johannesburg to Miami
(via Istanbul) return, with Turkish Airlines.
Fare breakdown per person:
• Fare: R7 131
• Taxes + fees: R9 768
Accomodation: R2 979
Miami International Airport Hotel:
1 night – 22 April: R2 652 + R327 taxes
Cruise details:
Carnival Cruises’ Carnival Magic
Cruise – 7 days | Western Caribbean
Total cruise cost: R43 316 for two
travellers: Miami (USA), Grand Cayman
(Cayman Islands), Mahogany Bay
(Honduras), Belize, Cozumel (Mexico),
Miami (USA)
Includes : Ocean View room: R19 667
• Taxes: R1 991.
Carnival Magic Cruise includes:
• Room service • Breakfast,
lunch + dinner daily • Limited beverages
24/7 (non-bottled water, coffee, tea,
hot chocolate, iced tea, lemonade) •
Onboard entertainment + facilities • Youth
programmes for kids + teens.
Carnival Magic Cruise excludes:
• No alcoholic drinks included in the price
(can be purchased individually or as part
of a package for $51.95 USD per day + 18%
gratuity) = R11 744 for two travellers for 7
days • No spa treatments included.
SURE TRAVEL PACKAGE
| All inclusive: R71 088 for two
travellers. Travel Period: 12 to 21 April 2019
Average time to book with
an agent: +/- 10–30 minutes (if
a customer’s payment details and
travel preferences are ready, and dates of
package/flights are available)
Flights : R26 038 for two
adults from Johannesburg to
Ft Lauderdale (via Dubai) return, with
Emirates Airlines.
Fare breakdown per person:
• Fare: R3 550
• Taxes + fees: R9 469
Accomodation: Not required
with this flight itinerary.
Cruise details:
MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaside
– 8 days | Aurea Experience
Total cruise cost: R45 050 for two
travellers: Miami (USA), San Juan
(Puerto Rico), Charlotte Amalie (Virgin
Islands), Philipsburg (St Maarten), Nassau
(Bahamas), Miami (USA)
Includes : Shuttle from Ft Lauderdale to
Miami: R562 • Balcony room: R40 398
• Mandatory port charges: R1 500 •
Mandatory service charge: R2 590.
MSC Seaside includes:
We asked independent
traveller Courtney Nikita
Maclons to “blind test”
the competitiveness of this
package by researching her
own week-long Caribbean
voyage online
}
• Preference of cabin (subject
to availability) • Maximum flexibility
in booking (subject to availability)
• Priority boarding & luggage service
for embarkation • Premium gourmet
20-hours-a-day buffet • 24-hour unlimited
drinks (including select beers, spirits +
cocktails) • Free 24-hour room service
+ delivery • Breakfasts in cabin (free
delivery) • Two spa massages, tanning
shower and access to thermal area
throughout cruise • Free access to the
exclusive sun deck (adults only) • 50%
discount on fitness classes & personal
trainer • Onboard entertainment +
facilities (including clubs for kids)
THE VERDICT
Sure Travel’s quote came out
at almost R20 000 less in total,
approximately R10 000 less per
person – not to mention that
the MSC Cruises package offers
several extras, such as alcoholic
drinks and massages.
*Both prices exclude: items of a personal
nature, passport and visa costs (if applicable),
travel and medical insurance, gratuities,
shore excursions.
**Courtney used “best price” booking
websites: travelstart.co.za, cheapflights.co.za,
tripadvisor.co.za, farecompare.com,
expedia.com, choicehotels.com, booking.
com, gotogate.co.za, choicehotels.com,
booking.com.
***All prices on the internet are subject to
availability and currency fluctuations and can
change without notice. Prices were correct at
the time of writing on 18 December 2018.
MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE // 15