How to Get the Best Cruise and Stay Deals

To get the best deals on stays and cruises, a fair amount of research and effort should be put in. The best place to start the search is the World Wide Web (the internet). Popular sites such as Expedia, Travelzoo, Orbitz and Travelocity can be looked for both, and sites like Last Minute Cruises can be referred to for cheap cruises. Aggregator sites like Mobissimo, Sitessidestep, and Kayak are also a good source. Travel agents are also privy to very good deals from time to time, so getting in touch with some is definitely a good idea. Calling the cruise operator or the hotel directly to find out about existing discounts is also an option. Their respective websites can also serve up valuable information, as special deals and packages are updated on the websites quite regularly. Whilst traveling for business, corporate rates should be asked for.

For a cruise, a good time to start looking would be at least 2 months before the planned trip. Try and surf through as many sites as possible because you never know which site could hand you the best deal at any one given point in time.

The time of the year during which you plan take the cruise or stay can also be a factor. You should not expect discounts during periods like Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, Easter holidays or spring break.

When it comes to cruises, repositioning cruises are known to offer some very good deals. One important thing to keep in mind if you are considering taking a repositioning cruise is that you will need to get an air ticket for your journey back home, since these cruises commence and terminate at different ports. If, however, a good deal can be obtained on the airfare, this could be a very nice way to take advantage of the ship's repositioning.

A large number of cruise liners that do rounds of the Caribbean are known to offer considerable discounts through the hurricane season. In the eventuality of bad weather, these trips could be delayed or cancelled.

These things must be kept in mind to avoid disappointment:
Make sure you know very clearly, what you want; or else, you could find yourself going through offers which include second rate cabins. Cabins in close proximity to children's activity rooms and elevators, below discotheques, and other noisy places in the ship are transferred to clearance lists for a reason.

If a policy to match prices is being offered by a web site or travel agent, make sure you go through it very carefully. While it might appear that you are being provided with the best deal, you might come across a better one later. Particulars for matching prices do vary from provider to provider.

The fine print of the booking should be read completely. There could be a mention of non-refundable items that are part of the cruise booking.

Double check on the kind of room allocated to you; also check to see if it is for single occupancy or double occupancy.

All in all, a little research, can take you a long way.