Tips for Finding Great Deals on Cruises

A cruise is a great way to beat the winter blues, or get that all inclusive vacation for the whole family. A cruise is the best way to get to many destinations. Cruise ships offer so many amenities that most feel like a floating city. Once a vacationer experiences the enjoyment of a cruise they come back for more.

So, a cruise is a great vacation, but what about the price? Nothing spoils a great vacation faster than going into debt to pay for it. Below are some tips for finding the best deals on cruises.

Be Flexible

One of the best ways to find a great cruise deal is to be flexible about your vacation. Flexibility in the type of cabin, ship, and to some degree the destination, can all increase the opportunity to find deals. Being flexible about departure dates can also reduce the rates significantly.

Choosing off-peak times is also a matter of flexibility. If you are willing to hit the Caribbean in the summer or Alaska in spring or fall you might find more deals. These ships tend to be less crowded and the rates lower. These might be the last, or first, trips of the season and the cruise lines will often offer discounts just to fill the cabins.

For those who are a little more adventurous and have lots of flexibility in their schedule, last minute booking can often save a lot. Ships that are not full will offer reduced rates in an attempt to fill their cabins. This method can be risky and may result in missing a chosen sailing, but can also result in substantial savings.

Flexibility in departure cities can save money also. Departing from the Northeast, especially early in the season, can decrease the cost by quite a bit. When the ships are leaving their home ports and heading south to start the season you can sometimes get a great booking rate from their home city. You might also save on airfare if you live near one of the departure cities. Driving to the port, as opposed to purchasing a flight, is considerably cheaper. Jacksonville, New Orleans, Norfolk, and points in Texas often offer comparable cruises at much lower rates than the ones departing from South Florida.

Book Early

“Early Bird” discounts are very common in the cruise industry. Booking a cruise early, before it begins to fill up, is a great opportunity to get discounts. Once a ship gets near capacity, especially for popular destinations, the discounts dry up and the remaining cabins go for full price.

Booking summer vacations in the mid- to late winter timeframe is a great way to take advantage of these deals. This allows time to shop for the best deals and still book early enough to enjoy the discounts. The same holds true for winter voyages. Booking these in the summer often results in substantial savings.

Use an Agent

Travel agents can often shop the available cruise lines and find the best deal to meet your needs. Some agents specialize in certain cruise lines, but they also often have more leverage with those lines and can offer additional discounts not found directly through the line. Since agents get commissions on each cruise vacation they book, they can often give part of that commission as a discount, to entice the vacationer. This means an even lower rate.

Agents also know the best destinations for the particular time of year to get the best value. They can “shop” the various ships and packages to find one that suits your individual needs. To get the best value from an agent, do a little research first and then ask about the cruises that you found that best suit your plans and price range.

Get All-Inclusive

Cruises offer a wide array of on-board entertainment and food choices. These are always included in the price. The hidden costs can add up quickly. Port charges and taxes, tips, alcoholic beverages, special services, and special events on land can all add up to increase the total coast of the trip.

Airfare is another added cost that can increase the overall price of the trip by a large amount. Many cruise packages offer airfare in the deal. However, sometimes this is from one, or a limited number of, locations. Getting to those airports can increase the cost, as well. Shop for deals that include airfare from your local airport, rental car or shuttle service to the departure point, hotel accommodations (if you will need to stay in the port city before or after the trip), and return airfare, preferably at discounted rates.

Tips, and most port charges and taxes, are seldom included in the price, but a good agent can help you plan for those costs ahead of time. This should be factored into the final decision on destinations and ship choice.