Finding a cruise can be a daunting task. Just typing the word cruise into Google, for example, spits out 134 million results. You know the deals are in there and they are a few correct keystrokes and mouse clicks away, but you just cannot quite work out how to get them. If you don’t want to spend half your life sat in front of a computer monitor looking at webpage after webpage searching for the best deal, then there are a few things to consider when sitting down to look for a cruise.
The number one strategy to cruising the seven seas at a price that agrees with your wallet is to book early. As soon as you know you want to take a cruise get online or call a local travel agent to see what is available on the dates you wish to travel. The sooner you book the better rates you will get because as rooms start to fill supply and demand takes over and prices rise fast.
If you cannot book early, then ironically enough your best option is to book late. Cruise ships are loathe to sail with rooms spare as they generally cater in advance. Also, if the rooms are empty there is no extra money to be made through alcohol and gift shop purchases. The result of this is it is possible to find some excellent deals on last minute cruises. If you are the kind of person who has the ability to drop everything and be at port in a few hours time look for last minute deals online and by phone, you will be shocked at the savings that can be made.
An offseason cruise is another great money saving idea. During the summer and over Christmas vacation everyone and their mother wants to book a cruise holiday. During the school year in say the spring or fall howeve,r you can save over half price on some itineraries. It is definitely a benefit to book a cruise when the supply/demand ratio is in the consumers favor.
It is a great idea to sign up for promotions and emails from the various cruise lines. You never know when a particular company that you think is out of your budget will have a sale where they reduce the price of rooms enough that suddenly it becomes affordable. By the same token a 7 day escape may sudden fall into your price range when you were only thinking you would be able to afford a 5 day cruise because of a promotional email. You never know what may land in your inbox from one day to the next.
Don’t be afraid to check out older cruise ships. Companies are always promoting their newest liners, but some of the best savings to the potential cruiser come from sailing on older liners. Though you may miss out on some of the fluff and extras that a new vessel provides, odds are the discount will be more than worth it.
When booking the cruise, make sure to consider the cost of how you will get to port. It is important to know what budget airlines fly out of your local airports and what routes they fly. Low cost carriers that fly direct to whichever port you are due to set sail from can really help lower the overall cost of your cruise vacation.
Low cost hotels are also vital for making your cruise fit within your budget. Most people will want to be in the port city the night before the cruise sets sail in case there are any problems with flight delays or weather at the airport. By booking into a cheaper hotel (especially one with shuttle service from the airport) the overall price of the cruise can be drastically reduced.
Cruising is something that can be done on all budget levels. Just be sure you know going in how much you want to spend and keep these ideas in mind to set yourself up for a fantastic vacation on your terms.
Photo via Lihn rOm
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