31 January 2018
Even with the rise of the cruise industry and many new cruise deals and promotions being advertised every day for "cheap cruises", many people still believe that cruising is beyond their reach. However, if you know these little secrets, you can become a lifelong cruiser, as well…
1/ Know when to sail.
June through August is “peak” season for Caribbean sailings, therefore, you will most definitely be paying higher prices to sail those itineraries during those months than any other month in the year. The best time to sail the Caribbean is actually December through February: the weather is perfect, it is not too crowded, and the rates are the best (with the exception of sailings over the Holidays). Sailing in September is pretty reasonable, as well, however, be prepared for possible bad weather as this is during “hurricane season.” Since Alaska cruises only sail May through September, the lowest priced sailings would be in May or in September.
2/ Consolidate your cabin.
A family of 4, many times, just assumes that they would need two cabins booked. Generally, though, the more people booked in a cabin, the less the per-person fare is. Most ships offer cabins that can accommodate 4-5 guests. The first 2 guests pay full price, and the others are discounted. These cabins would offer 2 twin beds, that may be converted to a Queen (or King, on some ships), along with a combination of upper berths, lower berths, and/or sofa beds. These beds are “hidden” during the day, but housekeeping would prepare them for you every night while you’re at dinner. It is very rare that it would be cheaper to split this family into 2 cabins, but I’ve seen it happen. Check all options.
3/ Pick the right cruise line for you.
If you are all about fun and games with a laid back atmosphere, you will certainly enjoy cruise lines such as Carnival. If you do not need all the bells and whistles of Celebrity, Princess, or Disney, why pay for them? If you have a lot of kids in your family, you may want to consider MSC, where children 12 and under are free for most Caribbean sailings. If you are a heavy drinker and usually spend hundreds of dollars a day on alcohol, it may be cheaper to go for an all-inclusive cruise, like the ones offered by Norwegian. Please note, however, not all of their cruises are all-inclusive. Which leads me to my next point… working with a travel agent.
4/ Book with a travel agent.
Many people like the idea of simply booking directly on the cruise line website. However, discussing your travel plans with a travel agent may save a whole lot because of their expertise. The good agents are certified in all cruise lines, so they understand each cruise line’s pricing structure, which sailings offer all-inclusive packages, and more. Some travel agencies will always check for possible upgrades for you, and others, like CruiseGuruz, will even check for price drops every day for you, honoring that lower rate for you automatically (up until the final payment date.) Travel agents may also have group space available at a lower rate that cannot be advertised. The travel agent always has your best interest in mind because they know that is what will bring you back to them.
5/ Book early.
Booking early gets you the early bird specials. There is a misconception that you get better deals at the last minute. Here’s the truth: If I book a cruise in January for a cruise leaving in December, I get a great deal. Let’s say, for example, my rate is $400 per person. As it gets closer to sailing, that price goes up, based on how the cabins are selling. By October, that rate will be around $550 per person. IF there are still cabins left at the last minute, around November, the cruise line will drop the rate to around $520 per person. So yes, it is less than it was a week ago when you checked, but it is still certainly a lot higher than it was in January. The only cruise line that has really good deals at the last minute, on some occasions, is Disney Cruise Line. Carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean are usually sold out 1-2 months in advance, so your chances of getting a good “last minute deal” are slim.
Also, booking early with CruiseGuruz is especially beneficial because you have more time to get rate drops with them.
6/ Go with the right people.
Have that buddy in Canada that wants to go on a cruise? Book them with you in your cabin when Carnival has extremely low rates for Canadian residents! Royal Caribbean has super low rates for Police Officers and EMT workers. There are a wide range of exclusive rates for seniors (over 55 years of age), airline employees, or past guests that frequent the on-board casinos. If there is just one person in the cabin who qualifies, the entire cabin benefits from these lower rates. If there are two cabins booked, and 2 guests are offered the casino rate, book 1 in each cabin so everyone gets the deal.
7/ Consider different ports.
If you live in Florida, you have the luxury of sailing out of 5 ports… Jacksonville, Tampa, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and Miami. Although the variety of cruises sailing out of Miami is greater and it is generally cheaper to sail out of, don’t neglect the other ports. Sometimes it is cheaper to sail out of another port and complete a similar itinerary. Check all options.
8/ Go for the Guarantee.
If you do not mind the location of your cabin, booking a “Guaranteed cabin” is strongly recommended. Some people require their cabin be located mid-ship, or on a higher deck, or next to family members booked in another cabin. However, if you book a guarantee cabin, your fare may be much lower. For example, if you book a guaranteed interior cabin, you are guaranteed to get an interior cabin (or higher, on some cruise lines), but the location will be assigned by the cruise line as it gets closer to sailing. Once it is assigned, it cannot be changed. Here is how this benefits you: If there is a balcony mid-ship on deck 8 for $749 per person, someone who booked a guaranteed balcony cabin may have paid about $600 per person and still be assigned a cabin in that location. It is important to note that the location could be a “good” location or a “not so good” location. As long as you are okay with any location on the ship, you will save a lot booking a guaranteed rate.
9/ Consider a re-positioning cruise.
Most ships are built in Europe. They would sail the Mediterranean and European itineraries for a few months before re-positioning elsewhere, like New York or Florida. Those sailings cross the Atlantic Ocean, but would stop at a few ports in Europe before heading down, and also stop at a few ports in the Caribbean before it reaches its destination. Because of the more-than-usual sea days, these cruises are priced very reasonably. They are few and far between, but there are lots of new ships being built. Keep an eye out for these ships and these special sailings.
10/ Booking your next cruise on your current cruise.
Almost all cruise lines offer great rates and on-board credit for booking your next cruise while you are still on your current cruise. You do not need to know exactly when you will cruise. Simply place your deposit and you normally have 12-24 months to use it. If you booked your current cruise with a travel agent and still want to work with them, no worries… Simply request that and your reservation will be booked under your travel agent so they will still be able to access it and service the booking for you. This way, you get the great rate from booking on-board, and you still get the benefits of working with a travel agent.
The cruise industry has been growing exponentially, making it much easier for everyone to experience this vacation option, but now that you know these secrets… it’s time to book!
Comments