Cruise Mouth

Clark Norton asked:


Many cruise lines, travel agents, guidebook writers, and “cruise tip” websites will try to convince you that booking a cruise as early as possible will result in the best discount cruise deal. Not true — you’ll often save more money when you book a last minute cruise.

Passengers who book a last minute cruise may save hundreds — or even thousands of dollars — more than passengers who book their cruise many months in advance.

That’s because the hottest deals and deepest discounts in cruising are usually available within two to three months of sailing, or less. That’s when cruise lines offer a discount cruise deal on the cabins they’re afraid will go empty unless they cut their rates drastically.

It’s not uncommon to see a “last minute” discount cruise deal as high as 60 percent, 70 percent, or even 80 percent off the brochure rate.

Choosing to book a last minute cruise is not for everyone. You need a fair amount of flexibility in your travel plans to take advantage of this tactic.

If you have to sail on specific dates, or over a busy holiday or vacation period, or if you have to have a certain type of cabin or are traveling with a large group, then booking your cruise early will better assure you of getting your top choices.

But if your main goal is to snag a bargain and you aren’t too particular about where and when you sail, or on which ship, then patience can not only be a virtue but can help you land a great discount cruise deal.

The best last minute cruise deals are usually offered by big travel agencies — especially Internet mega-discounters — that have special relationships with the cruise lines.

The cruise lines make their best deals available to the mega-discounters, and the agencies pass much of those savings on to you. Sometimes the big mega-discounters will buy up large blocks of cabins from the cruise lines and then re-sell them to their clients at big discounts, making their profits from bulk sales.

Passengers may really benefit if these cabins don’t completely sell out. Rather than risk getting nothing for their investment, the agencies are likely to offer them for sale at bargain-basement rates.

The result for you is the same — you’re likely to pick up a great deal when you choose to book a last minute cruise!

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Colin S. Wood asked:


The thought of taking a cruise to someplace exotic and warm is something a lot of people look forward to in the dead of winter. Discount cruises are perfect for anyone who wants to save a few dollars while still enjoying a much-needed vacation. But not everyone understands how to find an affordable vacation. If you have travel on your mind then read on for some simple strategies about how you can take a cruise at an affordable price.

Focus your attention on booking the very best deal that you can. When it comes to cruises, timing is very important. The very best deals are made either well in advance or at the last minute. For example, booking as much as a year ahead will get you a good deal but so will waiting until the last minute, as long as there is still available space. Most early bookings will need to be planned by way of the cruise line or else through a travel agent. On the other hand, last minute deals are generally to be found over the Internet by big Internet discounters. Late bookings can net you very low prices if your schedule allows for flexibility.

As a general guideline the most eligible individuals for cruise discounts include individuals travelling in a large group, such as a big family, a group of friends or as part of a organization; people over the age of 55; people who presently are in the military or who are retired military members; and those who have sailed with the specific cruise line in the past. Some cruise lines also have discounts for people with children and students.

Not all policies at all cruise lines are the same so do your research before you choose one to book your holiday through. Another key point is that off-season sailings can often bring great savings as can special “repositioning” cruises.

The next important point when it comes to affordable cruises is to be aware of the ways you can save as much money as possible once you are onboard the ship. Some cruise lines offer cheap rates for cabins and then expect that the deficit in cost will be recouped by way of all of the little extras that passengers are likely to purchase. These extras can add up for the average passenger if they do not watch their budget. Some of these items include casino gambling, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, souvenir pictures, postcards and restaurant meals. One of the most expensive of all extras is the organized excursions to shore when the ship docks at an exotic locale. All these extras are costly so it’s a good idea to set a budget for “playing” and stick to it.

Other Important Points:

• A travel agent worth his or her price will be able to get you all the information you need to make the best decision possible. He or she will be privy to discounts and any travel insider information.

• Take the time to do research over the web. If you cannot afford a travel agent then become “in the know” about discount cruises and become your own!

• If you are travelling with your family it might be more economical to purchase two regular cabins as opposed to a suite to accommodate everyone.

The best thing you can do is to research and compare prices with the various travel agents before booking anything. The more money you save on the cruise itself will put more money in your pocket for all the fun stuff.

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