Proven Techniques Help You Find Cheap Cruises
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Proven Techniques Help You Find Cheap Cruises
My wife is a master of finding great cruise deals. They've been some our most enjoyable vacations!
She watches for cruise discounts like a trader watches the stock market. This has taught her a few secrets about the cheap cruise market and I will reveal them here.
She's found that cruise prices tend to decrease as the departure date approaches. The cruise companies are trying to fill their ships since their fixed costs are the same regardless of how full the ship is. They hit a bottom price around two months before the cruise date.
This price is usually the best cruise deal that you can find. But there are others watching for cheap cruises too. When the cruise discount hits this bottom price, many people quickly reserve their cabins. In a matter of days, these great cruise discounts are snapped up and the ship is full.
For example, the best cheap cruise we ever went on was a seven-day Caribbean cruise. It was on an excellent cruise line for $319 per person. That was for a nice outside cabin and included everything. There were no additional port taxes or fees. This was such a great cruise deal that the grandparents came along too. It was a fantastic vacation and didn't break our budget.
That cheap cruise was such a success that my wife planned a family reunion Alaska Cruise the following year.
Based on her cheap cruise market knowledge, she sent 24 of us on terrific Alaska adventure. Cruises are a great way to have a reunion. There is such a variety of activities available that everyone can have a great time no matter what interests them.
On this was a great cheap cruise, but we could have gotten even a better discount. Why?
Because some of the relatives wanted to know our exact travel dates sooner than the two-month point of greatest discounts.
This caused us to book the cruise three months before the ship sailed. While we did receive a good discount on this cruise, it was frustrating to see the price drop $100 per person three more times. Again, it did this until about two months before the date.
The cruise line did help us out a little with this. When she saw the cruise discount get even better after we booked, she called and asked for a better deal on this cruise. They did give some cabin upgrades and some onboard credit. That was fair. They may have done this because we had 24 people. I cannot say for sure, but like with anything else, you will never know unless you ask.
Even though this was not the ultimate cheap cruise, we still had a wonderful time for a bargain price.
Finding the best cheap cruise is somewhat of an art. If you use my wife's cheap cruise finding techniques, you'll likely succeed.
At Pilot Paul's Travel Accessories, we want you to have the best travel experience while still getting the best value.
With that in mind, I have found more tips on finding a cheap cruise for you...
Proven Advice To Find Cheap Cruises And Take A Great Vacation For A Low Price -- By An Expert
I found this great article that further explains ways to find cheap cruises. It is reprinted with permission:
Fantastic Cruise Deals Abound at the Last Minute
by: Lori Wilkerson
Being a spur of the moment person has its advantages. It means you can “seize the day” and run with it, enjoying an opportunity when it comes your way. So the next time you’ve lined up your vacation time and decided you’re just going to drive to the nearest lake or maybe visit some relatives, keep an open mind and check in on the great online cruise deals that show up as you get closer to your vacation dates.
You may discover that as your vacation rolls around the deals are getting better and better, and you simply can’t pass up the opportunity to take advantage of the great offers out there. At first glance you may tell yourself that even with the reduced cost of a cruise you’re still paying more to go on a cruise than you are to drive to a popular lake resort of beachfront rental property, but the discounts on last minute cruises are great bargains because they’re all inclusive!
All-inclusive Means Savings on Entertainment and Meals
A cruise includes your entire trip, the accommodations, all of your meals (and the meals onboard ship are fantastic!), and all of the ship’s entertainment, from dancing to Vegas style shows. Compare that to your vacation and you’ll discover that by the time you add up your room, transportation, meals and entertainment expenses, the cruise deals that are available at the last minute just don’t compare to your routine vacation plans – the cruises are much better!
Think about the total relaxation factor – no trying to find a good restaurant or wondering if there’s anything decent in the way of entertainment. On a cruise vacation, everything’s right there, every night. Your vacation is filled with every kind of entertainment, relaxation and fine dining imaginable even before you get to your ports of call!
Some of the amenities found on the typical cruise ship – and available with last-minute cruise deals – include:
- Fine & casual dining
- 24-hour room service
- Swimming pool
- Fitness centers & spa facilities
- Day spa and beauty salon
- A variety of lounges and stages with world-class entertainment
- Casinos
- Duty-free gift shops
Is there a vacation anywhere that provides all of this in one location, all within walking distance, with gorgeous vistas of water and moonlight thrown in?
Finding Sizzling Hot Cruise Deals is Easy
How do you find fantastic cruise deals? The best way is to be flexible – keep in mind that there are several reasons that last minute berths open up on cruise ships. Most commonly, cruise ships simply don’t fill every one of their rooms on most cruises, and they understand that it makes more sense to offer these spaces at a discount than it does to leave these rooms empty. The level of service and amenities are exactly the same as that for passengers paying full price!
There are also sometimes last minute cancellations for whatever reason, and the cruise company will try to fill these rooms as well. After all, they had anticipated having these sales and when a cancellation comes through at the last minute, they will want to fill that spot.
Tips for Getting the Best Cruise Deals
You can compound your cruise savings by booking last minute deals during off-season times when the rates are lower to begin with or cruising to destinations that you find intriguing but have unusual departure dates. A few general guidelines for finding great last minute cruise deals are:
- Start watching about two months before your vacation, and check back often – special discounts are snapped up quickly.
- Be flexible – if you can shift your travel dates by a few days one way or the other you may be able to save even more.
- Be adventurous – if you see a fabulous deal on an exotic cruise to someplace you’ve never thought of but that sounds intriguing – go for it! This is the time to use the savings to invest in broadening your horizons.
- Online is the best and quickest way to stay informed – the Internet constantly updates information on cruise deals as cruise lines post available openings.
- Know what you’re looking for – there are so many kinds of cruises now available with different themes that it can be confusing. If you and your husband are going, don’t bother looking at singles cruises – the savings isn’t worth being surrounded by singles. But a cruise geared toward honeymooners might put a bit of spark back in your marriage, especially if you’re looking for an anniversary getaway!
Theme Cruises are the New Trend in Packaged Cruise Deals
You can find some great savings on theme cruises, a new trend for people with special interests or hobbies. Because these cruises cater to very specific tastes, the price of open spots can drop more quickly when they are discounted because they realize the chances of filling the spots may not be as high as for a general cruise.
So if you’re interested in a last minute cruise and also happen to be a food and wine connoisseur, you may be able to find a drastically discounted price on a Wine Tasting or Chef’s Taste of Cultures cruise, combining two interests and saving money at the same time.
There are also cruises that correspond with times of the year, such as foliage cruises or whale watching cruises that may offer special savings if they have cancellations since these are only offered during small windows in time. If you happen to hit one of these, you can expect some really amazing discounts on unique, once-in-a-lifetime cruise opportunities.
Trade Up to a Cruise for a Lifetime of Memories
So when that staid vacation is planned and you’ve already blocked out your vacation days at the office, don’t be afraid to periodically check out the last minute cruise deals that can be found at rock bottom prices if you book just a few weeks in advance. Throw caution to the winds and pass on the lakeside fishing trip in favor of an unforgettable cruise to the Bahamas – with last minute bargains and fabulous all-inclusive packages you can turn that ho-hum trip into truly memorable one!
About The Author
Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about last minute cruise, cruise discounts, and cruise deals. Lori once led a Conga line to the tune, "Hot, Hot, Hot," throughout an entire cruise ship sailing to Nassau. More Cruise articles at can be found at www.discount-cruise.biz.
Copyright 2005 Ph.Developments USA, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
posted by Pilot Pauls Travel Accessories at 6:25 PM
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