So you’ve finally decided that this is the year you would like to take your very first cruise, but you’re concerned about costs. There’s no need to worry. Cruise vacations have become one of the most popular types of vacations in the world with more than 12 million people choosing to cruise each year. Cruise vacations also happen to be one of the safest ways to travel with a 95 percent satisfaction rate — higher than any other type of vacation. Unlike airlines, where you’ll find a handful that most travelers choose to use over and over again, there are literally dozens of worthy cruise lines to choose from. This means the competition for your bucks is intense. This is why finding tons of cruise special offers is a piece of cake!
If you don’t want to do the legwork yourself, contact a cruise travel specialist. A cruise travel specialist will have access to thousands of cruise special offers with just about every cruise line available whether you are looking for a family cruise vacation or a luxury cruise. If you prefer to go it alone, you won’t have a problem finding some of the best cruise special offers available. How? There are several ways to go about finding the best cruise special offers.
Cruise lines prefer to book their cruises way in advance, so you may enjoy special cruise offers, incentives, credits, and cash back just for booking far in advance. If you’re one to procrastinate – you may be rewarded too! If a cruise isn’t booked several weeks or so before the cruise is set to sail, prices are slashed and cruise special offers are available in abundance. If you book last minute, you may enjoy special offers and savings up to 75%. Cruise lines will do anything to fill up those last few cabins!
Other ways to enjoy cruise special offers include: booking off-season, booking with a group, taking advantage of package deals, booking online, and booking with popular cruise lines. Some of the world’s most popular cruise lines include: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, SilverSea Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.
If you want to book off-season, you’ll find the most bargain opportunities and cruise special offers in year-around destinations. For example, slow or “shoulder� seasons for say Alaska, may differ from the Mexican Riviera. Here is a list of destinations and their slow seasons: Alaska, May and September; Bermuda, April-May and September-October; Canada/New England, July-August; the Caribbean, late April-May, September-early January; Hawaii, late August, late November, and February; Mexican Riviera, early January and May, October-November; Eastern and Western Mediterranean, March-April and September-November. Expect for the “quirks and perks� to be plentiful during these times as well.
Besides special offers and rates for groups and families, just about every cruise line has special offers and rates for seniors. A senior is typically defined as a person who is 55 or older. The only drawback is, to lock in the special rates, you can’t book online. You must call a cruise travel specialist or book directly with the cruise line. Keep in mind that proof of age is required.
To save time, and to locate a hefty number of cruise special offers, visit any of the following popular online booking search engines:
•Kayak.com
•Expedia.com
•Orbitz.com
•Travelocity.com
•VacationsToGo.com