Do you know how to find the best cruise deals? Cruises can be a fantastic way to explore new places, enjoy great food and entertainment, and relax in style. However, finding the best cruise deals can be a challenge. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here are some tips to help you find the best cruise deals.
Below are our top 5 tips for finding the best cruise deals. Some of them may be obvious, others are not, but regardless it’s good to have it laid out for you, which is why we wrote this article! :~)
How to Find the Best Cruise Deals
Tip #1: Be Flexible
First, it’s important to be flexible with your travel plans. If you have some flexibility in terms of dates and destinations, you’re far more likely to find a good deal. Cruise lines often offer discounts for certain dates or routes that they’re looking to fill up, or which are underbooked. Be sure to check out different cruise lines and travel agencies to find the best deals. You can also consider traveling during the off-season when prices tend to be lower.
And if you have complete flexibility some of the best cruise deals are repositioning cruises. Also called a “repo cruise”, a repositioning cruise is basically when the cruise line needs to move a ship to a new port, and rather than sailing empty they try to recoup some of the cost of the move by selling bookings a deeply discounted rate. For example, Norwegian features their repositioning cruises here. You can read more about repositioning cruises here.
Tip #2: Loyalty Programs Discounts & Promotions
Be sure to take advantage of loyalty program promotions and discounts offered by the cruise lines. If you’ve traveled with a particular cruise line before, make sure to sign up for their loyalty program. You can earn points or rewards that can be redeemed for discounts on future cruises. Additionally, keep an eye out for promotions or sales that cruise lines may offer. These can include discounted rates, onboard credits, or free upgrades. Often their loyalty program members are the first ones to be notified of new promotions.
Tip #3: Timing is Everything
When it comes to finding the best cruise deals timing is truly everything. The trick is to either book as early as possible, or to book as last minute as possible. You see, cruise lines often offer early booking discounts to encourage travelers to book ahead of time. If you’re planning a trip well in advance, be sure to check for any early booking discounts. On the other hand, if you’re flexible and willing to wait until the last minute, you can often find great deals on unsold cabins.
Tip #4: Location, Location, Location
Make sure to be strategic about your cabin selection. The location and type of cabin you choose can affect the price of your cruise in a big way. If you’re willing to go with a somewhat smaller cabin, or don’t care quite as much about the view from your cabin, you can save substantial money by booking an inside cabin or an ocean view cabin instead of a balcony or suite. Also consider booking a “guarantee cabin”, which means you’ll be assigned a cabin at the cruise line’s discretion, and so at a lower rate.
Tip #5: Check Package Deals
You can often save money over all – often a great deal of money – by bundling your cruise with other travel arrangements. For example you can save money by booking a cruise package that includes flights, hotels, and/or tours. And keep in mind that using a travel agent (yes, they still exist) doesn’t increase your cost, they work on commission, and they often know about the best deals.
Bottom line: finding the best cruise deals requires a bit of flexibility, research, and strategy. By being open to different dates and destinations, taking advantage of loyalty programs and promotions, booking early or last minute, being strategic about your cabin selection, and bundling your travel arrangements, you can find a great deal for your next adventure!
