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Tag: cruise sales

  • Check Out Holland America’s Celebration Sale

    Check Out Holland America’s Celebration Sale

    Holland America has something they’d like to celebrate! Their Celebration Sale offers up to 50% off of select cruises. According to the cruise line, the sale is a way of acknowledging the fact that their entire fleet is back in service after a hiatus due to the pandemic. “Having our full fleet of 11 ships back in service after more than two years on pause is cause for celebration, and the promotion is our way of thanking guests for their loyalty and choosing to cruise with Holland America Line,” said the cruise line’s COO Beth Bodensteiner.

    The sale is billed as featuring the company’s “best 2022 and 2023” with prices “up to 50% off.” But that’s not all: the Celebration Sale also gives “$50 Onboard Spending Credit per person and a 50% reduced deposit on more than 750 cruises.” This is all happening right as Holland America’s summer cruise season begins. In other words, right now is pretty much the perfect time to book a cruise with Holland America! The sale includes itineraries in all of the cruise line’s most iconic destinations, including South America, Alaska, Mexico, and (of course) the Caribbean. If you’d like to read more details about the sale, you can do so on the company’s website.

    There is a nearly endless list of great cruises to choose from that have all had their price slashed thanks to the sale. One of our favorite deals is on the 7-Day Alaskan Inside Passage itinerary. Normally priced at $569, bookings now begin at just $499. This trip sails roundtrip from Vancouver and visits Juneau, Ketchikan, and Glacier Bay over the course of seven days. It’s a really exciting cruise, and the Celebration Sale makes it more appealing than ever. If you’re looking for a truly amazing deal, check out the 14-Day Azores and Normandy Expedition. Normally priced at $1169, it is now just $549.

    We can’t go over every single cruise option here. But we definitely encourage you to check out the full list of eligible cruises on Holland America’s site. There, you can find everything from quick trips to Mexico to adventurous expeditions to the far reaches of our planet. Many of the Celebration Sale cruises also have a special offer that allows children to sail for free, making them perfect for families looking to book a fun getaway.

    The Celebration Sale lasts until June 30th. That means you have a bit of time to book your dream cruise at a great price. Don’t wait too long, though — these itineraries may fill up fast due to the sale!

  • Book with Costco to Get Major Cruise Deals

    Book with Costco to Get Major Cruise Deals

    Did you know that you can book a cruise with Costco? Yes, the very same store known for ridiculously low prices on bulk goods. The Costco Travel division of the company is a relatively unknown business venture, but it’s one that every Costco member should know about. And hey, if you’re not already a member, this may just be the offer that helps you finally take the plunge! (Fair warning, though: you’ll never go back.) Here’s all that you need to know about Costco Travel and its cruise itineraries.

    It’s not a cruise line

    Let’s get one thing straight before we dig in any deeper. Costco Travel allows you to book cruises, but that doesn’t make it a cruise line. The itineraries that the corporation offers aren’t unique; they simply give their customers great deals on other cruise line’s trips. You can access their deals from the Costco Travel website, and you’ll immediately recognize the cruise brands. You can think of Costco Travel as a sort of travel agent that exclusively serves Costco customers. Cruise lines like Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and more can all be found on Costco Travel.

    First time buyers beware

    There aren’t many bad things that we can say about Costco Travel. It’s a simple and effective search engine, and they have the great customer support that Costco is known for. However, there is one thing that you should be aware of. Because Costco Travel is simply a division of a much larger company, you can’t really expect the kind of hands-on help that you would get from a cruise-specific agency. If you’re new to travelling via cruise ship, you may want more assistance than Costco can really offer. You should mainly think of Costco Travel as a way to get good deals; you shouldn’t use it as anything more.

    The savings are real

    There are lots of sites that claim to get you amazing deals on cruises. Don’t let that dissuade you. Costco Travel is indeed legit, and many travelers have snagged some real discounts using the service. For instance, many cruise itineraries currently offered on the site are 30% off the market price. In addition to that, many itineraries will also feature some type of bonus in the form of a Costco Shop Card. While that isn’t strictly a discount, it will still save you money in the long run. These two types of savings combined add up to some huge possible discounts.

    In short: Costco Travel is a great way to book an affordable cruise, but it may not be the best for novices. If you’re just trying to book at a low rate, though, you should definitely check out the site.

  • Huge Hurtigruten Sale for Fourth of July

    Huge Hurtigruten Sale for Fourth of July

    As Fourth of July festivities are winding down, there’s one more thing to get excited about. Hurtigruten just launched a huge sale on their website! The Norwegian cruise line has been offering excellent expeditions around the world for decades. Their prices can be steep, but that just means that right now is the best time to book with them. Here are all the details on the sale as well as a few select itineraries that you should check out.

    Freedom Flash Sale 2021

    Dubbed the Freedom Flash Sale 2021, there is the potential for some serious deals here. Itineraries are as much as 50% off right now, and the sale also cuts down deposits down to 10%. It started on July 1st, but don’t worry about feeling late just yet. It’s going until July 8th, so there’s still time to capitalize on the lowered prices! Over 50 different cruises are discounted thanks to the sale, and there are options all over the world. While there are certainly some itineraries that are still in the upper echelon of cruise prices, the sale has also made some of Hurtigruten’s reasonably-priced cruises even more affordable. There are multiple cruises below $2000. You can check out all of the options over here.

    The most affordable option

    If you’ve ever wanted to sail with Hurtigruten, this might just be the most affordable option that you’ll get! This itinerary begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina and travels all the way north to Cape Verde near Africa. There aren’t many port stops on the way, but that’s because the cruise is themed around the idea of holistic well-being. It promises a “deeper understanding of your own well-being needs”. In other words: you’ll be relaxing as much as humanly possible on this trip. Sounds nice to us! The total cost of the cruise is $1476. You can check out all the details here.

    Save money on the Ultimate Expedition

    While Hurtigruten travels all over the world, they are most well-known for their expeditions to far-off wonderlands like Antarctica. They are absolute experts of the region, so we can’t help but highlight this Solar Eclipse Cruise that is currently 20% off thanks to the sale. Departing on November 22nd, 2021, this cruise lasts for 23 days and takes you from Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia before heading to Antarctica. It’s an expensive trip, but it would definitely be worth it. You can book over here if you’re interested.

    We always love a good sale, and it’s exciting to see a cruise line like Hurtigruten offer such great deals. Shop around and see if any of the itineraries are right for you!

  • Azamara Being Sold by Royal Caribbean to New Owners

    Azamara Being Sold by Royal Caribbean to New Owners

    On January 19th, Royal Caribbean Group revealed that they will be selling the cruise brand Azamara to a new owner. Azamara was previously one of the four cruise lines that Royal Caribbean owned in full, with the other three being the titular Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. Why is Royal selling one of their flagship cruise brands, and who will own Azamara from now on? Let’s check out all the details.

    Azamara Cruises

    A relatively lowkey name in the cruise world, Azamara is one company that might not sound familiar to some of you out there. This cruise line has been around since 2007 and is known for offering high-end luxury cruises. Their ships are pretty small, with none of them having a max capacity of more than 700 guests. They have a total of three ships in their fleet: Azamara Quest, Azamara Journey, and Azamara Pursuit. If you want to find out even more about this cruise line, check out our profile on them over here.

    The deal

    There are some details that we still don’t know about this sale, but here’s what we do know. Azamara has been sold to a company called Sycamore Partners for a total of $201 million. Sycamore is taking control of every aspect of Azamara, including the three ships in the Azamara fleet. Although the deal hasn’t officially gone down yet, it is expected to be complete within a month or two.

    The new owners

    We should all be quite familiar with Royal Caribbean Group at this point, so let’s take a look at Sycamore Partners. Sycamore is a company that invests in the consumer and retail fields. Based out of New York, they are known for buying out other companies. Some of the other companies that they own include Hot Topic, Torrid, Talbots, and Staples. It is interesting to note that Sycamore doesn’t really own any other travel companies, making their purchase of Azamara a bit surprising.

    Azamara’s future

    With this being a very new deal, it’s hard to say how this is going to impact Azamara’s future. The CEO of Royal expressed optimism about Azamara’s continued growth with Sycamore, though, which is a good sign. Sycamore hasn’t detailed their plans for the brand, but it doesn’t seem like they are going to be changing things up. The managing director at Sycamore said that they expect to “build on [Azamara’s] many years of success” and that it will “remain a top choice for discerning travelers as the cruise industry recovers over time.”

    As for what Royal Caribbean Group will be doing with the money from the sale, we can only speculate. We would guess that having that kind of cash is helpful in an uncertain time like now!

  • P&O to Sell Oceana

    P&O to Sell Oceana

    In a move that may come as a surprise to some and as a big disappointment for those who were booked on the ship, P&O Cruises has come forward to confirm rumors that they are selling their ship, the Oceana. The company cited multiple reasons for this change in their fleet. Let’s see what this means for the cruise line, as well as what the future currently looks like for P&O.

    The Oceana

    The Oceana has a long history, both with P&O and without it. It was originally with Princess as the Ocean Princess before being traded over to P&O in the early 2000s. It received its name at a ceremony in 2003 and quickly became a very popular ship among P&O’s fleet. It even recently saw an expensive refurbishment at the end of 2017, meaning the ship should be in pretty much perfect shape as of right now.

    Why are they selling it?

    P&O released a statement about it, but it’s not entirely clear. It seems to be at least tangentially related to COVID-19, but they also mentioned the new ships that they have coming in the near future. Paul Ludlow, the president of the company, said “During this pause in our operations we need to fit the fleet for the future and ensure we have the right mix of ships once we resume sailing.”

    Right mix of ships?

    That’s right. P&O has a relatively busy future planned, and their fleet is still poised to get larger even with the selling of the Oceana. In fact, these new ships could be a contributing factor to the sale, with Ludlow adding that “her departure will allow us to focus on our remaining ships in the fleet, as capacity expands with the delivery of Iona later this year followed by her sister ship, scheduled for 2022.”

    Who are they selling it to?

    As of right now, we have no idea. We also have no idea how much the ship is being sold for. Hopefully we can get some more info from P&O about the destination of the Oceana soon.

    While it’s hard to point at coronavirus as a cause for this, it’s likely that it at least played some role, with Ludlow specifically mentioning the pause in operations. If so, that would make this the first ship being sold due to COVID-19. In the end though, it doesn’t seem it matters too much, as P&O seems ready to continue growth in spite of the pandemic.

  • Spend Valentine’s Day on a Cruise This Year!

    Spend Valentine’s Day on a Cruise This Year!

    Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. For those of us that are part of a couple, the lovey holiday can become a very big deal. Some people don’t want big, showy celebrations, but others do. If your significant other is someone who likes to live it up on Valentine’s and you’re still looking for an idea on how to meet their expectations, look no more! A trip via cruise for Valentine’s Day is one of the most perfect gifts you can give. Plus, it’s a gift to yourself, too! If you’re curious why we think a cruise is such a great romantic getaway, read on!

    Ditch the cliches

    Movies have drilled it into us exactly what to expect on Valentine’s: flowers, chocolates, heartfelt notes, et cetera. While these are all definitely nice things, they can get predictable year after year. One way to show a loved one how much you really care is thinking outside the box, and a cruise is definitely just that. While you can still partake in the normal festivities at sea, the trip itself will be completely unexpected and a real delight. Plus, you can pick an itinerary that’s carefully tailored to the kinds of things and places you want to experience on Valentine’s, leaving you free to engage in the lovey-dovey or go exploring somewhere exotic.

    Holiday sales!

    Valentine’s isn’t always the biggest event for cruise lines, so it’s not uncommon to see some pretty good sales when February rolls around. For instance, Celebrity currently has a sale going until February 22 that can save you up to $400 on a suite (you can check that out over here). Other money saving opportunities could pop up even closer to the holiday, so keep an eye out.

    Intimacy

    The best thing about a cruise is that you get to choose exactly the type of experience you want. For Valentine’s Day, you can pick a smaller, more luxurious ship with plenty of options for private decadence. Some ships offer rooms with private balconies or hot tubs, the perfection of which needs no explanation. Five-star dining and quiet nights are an excellent combination for the holiday, both of which are easy to achieve on plenty of different cruise ships.

    Heat things up

    If you live in a place with a colder climate, you know that February can get pretty icy. The cold isn’t exactly conducive to romance: who wants to leave the house to go to a fancy dinner when it’s a blizzard outside? Instead, a cruise ship could whisk you away to a Caribbean island with breezy, tropical heat. Even aside from the romantic aspect of it, your partner will thank you for an escape from the cold, making your gift seem even better. Relationship points, woohoo!

    While we aren’t hoping you have been putting off Valentine’s plans until now, a cruise is the perfect option for the procrastinators among us. Lots of different cruise lines offer Valentine’s options, so start exploring and book your perfect gift!

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