How Can I Maximize The Value Of My Cruise Vacation
There are plenty of ways to get more bang for your buck when you sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Every ship in the fleet offers a range of delicious complimentary dining options, but you can dig into even more crave-worthy flavor by purchasing a Specialty Dining Package for less ahead of your cruise. Add a Specialty Beverage Package which includes unlimited alcoholic beverages, soda, and more and your experience is as close to all-inclusive as it gets. And with so many complimentary shows and attractions onboard, you can easily fill every sea day without spending a single dollar extra.
Royal Caribbean also offers deals based on departure ports;and destinations, so if youre a flexible traveler looking for great savings, you can plan your next vacation around which itineraries are on sale. Just check your email or visit RoyalCaribbean.com/cruise-deals to stay up to date on promotions, sales and special offers. You can even browse sailings and deals by homeport, destination and season, so you can rest assured youre getting the best possible deal no matter when or where in the world you choose to set sai.
Keep An Eye On Boutique And Daily Deal Sites
If you love creative couponing, add cruises to the list of things you can find discounts for at boutique and daily deal sites. Jetsetter — a TripAdvisor company, like Cruise Critic — often features cruises to the Galapagos, Antarctica, the Nile and the Caribbean in its flash sales, offering up to 50 per cent off; look for expedition and luxury lines. Rue La La, an invitation-only site that offers luxury “boutiques” — with a set number of upscale items for sale on a first-come, first-served basis — might also be worth a look. While the site mostly focuses on shoes and jewellery, cruises are occasionally on offer. Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial also have travel sections for deals on bargain inventory, and this includes the occasional bargain-basement-priced cruises. Travelzoo includes plenty of cruises in its top deals roundups, too.
Save At Least 60% With Expert Tips Tricks And Hacks
Whilst this article has given an overview of the cheapest cruises, I realise that not everyone wants bargain-basement holidays like I do! What if you want luxury for less? A balcony cabin or a suite? An exotic destination? A cruise and stay holiday?
Many of you will no doubt be familiar with Emma Cruises who has a very popular YouTube channel and cruise blog.
Like me, shes an expert in finding cheap cruise deals, but Emma has taken things so much further by developing an incredible online course entitled How to Cruise for Less.
Emmas course details the tips, tricks and hacks that she uses to cruise for $50 per night whilst securing upgrades and freebies. It contains video lessons, cheat sheets, checklists and handy tools to help you save at least 60% on advertised cruise prices.
As well as helping you to save money when booking your cruise, Emma will also teach you how to choose the best cruise line for your family, how to pack your suitcase like a pro and how to save money whilst youre on-board as well.
Emma is one of the worlds leading cruise experts and the opportunity to have her provide tailored advice before you hit the book button is priceless.
The best part? Emmas How to Cruise for Less course is super cheap! Youll easily make that money back, and so much more, with the savings youll make when you come to book your next cruise.
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Tips For Finding Cheap Cruise Deals
Somewhere out there is a seven-night cruise from $299, a luxury sailing at 75 percent off and an empty cabin on the “sold-out” sailing you wish to book. Knowing where and when to search for the best cruise deals could mean the difference between unearthing that low fare or compromising on price and itinerary.
You probably have a tried-and-true method of searching for cheap cruises. Perhaps you wait for missives from your trusty travel agent, or maybe you’re a tiger when it comes to prowling the Internet for low fares. You might book your cruise right when the brochure is first published, or you might bide your time until two weeks before sailing. But have you explored all possible ways of nabbing that steal?
Let us share some of our favorite tips for finding cruise deals. While some might be old hat, others may catch you by surprise. Use them all, and you’ll be ready to pounce on that cheap cruise when the right promotion comes along.
Receive Deals Online Or By Phone
Cruise lines and travel agents use email updates encouraging potential customers to take advantage of deals. Some sales windows of opportunity last for only one day, meaning that instant communication will position you ahead of competing customers. Dedicated bargain hunters set up a separate email account for cruise deals and other discount offers. Cruise companies may also send deals directly to your phone via text messaging.
The competitive cruise marketplace means there are great deals to be found. By implementing a range of strategies you can be up to date with any bargains and ready to plan ahead for your next voyage.
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Learn More About Our Cruise Offers
Our cruise offers allow you to experience everything from Michelin-starred dining to Broadway-level performances without having to break the bank. Escape to tropical islands in the Caribbean , explore the rugged wilderness of Alaska, or experience rich culture in Europe and beyond. Sign up for thrilling shore excursions or simply unwind during your time at sea, by relaxing in one of our heavenly spas or taking a dip in the pool while enjoying unbeatable views of the ocean.
Score the cruise deal of a lifetime and book your next vacation on one of our cutting-edge ships, where youll enjoy luxurious accommodations, exotic destinations, and world-class diningall in one trip.
We offer exciting cruise offers and discounts throughout the year, so you can rest easy knowing that youll always find the best cruise rates and specials for your vacation.
Dont forget to explore our year-round cruise offers, including special discounts for suite guests of The Retreat, military members, and more. Learn all about our special offers and perks for members of our cruise rewards program, Captains Club. Plus, sign up for a Celebrity Visa Signature credit card and earn 10,000 MyCruise Reward points, which you can redeem on future vacations or onboard credit.
Stay on top of all of our cruise;offers and discounts by signing up for our newsletter, following us on social media, and checking in on our frequently updated cruise;offers page.
Use United Mileageplus Miles To Pay For Your Cruise
Paying for your cruise with miles is a great option to have. Unfortunately, youll lose out on some value if you do this.
When you book a cruise using United Miles, youll get about 0.8 cents per mile in value. United miles are generally worth around 1.6 cents per mile , so youre getting about half the value you could get if you used your miles for a flight.
However, if you have a bundle of United miles and prefer cruising to flying, it might be a good redemption for you.
Pros and Cons of United Cruises
Pros:
- MileagePlus members have the ability to earn lots of extra miles.
- United Premier members receive extra perks with Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines.
- The site offers a 110% best price guarantee.
Cons:
- There is a $24.99 processing fee on every booking.
- MileagePlus miles are not useful if you dont fly United.
Bottom Line: When you choose to book your cruise through United Cruises, you can either earn United MileagePlus miles on your purchase or you can pay for your cruise using your United MileagePlus miles.
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Are Cruises Cheaper Through A Travel Agent
Cruises should always be cheaper through a travel agent. If theyre not, then you need to find yourself a new travel agent!
Most cruise travel agents make money in two ways:
The bonuses that travel agents receive for hitting their targets can be huge. So when a sales target deadline is coming up, travel agents may be willing to sell cruises at cost price or even at a loss to earn their big bonus payment.
Whats more, some cruise travel agents use a specific business model whereby they buy up thousands of cabins in bulk for a cheap rate. Once the travel agent owns those cabins, they have to sell them. Even if they make a small loss on some of the cabins, its better than the loss that would be made if the cabins remained unsold.
As well as getting the best price on your cruise, there are other advantages to booking your cruise with a travel agent rather than directly with the cruise line. If youre booking flights and hotels too, a travel agent can get you the best package price, sort everything out for you and take charge if anything goes wrong.
To compare cruise prices from lots of different travel agents at once, I like to use Cruise Critic.
Dont Limit Yourself To Specific Sail Dates
Miami, Florida
If you are set on finding a last-minute cruise deal for an upcoming vacation, one of the most important things to remember is to be flexible. If you are looking to travel to one destination during a limited timeframe, your chances of getting a stellar deal become much more limited.
If you remain open to multiple destinations and have flexible travel dates , then youre much more likely to find better cruise ship deals.
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The Best Cheap Cruise Cabins
The cheapest cabins are inside cabins with no windows. I almost always choose an inside cabin when I cruise. The only reason I would choose a cabin with a balcony is if I were cruising to a scenic destination like the Norwegian Fjords or Alaska.
Other reasons why people pay extra for a balcony include claustrophobia or having a baby who will only take naps in a bed.
Sometimes, youll find cruise promotions offering free or cheap upgrades to balcony cabins. However, these are usually only on cold-weather cruises where you wouldnt want to spend a lot of time on your balcony anyway.
The cheapest inside cabins are called guarantee cabins. This means that the cruise line chooses your stateroom number for you and youre guaranteed a cabin of that type, or better. If you want to, you can pay extra to choose your own cabin number but in my opinion, this is rarely worth it.
Should You Hold Out For A Last
If you want a cabin for two people and arent fussy about where you go, when you go or on which ship, then you can definitely save money by booking your cruise 6 to 12 weeks before departure. Prices are likely to drop at this time because balance payments are due and some passengers drop out.
However, if you want a family cabin for three or four passengers, then the sad truth is that you are very unlikely to find a cheap last-minute deal.
Cabins with extra beds are always in short supply. I once went to book a cruise the day after it went on sale and all the inside four-berth cabins were already gone!
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Rule #: Do Be Flexible With Your Days To Cruise The Cheapest
As you can see in the chart below, the fares for the same cruise can vary dramatically, depending on when you sail.
Holidays like Christmas and New Years fetch the highest prices by far. These rates can often be double what you would pay in the lower season.
The highest rates found around the holidays are closely followed by peak summer rates when families with kids like to cruise.
The best times with the lowest rates? The fall months when people are back at school and work are less popular for cruising, meaning that rates hit their lowest. You can also find low rates in the time between New Years and Spring Break.
Save On Shore Excursions
Most cruise lines sell excursions at exorbitant prices, and youll save money if you go it alone or book with a third party. ;We looked at the shore excursions offered by Norwegian Cruise Line on its seven-day Western Mediterranean cruise, and found near-identical options at half the price. For example, NCLs walking tour of Pisa and Florence is £204pp, whereas Cruisingexcursions.coms alternative is just £78pp. In fact, if you were to choose a third-party excursion for all six ports on this cruise, you would save a staggering £534 per couple.;
Find alternatives by checking out passengers reviews on Cruisecritic.co.uk. Companies such as Cruisingexcursions.com guarantee they will get you back to your ship in plenty of time, but promise to get you to the next port of call if theres an unavoidable delay.
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Search For Cruises Close To Home
You can also skip the hassle of booking a plane ticket entirely by searching for cruises with embarkation ports within driving distance of your home. This way, if you do find a great last-minute deal on a cruise, you can simply pack your bags and jump in your car instead of having to worry about finding a low-priced plane ticket to the departure port.
Seattle, Washington
For U.S. residents in the Pacific Northwest, look for a round-trip Alaska cruise from Seattle, Washington. If you live in L.A. or San Diego, you can book a Pacific Coastal cruise or a Panama Canal cruise without worrying about airfare to the port.
East Coast residents can find Caribbean cruises leaving from Cape Liberty, New Jersey in the north or last-minute cruises from Florida departing from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa in the south.
Book Your Cruise For Less Than 999pp
The cruises;featured on this page provide the ideal option for travellers on a budget looking for an unforgettable holiday at sea for an amazing price. Take a look through over 300 exciting cruises on offer for less than £999 per person, find your perfect bargain cruise itinerary and call our expert Cruise Concierge team today to book your place on-board.
This website will provide you with information on the financial protection that applies in the case of each holiday and travel service offered before you make your booking. At the time of booking, our Cruise Concierge will also confirm the financial protection applicable to your specific holiday. Please ask us for further information should you require it. The flight inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. The cruise-only holidays on this website are financially protected by ABTA. Please see our booking terms and conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate,. Cruise118 acts as a retail agent to you and also as a disclosed agent of the holiday provider .
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Send The Latest Cruise Deals To Your Inbox
The easiest way to get the Inside Scoop on the latest cruise deals is by signing up to receive updates straight to your inbox with your email address. Then youll be one of the first to learn about the latest Norwegian Cruise Line deals where promotions can include Free Onboard Credits, 3rd-4th Guests Sail Free, Kids Sail Free and so much more.
Don’t Fret On Last Minute Holidays
Not everyone can be so organised to plan a trip months or even years in advance. Fortunately, there are last minute deals on various cruise liners, so you don’t need to find yourself spending more than usual even if you book later than everyone else.;
With a last minute cruise, there’s less time to wait from booking to when you’re kicking back on the open water with one hand holding onto a fruity drink and the other casually pushing reality away.
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Go For The Cabin Guarantee
If cabin location isn’t important, you might want to opt for a “cabin guarantee,” which basically means you’re assured to get a cabin in at least the category specified — and, if you’re lucky, even get an upgrade. However, you can’t choose your exact stateroom.
Many lines typically discount guaranteed cabin bookings about $50 to $100 per person off the advertised fares. However, if you’re prone to seasickness or sensitive to noise, you might want to reconsider the value of choosing your own cabin location so as to not end up near the elevators or riding the wave near the bow. Also, not all guarantee fares are eligible for booking perks, so ensure the value tradeoff is worth it before you commit.
If you’re willing to book in bulk, most cruise lines will offer free berths, depending on the number of passengers in the group. For instance, book seven or more double-occupancy cabins on Norwegian Cruise Line, and for every 10 passengers booked, one passenger can cruise for free. Each cruise line has its own threshold for groups; some lines consider 10 guests/five cabins to be a group, while others require 16 guests/eight cabins.
Group leaders can choose to spread the savings across the group or keep it all for themselves. Groups can get other perks, as well. Norwegian offers group members a choice of complimentary amenities beyond its Free at Sea promotion, such as extra onboard credit or a cocktail party for the group.